DrBenway
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2007
- Posts
- 2,122
- Likes
- 15
I hesitated before posting because of the inexcusably juvenile comments posted here and in the full-size headphone forum. I guess some people can't resist a cheap shot, no matter the situation. Long after the smirking comments have faded into the past, people around the world will listen to and love his music.
Leaving that aside, this is indeed a sad day. Yes, he was a deeply flawed man, but he was also one of the greatest pop musicians of all time. His career spanned decades, continents and genres; for many years, he literally defined the pop landscape. My twenties were suffused with his music as it boomed out of car radios, played constantly in clubs and at parties, and provided the soundtrack and visual vocabulary for the emerging MTV generation.
I say that despite the fact that I never really considered myself, at the time, a particurlarly big fan of his post-Jackson Five career. And yet, when I think back over the decades, I am amazed at how much of a presence Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad have in my memories and in my musical consciousness. And yeah, I've got a copy of Thriller, on vinyl. Two copies actually, because you had to have the picture disc (remember those?).
Thinking of him now, I recall a time before the Internet when stardom and celebrity required talent, not merely the willingness to do anything and everything in public. Today we are left with crass "superstars" who have his shortcomings, but none of the talent and musical joy that he brought to the world.
May he rest in peace.
His obituary from The New York Times.
Leaving that aside, this is indeed a sad day. Yes, he was a deeply flawed man, but he was also one of the greatest pop musicians of all time. His career spanned decades, continents and genres; for many years, he literally defined the pop landscape. My twenties were suffused with his music as it boomed out of car radios, played constantly in clubs and at parties, and provided the soundtrack and visual vocabulary for the emerging MTV generation.
I say that despite the fact that I never really considered myself, at the time, a particurlarly big fan of his post-Jackson Five career. And yet, when I think back over the decades, I am amazed at how much of a presence Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad have in my memories and in my musical consciousness. And yeah, I've got a copy of Thriller, on vinyl. Two copies actually, because you had to have the picture disc (remember those?).
Thinking of him now, I recall a time before the Internet when stardom and celebrity required talent, not merely the willingness to do anything and everything in public. Today we are left with crass "superstars" who have his shortcomings, but none of the talent and musical joy that he brought to the world.
May he rest in peace.
His obituary from The New York Times.
