Response to Michael Jackson’s Passing

I think that the reason that music is so important in all human cultures is the ability of music to recall an emotional memory. Music can evoke the feelings of a previous love, a significant life event or a momentous decision in our lives and cause us to relive the event and perhaps to better understand our response to the event. However, especially with the music of pop stars, some fans make the mistake of assuming that the creator of the music has some keen insight and really understands the person, emotions and thoughts of the fan. Some fans transfer the sentiment, especially the sentiment of love, that the music evokes to the person who created the music rather than the person who created the emotional experience. I suppose that this is what explains the emotional outpouring following the passing of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was a stupendously successful musician whose style and skills influenced the music of those who followed and enriched the musical landscape. However, it seems to me that the fans are making him into something much more than he was. Although a skilled musician, he was a narcissistic, troubled, self absorbed individual who does not seem to me to be worthy of the adulation that he has garnered. I also find it troubling that so many people spend so much more time and effort staying current on the trivia of Michael Jackson’s life than on more important issues such as education, careers, public policy, etc. If only half of Michael Jackson’s fans spent as much time and effort understanding and speaking out on significant issues such as climate policy, the invasion of Iraq or health care reform then perhaps they could have made a more meaningful contribution to the quality of human existence.

I also believe that many people are exaggerating Michael Jackson’s contributions. As an example, I have heard it reported that Michael Jackson broke the race barrier that enabled subsequent black entertainers to appear on MTV when in fact Michael Jackson had nothing to do with MTV showcasing black entertainers. The Jackson Five were under contract to CBS Records in 1982 soon after MTV began broadcasting. CBS approached MTV requesting that MTV broadcast a Jackson Five music video for the song "Billie Jean". MTV refused stating that they had a policy of not broadcasting black entertainers. Walter Yetnikoff , then Chairman of CBS Records, threatened to pull other CBS artists from appearing on MTV and go public alleging that MTV was racist. Consequently, MTV changed their policy and broadcast the "Billie Jean” music video. It was Walter Yetnikoff, not Michael Jackson, who should be credited with breaking the race barrier.

Let’s keep things in perspective. Michael Jackson was a highly compensated singer. He didn’t cure cancer or make any significant contribution to the well being of humanity.