Anything happen while I was gone?

Unless you've been on Big Brother or hibernating for the past week, you'd know that Michael Jackson died in California last week. Since then the TV news has been 50% or more MJ tribute/scandal free-for-all since then. You'd think that Iran's Ahmedniwhatever's praying 24/7 for the stroke of luck. (Mark Sanford's doing his best to undercut his, though)

Since 1991, Jackson had become less of an singer/musician and more of a brand. A brand that allowed for all-day celebrity coverage. It's actually been his primary career for the past 10 years (being generous, here). In fact, you could say that Michael was the prototype for the "crazy" celebrity infatuation that America has today. Paris Hilton? Her best promotional antics don't compare to Jackson floating a giant replica of himself down the Thames River in London. Lindsay Lohan? MJ for a while had the bank on wondering what fucked up thing he'll be doing next. Speidi? After the big court trials he's gone through, who blazed the trail the car wreck of a career he's had?

Like a lot of people, I'm very torn over what I thought about Jackson as a person, an entertainer, and a movement. I can't deny he made some of the best pop music my generation has ever heard. Between his Jackson Five transition from bubblegum soul to disco, Jackson for a while unbelievably had the "cool" dance music.

I think the turn of events was mostly between his obvious disfiguring sets of plastic surgery, and the scandals erupting over charges of child molestation. And instead of hitting the world with facts head-on, deception (in the denials of surgery) and carelessness (having kids still coming over to Neverland during the whole pedophilic investigation) soured me to a man who I felt thought that no one could touch him.

The sad thing was, in his career he was touched as the plastic product of 80's pop gave way to the slovenly rock and criminal deification of rap. It was then that his life was more about how messed up he is than what is he working on.

Even this latest string of 50 concerts seemed like a pipe dream, as even those in good shape would be hard-pressed to put it off. I saw the snippet of concert rehearsal from MSNBC, and sat aghast that he was probably going to attempt to lipsync his way through 50 shows, as all his previous performances for the past 15 years or so were.

But, it's not for me to judge. It is freeing to just appreciate Jackson's work as an artist. I just hope the Britneys and the Lohans of the world learn a lesson of how far fame can run you down.