Michael Jackson's death is a sad occasion. I was no fan but much of his music was the finest pop music created and he deserves due credit for his considerable achievements. Given the range of music he created it is even possible to forgive the terrible later 'let me save you all' albums. He seems to have had a troubled life, which tends to make someone's death more poignant.
Even the Today programme paid due respects, with Rambling Jim Naughtie experiencing an amazing epiphany during his interviews with various people. He started as the usual cantankerous, argumentative idiot, constantly interrupting - never listening - but gradually, perhaps as he realised how little he knew about this subject, he shut up and let his subjects talk. Oh if only he would go away and reflect on this simple fact: that people would rather hear his interviewers than his 5 minute questions which are invariably a hymn to subclauses and old German grammar (niche joke, this one).
One key point needs to be clarified: Rambling Jim declared in his usual hubristic way that Jackson 'invented the music video'. He didn't: he developed the video into a supreme form of expression but he didn't invent it. Credit for this usually goes to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Rest in pieces.
Friday, 26 June 2009
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