Failure of Success

Michael Jackson teaches us
about the failure of success.
Excess is rarely worth the fuss
we make about it. Less
is more, but we don't learn this till
we've reached our goals and find that life
has moved the posts. We can fulfill
ambitions best helped by a wife,
if we are fortunate enough
to have one, or a husband, should
we be a woman. Life is tough--
not more or less like Hollywood.

Inspired by Michael Jackson's death and Bob Woodward's comment on ABC on July 12, 2009, explaining that Michael Jacksson's life teaches about the failure of success.

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Comments

[Blahdadee]

11:04 AM on 07/17/2009

Your analysis is simplistic. It dismisses the role our obsessive celebrity culture played in his life, the abuse he suffered as an child, an extraordinarily sensitive one at that, the impact of his illnesses on his physical and mental health, along with his mental health issues. He suffered from something. What, we cannot say for sure, but I think he exhibited signs of anxiety and bipolar disorders, or perhaps he was a high-functioning autistic, or an Aspie. We don't know. But Michael Jackson could just as easily be viewed as a survivor. He endured a lot in his 50 years, much more than ten people put together experience in one lifetime. He was knocked down repeatedly, but kept getting back up for the sake of his children and his fans if nothing else. Yes, the man had problems, just like we all do, but let's not forget his tenacity and shining spirit in the wake of this tragedy.

[xtherocksx]

02:00 AM on 07/17/2009

Achieving all of one's goals, even if one becomes deteriorated by excess in the process, is always greater than complacency. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F166o1QO6Y8

[LindasLookout]

12:23 AM on 07/16/2009

That's a generous response and way of looking at Michael. In fact we can see both sides of him and the sometimes devastating effects from his actions. To me the most amazing phenomenon is his heart-breaking attempt to become an existential essence of himself. He changed movement, facial features, color, music, age and even maybe his sex. He pushed the envelope (and enraged many) and eventually - due to excess - far too young, came up against his own mortality.
Still, the poem does act as a sobering caution - our heroes are ... who are they?

[octopi]

09:09 PM on 07/15/2009

I really don't see MJ's success as a failure. Many things went wrong for him, but many things went right, too. He didn't waste all the excess on meaningless things, either. He brought joy to many children's lives (despite the child abuse allegations) by creating Neverland. He often focused his music on global issues such as poverty, environmentalism, racism, drug abuse, and AIDS (despite several instances of personal hypocrisy on those points). His presence enhanced the global pop culture. I think he earned the excess, every penny of it, and I am glad he had it to spend. One more thing, don't forget gay spouses! :)

[LindasLookout]

12:23 AM on 07/16/2009

That's a generous response and way of looking at Michael. In fact we can see both sides of him and the sometimes devastating effects from his actions. To me the most amazing phenomenon is his heart-breaking attempt to become an existential essence of himself. He changed movement, facial features, color, music, age and even maybe to some extent his sex. He pushed the envelope (and enraged many) and eventually - due to excess - far too young, came up against his own mortality.
Still, the poem does act as a sobering caution - our heroes are ... who are they?

[nisha]

03:23 PM on 07/16/2009

I see all the negative things that happened to him through his life as resulting from the fear most people have of such enormous talent and success. Success may be measured in wealth and health during life, but after death, success must be measured in persona; and public remembrance and the lasting value of a person's works-- and Michael Jackson achieved all of that in such measure that we can;t take stock of it as yet.