Anyone else creeped out by how popular Michael Jackson used to be?

[RandomKoolzip]

I knew there was something weird about him, even as a kid. But the dude sold more copies of a non-greatest hits album than anyone else, and for about a year between 1982 and 1984, he was unavoidable....did anyone sense he was hiding something back then? Did anyone start getting skeevy vibes from him back in the "Thriller" days? And does it bother anyone that this pedophile creep used to be the most popular man in the world?

[Dookus]

1. No

he was genuinely talented and made some great albums during that time. He also looked good - damn good in fact.

It was only after his mega-success that he started altering his appearance drastically and behaving nuts.

[RandomKoolzip]

5. I used to get a weird vibe about him back when he was popular.

I know he's fantasically talented, but there was something odd about him I couldn't put my finger on back then.

But doesn't it strike anyone else as bizarre that he USED to be the biggest noise in the universe? We, as a culture, seem to only know "Michael Jackson" as a punchline to a joke told late at night. Seeing clips of him from his heyday recently, I was struck by the fact that this was the same troubled person, except at one point, the guy had undeniable charisma....what would cause a person to fall so low?

[codegreen]

2. he was propped up by corporations and the media psuedo-culture

none of that was real, you know. it was the 80's, remember? just like now.

[Ramsey]

3. He used to be cool

Before he became an alien species.

Seriously, Off The Wall was brilliant pop music.

[Zomby Woof]

4. I was creeped out then and now

My feelings about him have remained unchanged since "Thriller" was the album every hip person in high school - and then some - had to have.

My sister had some Jackson 5 45's back in the day, and I didn't like those either.

[RandomKoolzip]

7. I liked the Jackson 5.

And I liked the singles from "Off the Wall." But "Thriller" ushered in this antiseptic, high-gloss, high-treble 80's production style, and its success validated artificiality as an aesthetic; it was triumph of surface, even though there was genuine soul underneath.

But, like I said, even though I never got into Jacksonmania in '83, I could tell that this guy was a fantastic singer. But he definitely made me feel a little funny.

[Zomby Woof]

10. I agree he had some well-crafted material

From a pop standpoint, he had an able crew to bring home the sound... perhaps it's Quincy Jones's fault "Thriller" was high gloss... just a matter of my taste that kept me from enjoying it.

And that same creepy feeling you got too, in 1983 and on.

[blondeatlast]

6. "Thriller" is just about the perfect pop album, IMVERYHO.

After "Thriller," though, something very bizarre happened.

He WAS an incredible talent.

[AlCzervik]

9. Off the Wall was my favorite MJ album

i never really like Thriller all that much, i think i got sick of hearing it all the time.

[Zomby Woof]

8. "Why Don't You Like Me?" - Zappa takes on Jackson

"He's white, Jim..."

Why don't you like me?
Why don't you like me?
Am I really that bad?
HE'S BAD, HE'S BAD
HE'S BAD, HE'S BAD


"I thing you're a jerk! I'm moving from you!"
"Make me a sandwich."
"I'm moving back to Venice."
"I'll be black."
"He's still white, Jim..."


I hate my mother
I hate my father
I hate my sister
And Jermaine is a negro!
A NEGRO! A NEGRO!
A NEGRO! A NEGRO!


"I thought he looked good -- what happened to you?"
"Please read this pamphlet."
"I'm so BAD!"


You take the monkey, I'll take the llama,
We'll have a party: get me a Pepsi --
Michael is Janet, Janet is Michael --
I'm so confused now --
Who is Diana?


He's oxygenated
His nose is deflated
And he thinks he looks good to you
And he thinks he looks good to you

[RandomKoolzip]

13. You forgot the part about Lando Calrissian and Alan Silvestri......

You Jezebel Boy!

[Zomby Woof]

14. I blame the pop-up-infested lyrics site

"Jeanne Kirkpatrick!"

Take it from me, BOB is not the illegitimate son of Michael Jackson!

[Gyre]

11. like Madonna isn't depraved.

The entire Hollyweird scene is just that. Amurrikkkans love their freakshows! Only one of the many reasons they "...hate us for our freedoms."

Gyre

[miss_kitty]

12. No

were we supposed to know how weird he was before it was so publically manifested?
I liked his stuff and the Jackson 5. Too bad he's such a nutted up mofo. :(

[theboss]

15. No....

At one time, he was an incredibly talented individual. He was always eccentric but so are a lot of other performers.

I had no idea he would become a combination of Howard Hughes and Jack the Ripper.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. just creeped out by Michael Jackson. Period