Michael Jackson Online -- A Singular Attraction

Online, Michael Jackson is a singular attraction.

We saw this on June 25, a day that will forever live in online infamy, when the King of Pop's death literally stopped the Internet. Within a day, Jackson's main Wikipedia article was viewed more than 6 million times. Twitter and AOL Instant messaging went berserk. Text messages flooded phones. (I, for one, didn't learn about Jackson's death from TMZ or CNN; a cousin had texted me with "Michael Jackson is dead.")

Which is not at all surprising given Jackson's draw on social networking sites, and the kind of connected world we're living in. Events don't just happen. Events are shared. On Facebook, for example, the biggest Jackson page has 10.3 million fans. To put that figure into context, consider that the official Barack Obama page has 6.8 million fans and the official Sarah Palin page has more about 951,000. On YouTube, type "Michael Jackson" and about 950,000 videos pop up -- easily more videos than when you type some of biggest names in music: "U2" (131,000) "Beyonce" (275,000), "Taylor Swift" (249,000), "Lil' Wayne" (472,000), to name just a few. About 3,000 Jackson-oriented videos have been uploaded in the past 24 hours -- and, yes, some of them are videos of fans reviewing "This Is It," the new documentary featuring the last performing hours of The Gloved One, singing, dancing and rehearsing a planned concert series.

Just what is it about Jackson?

"I think it's that Michael's unexpected death was one of those 'where were you when' moments, and for millions, the answer was in front of their computers, learning about the news via friends on Facebook and Twitter," Mashable editor Adam Ostrow told HuffPostTech. "Since then, the renewed interest in his music -- which everyone already knows -- and the ability to share on social networks continues to fuel immense interest in him."

And here's another reason: pre-Internet, before we could Google celebrities, before we could obsessively check their Wikipedia articles and YouTube videos, before we could become their fans on MySpace and Facebook and follow them on Twitter, before we felt as if there was a relationship powered by technology between the artists we admire and us mere fans, Jackson was an unparalleled global star on the world stage, touching fans across borders, time zones and languages. While growing up in the Philippines, in the small town of Pasig, in Manila, the first English song I committed to memory was "The Way You Make Me Feel." At age 6, I remember trying to figure out what the word "ecstasy" meant -- "just hold me baby, and I'm in ecstasy" -- and when I moved to California years later, I remember being struck by all the talk about Jackson's changing physicality -- his skin tone, his racial background, the way he looked. I never realized Jackson was African American until I was in the U.S. In my mind, while growing up aboard, he was just American.

For his fans -- at least those of us who first framed him outside of the white-or-black dichotomy that, I think, often imprisons American artists -- it wasn't the way Jackson looked, it was the way he made us feel. And continue to feel. Because of the Internet, because of the digital afterlife, Jackson will live on.

***Have you seen "This Is It"? Are you a fan of Jackson on Facebook? Share your comments below.***

 

Comments

[Darcey A]

One day Michael's children will be confronted with the horrific and painful realities of the circumstances that drove their father to need to medicate himself in order to sleep. They will ask the questions their family are already dreading. They will ask why their father died and what led him there. They will ask what their father did that made an entire country not only turn their back on him, but effectively take away his rights as a human being. His children will deserve to know the answers to these questions. I believe those answers should amount to more than the ratings-driven sensationalism and biased hearsay that gave Tom Sneddon, Diane Dimond, Martin Bashir and Nancy Grace, the careers and lifestyles they currently enjoy today. Before letting the media make up your mind about Michael Jackson, I am asking people to look for themselves into the facts of the 2005 trial. Read the actual transcripts not just the selected quotes from Smoking Gun. Read about the accusers parents and their history of alleging sexual abuse to extract money. Also read Aphrodite Jones's book 'The Michael Jackson Conspiracy', and recall for a moment - the relentless, rotated barrage of numbing distortion and inflation that infected the networks, papers and on-line sites for months - and indeed the last 20 years of Michael's life; then ask yourselves this? Are you convinced you know the truth? Because if you aren't, that makes what was done to Michael Jackson - nothing short of inhumane.

[Alicia Westberry]

I agree with you that Michael's death is one of those 'where were you when' moments. I'm only 26 years old, and didn't hear his music for the first time until just before the 1993 "Oprah" interview. September 11 is the only other 'where were you when' moments I've ever experienced. The first video I ever saw of his was "Black or White:. It was just before the 1993 "Oprah" interview. That, alone, is enough to make me know how talented he was. I didn't even learn about the other things he's accomplished that will make him go down in history. Hopefully, despite what he's been through, his legacy will be untarnished by any of the ugliness that surrounded him. To that end, I have a Facebook group called VindicateMJNow. I also have a Twitter account and MySpace page, both of the same name, for the same purpose. The way I'm going about vindicating his legacy is by 'explaining away' everything that made him appear 'strange;. I, along with as many like-minded people, are going to work to try to present Michael as a man; rather than a myth. Come join us and tell other people you know about our movement and the different places we're at on the web.

[Killashandra]

I was genuinely scared this film would - like most other things in Michael’s life that he had no control over - be a disappointment. Yes, Michael doesn’t dance or sing full out, but he never has in previous rehearsals for other tours either. To have expected This Is It, to be a return to the glory days of Bad or Dangerous is to expect too much - even from Michael. The reality, that Michael was no cheap addict trying to get high, but a sensitive man with serious physical difficulties and a wounded psyche who was unable to sleep, is not one you'll see promoted in the press - but it is the truth. Personally, I consider myself privileged to have seen the inner workings of a Master - albeit a damaged one. The film is of course, commercially viable, but it is also a labour of love with an abundance of heart. See it, don't see it, hate it, love it, whatever; - but don’t blame Michael for not being who he used to be. That shame lies with Tom Sneddon, Dimond, Evan Chandler, Janet Arviso and the mostly American media. In their hands Michael's spirit was degraded and eroded for over 15 years; and any damage you see in the film is their handiwork. What was done to this beautiful, beautiful boy who became a man just in time to die, must never be forgotten. And our loss, whether we know it or not - is incalcuable.

[Killashandra]

I expected the worst. I was genuinely scared this film would - like most other things in Michael’s life that he had no control over - be a disappointment. Yes, Michael doesn’t dance or sing full out, but he never has in previous rehearsals for other tours either. To have expected This Is It, to be a return to the glory days of Bad or Dangerous is to expect too much - even from Michael. The reality that Michael was no cheap addict trying to get high, but a sensitive man with serious physical difficulties and a wounded psyche who was unable to sleep, is not one you'll see promoted in the press - but it is the truth. Personally, I consider myself privileged to have seen the inner workings of a Master - albeit a damaged one. The film is of course, commercially viable, but it is also a labour of love with an abundance of heart. See it, don't see it, hate it, love it, do what you want; but don’t blame Michael for not being who he used to be. That shame lies with Tom Sneddon, Dimond, Evan Chandler, Janet Arviso, Shmuley and the mostly American media. In their hands Michael's spirit was degraded and eroded for over 15 years; any damage you see in the film is their handiwork. What was done to this beautiful, beautiful boy who became a man just in time to die, must never be forgotten. Our loss, whether we know it

[hoocheekoo]

Because of the media indoctrination against Michael Jackson, Michael didn't perform much in the United States after the Bad Tour of the late 80's. For the 90's, he was overseas where it seems he was appreciated and respected much more. It also provided a medium for his humanitarian efforts. When I went to see "This Is It" with a group of friends, it was interesting to hear how many of the songs they didn't know. Jam, They Don't Really Care About Us, Earth Song...son­gs found on Dangerous and HIStory. Invincible, a significant piece of work, wasn't promoted by his own label SONY. A 40-minute short film "Ghosts", where Michael collaborated with Stephen King, went largely unnoticed. It contains the best dancing I've ever seen Michael Jackson do. I think people in our country are trying to catch up to the rest of the world who know Michael's work well. We were denied that because of the media harrassment and we want to know more about our national treasure. The internet provides a safe place to do that without media interference.

[rsprags]

There is a entire aspect of MJ life that the media and general public is totally unaware of and that is MJ's Fan network which was in full operation prior to social networking via the internet as the writer stated and as you touched on in your post. MJ had a vast social networking system set up to stay in touch with his fan prior to the internet - The internet just enhanced MJ's Global appeal and ability to connect 1000s of MJ Fan Clubs in the U.S. and around the world! Really you haven't seen us in full manifestation yet; please place a check behind this story there is more to come.
Part II

[2SucceedOnceMore]

Great article! Thank you so much for the 'worldly-view' of Michael Jackson. Growing up I was taught "if you can't say something positive about another human being, then say nothing at all" Everyday it pains me to see so much trash and hate written about this human-being, who with all the human-ness he could muster gave this world everything he could. Not once in the 50 years he walked the face of this Earth did Michael utter or spew venom and hate, so what did he ever do to deserve this? This man squandered none of his talents. He was the perpetual messenger of Love. Love one another, Love our planet, and Love & save our future, the children.

My parents took me to see the Jackson5 when they were in Vegas. I was 6 years old and MJ was probably 17, we met him and his brothers back stage. I never thought much about or saw that autographed black/white group photos again, or gave more than a passing thought to Michael the human being until this past June. My emotions are still so raw and palpable, I'll have to wait until This Is It comes out on DVD. Sweet Peace dear Michael. You were a better human being than I could ever be, even if I had lived 50 life-times.

[Cherubim]

Your article about Michael Jackson is extremely well written, and much appreciated.
This Michael Jackson fan says, Thank you.

Sometimes, for just a little while, God lets
one of his Angels come to Earth to sing
to us and teach us how to love one another.
But then, of course, he calls them back to
Heaven ever so much too soon.
One such Angel was Michael Jackson.

[celticelvis]

Interesting to see the internet stats on jackson. I wonder what percentage of people buried in these figures actually liked him or thought he had anything to offer other than the thriller album back in the eighties. When princess diana died there was a massive media driven news event that burnt out nearly as fast as it exploded. I was in Orlando when jackson died and never saw any outpouring of grief except from the media & Larry King but like most ordinary people looked at sites like Huff to read details of the circus which drove most media outlets to new lows. There are serious questions about jackson's lifestyle & behaviour that need to be investigated properly before he can be put on the pedestal his followers are trying to erect for him. For the last 15 years of his life jackson worked hard to earn the 'Wacko' title and hopefully this is not the value system we want to glorify. Elvis Presley made a huge positive impact on race relations but many African Americans see him as a southern white bubba who stole the black man's music. Some political opportunists are trying to turn jackson into a champion of civil rights activism without a shred of evidence to back it up. Other singers like Sinatra/ Dylan/ Charles/ Springsteen/ & Lennon along with Presley deserve the accolades awarded them but the jury must still be out on jackson until a proper assessment can be made about his entire career.

[hoocheekoo]

As a Michael Jackson fan, I can only speak for myself. For 25 years, I watched Michael Jackson, a man of immense talent and soul, deal with a media who fed on his oddities to stir up controversy and "news". The media brainwashing grew more and more successful. If I defended him, I risked the same fate as our National Scapegoat. As the media manhunt grew to a crescendo with the 2005 trial and a just acquittal, our voices dimmed even more. I felt helpless. When Michael died, two things happened. The loss was so great that a courage developed to both defend this victim of the feeding frenzy and celebrate his life. Also, fans of like mind began finding one another on the internet for support. As that support grew, so did the campaign to vindicate Michael. Michael will continue to be an internet sensation for a long, long time. We've been waiting for 25 years for the freedom to love him openly and honestly. We're going to enjoy this.

[boycottrightwingthings]

Celtic Elvis, Most people know that the charges against Michael Jackson were extortion, including the daughter of Elvis, Lisa Marie Presley who married Michael Jackson. ( Michael Jackson was ACQUITTED>>>in case you didn't KNOW) I was In Jersey and people were VERY upset when Michael died, as I know that they were ALL OVER THE WORLD. Most people were in shock and didn't want to believe it, which is why they didn't seem upset where you were, most likely. I and other MJ fans know who Michael Jackson was and celebrate his long career, his humanitarianism, his dancing, his music, his videos, his message of LOVE, his sexiness, his giving of his childhood for his art, his world record of having given the most to charities. He has earned his pedestal, believe me. You just don't want him to be there because you feel he will knock Elvis off of it, but as good as Elvis was, Michael Jackson, his one time son in law, was in a huge league all of his own. No one else can touch what MJ means to music and entertainment. MJ wrote most of his own songs too.

[Marilyn-Malaysia]

I think I was around 12 years old when Thriller was released, me and my late younger brother begged my mom to rent the video from our neighborhood video store. I still remember the goose bumps I had watching the video and tried replicating the dance number with my friends, even attempted to moonwalk many times. My brother died in a tragic car accident in 1993, he was a huge MJ fan and now they are in a better place. It’s so true that people outside USA never thought of MJ black or white but just simply as an amazing entertainer. Throughout his court ordeal which was publicized widely, never wavered our admiration for this man. It’s tragic that you have to die to be 'immortal' in the entertainment world.

[nkadzi]

"..never realized Jackson was African American until I was in the U.S. In my mind, while growing up aboard, he was just American. For his fans -- at least those of us who first framed him outside of the white-or-black dichotomy that, I think, often imprisons American artists."

Well said. And until one resides in this country, Race is a very elusive thing. so that is how i felt about MJ growing up in Africa, that he was simply a human being and an American.

After his passing, I read that he was the most searched person after Jesus Christ, don't know how true was, but i am inclined to believe it. He gave all he had, with commitment, drive, passion and love!!

[PaulLev]

Count my wife and me among Jackson's fans - here's my review of This Is It, which we saw yesterday, and an interview Francesca Maxime conducted with me about the wellsprings of MJ's popularity, this past July http://paullevinson.blogspot.com/2009/10/michael-jackson-and-this-is-it-this-is.html

[PNG]

I am not a fan of Michael Jackson, but oddly enough I have gotten to 'know' Mike posthumiously. I am some years older than you, and I remember when 'Thriller' debuted in January 1984. I do remember 'Can You Feel It' , one of the last tracks Mike did with his brothers. Those songs were staples for their continous airplay and visual dynamics that accompanied them, hence my experience with his music was admittedly passive.

At the moment I discovered he died, I was right here on Huffington Post doing my usual thing. I even marked it in my profile. That evening, upon a routine run to the store, during a conversation with my wife on my cell phone, I discovered the power on my block in Hollywood (about 5 miles away from where he passed) went out mysteriuosly. As soon as I pulled up to the electronic entry gate to my apartment, the power suddenly came on and...

[sheaintsayin]

Very nice article. I appreciate the overall perspective, the comments about his / race, and agree with the thesis - it was the way he, his energy and his music, made me feel, no pun intended. I still have my mini Michael Jackson concerts (thanks to my beloved iPod), at least once a week. Thank you.

[synergyblayze]

My 2 favorite MJ memories are:
1) driving home to Fort Benning, GA with some Army buddies from a four day weekend in New Orleans. It was the night "Man in the Mirror" was released - the radio station had JUST RECEIVED their copy and played it 5 times IN A ROW on the air.... we LOVED the song... all 5 times!
2) eating in an open-air bistro in Paris on a class trip my Junior Year of high school... the waiters and staff spoke very little english and we spoke even LESS french... yet somehow there we all were - singing "say say say" at the top of our lungs... surreal and i'll never forget it.
Thanks, Mike

[shiningstar1]

I'm planning to see it tomorrow night. There's a 2:15am showing at the Century's in San Jose. I'm old enough to say I grew up with Michael. In fact he was just a year older than me. From the second I saw him as a little girl, he had me. As a matter of fact, I remember choosing sides against the Osmond Brothers in some ridiculous school yard argument in the '60s. Funny thing, the kids on the Jackson 5 side of the argument actually ended up being people I still like. Michael Jackson is more loved and recognized throughout the world than just about anyone else. When he performed and created his music for that matter, he was so completely tapped into what I call The Source, and we can all feel it. He is firmly lodged in the Collective Consciousness as possibly the greatest entertainer of all time despite controversial events in his life. When I listen to his music now, I feel even more of his power now that he is gone and I'm looking forward to the movie. I wonder if kids growing up now will feel the same way without watching his metamorphosis?