Why Michael Jackson is pop's strangest enigma
What is it about Wacko Jacko? Odd from the outset. I mean, Neverland, that fascination with children and with in some way returning to childhood…
Michael Jackson has been a persistent enigma, not least because both his performance and his music are exceptional – or certainly were.
Now, to make up for his lost millions, he is holding a news conference in London today, lifting the curtain on a series of concerts at the O2 arena.
Will anyone go? How far has the recession hit them? And how far has Jacko’s own physical and other disintegration marred his fascination for the fans? The answer from the fans nosing around looking for him today would seem to be: not at all.
But how much would you pay to attend a Michael Jackson concert? Not sure I’d go beyond a fiver. Yet I’m reliably informed some would go beyond £500.
If I close my eyes to everything I know about him, I will admit to enjoying his music. And even if I open them he will still go down as one of the great stars of late 20th century pop.
But what’s with the face? What’s with Neverland? All very strange. And slightly intriguing to see whether he can indeed come back, or whether his strength and his appeal have gone the way of his face.
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There are 19 comments on this post
It’s the strangeness that makes Michael Jackson Michael Jackson. I don’t think there will be an issue of whether he can fill the stadium. He has some rabid fans who would attend every night if they could (and probably will).
Yes, Jon. What is with that face? Looking at Mickey Rourke lately as well, it seems the eighties wasn’t good for either of these guys. I guess you can blame boxing on Mickey Rourke’s mug, but Wacko’s is all self-inflicted. He’s got Victoria Beckham’s nose, his sister’s cheeks and Michael Douglas’s chin.
With his upcoming song and dance routine, I can’t help but think of Peter Boyle’s performance in Mel Brooks’s Young Frankenstein!
After all the hype, can’t believe there are no comments on here, but perhaps all interested parties are too busy swooning… I think the operative word to associate with Michael Jackson as world’s greatest pop entertainer is “was”.
M J is strange – but who would be normal if you lived an abnormal life? His music is excellent and I think it’s great he’s offering people who love him the chance to enjoy a magical experience. I hope I get a ticket.
I’m the same age as Michael Jackson and have grown up with and loved the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson’s music. But how times have changed.
The Michael Jackson concert in the early 1990s was absolutely fantastic. However, Michael Jackson, in my opinion, is no longer the megastar he once was. I’ve no interest to see him in concert ever again. I’ll still listen to the wonderful music of the Jacksons but feel sad Michael Jackson has ended his career this way.
Jon: as a fellow (but retired: ex-MEN etc etc) hack I’m always interested in your views – but certainly disagree with you on Jackson’s music. I don’t think he ever did anything truly wonderful and lasting in performance other than his ‘Billy Jean’ video. And as for his dancing, while spectacular, it still wasn’t any better than that of early James Brown, from whom he surely stole those sliding, semi-robotic moves.
Weird! Just weird! I have one of his albums but I wouldn’t go to one of his concerts. If I close my eyes to everything I know about him… I still see weird!
I don’t trust him because of what I know about him, and I really don’t understand why young mums would go to see him, why anyone would.
Messed up childhood. There’s your answer.
Certainly people will buy tickets, especially with the insistance by Michael it really is his last London shows.
To me, Michael Jackson was that lovely little boy in the Jackson Five. Then he grew up and did those incredible song and dance numbers.
I saw him unexpectedly once, at a (forced!) visit to Eurodisney in Paris, when the children were small. He surprised everyone with walking along amongst us all (complete, with uniform and really tough bodyguards). My Michael Jackson-loving son – also called Michael incidentally – was overwhelmed, naturally.
It was pretty unreal. I will never understand why he didn’t arrange to have the whole place to himself for a day or so – given his phobia for viruses.
I like his music and dance routines – very ‘gyrateable’ (!), but I think the story behind it all is very sad. In spite of all his (previous) wealth, he hasn’t had an easy life, which shines through in the desperate face job and his rather strange behaviour.
If there is a lesson to learn here somewhere, it has to be the following: whatever happens to us as children does affect us. Whether good or bad – it has to get out somehow, later on in life.
I won’t buy a ticket. I have already booked in Eric Clapton… That’ll do me.
I was most surprised at the shots showing blokes of my age screaming at Michael Jackson, just because he was going to announce a few concert dates. What Michael did at the press launch was quite predictable – it was the audience that was wierd.
I can understand women getting excited about a pop star like Michael and throwing the nether-garments on stage , but grown men? Shouldn’t they be discretely enthusing about the Who and the Rolling-Stones and such-like?
I suppose it shows that Michael is quite a phenomenon, as well as an enigma.
Each to their own I suppose. I hope everybody who is eagerly awaiting Michael’s concerts manages to get a ticket and really enjoys the show.
Me? I remember Rolf Harris reworking some Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin numbers a few years ago. I’d pay good money to see Rolf do Michael Jackson. Now that really would be entertaining!
I am disappointed, Jon, with your comments about Michael’s face. Yes, Michael has had surgery but so have many other stars. He also has vitiligo-something, which you did not mention in your blog. This is a truly awful disease, eating away the sufferer’s pigment. A little compassion from the media wouldn’t go amiss.
As for being weird – who decides what’s normal anyway?
I have always believed Michael Jackson to be a good, childlike soul who has never harmed anyone and has made some of the most amazing music in history, and is also one of the greatest dancers ever. I fell in love when I was 7 – I’ll still be in love when I’m 70!
Nothing anyone can say can ever take his achievements away. He is one of the good ones. Maybe that’s the problem. He’s too nice for the cynics.
My God Kati… how long have you had your eyes closed for?
My eyes are quite open thank you.
Think it is only when this country becomes more family-oriented that we would stick our nose up at Mr Jackson.
Until then he will bring ppl together.
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Apparently, he’s just died. My age. A man should be remembered for more than albums, and his story in latter years disfigured even that, but for my generation Off The Wall and Thriller invented dance and pop-rock. Everything before suddenly seemed…before.
Even (and it’s pushing it) R&B seems to be a refining of his input. King of Pop seemed an exaggerated, yet equally inadequate, title.
There was a moment, the video to Blame It On The Boogie: he’s a young, fresh, happy-confident black man – the best ahead of him.
THIS MAN HAS STOOD TRIAL FOR CHILD-MOLESTATION AND HAS BEEN FOUND INNOCENT. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT LOOKING AT HIM THE WAY THEY SHOULD BE. FIRST AND FOREMOST, HE WAS AN ENTERTAINER AND THE CASE SHOULD REST THERE. DID HE EVER FAILED TO PERFORM ? I DOUBT IT. AS SOMEONE SAID TODAY, “he was even bigger than Elvis” REST IN PEACE MICHAEL
Let him who has no sin cast the first stone. We must learn to ‘judge not’ since our infobase is deficient. MJ,s lifework was(is?) a blessing to all, even cynics! His personal ideas, ideals are his, not mine, and therefore, none of my business.