What is it about death? Does being dead give people the libety to praise unbashedly and criticize with frequent fervour? I am not saying that it should not be done - but why praise someone when that person is dead? Why not praise people when they are still alive and can feel happy at being appreciated?
Take the case of MJ. Most of us have grown up with his music. Whether it was just another reason to dance or a reason to understand music or the joy of discovering that Indian culture (albeit in a small way then) was put on an international platform (rem the lady who dances in the middle of the road - in the black or white song?)
What makes the event of a celebrities death so - shall we say "special"? SUddenly you find him being discussed in all possible channels, in all possible forums - big or small. Whether it is malicious gossip, dragging skeletons out of his closet with headlines like - "He wore a fake nose!" to "He was bankrupt" to the number of children he has or doesnt have. Recently his charred lock of hair is being turned into diamonds I find. Wonder which crazy fan would buy that?
But the idea is not to talk about his controversial life or the skeletons people are digging out of his closet. He was a legend and the craze with which people take you up, perhaps they exhibit the same madness in bringing you down. Just another way of being able to say - hey look, he doesnt have everything now, does he? Anyway, thats my skeptical opinion about the world.
But I want to perhaps look at the other side of this. Why was the world not able to recognize and appreciate his genius when he was alive. Why was he not considered for knighthood or Nobel Prize, as he is being considered now? Why were fans not able to praise and download or buy his music with the same amount of fervour that they are doing now? Why is it that death makes us go to extremes and perhaps take that extra effort to praise that someone special.
Perhaps more people live in the moment than they realize..:)
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ReplyDeleteJust as Michael got lost in his isolation the world lost a connection with him and his music..
ReplyDeleteand so did he with himself!
I think the concert was his attempt at reconnecting with that gift in him.And showing his children and his fans and himself that he had not lost it all.Someone pushed too far with the 50 show proposition.And then they wonder what killed him!!
In their hearts MJ fans were saddened with each bizzare headline that was made about him.The worlds favourite rockstar an incredibly talented man a philanthropist and a gentle soul being tainted all over and from the looks of it he was becoming his own victim!The once strong and cute angel looking more and more plastic... frail...his light and life diminishing!
In the era of sensational journalism his life was under constant scrutiny and object of ridicule.Reality TV is the thing of today but Michael has been part of it all his life.Can we really blame him for not seeming normal!Whatever that is by his countrymens standards!!
He hit back with his words and then finally gave up when he had nothing more to say or give.Probably he realised theres more than just black or white in this world ..there grey and green!
This last decade saw more sordid and sinister matters such as terrorist attacks,iraq war,epidemics,tsunamis, sex and the city etc etc and it overshadowed everything else prior to the decade.
Everything changed...the news...the audience's sense and sensibilities..the entertainment business ...these days everyone is talented and gets their 15 minutes of fame and life moves on and so MJ was history!
Only his death made us realise once again how much we have lost. Now that one listens to his poignant lyrics soulful serenades and watches him dance one realises how way ahead of his times he was.And he did it ALL himself.Think,write,give life and perform his music and thats the real talent that he had.He probably defined the entertainment business of today!An ICON!
They killed that in him long back..they killed the music in him and gave him pain killers to die slowly!!And now everyone feels the pain of that slow death...and so we want to Reconnect...with Michael...