Blog by Sean Gehon, Tuesday, March 06, 2007

There was a time that Michael Jackson was truly the King of Pop. If you ask your parents, they would tell you about the good times before Michael started dangling children out of windows or turning his nose into a beak. You probably don’t believe it, but Michael had some great music under his belt with Thriller, Billie Jean, and Beat It. He was once a talented singer long before he choked out "We Are The World" at the last World Music Awards. It’s hard to believe, but there probably was a time people my age would die to be in the presence of Michael Jackson for thirty seconds.

How much would you pay for thirty seconds with Michael Jackson? Japanese fans are apparently willing to shell out $3,500 for a chance to spend thirty seconds, not even a minute, with their favourite freakshow. Sure, there was a time when Michael Jackson was cool and someone worth admiring, but now? I’m not sure I’d waste $3.50 on ten minutes with the ‘star’.

Michael Jackson has fallen from his self proclaimed status as the King of Pop to Wacko Jacko. There isn’t a sane person left on this planet that could be in love with him after the way he’s been behaving. We’ve watched Michael over the course of his career go from chart topping hits to face altering lows. Does anybody even have the energy to try respecting Jackson anymore? After his recent adventures with alleged child molestation, a plastic surgery competition with Joan Rivers, and one failed comeback already under his belt, is Michael Jackson a celebrity or a joke?

Technically, Michael is still a celebrity. Whether or not people respect him is another question. Could you respect a man who’s wasted his entire fortune on theme parks and extravagant purchases? Celebrities get paid far too much money to be bankrupt or in debt. If I made forty million dollars in a year, you can bet I would buy a house, a car, and put a majority of the rest of it in a savings account so I that can retire in style. Celebrity is a fleeting experience that people shouldn’t taken for granted. We may have put you on some bizarre pedestal, but that doesn’t give you the right to act like a crazy person and demand we pay you to talk to you for thirty seconds.

If Michael Jackson isn’t worth three grand, then who is? I’m not sure there’s anyone I would pay that kind of money to see in concert, let alone stand in the presence of for thirty seconds. Sure, I would love to meet Cher and stand in her presence, but am I willing to throw away that kind of money to see her for thirty seconds? I consider myself a somewhat sane person, so the short answer is - no. No matter how much I may be a fan of someone, I don’t think I’d spend a crazy amount of money just to meet them.

Perhaps Michael Jackson is headed for a comeback and we’ll all be pleasantly surprised when his next single reaches number one. I’m not holding my breath for it, but stranger things have happened. Celebrities often have breakdowns, as we’re witnessing with Britney Spears’ recent crash and burn, but how often do they stage a successful come back? We all love a rags to riches story, and even more an underdog coming out on top. But after we’ve loved you and you drop the ball...repeatedly...do you deserve a third or fourth chance? Not in my book.

Michael Jackson needs to just go away. His songs are still making royalties and could probably fund his way into early retirement. Maybe he could live off of Janet Jackson’s money, she’s not as crazy. If crazy Japanese fans are willing to waste a ridiculous amount of money on thirty seconds with the singer, I say... all the power to you. I also say, you’re a little too hardcore if you still believe that Michael Jackson is going to have a comeback.

Sean (I dance to Thriller on the back of pick up trucks.)

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