WOW Michael Jackson ....dead?????

[Casey H]

Jul 3, 2009, 9:53pm, arthur wrote:Jul 3, 2009, 8:18pm, hurowitz wrote:This comment about how many of us review songs bothers me much more than your other posts. Some of us here (I consider myself one) give honest, critical reviews that are not simply pats on the back. I've given dozens of reviews whereby I told people their track was not broadcast quality, did not have a strong enough hook, had weak lyrics, had pitchy vocals, and so on. I am one of many who contribute that way and expect the same from our peers.Just because we don't give the feedback in a mean spirited way doesn't mean it's not honest and critical.But why don't you put your money where your mouth is and post a link to a song with lyrics? I'll do a thorough review for you.Caseyif your song gets cut/placed, it's a good songif your song doesn't get cut/placed, it's a bad songright?So, in other words you are not going to post any of your own music.

[arthur]

Jul 4, 2009, 7:18am, hurowitz wrote:Jul 3, 2009, 9:53pm, arthur wrote:if your song gets cut/placed, it's a good songif your song doesn't get cut/placed, it's a bad songright?So, in other words you are not going to post any of your own music.nope

[suzdoyle]

Jul 3, 2009, 9:51pm, arthur wrote:Jul 3, 2009, 6:53pm, suzdoyle wrote:There is a difference between healthy disagreements in which the inherent worth and dignity of each person is respected, and hostile name calling and provocation, which is obviously done to provoke people into recreational conflict.Not a game most of us here are interested in playing, no matter how much name calling you do, Arthur. I imagine you could find some more appropriate venues for this kind of activity. yes'mThat's more liked it! Now you can learn the secret "Taxi Moonie" handshake . . . (I hope you're wearing baggy pants and have an open car window handy) . . .

[mojobone]

I had decided not to post further in this thread, until the esteemed congressman from New York spoke out, and in terms very similar to Arthur's. Freak. Weirdo. Pervert. A nice bunch of not-very-nice labels.I'm aware that some folks see the universe through a filter that divides everything into black/white, right/wrong, something/nothing, etc., etc., and although I'm familiar with and concerned with moral absolutes-I am a preacher, after all- for me, these issues aren't so simple, there's a continuum between straight and gay, left handed and ambidextrous, yada, yada.So let's examine Michael Jackson's life as though all allegations were true. (though, as I mentioned before, unproven) How 'bout if Michael molested forty, sixty-hell let's just round it off at a hundred children, whom, it must be stipulated, are still alive, since no one alleges that he personally exterminated any. (and dang, that's really, really awful) But Michael Jackson co-wrote "We Are The World" a song which raised over 30 million dollars for African relief efforts. Now, I'd hesitate to claim that all those dollars got where they were supposed to go, or that any given dollar saved a given child, but if we assume that thirty dollars per child, properly applied, could raise them to an age where they need no longer fear the kinds of childhood illness that previously decimated the African population, that'd be a million kids alive, because of Michael Jackson. Except he was just a co-writer, y'know, Lionel Ritchie, and all, so make that half a million. Now, that particular song is just one of several that MJ donated to various causes, excluding all monies he donated to other charities AND those causes he lent his name to. NOW do we need another MJ? Please, God, give us a hundred, but don't make them suffer as he did.

[suzdoyle]

Well said, Mojo. A grief counselor once suggested that our response to situations is guided by an inner board of directors -- one which is made up of diverse abilities/ dis-abilities/ and moral compasses that can cause us to hold polar opposite feelings and responses to a situation. There's the hero, the whiner, the saint, the sinner, the maternal guide, the warrior, the one with infinite perseverance, the one who wants to end it all, etc. Each voice is an aspect of self (and of our collective cultural mores, whether absorbed consciously or unconsciously). Some aspects of self are more dominant that others, but ultimately, the entire "board of directors" votes upon what course of action to take, and each "voice" helped us shape a deeper perspective about matters.When thinking about things this way, it is easy to understand how we can hold divergent responses to things (e.g. holding both anger and compassion towards the perpetrator of a crime), and how we can behave in ways that exhibit seemingly incongruent values.I know a woman who creates incredible visionary art, deeply moving and spiritual. At the same time, she poisons neighborhood cats and treated her stepdaughters abusively so they were removed from her home. Which of those is her true nature? Or are all those things -- and more -- who she is?With celebrities, we tend to expect them to be one-dimensional characters, and we find it surprising when they turn out to be as human as everyone else -- full of noble accomplishments right alongside with less than noble ones.Not saying this explains anything specifically about the life of Michael Jackson or anyone else; but it helps me have compassion for the depth and breadth of human experience possible within each person and how much our lives travel upon the spectrum of possibility. ,Suz

[hiredgun]

What I can't believe is I outlived Michael. I never thought that would happen with my lifestyle.But after 3 wks of turning on the news and seeing wall to wall MJ. I have a news flash... MJ is still...... dead! Mj was a great artist. Sorry if I've offended any one but COME ON he was not mother Teresa and when she died they gave her a brief mention a nod and goodbye. It's like Anna Nicole on steroids, I guess train wrecks are more fun to talk about for the media Greg

[ibanez468]

Just to be fair, I remember when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, she was on the news for 2 months straight! How 'bout this...Brittany Spears is alive, and for a period of time, prior to Anna Nicole's death (I'd say about another 2 months) she was in the news daily on TV. Neither one of them is close to being Mother Teresa either, but there they were, everyday, the biggest news on TV. If I turned to another channel, there they were. This is what the media does. I swear, they don't seem ta' have a life of their own. They just seem to live life through others' problems & adversities. Especially celebrities! This is what they do, and get paid for. I suppose we'll just hafta' get used to it. Unfortunately, Mother Teresa wasn't a celebrity (at least in the media's eyes). So that kind of news probably doesn't draw the masses in, as much as the deaths of world-known, famous celebrities. They're the ones that put the emphasis on the types of news that they put out. This is how it goes. What're we gonna do?ibanez468

[jchitty]

Jul 7, 2009, 6:20am, ibanez468 wrote:Just to be fair, I remember when Anna Nicole Smith passed away, she was on the news for 2 months straight! How 'bout this...Brittany Spears is alive, and for a period of time, prior to Anna Nicole's death (I'd say about another 2 months) she was in the news daily on TV. Neither one of them is close to being Mother Teresa either, but there they were, everyday, the biggest news on TV. If I turned to another channel, there they were. This is what the media does. I swear, they don't seem ta' have a life of their own. They just seem to live life through others' problems & adversities. Especially celebrities! This is what they do, and get paid for. I suppose we'll just hafta' get used to it. Unfortunately, Mother Teresa wasn't a celebrity (at least in the media's eyes). So that kind of news probably doesn't draw the masses in, as much as the deaths of world-known, famous celebrities. They're the ones that put the emphasis on the types of news that they put out. This is how it goes. What're we gonna do?ibanez468 Absolutely, I-Man. Too much news coverage is given to celebrities now....and at the expense of very important news stories like what happened in Iraq and Iran the week that Michael died, (and what's still happening) the economy, the health care plan that's taking shape, etc.I'm sorry that Michael Jackson died, I don't wish ill will on anyone....but I think it's ridiculous to be devoting this much news coverage to a celebrity. Unfortunately, it seems to be what the public wants....a lot of people don't even know the name of their secretary of state, but they know Michael Jackson's name....that's telling. He was a very talented guy, yes, and he made people happy with his music (although the child sex abuse thing bothered me) but I'd rather hear more important news myself.

[cameron]

I couldn't agree more Chits. I just turned off the TV rather than listen to the rehash of "BREAKING NEWS: Michael Jackson is STILL dead!!" Have we really become this shallow? Wait don't answer that...I gotta go and work on my new song... it's called Achy Breaky Heart.

[jchitty]

Jul 7, 2009, 7:31am, cameron wrote:I couldn't agree more Chits. I just turned off the TV rather than listen to the rehash of "BREAKING NEWS: Michael Jackson is STILL dead!!" Have we really become this shallow? Wait don't answer that...I gotta go and work on my new song... it's called Achy Breaky Heart.Yeah, Cam, looks like we have become that shallow. I'm guessing that if the media had a news alert saying, "Warning, a huge meteor the size of the moon will be hitting us in 24 hours, people would turn the dial to watch details on celebrity funerals.