I was in a Greek restaurant in Wood Green on Thursday night when news started to break that Michael Jackson was dead. Couldn't quite believe it, and have spent the past two days watching it all unfold...
Just watching tonight's BBC2 documentaries charting his life and his music, have reminded me what an absolute genius he was, and for those of us who were young in the 70's he has truly provided a soundtrack for our lives.
What a terrible shame, doubly so given maybe if he was given the right care and support he may never have died... How terrible that we build our stars up and then go on to destroy them.
Boy the pressure of that 50 date comeback tour at O2 - purely to get himself out of a financial fix - must have weighed so heavily on his mind. Can you IMAGINE the pressure?
And how terrible that 'friends' now appear from the woodwork to reflect & comment on how he went into meltdown - when perhaps THEY could have, and SHOULD HAVE, been there to help and support.
Michael Jackson, troubled soul, you RIP.
God bless.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
46 comments:
But that's the way with life, isnt' it? When you do good, nobody remembers it. If you've been bad, everybody bl**dy remembers it. They can't wait to shred you.
Then you die, and all they can talk about is the good stuff about you. Do we really have to die before people remember the good that we have done?
A1
Music is a business. Michael Jackson was part of that business.
Our young people are led to believe through programmes like "The Apprentice" that ruthlessness and business go hand in hand.
It is hardly surprising when the lice come out of the woodwork after the ingredients have died.
Why "its business - don't you know"!!!!
At least that's how the lice would have you believe.
What a loss! Words can't describe. Even in his death, there are those who have focused on the bad stuff.
There are those of us who will always remember the boogie times irrespective of what became of the genius.
A genius indeed, but like most geniuses ultimately a troubled one. Its hard being so great at something I can tell you.
C
As you bite deeper into the illusion, so you get closer to that place called Genius.
For the few out there, this journey takes them to a very lonely place indeed.
Imagine being so smart that you cannot identify with the real world.
If ever there were evidence that this world is simply an illusion.
Michael Jackson is it.
Best you don't play - lest you slip into this illusory dance.
I would pay that price. I would rather be a genius, live life to the fullest, illusions and all, than be mediocre.
A1
One mans Genius, is another mans mediocre.
The men who built the atomic bomb - were they Genius's or were they mediocre?
Those rewarded at the very top of our nations are often called Genius... but how so much better off would we be without them?
We would survive without the pathological traits of the bourgeosie.
I think genius is about making sense of how people feel, shining a light on it. When they watch /see / hear / read what you have to say, they get that shiver of recognition, it gives shape to what they feel.
Michael did this with his music, for others it might be Lou Reed or Curt Cobain.
The source that genius's get their inspiration from, is there for everyone. You can choose to stay in your comfort zone or dig deeper and dare to look outside the box.
There is a journey there for everyone if they have the desire for it.
And why the hell have I just received a dodgy email from someone from power ball, something I don't play, telling me I have won $1,000,000.00 !!!!!!!
I was once called a Genius. But the man who said was an idiot.
lol
Stephen
You are a genius.
C
'Imagine being so smart that you cannot identify with the real world.'
Stephen, I was thinking this is perhaps how some autistic people feel as well, then came across these interesting articles in The Telegraph and The Economist
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/sciencenews/3326317/Albert-Einstein-found-genius-through-autism.html
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13489714
Hani
These are very interesting articles indeed Hani, thank you.
I have always thought that those who are most able to immerse themselves in the illusion, are in effect, defective in some way.
It is unlikely that the so called "normal personalities" would ever undertake the journey of those deemed mentally and emotionally sick.
From the disordered mind comes a spectrum of choice, action and beauty that can only be witnessed by those deemed mentally healthy.
For most, its all about being a spectator.
They love to watch the defective chimps dance.
I understand what you mean Stephen. One of my favorite Artists, Vincent Van Gogh springs to mind. Poor tormented soul, how he suffered.
Hani
Yes and Salvador Dali would try and make himself go mad in order to produce more powerful expressions.
He even got scientific about it and produced his "paranoiac critical method".
This enabled him to see, feel and express in greatly more colourful ways.
This "systemization of confusion" was his attempt at bringing credibility to his own defective mind.
How so much an artist is the man who splashes paint for profit - than the man who just has it in him to dance? Yet it is sad that this dance comes at such a high price.
Hi everyone, long time to post a comment, but thought I'd let you all know I am still alive.
Have a new email address also, just in case anyone has been emailing me at the old one, especially you Mr C;
jason@giraffepress.co.uk
thedlog
Michael died because he had a disordered mind.
He had "Perfectionalism Disorder".
He lived life in an illusory bubble of expectation. As he pushed himself closer to the illusion of perfection, so too did he push his mind and body beyond a point of no return.
Who would have thought that the pursuit of perfection could cause so much damage.
But it does.
I myself am much happier being mediocre, than living the lie of the failed perfectionist.
Zonkers to terms like "Perfectinalism Disorder" and "pathological traits of the bourgeosie."
Who are you to prescribe what's wrong with whoever, Stephen? And so what if you've been successful and been there and done that?
DUNNO WHAT YOU MEAN AND I DON'T CARE! I AM GOING TO BE REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL.
Although, with due respect, Michael Jackson, R.I.P.
& Stephen, you are entitled to your views of course :-), even if mediocre...if that's what you want to be.
So there, said it all. Off to barbecue now. Burn some flesh.
A1
The problem is A1 is you are asking the wrong question.
You assume that you are not already successful. So therefore you seek success.
If you assumed instead that you were already successful then you wouldn't need to strive to become successful. You wouldn't need to strive for what you were already.
So what to you is success A1?
I guess this would be having MORE THINGS or BEING ACKNOLWEDGED MORE.
Pray tell us what this success of yours truly is?
A1
I think the genius does have a point. Success is a moving target for most people which is ultimately why they are unfulfilled. Redefine what success means for you and suddenly mediocrity doesn't seem so bad. Oh no hang on that cannot be right. Er, you cease to strive er, that's not right either.
If you want a fulfilled life be happy when you master the art of breathing. Want to progress to more advanced stuff and you need to have a changing definition of success. It may leave you ultimately unfulfilled but boy do you get to shag a lot of women along the way (ok I have a very shallow definition but its all mine).
C
Mr C, so much for the genius having a point..... .One man's mediocre another man's peni..... I mean genius.
So, like I said, I don't care. I define myself and my own standards and I will make it real.
A1
I'm sure this won't be popular, but I really can't see what all the fuss is about. Michael Jackson is a talented dancer and has written some good pop songs, but are we to fall into the trap of assuming that singers and dancers are more important than people that really did make an impact on our lives? What about Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Marie Curie, Thomas Crapper et al. Sure they did not get on 'Britain's Got Talent' but their impact on our lives has been more pervasive and enduring.
I suspect that we have not had a 'decent Lady Diana' moment in the country for some time and the newspapers have run out of stories on MP's expenses, so poor Michael's death came at exactly the right time for them.
In musical terms, the word talent is also subjective. Michael Jackson's talent is more about style (presentation) than substance. I doubt that Beethoven, Django Reinhardt et al would have commanded such volumes of press attention. It is indeed a personal tragedy for his family and friends, but it just cannot be considered to be so important as the press have made it.
Peter
Yes, i very much agree with you Peter.
I have never seen so many fragile people surrounded by so many "insincere" self interested parties.
I felt the same way when Lady Diana died.
I look forward to the day when the BBC is no more and the people doing the reporting and creating the music and doing the dancing are the ordinary folks.
The Youtube generation.
When that time comes we will all be heard.
Not just the bourgeosie.
I know we were going on about MJ and Lady Diana and Stephen's bourgeosie and voices.
However, I had a "moment" this morning and really had to tell you. I was reflecting on my new business this morning and I am just about to break even. The sheer joy this brought me - you cannot imagine. So much blood, toil, sweat, disappointment before arriving at this milestone (even though it has only been about a month, really).
So really, this morning, I measured success in terms of how much I have had to give up, sacrifice, do, feel, manage, keep going on, keep chipping away at those closed doors just to get there.
That's how I am measuring my success. And I am not for one minute sitting down because of this achievement. The yardstick moves up and I am now all set to meet new standards. Maybe these new standards are mediocre, maybe they are paltry, but getting there after putting in so much - that is success to me.
Thank you Rachel!!!!!!!!!!!
A1
It should also be thank you Stephen!
A1
I think I can totally relate to that A1. I know exactly how you feel. I relate my successes to achieving certain milestones and overcoming stumbling blocks. It's quite elating when you 'win'.
Anne
To winners and to winning some more. And even when we have lost, we must force ourselves to somehow learn the lesson in the losing, painful and disheartening as it can be, and forge ahead to win some more.
A1
Am I on a motivational streak today or what? Lemme at it!!!!!!
Take that, you lousy losing de-motivating incidents and all your elements!
I am standing up on you again and using you to move higher up and nearer to my goal. No big deal.
A1
Well done A1, it is great to feel so excited and engaged. Wishiing you great success.
Hani
Problem is A1 - what goes up must come down. I guess people have to keep themselves amused for a time.
All i say is don't believe in the game too intensely.
It can send you half way around the bend.
And what you do really isn't that important to the rest of us. Well unless you're going to turn the economic situation in this country around.
People will give you encouragement even when your heading off a cliff.
Of course Stephen but since I only have such a short time revelling in the up, I am going all out for it.
And of course I am not as important as those people busy turning the economic situation in this country around. Whatever gave you that idea? In fact, we should be heading round the bend very soon with these very important people....so listen up and follow them very carefully Stephen (since they are the only ones who matter to you).
A1
The powers that be are only important to me in the sense that they have been found out to be the most shocking game players.
What i am saying to the so called "ordinary man" - is don't play their games.
The capitalist system is a pyramid where the many support the few.
I may well be part of the lower pyramid, but i am different in the sense i understand how and why they play their infantile, abusive games.
Spiritually. I will never play.
Success is an illusion for the few to hypnotise the many.
I thinks this poem by Rudyard Kipling puts it all into perspective especially the line about 'Triumph and Disaster'.
IF
IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
Off to Ludlow now, enjoy your Sunday.
Hani
I also found aspiration to be an imposter.
As is purpose, meaning, loneliness, competition and boredom.
Kipling was a member of the secret masonic bourgeosie. So his interpretation of the perfect man would only apply to those whose cosy little existence would allow them the time and support to live up to such a definition.
But he was right about Triumph and Distaster being imposters.
Ooh...secret masonic bourgeosie.....ooh...impostors....ooh...all very clever and wow!!! you even yawned - just for effect. Impressive. Hm....
Although I have no idea what you're going on about. And really, no need to explain. Spare the details. And please, don't go on about the dark powers that be... lalala....and how people only get what they want to get or people who get you are the people who get it or that you're just too deep for us to get.......I also won't get that one.
Just chill and enjoy the rest of Sunday.
A1
You should learn to accept all kinds of people and all kinds of opinion A1.
There is no such thing as absolute concensus on reality.
Well not unless we all become totally brainwashed.
And so should you. Practice what you preach.
A1
I accept all A1. But i have much to tell myself.
ohmmmmmmm....
Peace to you too.
A1
Stephen. you can be so negative sometimes. Not very motivating. That's what A1 is on about reckon.
I'm not trying to be negative anonymous.
I'm just trying to help people cut through the hype and to understand how power is being misused, both in business and political life.
If that is negative, then that is a true reflection of what is really happening.
You should learn to accept all kinds of people and all kinds of opinion Stephen.
There is no such thing as absolute concensus on reality.
Well not unless we all become totally brainwashed.
A1
Exactly A1. Exactly.
No probls BS.tephen. Merely helping you cut through your own hype and to understand how power is being misused, both in business and political life.
If being positive pisses you off, then that is a true reflection of what is really happening.
A1
Duality is an imposter A1.
Negatives vs. Positives.
I heard some people being positive the other day. They were making a success of killing some other people in Afghanistan.
Positive is relative BS.
The Ford motor car was a roaring success. Very positive indeed. Now it accounts for a large percentage of environmental defects.
We don't need positive thinking.
In fact we need no thinking at all.
Thought is the main reason why everything is so fucked up.
People know whats right and wrong, they don't need to use positive thinking as you say. 'Positive' just fabricated bourgeosie brainwashing.
Stephen. If you were so open to all other opinions and the need for no thinking, then why label concepts that you don't agree with BS, or, as you favour - sweep them under the carpet with the grand term "bourgeosie" ? Classification requires some form of thought.
Your short spell into reclusion - you can hardly survive without the attention, can you, Stephen? How very bourgeosie.....dancing to the tune like a clown as you sit and wait eagerly for a response.
I don't quite know how positive and negatives came into this...Oh well, I guess you love the sound of your voice and tone so much, anything goes.....
A1
why label concepts that you don't agree with BS, or, as you favour - sweep them under the carpet with the grand term "bourgeosie" ? Classification requires some form of thought.
The tied of misery is perpetuated by the bourgeosie and carried by ordinary folk. So called "thought" will eventually lead to the anihilation of this planet. You don't need thought to be decent to one another.
Your short spell into reclusion - you can hardly survive without the attention, can you, Stephen? How very bourgeosie.....dancing to the tune like a clown as you sit and wait eagerly for a response.
touche. Yes i am lonely sometimes.
I don't quite know how positive and negatives came into this...Oh well, I guess you love the sound of your voice and tone so much, anything goes......
You mentioned that being positive for me was a problem. I don't think in terms of positive or negative. I just say what i feel. And to me, the world is run by a bunch of selfish twits who more recently seem to have gone stark raving mad.
Post a Comment