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KING OF POP
One King influences another King
Over the years there has been a debate over who was more influential Elvis or Michael Jackson. Jackson certainly was a great entertainer irrespective of whom he entertained. However, Elvis was everything Michael Jakcson was, but the different is without Elvis there might not have been a Michael Jackson.
Perform he did, to please many, and he did please many, and in the process created hysteria amongst most of his fans and succeeded in capturing a continuous following from all parts of the world too. According to unconfirmed statistics, Jackson was liked by the younger crowd like the present teenagers and those who have left their teens within the past couple of decades. He did compose lyrics for most of the songs that he sang and thus gets called singer, songwriter, and entertainer. “Talented,” ... that was the word his fans used when discussing him. Jackson was blessed with talent and had what it takes to be a modern day superstar. Twenty four million fans in his account was not “bad” at all. I quit the radio with the emergence of rap music thinking that the end of music was near, convinced beyond any shade of doubt that video killed the radio star. My collection of cassette tapes continued to be my source of music, most of which were later converted to CD format, and newer CDs of older songs were constantly being added to my collection. More excitement came my way with the discovery of you-tube which contained many tracks that I had missed. Although I am full of admiration for Michael Jackson and for the great qualities that he is supposed to have displayed, which have been spoken of after his death, I am somewhat vexed by this sudden trend in comparing him with Elvis Presley. As I stated previously, they belonged to two different eras and were in totally different environments with each one of them creating his own label and identity. Jackson was reported to have been a
very nice guy, and never had been noted for any form of arrogance. It is a fact that he was also an excellent dancer, one of the best, although I believe he never really had the singular intention of drawing attention to his prowess. Ignoring challenges, he somewhat stayed away from competing with others as I guess his interest did not involve proving anything. He just danced to some powerful music and also “sang.” Then video barged into the music scene, placing itself unceremoniously between the musician and the music that the musician was responsible for creating. Of course this enabled many musicians to display their other talents. Jackson was one who benefited much from this. His dancing prowess was generously displayed on video over the next few years. This was the beginning. The start of something new. His eccentric behavior and the quest for “perfection” where his facial features were concerned were somewhat baffling to psychologists. They pointed it to an uneasy and an unhappy childhood ... Cool! Poor little Michael, he had not at all been happy as a child. They attribute his strange personality to a very strict father who had actually been very cruel to him in his formative stages. Will There Ever Be Another Michael Jackson? ... Never! Whatever the case has been, he entertained. He really did. He made some physically impossible gyrations at speeds that would entice Kung-Fu specialists to call for closer scrutiny. He vocalised too. The thundering rhythmic and pulsating powerful music dished out by the musicians backing him, provided him the impetus as well as the energy to “perform.”