Watching the generally quite entertaining and sometimes even moving (Melissa, Kanye, Alicia, Southern rock) Grammy show last night, my wife and I had remarkably similar thoughts when Usher came on and busted out the flowing, acrobatic dance moves that at times left me questioning the presence of bones inside his skin.
She said, "That's what Michael Jackson could be doing today if he hadn't wandered off down Freak Street." The thought made us both very sad - in his time MJ put it all together: musically, socio-culturally, and as a consummate entertainer. For a moment I tried to picture Jackson there — a 13-time Grammy winner — last night, but even in a cheerfully "alternative lifestyle" crowd, his appearance would have drawn gasps, not the least for his ever more unnatural appearance — in today's pics from the trial he looks even more like a Batman nemesis — but also in recognition of how far the mighty can fall - talk about a buzzkill.
AP must have had similar thoughts, asking members of the Grammy crowd, "Where does Jackson's career go from here?
- "L.A. County Jail, maybe? It's pretty sad. It's sad that he doesn't see things clearly enough to protect the legacy that he built since 8 years old." — Rob Thomas, lead singer of matchbox twenty.
"I think the court of public opinion has already weighed in pretty heavily on him. It's kind of an interesting thing because it's guilt before actually proven guilty. Nothing would make the music community more happy than to see him become a musician, an artist, again." — jazz saxophonist Dave Koz.
"The fans really make your career. They buy all your albums, they support you, they show you love, so once you get on the fans' bad side, it's really hard to come back from that. A person like Mike, he's a humongous artist, so I don't know if it would be as hard for him as somebody else. But I definitely think he's in the doghouse with his fans." — rapper Jadakiss.
"There's no doubt the guy is a musical genius and he's brilliant. Whether we'd all want to admit it or not, he's shaped the music of a lot of us. We may never hear the rest of the art that's in him because of all that's going on, and that's a sad thing." — Steven Curtis Chapman, Grammy winner for pop-contemporary gospel album.
Article comments
1 - jason
If Micheal is cleared, the only work he is going to get is on The Surreal Life... too bad Cory might be able to halt even that from happening.
2 - Eric Olsen
if he is cleared of criminal AND civil charges, he may be able to resume a career, but i think he will have to make a vey clean break from the past, acknowledge "errors of judgment" or some such, and maybe get his old head back
3 - bhw
It ain't happenin' without some serious therapy and powerful medications. The man has completely disfigured his own face and can't fathom why people think he's odd for that or for having sleepovers with other people's adolescent sons. I really believe he's ill and won't change until he gets treatment, if ever.
He's a goner.
4 - Eric Olsen
sadly, I agree this is by far the most likely scenario
5 - Dawn
I thought Corey's statement was quite measured and lacking of even a hint of vindictiveness. Like he said, if someone had done that with his son, he would beat MJ's ass.
It comes down to the obvious, what kind of 35 year-old-man sits down with young boys and talks about infected weiners and hootches?
It's sick, really, really sick.
6 - Aaman
He should call Eminem - I'm sure he's a real friend
This guy is no genius - it's the sheer power of money and adulation at work. For the system to be trusted, it must work just as it would for any common willy-chaser
7 - wally bangs
Michael Jackson was a good dancer and a decent singer when he has good songs. His appearance is so repugnant now I can't even look at him. The plastic surgeons that did this crap to him should have a fun afterlife. But he was always a freak - there's an interview with him around the time of Off The Wall with Crawdaddy magazine where he says he would love to go to Ehtiopia to see what starving people are like.
8 - bhw
Dawn, I love your way with words!
The Cory Feldman thing is a little weird. It does reek of payback for being left behind in NY, even if he's ultimately finally being completely honest.
9 - Eric Olsen
the song lyrics were my first hint
10 - Dawn
Well, bhw, coming from you, that's a compliment :)
That is weird about the lyrics thing though.
Poor Corey
11 - Abraham
hey full what's your email address
12 - margaret_haggerty2003
michael jackson is very kind man and i think he is innocent and i think people should stop talking about him and leave him alone and let him get on with his life.