Why I'm Missing the Jackson Memorial
First of all, I wasn't on the mailing list. So I didn't get the chance to go to the parking lot in downtown LA to get my wrist band. If you don't have a wrist band, you're not going to be able to get past the cordon near the Staples Center. The tragic thing is that I am in LA right now, and could have been there if somebody had gotten me my wristband. But they didn't.
I also don't think that the $100,000 price tag for the ticket on eBay is that compelling. In better times, maybe. But the New York Times keeps running stories every day now about various things that are going to "threaten the recovery." One day it's this, next day it's that. Oil prices. Unemployment. Every day something else is going to threaten the recovery. The green shoots are shot, apparently. So I don't think I'm going to be splurging for something that costs $100,000, even something as worthwhile as the Jackson memorial concert.
Frankly, as exciting as the whole Death of Michael Jackson marketing event has been, I'm getting a little tired of it, and it hasn't even been on the racks that long. They're already rolling out old interviews with his mother, for instance. And how many "Jackson insiders" can there be? Not to mention his father, who is a real buzzkill as far as I'm concerned. I just feel sad about it, and not the kind of sad that makes me want to spend money.
Most critical, I think, to the entire strategic plan of the thing, is the fact that they may have timed the big event in the Staples Center one or two days too late. This may not have been the planning team's fault, of course. They had to get all the big entertainers that loved Michael so much to clear their schedules and make it to LA in time to do some pre-publicity.
I'm not trying to be overly negative about the job they're doing, though. In an event like this, nobody is really in charge. We all kind of contribute to play things out while a variety of parties stand by the action to see where the money is going to land. This one is delivering on its potential better than most, maybe because we have some great examples to work from. Elvis, for instance, timed his death perfectly, and is arguably more successful in death than he would have been in what was left of his sorry life. Contrariwise, back in 1980 Yoko completely blew the whole assassination of her husband John. I bet she didn't make a nickel. All those mourners gathered near the apartment building where he died? How was that monetized?
The Jackson people are doing a whole lot better. He has all the top songs on the Billboard charts and this event should start off another great chapter in his career, one that's a whole lot more profitable, in the end, than the upcoming 50 concerts in London would have been, and a lot less fatal to his image.
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Here's something else I find bizarre: Total strangers to the man rushing not only to defend this entire grotesquerie... but to vilify someone who critiques it.
Not to criticise him, mind you -- to outright vilify him.
Some of the comments on this post have been downright vicious. And I don't think the people making them even have the comprehension skills to appreciate that their hero wasn't the target of the author's ire.
I weep for the future.
I am a black man who will try anything to look white. I have been accused three times of sexually abusing children and I'm also into drugs. It's very encouraging to know that when I die all of my sins will be forgotten and my life will be celebrated.
I watched some of the televised memorial - I had a busy day so excuse me.
But this last half was so ..... Hollywood, Why so many police? Did they expect a total riot?
Everyone around me tried to catch some explanation as to: - " They brought the body to Staples?" " Where is the gospel chorus?" Why is the family having to talk and sing? " " Why is it so dark?" " What's with the pictures of Michael, we know him" " Why is it so dark - except for that blazing spotlight?"
Yes...Michael was/is an ICON of unsurpassed presence. Mr. Bing..you wrote your post BEFORE the memorial...and I only caught snipets(snipits?)..but what I saw was classy..mostly anyway...but; sorry the $4,000,000.00 it cost the nearly bankrupt city of LA?...they SHOULD have had well supervised, legitimate cans for donations since the bands for entrace were free (except for the gas and or air line ticket). We ( LA)...simply cannot afford this expense...children need books, after school care...blah blah..
Yes..his daughte Paris' short speech was very heartwarming..I mean that...those precious kids..
as to sending in money to pay for the memorial...I figure every time I get a parking ticket (there IS no apt. parking in my neighborhood..Miracle Mile..well...I paid $60 just last week.. and as I said..I watched a bit..but had a JOB INTERVIEW at noon..so spare me the request for money....
Bing..it is now the day after..and I too am yawn so over this story...the G-8 is meeting..N. Korea is threatening Hawaii with missels, Sarah Palin resigned and Sanford of S. Caroling is STILL governor...yup..we have bigger fish to fry...we paid homage...now time to get back to life and unemployment
Michael Jackson has done what he always worked so hard to do today - he united the world. I am honored to have been able to witness the miracle of his life and work.
Thank you, Michael.
I want to first thank the Jackson family for allowing the world to say good-bye to Michael! He was a man who belonged to the world! What a wonderful and magnificent tribute filled with genuine love. I never realized the impact Michael Jackson had on my life until his death. How ironic that it takes a grave loss in order for us to fully reflect and appreciate.
Michael’s music transcended generations of people throughout the world. He lost his childhood to give us ours. He had a kind and gentle soul! . Michael was a Philanthropist as well as a gifted musician who inspirited multitude of generations that spanned anywhere from age 8 to 80!
When I think of Michael, I always think of the love he could never give himself but brought to the world through his music. Michael may be gone, but he will live on through his music and in all of our hearts. RIP my sweet friend!
Here we go, the City of LA is asking fans now to help foot the bill for MJ's memorial. I have lived in this state most of my life, but allowing mass pathos to guide the state has lead to fiscal disaster. LA truly is living in Neverland if it hopes fans will pay the 4 million dollars for todays memorial. Can LA make money off the TV rights?
Great post, Mr. Bing.
And I assume you know that the city of Los Angeles is footing the bill, estimated at up to $4 million. Never mind the state bankruptcy. Just astonishing.
never mind the huge tourism dollars this one day brought in...every state should be so lucky as to have a MJ die and be buried in it. Forever you will have people coming in to view his grave, Neverland etc. What if you invest some money now?
In a symbolic way I think this service is also a service for the wretched excess of the 80's.
I would have liked to see Michael perform with just a top notch crack five piece band and some background singers and without all the Reagan Era inspired elaborate energy gobbling giant sets and staging requiring military transport aircraft to move around.
Farewell brother . . and say hello to Miles for me.
of course its about the money -anybody who thinks otherwise is a delusional fan suffering from mass hysteria
Enjoy you cynicism and hate... you've probably worked very hard to develop it!
We appreciate MJ because of his excellence and his ever pursuit for perfection.
Perhaps if the author had a modicum of MJs talent or drive he would think otherwise.
I'm amazed at the number of people on this site who seem incapable of switching off their TV.
I'm amazed you haven't sought a less egregious site, as responses here offend you so utterly.
"Come to Nikki, Max"
President Robertbooth,
I am amazed you made comments on something that if it isn't of interest to you do like I do when Queen Sarah Palin talks- TUNE IT OUT!!!
***I'm amazed you haven't sought a less egregious site, as responses here offend you so utterly***
I'm amazed you haven't addressed the issue I raised.
That apparently if MJ's death is covered on TV, some people who hated him don't even consider that they have the option to not watch it.
***I am amazed you made comments on something that if it isn't of interest to you do like I do when Queen Sarah Palin talks- TUNE IT OUT!!!***
I'm very interested in the MJ coverage. I'm even more interested in the people who are complaining about it.
Did it really need to be on every network? This was not a President's funeral.
Yes what you don't understand is all those networks meaning the people that work at these station has been connected somehow with MJ's music. You must not be from the 70's 80's or maybe not even part of the 90"s with MJ's music.
I am amazed at how snotty and hateful and cynical people are. especially here. I though we were supposed to be the nice ones.
Leave it to a writer at Fortune to not grasp the idea that there is more to life than "profits".
Aint that the truth
"Attention fellow Zalmafodorians: Earthlings love death."
Michael Jackson was a talented man with a ton of baggage. Enough already! The news channels are giving wall-to-wall coverage as if this man were president and had been killed. The man died of a heart attack brought on by an overdose of drugs.
I have turned off the TV and will probably leave it off.
Sorry if you don't see him in the same way others do. There are other people who are profiled bigtime with a TON of baggage as well so spare me that load of BS. He helped change how music is perceived and how videos are made and fashion styles that have left a lasting mark on our society. I am sick of (what I think) are people who aren't fans and in my blunt honest opinion not of color who seem to be the most CRITICAL of the coverage of this BLACK PERSON.
Oh, honey! Give us all a break. I guess you never heard of the famous BLACK PERSON (to use your language) comedian Kat Williams nor have you seen his HBO special (one of many) where he goes on a long and very colorful tirade about Michael Jackson? Mr. Williams is just one of many BLACK PEOPLE who didn't care for Michael Jackson.
Sorry, but Michael Jackson is not immune from criticism, and many people have criticisms about him that have NOTHING to do with his race. Personally, I enjoyed some of his music and I thought he was very talented and contributed tremendously to popular music; however, I did not care for him as a person, nor approve or condone of many decisions he made. I have no qualms whatsoever stating this.
If you are a fan, great. Enjoy being one. But not everyone is, and that's their right.
And maybe people are just sick of the overkill on this, with very good reason and to be very blunt, the people who claim it's just because he's black are using that as an excuse as to why there can't be criticism.
you now I hate to play the race card.. but your so correct.. if Michael Jackson was a white man with this type of world wide appeal and fame.. none of these people would be complaining about the coverage.. we got six weeks of Anna Nicole coverage someone who had ZERO talent. ..
good for you.. thats what you should do , this man was and will forever be an ICON.. you cant get around it.. and he deserves this coverage.. and the networks would not be carrying it if it was not RATINGS GOLD... people are watching all over the world..
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