Tribute For Michael Jackson, RIP MJ » Tribute http://tributeformj.com Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:22:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 End Of An Epic Era of Pop Music With Michael Jackson’s Death, RIP http://tributeformj.com/end-of-an-epic-era-of-pop-music-with-michael-jacksons-death-rip/ http://tributeformj.com/end-of-an-epic-era-of-pop-music-with-michael-jacksons-death-rip/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:21:10 +0000 Pam http://tributeformj.com/?p=48 Michael Jackson’s death marks an end of pop music. He brought a truly global colour to music that transcended narrow categories of race and nation. No wonder five of his solo studio albums were ranked among the world’s best-selling records with Thriller topping the list as the biggest hit of all the time. He popularized a number a physically complicated dance techniques such as the robot and the moonwalk and his unique sound and distinctive vocal style influenced hip hop, pop and contemporary artists.

His colossal celebrity also drew forth ambiguous Dr Jekyll-and-Mr Hyde-sort of response; while one section of the media dutifully put him on a pedestal another loved to tear into him, exploiting his highly controversial past and quirky lifestyle choices.

The king of pop also become embroiled in a series of soul-searing legal wrangles; although the mega-star was acquitted of all charged of pedophilia and drug abuse, the travails seemed to have extracted a heavy toll in terms of mental and physical health.

If he seemed ‘invincible’, destined for yet another comeback. It was due to the sheer magic of his towering talent and enviable fan following. The public reactions to Jackson’s sudden death reminded your columnist of the Greek philosopher Socrates’ to death on trumped up charges of “ corrupting the youth of Athens” and “ failing to revere local gods”

As he faced death by drinking hemlock, the philosopher is said to have ruminated about the possibility of afterlife: death to him was either a termination or continuation.

If it was the former, one could liken it to dreamless sleep, which was rather pleasant. And if it was the latter, death could be passage to another place or dimension call it limbo, Hades, or Yamalaya.

This could be pleasant if one get to hang around with heroes like Archies or poets like Virgil ( not to forget heroines Helene, Beatrice or Houris of Gahanna). Ultimately Socrates went beyond a simple either/ or choice. He concluded by saying that only God the answer to the mystery of death.

Likewise, Jackson’s music paid the strongest tribute to life, energy and movement. It was charecterised by quality, “risk, invention and musicality”, to quote a memorial tribute in “ The Wall Street Journal”. His lasting legacy is his music, the extraordinary body of work he leaves behind”.

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]]> http://tributeformj.com/end-of-an-epic-era-of-pop-music-with-michael-jacksons-death-rip/feed/ 0 Michael Jackson Was A Star The World Could Not Ignore http://tributeformj.com/michael-jackson-was-a-star-the-world-could-not-ignore/ http://tributeformj.com/michael-jackson-was-a-star-the-world-could-not-ignore/#comments Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:41:30 +0000 Pam http://tributeformj.com/?p=41 Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world.
Michael Jackson, the ultimate showman, craved attention and was rarely disappointed.

Michael Jackson, the ultimate showman, craved attention and was rarely disappointed.

Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the "King of Pop." The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft.

While his career -- and wealth -- had waned greatly in recent years, there was still enough support for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour. Fans from as far afield as Japan, Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets.

Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv, Israel, when "Thriller" first dropped and witnessed first-hand how Jackson became an international icon.

His was a global appeal, Greenberg said, among fans and artists worldwide.

"He was as big in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as he was in America and Europe," Greenberg said. "He had that universality that not many people had. The Beatles had it, Muhammad Ali had it, but not many other people have had it."

Jackson was known for far more than his music though. Speaking after his death in Los Angeles was announced, U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer" in helping people around the world through his charities.

Sharpton added that the song Jackson co-wrote with Lionel Richie, "We Are the World," a 1985 charity single that raised an estimated $50 million for famine relief in Africa, ushered in Live Aid and the era of celebrity philanthropy.

Jackson was the supreme showman who had an unrivalled knack of grabbing headlines. From his precocious abilities as the 11-year-old singer in the Jackson 5 to his legendary "moon-walk" dance, the star craved attention, and was rarely disappointed.

But in the years after his colossal 1982 hit album "Thriller" and its 1987 follow-up "Bad," much of the focus did not cast him in a good light.

In 1996 the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker, caused a furor at the Brit Awards in London when he invaded the stage during Jackson's performance of "Earth Song" in protest "at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing."

Jackson failed to see the humor in Cocker's mockery, responding that he was "sickened, saddened, shocked, upset, cheated, angry" by the protest. He also alleged that Cocker had attacked children on stage, something that the Pulp singer denied. But many in the music industry backed Cocker, who was arrested but later released without charge.

The theme of children was one that continued to haunt Jackson. In 2002 he caused a public outcry by dangling his baby son Prince Michael II from a third-floor hotel balcony in Germany before the world's press. He later said he regretted the incident.

And in a 2003 interview with British journalist Martin Bashir that was supposed to repair his image around the world, the singer revived allegations of child abuse when he said of sharing a bed with a young boy: "It's a beautiful thing. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"

A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of sexually molesting 12-year-old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson surrendered himself to police amid a media furor.

In the 2005 trial conducted in the glare of the world's media spotlight, Jackson was cleared of child molestation charges. Following the trial, Jackson's finances took a hit and he was forced to sell his Neverland ranch in California.

He later kept a low profile in the United States and spent time in Britain, where his friends included psychic spoonbender Uri Geller and Harrod's owner Mohamed Al Fayed, and also in Bahrain.

But in November last year, Jackson was sued by an Arab sheikh at the High Court in London for $7.7 million. They parted "amicably" after agreeing a settlement.

Jackson had been invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain by the king's son, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who lavished money on Jackson and built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums by Jackson using material the sheikh had helped to write.

But Jackson insisted there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh's case was based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence." He said sums of money paid out by the sheikh were "gifts."
As fans around the world mourn it is likely Michael Jackson will be remembered as a musical hero -- but also a man with human flaws.

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]]> http://tributeformj.com/michael-jackson-was-a-star-the-world-could-not-ignore/feed/ 0 Demand Will Only Grow for Michael Jackson Merchandise http://tributeformj.com/demand-will-only-grow-for-michael-jackson-merchandise/ http://tributeformj.com/demand-will-only-grow-for-michael-jackson-merchandise/#comments Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:12:56 +0000 Pam http://tributeformj.com/?p=37 If you sell it, they will come. And they are.

Prices are expected to grow for Michael Jackson autographs like the one he gave this young fan in 2002.

That's the hope at least for many offering Michael Jackson related merchandise and memorabilia, including autographed items and domain names, in the wake of his surprising death.

Almost 20,000 items were up for sale after his death on the popular auction site eBay, where collectors could snap up everything from the rare to the ridiculous.

Among the many T-shirts, record albums, DVDs and posters, there were also magazines about Jackson, dolls and copies of newspapers announcing his death.

There were Michael Jackson gloves (sparkly, of course), masks, wigs, sunglasses and fedora hats. Anyone in the mood for some senior soda could try and win an auction for an unopened six-pack of Pepsi from the 1984 Jacksons world tour.

For those seeking to establish Web sites, domain names were available including "ILoveYouMichael.com," which was selling for the "buy it now" price of $5,000. Officials at eBay said that compared with the daily average of the week prior, Thursday's gross merchandise volume for Jackson memorabilia increased by 275 percent and sold items increased by 210 percent.

New listings were up 61 percent, while the average selling price of items had increased by 31 percent.

Online merchant CafePress also offered a variety of items, including mugs, "R.I.P. Michael Jackson" magnets and dozens of T-shirt designs, including one screened with a drawing of tennis legend Billie Jean King and the words "not my lover."

Some of the hottest items may turn out to be the ones bearing Jackson's signature.

On eBay, bids for what the buyer claimed was a signed Michael Jackson guitar had reached almost $1,300 by Friday afternoon.

Jerry Ohlinger, owner of Jerry Ohlinger's Movie Material Store in New York, predicted that although Jackson was generous in giving autographs, the price for a legitimate autograph probably will at least double from the $150 to $300 range it was prior to his death.

"He would sign autographs whenever he appeared in person," Ohlinger said. "For instance, he visited our store at least three times, and he signed autographs for all of the employees."

As a comparison, Ohlinger said, an autograph for the late actress Marilyn Monroe, who also was known to sign a great deal during her lifetime, sells for about $5,000 because of great demand.

As of Friday, items purported to be autographed photos of Jackson were ranging in price from just over $5 to several thousand dollars.

There is no way to predict whether there will be a sudden influx in demand for Michael Jackson memorabilia and merchandise, Ohlinger said.

All of the hoopla would probably tickle the pop icon, who Ohlinger said was himself a fan of star items.
Whenever Jackson would visit Ohlinger's Manhattan store, he would shop for vintage photos of some of the legendary ladies of cinema, including his very dear friend Elizabeth Taylor, Ohlinger recalled.

On June 28 2009 eBay had ov 50.000 Michael Jackson themed items listed on the site. Some say everyone around the world is cleaning out their closets. Over time the truely valuble memorbilia will bubble to the surface. Michael Jacksone autographed guitars are selling for around $10.000.oo

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