I love the video by Jsmooth about striking a balance between the artist, the microphone and the camera. It’s poignant and to the point.
For me, Michael’s story is similar to that of Echo and Narcissus. Like Narcissus, Michael perfected his dance, his style, his music and yes, even his person. He was gifted and beautiful. Like Narcissus, once he caught his reflection in the waters, he could not tear himself away and over time he could neither eat nor drink. He lost his color, his vigor, his strength and his will to live before dying of unrequited self-love.
Unlike Narcissus, he was willing to share his loves with the world but, as it was with Narcissus, no one could get close enough to love him or be loved by him.
As for the rest of us, we are like Echo. We repeated his words, his deeds, his clothes, his dance steps and anything else — both good and bad — there was of Michael. Now, all that is left is the faint hint of Echo’s voice . . . . goodbye.
Perfection is elusive. Self love? Equally so if you are prone to focus outward and not inward. The microphone and the camera represent today’s still waters. You can see your reflection in them and if you are a perfectionist — looking always to make your reflection better — then you will need some barrier between yourself and the reflection. Something that will cause you pause, something that will prevent you from staying too long at the river’s edge staring at your own reflection.
I agree with JSmooth. Striking a balance is important as the next generation of artists take center stage. There will be another musical genius like Michael Jackson and like him they too will seek to perfect their art. Hopefully, learning a lesson from the past, someone will help them strike that balance by placing a barrier between becoming a brand and being human lest we find another soul, somewhere in time, sitting by the river’s edge. What was once most beautiful increasingly became ugly as the focus turned outward not inward. Make that change.
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Jess
9 months ago
Actually it is said that Michael Jackson loved Diana Ross and not as a mother or sister. He once said in an interview that he wanted to marry her. Lets also not forget that he loved Lisa Marie and it was she who left him. So, I don’t agree that no one could get close enough to love him or be loved by him. We need to start differentiating between the Michael Jackson that the media created and the real Michael Jackson.
Brenda Fox
9 months ago
The real Michael Jackson was hoplessly in love with Diana Ross. So much so, that he never shared his deepest passion of love with another. It is of my observation that Diana loved him as much. Both being world Icons and vunerable to the “media that created them” as Jess stated, it was more practical in their positions to put their hearts on hold for they belonged to the public…
A.D. Odom
9 months ago
Wow, I never knew this. I did find Jermaine’s answer to an interviewer’s question a bit interesting recently. His response made me think there was more to that relationship than met the eye.
Brenda Fox
8 months ago
Most of us here seem to be on the same accord. We are either Michael Jackson’s Fans and or participating citizens concerned with the justice system. I’m wondering how can we move pass just the many comments, opinions and blogs and incite the masses to demand attention and action of our justice system leaders on the Hill…It is imperative that laws be enforced upon syndicates, high profile groups and individuals that can buy their own justice when they knowingly, and premeditatedly break the law. Like Michael Jackson, any of us could become a victim of big money groups/ mobs, gangs etc.. Just say you wrote a masterpiece story/produce a book/best-seller with great merchandizing potential; you’ve done all of this independently(family & locals) and the big money organized criminals approach you with an offer to produce films, music or whatever to get you to the iconic level with just a modest stake for themselves, and you refuse because you want to offer investment opportunities to the honest guys and or individuals.. There is no power in our justice system that will penalize the MOB (organized criminals/ syndicates) for sabotaging your progress (using money), buying your attorneys out, plagiarizing, nor contracting a hit out on you. You could be drugged , robbed and murdered like Michael Jackson was and from the Judge to the instigator will go free to rob the next person… I am so sorry this sounds so negative ~yet ~ it is the truth…America, can we do something about this???
Meh227
8 months ago
Supposedly, Michael and Lisa Marie did have a genuine and intensely sexual relationship – according to the Tamborelli biography. But if half of what he wrote about the relationship was true then there is some truth to the assertion that Michael was narcissistic (see a Youtube clip of Michael proclaiming his love for James Brown and James Brown responding, I love you but not as much as you love you – telling? Perhaps). If you look at his first marriage as an example of his narcissism, Michael apparently did not understand the concept that what he did affected Lisa Marie as his wife. He also could be self-absorbed and ignore her or leave town without her knowing where he was or how to get in touch with him. (This is from a book, so who knows how much is true.)
It appears Michael did miss out on learning (or being taught) some of the lessons that children with “normal” upbringings learn about others and how to interact with them. He learned early on (and rightfully so, in my opinion) that he could not trust others. He, also, by all accounts, wanted to learn and did learn very quickly how show business worked and was very much involved in presenting the imagine that he wanted to the public. (I haven’t read anything where someone has claimed they made Michael.) Michael made Michael and then got in over his head because the media will surely praise you and then turn on you like vultures. He only got to see himself as reflected by others, the media, in picture stills, the camera – and his fans. (He’s recounted how a fan’s negative remarks about his appearance when he was no longer that cute little kid really affected how he felt about how he looked). He had enough money to do as he pleased. How could his psyche have turned out balanced given his early life and what happened after? Lisa Marie was quoted as saying that she believed he loved her (she states she certainly loved him and wanted to save him from himself) in as much as he could love another. I think he was more comfortable loving humanity than loving any one individual (with the exception of his children and his mother) and was very cautious about groupies and striking up relationships with what he called “normal” people. He only felt comfortable and understood by other celebrities. They had a better understanding of what his life was like. But I believe he had an image of himself and couldn’t understand why people didn’t seem to “get” him. I believe he was genuinely confused and hurt by this. I don’t think that is unusual. I think most of us think quite differently of ourselves through our internal life than how people perceive us. I think most people feel quite misunderstood and I think that is why so many people are relating to him after his death. Some people can’t understand and feel confused as to why they feel so strongly about his death and have cried more over his death than their own family members. I think it is because when people cry over him they are crying over themselves and all their unmet possibilities. I know that every time I read something positive about his talents and the good things he did, I have fresh tears.
John
8 months ago
If anything, he’s guilty of playing the role of wacko jacko a weee too much. On the other hand, he went through a lot in life (didn’t he say there was abuse in his family?) – noeone said being in show business or being famous is easy! You can’t blame him for getting too absorbed in it.
And remember… we’re blaming people for juding him too much and not realizing his health problems. Well, maybe we’re judging his narcissism too much? We didn’t live his life. Are we being payed to analyze him and take him apart? I’m not. I’m just doing it for fun. I don’t take what I say here seriously. I honestly don’t know who MJ was or why he did what he was, and I don’t think anyone really knows for sure unless they’re MJ.