Michael Jackson: Pop Culture takes it on the chin

The loss of M.J. is sad, that is true, but I didn’t know him personally.  I didn’t know what kind of real person he was.  All I had was the TV to tell me he was great, a genius, a child molester, a philanthropist, world ambassador, a music video pioneer, shy, a recluse, wanna-be white, black Elvis, and other true or false ideas that TV says is true or false.  Regardless of the TV News or tabloid journalism, I liked his music from 1979 to 1993 and his music videos.  Plus he was a huge part of the American Pop Culture of the 1980’s and into the 1990’s and certainly had a positive influence on non-American societies.

American Pop Culture is what helped bring down the Soviet Union.  It’s also what foreign countries try to guard against in addition to American democratic ideals: anti-American sentiment always begins with attacking the Pop Culture, not the politics.  MJ successfully integrated himself into a Pop Culture that was at its most fierce, and influential,  in all of American History, thus successfully putting himself at the head of American exported products to be bought by new non-American consumers.  American Pop Culture always leads to consumerism and that is a good thing–economically speaking.  As such, he was the vanguard for many years into Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.  American characteristics blatantly, like a tsunami wave, make there way into the hearts and minds of teenagers and twenty-somethings.  Of course, democratic and capitalistic ideas tend to make their ways into the non-American society–just look at Poland or any other ex-Soviet satellite state.   Western Europe was already won-over with American Pop Culture but received MJ with open arms.  The purpose of American Culture isn’t to Americanise foreign countries but to create new consumers.  Buy an American car, buy American jeans, buy American music, buy American movies, Buy American!

In addition, this musical icon of course had influence on narrative music videos and how a musical star should work with merchandising and publicity and good showmanship (at concerts)  in order to stay in the forefront of consumers’ minds and wallets.  Not to paint Michael Jackson as just a business man, but since he was a music pioneer with Popular Music (Pop Music) that he became both a successful musician/performer and business man.  There is nothing wrong with making money because it’s part of making a living.  The influence MJ had on the music business is still felt today and no one has come close to the success of ‘Thriller”.  Now, before anyone in the music business says “The success of ‘Thriller’ will never be repeated because we are in an age of downloading sites, peer-to-peer sharing, illegal copying, and just general music piracy,” I say that is completely false.  Back in 1982 people would have what is called a “radio with cassette recorder/player” and insert a blank tape and tape songs using the built-in cassette recorder/player.  Well, people still went out and bought his album (a flattened black disk about 12 inches in diameter known as a ‘record’).  “Thriller” couldn’t be released today because the music has changed but if MP3’s and download sites and peer-to-peer sharing was available back in 1982, I say “Thriller” would STILL have been as successful as it was because it was just that good and different and supported by many good music videos and it was a WORLD WIDE success, not just in a certain part of the United States of America.

Finally, American Pop Culture has taken a hit on the chin.  Pop Culture has taken a hit not because catchy tunes are missing or fancy dance moves are missing but the feel-good feeling of Pop Music is missing.  Michael Jackson has been missing from Pop Music since the mid-1990’s and he was hoping to try to capture that magic with his final tour.  American Pop Culture is still out there, beyond the USA.  But a new front-man is needed:  Someone who has a positive image and would be willing to be a good-will  ambassador that brings out the best of all people in the world.  A sports figure won’t cut it, and the USA doesn’t have a sports figure who can appeal to all people of the world–poor, starving, black, white, non-Christian, etc.  Besides, sports figures are all about themselves and the money–The Dream Teams of the past 13 years are proof of that.  As for musicians Madonna would be the next in line for the Pop Culture crown but her religion will alienate too many people because she allows her religion to be in the forefront of who she is–compared to the Pop Music wonder Madonna of the the early 1980’s.  The 1980’s Madonna could take the Pop Culture crown but today’s Madonna cannot hold a candle to the King of Pop’s professional legacy.

There is a void in American Pop Culture that will not be filled any time soon.  American Pop Culture will not be as influential for a long time, and that could mean American culture might be open to outside influences, especially racially motivated propaganda (thanks to uneducated you-know-who that don’t like non-whites, but lets not point fingers and focus on MJ).

Michael Jackson is missed and it is sad that he is gone.  But the basis of the sadness is that we miss the memories he invokes with his music.  I remember where I was and what I was doing when I first heard the song “Thriller”.  I miss those days.  It is the memories MJ sparks now that I am years removed from the hay-days of childhood memories.  I wasn’t crying for MJ’s death, but the finallity of the past and the good-ol-days.