This is what I was trying to convey. The impact of Elvis didn’t hit me until it was news all over that he died. The impact of Lennon — though I was a Beatles fan but, didn’t know much about Lennon away from the band — didn’t hit me until it was all over the news that he died.

I don’t count Kurt Cobain…he was a fluke to me. Though the outpour over his suicide was ridiculous because he made his choice.

I knew of MJ since the Jackson 5 days. I knew and experienced his impact since Day 1 until he passed. His impact overall was on my entire life.

Elvis is known and loved mostly in America, save for some European countries and Japan. But globally, no one was as famous as MJ, maybe the Beatles were, but I’ve even seen remote villages doing the moonwalk.

John Lennon belongs in another category – but fame-wise at about the same level – it will be an interesting call to see whose songs are being played most between the years 2050 and 2100 – whatever the result I believe the Beatles may have achieved more and been more important musically – but they didn’t dance…

Controversial statement!

As a global icon, I would agree — he’s known and idolized in places like the Mid-East and the former Soviet bloc to an extent that few other western entertainers can claim.

But Elvis could sing better, and Lennon could write better songs.

However, neither Elvis nor Lennon EVER appeared in a movie with Douglas Dunning…as MJ did!

I agree with MAJK. He came into the radar for me in the late 1970s but it was until his, well, lipsynched performance on “Motown 25″ that totally impressed me.

Then, when the fourth music video from that 1982 LP (which I still have and is the only MJ album I have of his) “Thriller” was to premiere in 1983, I was so looking to see it…but, I had to wait. I did not have MTV during the 80s so, I had to wait on that same night to premiere on NBC’s “Friday Night Videos.”

I think there is a tremendous loss here for everyone who has been affected by his music, his videos, his short films and his contributions to the music industry as well as causes such as USA For Africa, the loss is not that he was global. I think we all felt hard for his passing because he has been around most of our lives…about 40 years. He surpasses both Elvis and John Lennon.

Also, this all came to suddenly…much like 9/11. I am not comparing the two but, to a lot of MJ fans who have been moved by his music and dancing, he will truly be missed.

http://www.lytrules.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1246073547

But like to add, that to me, one of the greatest performances of ALL TIME, ever aired was his Motown-25 performance of Billie Jean: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s8wv_michael-jacksonbillie-jeanmotown-25_music

To me, that performance was so raw, so unique, so badass, so game-changing. And he did it ALONE. No back-up dancers, no band, nothing. It was just him against the world. And it is iconic.

I agree with your assesment about his life and the fact he was very naive and mostly helpless. I’m pretty sure his doctor will come under harsh scrunity, since he was alone with him feeding him medication, but ultimately the need for such medications was his choice, as it was with Elvis, Heath Ledger, and basically anyone else who OD’d or mixed chemicals, drugs, etc…

It doesn’t really make a difference to me if the substances were legal or not because those that OD, simply misuse, abuse or overuse.

He was my age, and during my coming of age, before you were born, there was The Jackson Five. He was a prodigy, a shining spritely star. I owned Thriller, then I stopped paying attention. We never even contemplated whether or not Billie Jean was his girl,as it was a pre-gossip tabloid time.He was still an artist then.