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Mark Steel: The macabre details of Michael Jackson's death

One reporter told us the news from LA was 'truly a JFK moment'


Reuters

Within minutes of the first reports, it was clear the world was going mad. The reporter on Radio 5 Live told us the news from Los Angeles "was truly a JFK moment". Because the sense of shock and grief were identical, in one case millions feeling a new era of civil rights and peace had been cruelly snuffed out; in the other, the realisation we would never again see a man go "Yow" while spinning in a circle.

From the tone, you expected the next reporter to say: "I think it's much more momentous than that, and feels like the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings, or even the collapse of Roman civilisation into warring feudal tribes."

Then came the messages: "Judith from Luton has texted to say nothing matters any more so she's going to convert her Facebook page into a suicide cult. Well, Judith, I think we all feel that way and wish you the very best of luck with that project."

Then the newspapers started, with 63 pages devoted to pictures of painkillers and articles about the impact of "ABC" on linguistic theory, and agony aunts advising how to console an orphaned monkey. It seemed every bit of every paper had to be dedicated to him, so the chess puzzle would go "Today, in honour of Michael, the pawns are allowed to move one square backwards as long as they make it look like they're going forwards. And both players can be on the same side, as the black pieces are allowed to pretend they're white."

And the crossword would be full of clues like "Tennis queen who loses her King is not my lover. 6,4."

At one point on Friday evening, while in a bar in Runcorn, I noticed a huge TV screen was displaying tributes, and for a whole minute it told us: "Amanda Holden says 'I'm thinking of his family on this sad day'." Well that must have been a comfort to them. But presumably this kept going all day, so eventually it was displaying messages such as "Mick McCarthy, the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, says, 'I'm absolutely gutted. I haven't felt this bad since I was relegated with Sunderland in the 2002-3 season. Rest in peace, Michael'."

And it's still going on. The front page of yesterday's Daily Mirror showed a picture of Michael, declaring that it was taken on the morning he died, and asking in huge letters "So what went wrong?" It certainly is a mystery, how anyone that dies in the evening can have been alive in the morning. Presumably, inside it carried on, "Our investigations have revealed that he may have been living RIGHT UP TO THE MOMENT HE DIED. But still the authorities have provided no explanation."

One music journalist on Radio 5 Live told us "he was the most influential pop musician ever," and on Radio Four we were told he was "more influential than any other soul artist, including James Brown". And this is where the madness springs from, because they seem to confuse record sales and celebrity status with influence. For example, James Brown's "influence" cannot be measured just in retail units, but from the impact of him yelling to people categorised as officially inferior, "Say it out loud, I'm black and I'm proud." Whereas Jackson's attitude towards his colour was slightly less forthright. Still, he could at least have made an effort and sang, "Say it's apparent, I'm almost transparent."

Michael Jackson aimed solely to make people dance, which is a fine aspiration, and he was himself a fantastic dancer. But while he provided a catchy soundtrack to the early 1980s, truly influential dance music has created more than a hypnotic beat, it has made its audience want to dance to express itself, finding pride in its colour, sexuality or youthfulness that is restricted in other areas of society and transform the world beyond the dancefloor,

Jackson, though, was tragically hollow, which may be why his main influence was on combining music with new technology, firstly by transforming videos into mini-feature films, then by becoming the subject of the world's first globally mass-texted useless jokes.

So, as the media assured us the universe was in mourning, most of the planet's JFK moment will mean always remembering where you were when you read a contrived question that could arrive at the punchline "Don't blame it on the boogie".

More from Mark Steel

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Funeral arrangements
[info]bidimcghee wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 12:21 am (UTC)
Maybe Rod Stewart can sing "Forever Young" at the funeral. I don't know why, but I'm hung up on the fact that Jackson died at fifty. Really, with all else we're expected to endure through this process of international hysteria and mourning, all I can think of is that he reached fifty and kicked over, as if the thought of getting old was fatal. A west-coast American band called Floater sings, "And I suppose that I got a little boy inside, and in every woman's man is a little boy that died." I can't speak to Michael Jackson as a "woman's man", but that little boy simply never grew up, and growing old seems to have been simply out of the question.
Re: Funeral arrangements
[info]rpmman wrote:
Thursday, 2 July 2009 at 05:17 am (UTC)
Your comment is genius. 10 stars!
Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel?
[info]nuzenight wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 03:44 am (UTC)
Mark Steel, could you tell me what impact you have made on this world by comparison; Michael Jackson is one of the architects of the world we live in today. The trouble with inconsequential people like yourself is that you are so inadequate you can only make a name for yourself by trying to be controversial, get a life!
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel?
[info]nightside242 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:09 am (UTC)
Architect of the world? Can I blame the recession on him then?
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]guv111 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:22 am (UTC) Expand
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]tomaustin - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 01:14 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]wingates62 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 02:11 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]wingates62 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 02:12 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]wingates62 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 02:23 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Epitaph: Who was Mark Steel? - [info]nuzenight - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 08:57 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]lizhk wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 04:23 am (UTC)
nuzenight wrote---"Michael Jackson is one of the architects of the world we live in today"

I think that proves your point Mark
Wacko off
[info]gc9723 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:52 am (UTC)
Or is Mark actually posting under the pseudo "nuzenight" to prove himself right? Or is nuzenight(sic) just a sad illiterate?

Either way - with you Mark! If I hear another word about Wacko (funny how the tabloid Wacko has become a tabloid latter-day saintly hero?) I'll go round and try to resurrect him just to get some peace.
(no subject) - [info]pokerknave - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 05:55 am (UTC) Expand
Re: Those that get down..
[info]scoles_8 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:49 am (UTC)
I can't dance, nor do I like to attempt to dance, but I still get goosebumps watching Michael Jackson's performances and videos. Say what you like about the man but you can't deny that he was profoundly talented. I certainly can't think of another artist who was a great music writer, singer and dancer to such a level that he was considered among the best of each of these aspects.

He was of course eccentric and, I believe, misunderstood but given that he lived his whole life in the public spotlight after being robbed of his childhood by a cruel and at times brutal father, I think it is understandable.

A friend of mine put it better than I ever could when he said, "As cynical and as immaturely giggly, to the point of disrespect, some are being about Jackson, I know of no wedding, barmitzvah, 21st party or plain old flashing-light disco that didn't welcome his distinctive, impressive, infectious and wonderful sound. The apparent madness, the faux-regimental outfits, the alleged surgery and the controversy are but a small part of the life of an astonishingly creative entertainer."
(no subject) - [info]pokerknave - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:11 am (UTC) Expand
Re: Those that get down.. - [info]scoles_8 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 12:00 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]pokerknave - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 12:30 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Those that get down.. - [info]wingates62 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 12:57 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Those that get down.. - [info]mattashby1974 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 02:37 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]pokerknave - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 03:02 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Those that get down.. - [info]soccerdoc - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 05:52 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]pokerknave - Thursday, 2 July 2009 at 02:52 am (UTC) Expand
Reality Check
[info]over325one wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 06:09 am (UTC)
All this fuss about some poor demented soul. All this hysteria created by 24-hour news channells trying to fill up air time for people like the commentator nuzenight.
the next stage
[info]adlindley wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 06:26 am (UTC)
Some time this morning, Joe Jackson will realize that if he builds a Lenin-style tomb at Neverland, he can charge admission in perpetuity. Surely the faithful need a shrine, since Michael failed to rise on the third day.
Well said.
[info]steve_wilds wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 06:31 am (UTC)
The hypocrisy of it all is what riles me, I mean it wasn't that long ago that Michael Jackson (PBUH, apparently) was a baby-dangling, barking mad paedophile who was a threat to all that's decent and good in the world. All the papers and, I'd wager, most of the people who are now elevating him to sainthood hated him.

The truth is that Jackson was a confused, tragic man who deserved sympathy when he was alive. Instead, he was hounded in the media and gossipped about around water coolers the world over, all for a few minutes of vicarious titilation.

So, now he's dead, what changed for everyone?
Legend..
[info]gruntmonk wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 07:05 am (UTC)
LOL!!! Mark Steel you are a legend!
Fair point.
[info]nickwitt104 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 07:18 am (UTC)
Love it, especially this snippet "It certainly is a mystery, how anyone that dies in the evening can have been alive in the morning."
Made my day and it's only 8.
Well said, well said. Bang on.
Re: Fair point.
[info]molesworth73 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:37 pm (UTC)
My faith in humanity was only barely alive this morning, however is now vitally nourished and sustained by Mr Steel's clear common sense and perspective. Cheers, fella. Nickwitt sounds like a tosser though!
Re: Fair point. - [info]nickwitt104 - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:04 pm (UTC) Expand
You are hollow, Mark Steel!
[info]enbisamunyu wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 07:25 am (UTC)
Mark! Yours is a contrived and hollow mockery of the death of a man who has meant so much to millions round the world in spite of his deeply flawed personal life. It is precisely because Michael was human and flawed that the varied fabric of humanity forgives him his wrongs. Michael hated being black because that categorisation forces a very high price on black men even if Barack Obama now helps to make every boy wish they had a tinge of black complexion. Michael's contribution need not have been to civil rights or indeed to the just cause of black political power. His outreach was actually quite substantial in that he evoked human suffering everywhere. There is nothing wrong with a man being uncomfortable with his colour. However, Jackson also showed that it was fine for a black man to have different aspirations. Given the prejudiced mistreatment of blacks in his time and his father's violent domestic dictatorship it should not come as a surprise that Michael's delicate constitution could only process it all into a reaction that did not approximate the manliness of James Brown but a childish curl-up in a corner called Neverland. For all his faults Michael does not deserve in death your mockery of his human suffering. His death was truly a JFK moment not least because JFK himself was flawed man with a delicate constitution.
Re: You are hollow, Mark Steel!
[info]annadibath wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 12:25 pm (UTC)
I think you should cool down and re-read Mark's article with an open mind. He is not being disrespectful to either Jackson's achievements as an outstanding performer, nor to him as a deeply troubled human being that nothing and no-one could help make peace with himself. Mark takes exception, and rightly so, with the ludicrous elevation to sainthood that is being perpretrated by the media.

I never admired Jackson, let alone worshipped him. I neither mourn, nor miss him. On balance, I feel that he got the end he wanted, as he could not possibly have allowed himself to grow old, since he never even allowed himself to grow up. However, I feel wonderment and sadness at the thought of the many, many people around the world who seem to be experiencing his death as a personal loss. How empty can a life be that needs to be filled by a cardboard cutout?
Nuzenight
[info]oomigoolies wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 07:28 am (UTC)
Barking mad.

A great article, Mark Steele, telling us how it is. God forbid there should be another ott Diana reaction...
mania about Jackson's deaht and his "legacy"
[info]deconnator wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 08:32 am (UTC)
Thank you for this overdue article.
That guy wasn't Curtis Mayfield, was certainly not Marvin Gaye, wasn't Chuck D, wasn't Stevie Wonder, wasn't Otis Redding, was nowhere near Bob Marley, wasn't even Prince! -I could go on.
Presumably, all these people who find time to get distressed about this irrelevant popstar must be satisfied with the rest of the world.
Re: mania about Jackson's deaht and his "legacy"
[info]kevfullo wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 05:37 pm (UTC)
well said, M.Jackson is or was an influence on very few musicians, x-factor hopefuls are another thing altogether
Credit where it's due
[info]dede3000 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 08:38 am (UTC)
I don't like you or your standpoint on Michael Jackson, but your article had elements of truth in it (yes the world has gone a bit mad) and it made me laugh, so credit where it's due. However, when people say MJ was influential they're not talking about him influencing society or changing social view points, they're talking about him being influential in terms or his music inspiring other people to get into music, other types of music emerging from his unique sound and being able to merge soul music with pop and rock and make it mainstream. For that he is great and always will be a legend!
Smooth criminal
[info]trojan_horace wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 08:42 am (UTC)
Isn't it always "a JFK moment" when a needle riddled, bankrupt, clinical narcissist dies from self-abuse... and especially one who paid $18.000.000 dollars settlement in out of court settlement for abusing a child? How could you possibly dare to raise a flag about his Olympian gifts Mark? He didn't write "Blame it on the Boogie." that was a written by a decent enough jobbing song-writer called Mick Jackson. His own literary efforts (underpinned by the likes of Quincy Jones) demonstrate a whole different level of literary skill...

he Ran Underneath The Table
He Could See She Was Unable
So She Ran Into The Bedroom
She Was Struck Down, It Was Her Doom

Or as JFK would have it "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them... Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! "
Chip on your shoulder?
[info]torpedo_09 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:21 am (UTC)
Oh yes Mr Steel. Millions upon millions of people must be wrong in mourning a legend. Yes, he had his problems - and so did JFK for that matter - but not only was he a talented artist, he also broke down many racial barriers. Thriller the first ever music video by a black artist to be played on MTV ring any bells?

Of course you and your chip must be right. The fact is, the loss of JFK was the loss of a President decades ago - sad and shocking etc etc. The death of MJ is here and now, and perhaps the reporter should have compared the reactions of MJ's death to the reactions of the death of Elvis. But perhaps the comparison was made because actually his death was shocking and people genuinely feel that a great talent has passed, especially as most of us grew up watching/ listening to him. Something that we may have missed out on with your stupid remarks about the JFK comparison. Many of MJ'S fans weren't alive when JFK passed!

Think that the public interest rather proves you wrong, even if it does go over the top (like it did with Diana's death, or JFK's). Whether you like it or not, people from every country and all walks of life liked this performer or his talent, so deal with it.
Re: Chip on your shoulder?
[info]givemeabreak01 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:53 am (UTC)
It's amazing how indignant people get if you question popular sentiment...

Jackson's death was sad and tawdry and brought down the curtains on a musical career that really ended 2 decades ago.

But the enormity of his celebrity guaranteed the same crazy hysteria that followed the death of Lady Diana who is largely forgotten today. The lesson seems to be that when someone attains a massive celebrity profile and are an almost daily presence in people's lives the public simply doesn't question their intrinsic greatness.

Why

One top class album, Thriller and two good ones, all produced by Quincy Jones, a much bigger musical talent and one the one of the most successful producer, arrangers of the 20th century.

Jackson's career coincided with the launch of MTV and the music video allowing him to reach an audience earlier and bigger stars could have dreamed of.

To suggest that he's a more significant figure than James Brown and a host of other brilliant, innovative musicians who were generally innovative is simply silly. Celebrity and greatness are too very different things
Re: Chip on your shoulder? - [info]kibileri - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 03:06 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Chip on your shoulder? - [info]nuzenight - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 11:46 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]gloops wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:51 am (UTC)
What I want to know is why has nobody asked Jarvis Cocker for his reaction to the tragic news?

I'm getting pretty tired of hearing about 'poor' Michael's tortured childhood. Lots of kids are whacked by their dad but they don't all turn into complete narcissists. The guy made multi-millions out of marketing a derivative, but highly commercial music machine, and squandered it all on lavishing himself in tasteless tat and defending his dubious relationship with juveniles.

The only story of any interest to emerge from this saga (which nobody has covered that I've seen) is the dubious ethics of some Californian plastic surgeons. They were happy to transform a quite attractive individual into a hideous, bleached pixie for cash; when all he really needed was a referral to a competent psychiatrist.


The macabre details of Michael Jackson's death
[info]phallus1982 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:53 am (UTC)
Finally someone with a degree of rationale and sense producing an accurate critic of what was an influential but sad life, nothing more. The media that plagued him while alive has now become obsessed with his death, shameful joy indeed.
plus & minus
[info]rufty11 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 09:58 am (UTC)
The peronal sense of 'loss' that many seem to feel at Jackson's death saddens me enormously for I can't help but equate such a reaction as being an indication of an emotional poverty in their own lives.
nice one, mark
[info]charleslambert wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:02 am (UTC)
Well, I like dancing, and dance music,, but I never liked Michael Jackson much. On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Thank you, Mark. And it strikes me that tragic hollowness in life may actually be the criterion for this kind of hysterical reaction in death.
Best MJ tribute song
[info]fuchsiaperfect wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:17 am (UTC)
I'm hoping that Elton John will sing the version of "Goodbye Michael's Nose" which is featured on the b3ta website http://www.b3ta.com/board/9547682

diana mania
[info]mind_ful wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:22 am (UTC)
this is just the same lunacy that took over when princess diana died. It was crazy behaviour then and it is crazy behaviour now. everyone just wants a piece of someone they dont even know. the media have always encouraged it and pretended it was normal. It is not.
Re: diana mania
[info]iunomoneta wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 04:38 pm (UTC)
There is one difference, Jackson had talent and worked hard to hone it. what did Di ever do?
Re: diana mania - [info]nuzenight - Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 11:48 pm (UTC) Expand
Correct
[info]mosheenman wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:26 am (UTC)
Correct Mark, however, just by writing this article you're perpetuating the whole thing in the "meeja" give it a rest one and all.
Re: Correct
[info]nuzenight wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 11:49 pm (UTC)
TRUE, it's the talent not the man!
Misunderstood?
[info]guv111 wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:44 am (UTC)
People (fanatics) keep saying Jackson was misunderstood. Misunderstood, how?

Like the self-indulgent Imelda Marcos was misunderstood?

Like the self-destructive Elvis Presley was misunderstood?

Like Narcissus was misunderstood?

Like OJ Simpson's lawyers and a willfully blind jury were misunderstood?

Or like how Gary Glitter is misunderstood?
[info]speednik wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:48 am (UTC)
There was talk earlier of the poor quality of the "Bad" album but frankly, it did try to warn you.
Did Ghandi die ?
[info]chillipope wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 10:53 am (UTC)
Like Amanda Holden I feel sorry for his family, but lets draw a line under that. Where were they when he was suffering and dangling poor Blanket outof hotel windows ? Who drove him to the point he was at before he died ?

Enough already, a great pop artist (not my view - and I can dance very well) died, so what ? First black artist on MTV, shame on them - what's wrong with James Brown or Little Richard who were true pioneers and real artists.

And by the way I don't like hear sick jokes about dead people - "Michael Jackson is one of the architects of the world we live in today" is presumably a joke ?
Re: Did Ghandi die ?
[info]famulla wrote:
Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 01:12 pm (UTC)
Did Gandhi die? No cannon killed him. I mean a gun. If only you take out the glasses, you will hear well. Your nose is plugged that is why you cannot smell the gun, arrow, knife, bullet, nuke, carrots. Take the plugs stop the blood from going up the brain if you have one but if you have then it overflows and the craws have this and they dance What has he to do with the golden clothes Gandhi was a naked man of India these fellows are gays tush, tush, tuish .
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
Re: Did Ghandi die ? - [info]chillipope - Thursday, 2 July 2009 at 12:18 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Did Ghandi die ? - [info]famulla - Thursday, 2 July 2009 at 12:50 pm (UTC) Expand
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