Disavowing an aide's allegedly insensitive tweet, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's office is doing its bit for the Michael Jackson grief-a-palooza. Her spokesman told the Daily News, "She thinks Michael Jackson was a great artist and one of the most creative minds of our generation." Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Bob Dylan, are some of the popular musicians you could talk like that about. Where is the truth, beauty or profundity in Jackson's "art" that is in any way great? I don't really care about Gillibrand switching her positions on immigration and guns to appeal to a broader Democratic constituency, and I doubt this particular pander will take her into shark-jumping territory, but I hope the spokesman got it wrong and it's not what she really thinks.
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July 02, 2009
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I'm going to have to disagree w/ you on this, Bob.
I think Michael Jackson, from strictly a musical perspective, probably only has Elvis & the Beatles being bigger. His musical influence reaches into many of today's artists & shaped the way how we view & listen to music TODAY, far more than Duke & Louise. Are they important? Sure they are but they are not anywhere remotely in "our" generation as Sen Gillibrand's statement says, they are more important to my grandparents generation.
The profundity & the truth isn't necessarily in the words specifically, its w/n the music & its ability to connect w/ people, all around the world, not matter their social backgrounds.
Posted by: Matthew | July 02, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Lord knows I've been critical of the grief-a-palooza (love that phrase) but I have to agree with Matt on this one.
Jackson was hugely influential in the evolution (or devolution, depending on your tastes) of modern popular music.
By the time Gillibrand was a teenager, Armstrong and the Duke were dead and Dylan's most influential period was past.
Posted by: Brian | July 02, 2009 at 08:10 PM
I daresay none of the above had "the most creative minds" of their generation. Those people are found in other fields of endeavor.
Likewise, "truth, beauty and profundity" aren't necessariy the elements of good entertainment. From any standpoint, Armstrong, Ellington, Dylan *and* Jackson were great entertainers.
Posted by: Johannah | July 03, 2009 at 03:59 PM
How could anyone be offended by what he said? It's true. Jackson was ashamed of his black complexion and spent his life trying to become more white. Why should black people be anything but ashamed of him?
Posted by: Luke | July 07, 2009 at 08:37 PM