Faces of MICHAEL JACKSON!
By Taylor Jones | June 29th, 2009 | PERMALINK
Something must be wrong with me. Three giants of showbiz died two weeks ago, yet I wasn’t a big fan of any of them.
Ed McMahon? He was a very talented pitchman. But I preferred the hilarious send-up of McMahon, in the guise of “Hank Kingsley,” on “The Larry Sanders Show.” Actor Jeffrey Tambor’s signature Kingsleyism, “HEY, now!” is probably quoted more often than McMahon’s “HEY-OHHH!”
Farrah Fawcett? I never bought that famous poster. She wasn’t my type. I didn’t like “Charlie’s Angels,” and my least favorite of the trio was Ms. Fawcett. Never did care for that “feathered” hairstyle she inspired, either. To tell the truth, I didn’t watch a lot of TV in the mid-1970s. I was too busy disco dancing. But if I had been watching, I probably would have preferred “The Bionic Woman” to “Charlie’s Angels.” I’d forgotten about the bionic Lindsay Wagner until just recently, when she started doing commercials for the Sleep Number mattress company. She look pretty good at age 60, and a bit sleepy, too — just right for the ads!
Ah, but what about Michael Jackson? McMahon had talent, and Fawcett had looks. But Michael Jackson was pure genius — the finest overall entertainer since Sammy Davis, Jr. For about a decade, he singlehandedly rescued the recording industry.
Yet, throughout Michael Jackson’s career, I just never quite got the adulation. In the late 1960s, the Jackson 5 had a string of number-one Motown hits, and they were great to listen to on my AM car radio. But I much preferred Sly & the Family Stone. When Michael launched his solo career in the late 70s, I liked him more. But as a singer and songwriter, in my opinion, he was no match for Marvin Gaye or Bill Withers.
By the time Michael Jackson became a superstar, I’d mostly lost interest in “pop” music. Not the artsier rock of the 1980s — a lot of that stuff was pretty good, and its influence on popular music today remains strong. But the big, arena-filling popular musical acts, whether delivered by heavy metal bands, or R&B sirens Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, or the two biggest acts of that decade — Michael Jackson and Madonna — left me cold. And while Michael Jackson’s dance moves were incredible to behold, I found Prince’s choreography far more intriguing.
Perhaps that makes me strange? However, speaking of strange, I have to hand it to Michael Jackson. He was a weird pleasure to caricature! The skin whitening procedures to obscure his vitiligo, the odd experiments in plastic surgery, the bandito face kerchiefs, the sequined glove and epaulets — all made Michael Jackson an enduring subject for caricature. In fact, in terms of rendering, Jackson made the caricaturist’s job easy. Over time, he reduced himself to a stark black-and-white image. The white, mime-like face, the sharp cut of his reconstructed nose, the dyed black hair hanging like tendrils, the eyeliner and false eyelashes…all of these provided great tools for the caricaturist.
Sunday night, Michael Jackson was honored and memorialized at the BET Awards. Actor Jamie Foxx declared on Michael’s behalf: “We want to celebrate this black man.” As though the audience needed to be reminded that Michael Jackson was indeed an African-American. 
However, from a caricaturist’s odd point of view, Jackson had personally transcended race. He wasn’t of mixed-race, of course, like President Obama. Whether on the illustrated page or in photographs, Michael Jackson was, literally, both black and white.
Thanks so much for visiting. If you’d like to see more samples of my work, please click here.
…By the way, a question for you dance experts out there: Since Michael Jackson rarely, if ever, danced with a partner, unlike Astaire or Baryshnikov, couldn’t he best have been described as a “hoofer?”
Comments
Comment from Marilyn
Time July 8, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Never much followed the antics of MJ’s private life, including the perv aspects. American culture doesn’t produce that many genius scientists, mathmeticians or entertainers that are extraordinary. Let the man rest in peace. He brought alot of joy to alot of people. Go get a life.
Comment from Jim Hubbard
Time July 8, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Michael Jackson was an over rated pop singer who sounded like a eunuch! All the sickening adulation just goes to show that the modern world has been swamped by mediocrity ; the Jackson creature would not have been fit to lace Sammy Davis Junior’s laces, in fact shuold not be menntioned in the same breath!
Comment from jaygeejr
Time July 8, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Never was a fan of Michael Jackson, then or now. But the fact that he was deemed a superstar cannot be denied. And that his fan base was in the kazillions, or so we are to believe. Be all that as it may, the man/boy is now dead and will be interred somewhere sometime. We should leave it at that, and get back to the routine of everyday life.
Comment from Bull
Time July 8, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Sammy Davis, Jr. could tell a joke, he wasn’t the joke. Sammy Davis, Jr., was an actor without equal, witness his hugging Richard Nixon. No, Michael assumes much greater legend status now that he is dead, no telling how great he’ll be after a few years of crypt occupancy. We’ll know more after three days.
Comment from stevens…
Time July 8, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Let\\\’s hear it for the war hero… They are always the ones that get a mention last if at all….
Way too much adulation for someone who never even took the time to entertain the troops… I guess we are still in the \\"ME\\" society…
Comment from Pete
Time July 8, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Your art is good. Your words are shallow and empty. You have absolutely no concept of the words, “popular music.” Just several wasted generations. Thanx for that reminder.
Comment from Mark Bridge
Time July 8, 2009 at 10:15 pm
I recommend embalming Michael Jackson like Lenin and putting him on display in a glass box at Neverland. Open the place up to his fans, who can come and gawk and buy souvenirs.
Comment from Stephanie
Time July 8, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Thank you for your deep insight of MJ’s rise. I just learned of him by his music in the 80’s which was such a great time in my life and in happy positive music and Ronald Reagan. Imagine the synergy there. When I last was at Disney World, they were taking him down, he was being scratched off their member list due to the child incidents, or pedophile taboos. In honour of his financial prowess in obtaining music rights, he shows good selection in advisors. In human life he showed weakness and lack of education and knowledge in sef preservation. He is a poster child for privledge, and self abuse and much too much attention is placed on a bad model for young people. Maybe he has served the purpose of showing some good pathes, and some bad pathes, but Hollywood has always provided that. It’s a liberal insider thing, I guess.
Comment from John Dinwiddie
Time July 8, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Phooey.
Comment from Gordon
Time July 9, 2009 at 5:05 am
You’re an idiot with so little grasp of showbiz history that it’s appalling. No one ever understands the adulation these people receive, which is precisely why there’s always too much coverage. The same could be said of the death of Elvis or any other pop idol the general populace lifts to the status of a deity. Too many blogs - too many would-be writers who should never have lifted a pen.
Comment from Moe
Time July 9, 2009 at 5:11 am
Entertainers are just that: Entertainers. They are not–and should not be held out as–role models. They Entertain us; they make us feel good for awhile. But like us, they are imperfect, and expecting more of them probably means we are searching for meaning in the wrong places.
Comment from ellis
Time July 9, 2009 at 5:47 am
i believe i will just repeat myself. presidents of the united states do not get as much media attention when they die, unless as with jfk they are assasinated. however, u.s. presidents can change the world more in one speech than an entertainer can in his whole career. a long time ago, 145 years, our president honored with a simple speech, the men who fought a notable battle and he said ” the world will little note nor long remember…”, but we still do today and live with the impression and change he made to our world. who will remember an entertainer even 45 years from now?
Comment from joe donahue
Time July 9, 2009 at 6:43 am
while one sings with his tongue on fire
gargles in the rat race choir
bent out of shape by societies pliers
cares not to come up any higher
but rather get you down in the hole that hes in
but I mean no harm,nor put fault
on anyone that lives in a vault
but its all right ma,if I cant please him
B Dylan
Comment from Donald Wolberg
Time July 9, 2009 at 7:50 am
The sadness of a wasted life is alwaysdisturbing, and Mr, Jackson is no exception. What he could have accomplished will be fruit for discussion, but what he necame is to add a cartoon-like quality to an already cartoon-like reality of his very strange life.There is a Fatty Arbuckle tinge to the Jacksonian life and end, and waste of talent, possibly great or just really good at times. But like “Fatty” the emaciated Jackson will diminish rapidly as a person of interest, a fall slowed perhaps by the certain to happen exploitation of the remaining Jackson clan. One must also wonder what is gained by the attempted hoisting of the very peculiar and in many ways distasteful Mr. Jackson as some sort of “Black” hero; surely there must be more appropriate models of accomplishment available, and again the Fatty Arbuckle image comes o mind as a very poor example of accomplishment.
Comment from Cyn
Time July 9, 2009 at 8:06 am
I went through a heartbreaking divorce several years ago, and the song that helped get me through it all was “You are not alone.” I listened on my way to work and on the way home. I sat in the darkness of my living room and played the song until I could sing the words whenever I needed them. I guess I really heard this very lonely, hopeful man singing directly to me; no, I wasn’t alone. MJ was singing to me to have faith and hope that loneliness would pass for me, and it did. Remarkably, he had his beloved children, so he wasn’t alone either. Thanks, MJ for the words and the music and the gifted portfolio of dance on video that sustained so many people during the tough times of life.
Comment from Dolph Honicker
Time July 9, 2009 at 8:27 am
MJ: Noise, flash and movement. Also still dead are Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Sammy Davis Jr. Marion Anderson, Paul Robeson, etc., all far more talented.
Comment from Ed
Time July 9, 2009 at 10:02 am
I am not a fan of any probable or proven pedophile. However, war heroes are very notable. MJ just didn’t make it for me,.as his noise was just that noise. Also I agree on what we’ll see of him in 100 years. Phooey
Comment from Just another vet…
Time July 9, 2009 at 10:50 am
Not one mention of Karl Malden, another WWII veteran, who also passed last week.
It is one thing to appreciate talent, but there is an unfortunate tendency to elevate the talented in any field (sports, acting, singing, writing, etc.) to a level approaching diety. This is somewhat understandable, given that real talent is so rare, but anyone over the age of 12 who idolizes anyone is displaying no more than average and usually below average intelligence.
If you think about it, the concept of average intelligence implies that almost half the human population of the planet can be pretty easily led around by the nose by the 5 to 10% who actually excell at something.
Comment from BlackTantalus
Time July 9, 2009 at 11:15 am
Nobody mentioned My Little Margie died last week. At least Gale Storm had a song I liked when I was in third grade. That ’50s music for Ike-loving white people was pretty awful. I wouldn’t discover Stan Getz until I was in junior high, when I realized maybe Jefferson Airplane wasn’t all that hip. But even teenagers in the ’60s wouldn’t listen to Jackson 5 — it was kiddie music, and Michel Jackson never rose above that. Five hundred years from now, people will still be playing the recordings of black men like Miles Davis and Joe Henderson and Nat “King” Cole, and they will still be playing the compositions of black composers like Monk, Mingus and Strayhorn — but fifty years from now nobody will remember Michael Jackson.
Comment from ben stockton, calif
Time July 9, 2009 at 1:49 pm
not a jackson fan. he of the crotch grabbing has passed on that display to a lot of our young men.. as a veteran i revere any veteran above any singer or performer unless he has served honorably in our armed forces let him rest in peace and let his family mourn him in diginity ben
Comment from ARIAKNA
Time July 9, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Geniales son tus caricaturas,pero estoy de acuerdo contigo , Michael J. colaboraba para ser dibujado,por su excentricidad………..pero si hizo falta una una dedicada a fawcett ; destacando su peinado de gallo…
y estoy de acuerdo con el comentario anterior…de los pocos veteranos que se veneran está … Michael J. , quien se ganó este reconocimiento …
Comment from g peach
Time July 9, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Ed Mcmahon should be remembered for something few people seem to know about - He was a war hero, a marine fighter pilot in the Pacific theater with many medals.
He should have gotten at least a moment of silence in the great halls of congress for that alone, he deserved more than a mere performer.
Comment from comment from a Sr. cit.
Time July 9, 2009 at 8:33 pm
……all those people saying they “loved” Michael Jackson. I was always under the impression that you had to know someone before you could love them. Who really knows someone like him? His faults and flaws far outnumbered his good points….but one thing is very certain: He will be exploited by his family to the inth degree and all the money his fans are spending on his merchandise will help them have the lifestyle that few in this country have now nor ever will know of; but especially they will have what they always tried to extract from him but he denied them after he realized just what kind of people even family can be and are: leeches.
Comment from DANN
Time July 10, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Sammy Davis Jr. laid the ground work for all black entertainers that came after him, NOT Michael Jackson.
Sammy was the comsummate entertainer. He was a singer, dancer, impressionist, comedian, actor(both comic and dramatic) and broadway showman. And he was great at all of them. He started in show biz when he was three and never stopped. And he endured the adversity of racist, pre-civil rights America.
He was not allowed to stay in the first-class hotels or restaurants he was hired to play in.
All those who came after Sammy had it easy and pale in comparison, especially MJ. (No pun intended)
The unprecedented drawn-out media coverage of this trivial event has been totally ridiculous. He wasn’t “King” of anything. He was a pop singer with a few good dance moves. Presidents and Heads of State have received less coverage.
And just because he didn’t get convicted of anything, just like OJ, it doesn’t mean he didn’t do it.
Comment from Kevin
Time July 12, 2009 at 11:52 am
I was never a huge MJ fan, but there is no denying his talent. Unlike most ’singers’ - like Elvis and Sammy - MJ wrote his own music and did most of his own choreography. He personally had the vision to change the way music videos were made. The styles he originated are still copied by thousands of artists today. And even from a young age, he was able to sing soul-stiring ballads in addition to pop songs.
There’s no need to decide who was *more talented*, Sammy, MJ, Elvis, whoever - it does not matter. They were all gifted and respect should be given to each for their talent.
MJ’s surgery, antics and legal battles make him an easy target for ridicule. However, let us not forget that no other artist - and few people anywhere - has donated more to charity. MJ’s philantrophy has saved or improved the lives of hundreds of thousands, and many of his legacies - like burn wards and hospitals - continue to save lives today. Who here bashing the man have done even 1% of what MJ did for his fellow man? How many lives have you saved?
Even MJ’s legal problems stem from his generousity and caring. Any child who was sick or dying was welcomed to his estate - WITH their parents and family. They were showered with kindness, money and anything else MJ could give. I have no idea if the accusations against him are true, but I certainly do not rule out the greed and opportunism of people when they see an opportunity to sue a billionaire for hundreds of millions of dollars!
And although MJ did not perform for the troops - he was too much of a recluse and hypocondriac for that - he was a big supporter of them. He was so moved that he even went to the vet hospital to visit the injured troops and personally thank them for their service. How many commenters here have done that?
MJ had a lot of friends - real friends, not Hollywood friends. These people - many of them famous and respected in their own right - have nothing but praise for MJ “the person”. Those who knew him considered him gentle, funny and caring. He spent a lot of his time and money trying to improve the world. He not only gave millions to charities, but also used tried to his own celbrity to try to sway politicians around the world. He even arranged conferences at the United Nations. Who here has done anything like this?
As I said, I am not an MJ devotee. But I get annoyed by those who belittle him and claim to know more than a judge and jury. I though this was America? Even IF the accussations against him had some truth (and that is a big if), it does not change the fact that he was an inovative and talented pop icon, a gentle and caring human being, and a humanitarian who regularly gave his time and money to help others. He MAY have also had emotional problems that caused a couple of instances inappropriate behaviour, but he was certainly not a monster, as he is often charactateured.
So don’t idolize MJ, but do not ridicule him either. He was an imperfect man in an imperfect world. But he tried to do the right things, and was generous to a fault. Who here can claim more than that for themselves?
Comment from Jane
Time July 12, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Finally someone who does not think that Michael Jackson was the second coming. At the risk of being melodramatic - soldiers died during the long hours that the media covered Jackson’s death and the drama that is to follow. He was a great perfomer. If Fred Astaire said he was the greatest dancer of his generation I believe it. But the man was human. He did not warrant more coverage than the dying in 2 wars, the struggle in Iran, and the many issues being debated here in America. As for the caricatures — what can I say — when you’re right you’re right.
Comment from Don
Time July 12, 2009 at 3:50 pm
There are a few extremely wealthy people who feel or felt incomplete. Folks like Bill Gates, Elvis Pressley, and Michael Jackson. They are revered and envied. Yet, Bill Gates never finished his education, Elvis barely got out of high school, and Michael didn’t even attend high school because he was a cash cow for his handlers. Despite their fame and wealth, they, and people like them who didn’t earn a diploma or degree, will bring up this fact in interviews. Look at OJ Simpson who left USC to make a lot of money in pro football. He had no brains to do something else when he outgrew his talent.
There is something sad about those “successful” personalities who don’t feel all that successful. The talent is there, but little else. For example, look at former child stars and their sad histories. Michael bemoaned the fact that he was never allowed to be a kid, playing football, going to movies, and having birthday parties with children his own age. There is even a rumor that he was sexually altered to keep his voice from changing. With little or no testosterone he would have no facial hair and his growth was stunted. So by the time he was in his 30s he thought he was in control of his destiny and reverted to his lost “childhood,” hosting sleepovers and tickling sessions at Neverland. Even at age 50 he could only scream and not shout or yell. Remember, Michael’s hero/role model was Peter Pan–the boy who never wanted to grow up.
I pity those “worship bingers” who have completed their educations, fallen in and out of love, and have been able to choose a career or change it when it didn’t work out. At least they have/had a life. Many years ago I taught some famous people living in the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills/ Bel Air area who wanted to remain anonymous to complete their educational pursuits, so I know how important it is for closure. Let Michael rest. Maybe now he can be a child again without getting all those accusing fingers pointed at him. Hey, he may also get a diploma, too.
Comment from Francis
Time July 8, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Ed Mc Mahon was also a war hero while Mikey was a pervert . . .