[Merged]: Michael Jackson taken to hospital/Michael Jackson dies

May he finally be at peace.  His music, his talent, have changed music forever.

I still can't wrap my head around this...R.I.P Michael.  I've been listening to his music and watching videos.

Be interesting to see what caused the heart attack, it could be A) Sunshine B) Moonlight C) Good Times D) the Boogie.

A tribute song to Michael Jackson featuring The Game, Chris Brown, Diddy, Usher, Mario Winans, Boyz2Men is available for listen/download here:
http://www.box.net/shared/z63l72udbo

I'm not a huge Germaine Greer fan, but I found this an interesting column:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-death-in-la

Wow I think that Germaine Greer is spot on. I've always felt that he was really badly damaged as a child, and that this prevented him from "growing up". Poor Michael.

I'm not a big MJ fan, but find myself becoming increasingly annoyed by the callous jokes.

Makes me want to ask people what joke they think people will tell when they find out YOU are dead?

   Then again, I'm wearing my crankypants today.

I'm not a big MJ fan, but find myself becoming increasingly annoyed by the callous jokes.

You and me both.  I received SIX jokes by text within 2 hours of his passing.  I just gave up and shut my phone off.

I was a fan years ago, but not so much anymore.  That said, I'm still really saddened by it all.  I can't really articulate why; it's almost like losing a bit of my childhood I guess.

Me three.  I work with a bunch of young-ish guys and they were all passing them around on Friday.  I found it incredibly tacky.  Someone died.  Imagine if it was someone you knew.

Makes me want to ask people what joke they think people will tell when they find out YOU are dead?

Hopefully it'll be funny.  I'd hate to be the butt of a bad joke.

I'm with you on the tasteless jokes. I've already blocked three people on Facebook over it. Sigh ...

My other beef is people who are persisting in stressing how much they didn't like Michael Jackson. Well, fine. The world would be a boring place if we all liked the same music ... but I don't really get the point of these endless protestations right now. If you have nothing nice to say, keep your trap shut.

I think I've got some of those crankypants on too! 

 This guy was an incredible performer up until the mid / late 80's. thereafter he looked like a freak, acted like a freak. Thats fine, thats showbiz BUT he also paid tens of million pounds in out of court settlements in order to escape being convicted of child abuse.

Now he's dead everyone has a selective memory, the music was great, the person not so. I have no problem with the jokes, for his lifelong fans I'm sure he will never go away. Judging by his appearance of late i doubt if he is fully biodegradable

the music was great, the person not so.

Not everyone shares that opinion. I know people will say what they want to say. Freedom of speech and all that. But there's a big difference between what you "can" say and what you "should" say. This isn't really the time for accusations and hatred. It's really not. 

Trouble is some people think he was a legend and some people find him vile..

Either way..even people who found him vile..you would probably catch prancing around to his songs at some point in their lives..

I personally don't mind the odd one liner cheeky joke....but its boring now..and some people have taken the jokes to the next level and they make my stomach churn..

I think people have an obvious issue with the Child molestation charges..and although proven innocent on both occasions, he seemed to go out of his way to surround himself with more children publicly which under the circumstances he found himself under was very distasteful on his part, Hence the incident with Jarvis Cocker's outrage, followed by two sham marridges to what seem to be to prove a further point...

I was watching Moonwalker on the telly today and there is no denying his music was ahead of its time and yes..he was a legend of music..but for the last 20 years we have seen a mentally unwell man clutching onto a childhood that no longer existed..and people that surrounded him seem to be there to absorb his money not be his friend..otherwise surely..they would have made him seek help...

I feel sorry for the guy but I am also kind of relieved for him..hopefully now he will find some sort of peace from his life..which obviously traumatised him so much in the end.

Thanks Chary.  You said what I wanted to say, but in a nice way.