Michael Jackson, Superstar

"I'm happy to be alive, I'm happy to be who I am."

Michael Jackson

I've had the news on TV in the other room all morning - listening to the endless, self-important, drivel forthcoming from anyone who has ever made a record or appeared on TV. Now and then someone inserts something intelligent but they are the few exceptions that prove the rule that most people (including yours truly, no doubt) have nothing intelligent to say about anything .

As for Michael Jackson himself, my feelings are simple:

1. Not all the money and fame in the world could be enough to compensate for being as troubled, lonely, and generally messed up as this man appeared to be.
2. He was a pop music genius. Wacky, embarrassingly over the top at times, and rivaling even Elvis as a self-caricature, to be sure, (and, for those too young to know it, he did steal most his moves from James Brown,) but the man made "Black and White" for goodness sake. Wow!

Back to TV - one after another celebrity is introduced for comment with the ubiquitous "superstar" label attached. That word, along with "legendary", I'd be happy enough to see disappear from the vernacular. If we must use it, let's apply it properly. In my view, only four modern world artists may properly be called "superstar" (and, as of a few hours ago, all in the past tense):

1. Frank Sinatra
2. Elvis Presley
3. The Beatles
4. Michael Jackson

Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
Buddha