Michael Jackson: Reflections
by Personal opinions on the sudden death of Michael Jackson, and the public and media response to his demise.
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7 July 2009
Every generation has one or more celebrity figures whose sudden death shocks the public: think Marilyn Monroe, Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Elvis, John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Diana Princess of Wales. However, Michael Jackson’s demise – the first to occur in a widely available, digital TV and Internet-based environment – has had more of an impact than the other regrettable deaths.
Like Diana’s death, recent public perception has been broadly sympathetic, with a feeling that their lives were on an upturn, after several years of turmoil. Jackson’s commitment to a 50-dates residency at the London O2 arena, and his surprisingly robust appearance at the launch media conference, suggested a return to form, at least artistically.
His increasingly wayward personal life had been attracting more column inches and Internet bandwidth than his music and concerts for several years. The unfortunate dangling of ‘Blanket’ and other examples of bizarre behaviour, along with his ever-changing physical appearance, detracted from his genuine songwriting, singing and performing talent.
The upsurge of public grief and hysteria does strike me as being rather hypocritical given the low regard he had been afforded by the media for the past ten years or more – ‘Wacko Jacko’. The media circus will now focus on the custody battle for his three children and the feeding frenzy over the circumstances of his sudden death, given the high level of medication prescribed by his doctor.
It would be good if his death and today’s public memorial service could draw a line under media investigations into his private life and often bizarre lifestyle, but this is highly unlikely. A period of quiet reflection would be helpful. I think people should let his music do the talking. RIP Michael.
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