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Sanders: Time for media, world to move on to more important stories than Michael Jackson’s life, death
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Bob Ray Sanders
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Michael Jackson.
What’s left to say about him? That was my question for readers who called during the past week wondering when I would write something about the "King of Pop."
My first thought was something I’m sure entered the minds of many fans, though for a different reason. It was the Jackson hit single Never Can Say Goodbye. It seemed that for many days after his death June 25, there was no formal farewell in sight.
It seemed we never would say goodbye.
But now Jackson has been funeralized in a private service for this family and a stirring spectacular public memorial witnessed by hundreds of millions around the world.
Yet it is apparent that the star who initially captured our attention and imagination as a multitalented kid won’t be saying goodbye for decades to come. It’s possible that he will be a larger force in death than he was in life, despite recent personal and professional troubles.
Even we cynics have to admit that this nimble, moon-walking, gyrating phenomenon had an undeniable influence on popular music around the globe and on many artists from various genres who would come after him.
He set a creative standard that few will match, and we can only hope that his example of business acumen (owning his own music and others’) and philanthropy will be followed by more young entertainers and sports figures.
Of course, there will be those who will forever dwell on the criminal charges brought against him and on his proclivity to change his physical features. Regarding the charges, he was never convicted; and, pertaining to the evolving look, that was his prerogative.
Having said that, I’ll admit that sometimes Jackson was as eccentric as he was gifted.
Still, most of his fans stayed with him, through the graphic trial testimony, the confusing marriages, the adult Jackson’s childlike naivete, his unexplained illnesses and occasional reclusiveness and his apparent growing dependency on prescription drugs.
Then comes his untimely death just weeks before he was to begin his comeback tour that was to showcase a 50-year-old doing the moves of someone less than half his age. Limited footage of the rehearsals suggests that although a bit on the frail side, Jackson had gotten himself up for the task of wowing his audiences in true Thriller fashion.
The news coverage of his sudden demise would rival that of Princess Diana. Broadcast news was consumed with reporting every detail, speculation and rumor about the cause of death, his children’s future, his reportedly enormous debt, potential long legal battles over his estate and his legacy.
Newspapers, which this year have been cutting staff and newsprint during severe budget crises, were adding pages to their daily runs to keep up with the Michael Mania.
World leaders offered their condolences, and fans in various nations and cultures were crying, dancing in the streets and singing the lyrics of his most famous tunes, such as Beat It.
From the first confirmation of his death, people in this country had begun to debate the significance of his life, his fame and his place in pop history. The inevitable arguments over who was the greatest ensued: Was Jackson more famous/popular/influential than Elvis? The Beatles? Frank Sinatra? Will he be remembered longer than they?
Recording companies are having a tough time keeping up with demands for his music.
Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, should the family and his estate be able to hang on to it, no doubt will become the West Coast Graceland, except much bigger. It is the place where Jackson’s family feels he should be buried permanently.
Perhaps all of that is fitting, because Jackson was a star for which the word icon is not an overstatement and the word genius is not misapplied.
Sadly, because of pending financial lawsuits, potential custody battles, increasing music sales and the ongoing investigation into his death, the Michael Jackson news cycle is nowhere close to being over.
Although Jackson is dead, the earth is still spinning on its axis, there are still wars and rumors of wars, still famine and pestilence, political turmoil and triumphs, poverty and overall economic crisis and more.
While we may not ever say goodbye to Michael Jackson, let us at least make room in our news coverage for other significant world events that will have a greater impact on our lives than the life and death of a single pop star.
