The Internet explosion made me wonder what it would have been like if Facebook/Twitter were around when John Lennon was shot. With the Beatles being in that echelon of uber-pop stars, I'd imagine the response could be even crazier than what we're seeing now.
That being said, I've gone a whole work day without hearing one mention of Michael Jackson around the office, which kinda surprises the hell out of me.
I was startled by how I felt upon hearing the news re: MJ. I felt... disbelief and general disturbance. It made no sense because I have never been a fan of MJ (not a single song on my iPod). I know part of it was the unexpectedness. But I think it has more to do with understanding what it is like to be an obsessive fan of a musician or other celebrity.
If James Hetfield just up and died unexpectedly, I'd be inconsolable. So I guess I just feel a lot of empathy for the multitude of fans who were obsessed about MJ like I am about James/Metallica. There are a lot more of them, certainly. It feels kinda similar to when Dimebag Darrel was shot on stage. Even though I wasn't a fan of Pantera, I could just imagine the horror of the fans witnessing that - and how his family and the band must have felt, with the added layer of the injustice of it all. Also feels similar to when Heath Ledger died - mourning not just the actor but the great potential he had, and feeling like his early death in particular could have been prevented.
It's like not only did the fans lose MJ himself, but they lost all prospects of any new material, future tours, etc. So many levels of mourning.
That being said, I've gone a whole work day without hearing one mention of Michael Jackson around the office, which kinda surprises the hell out of me.
I was startled by how I felt upon hearing the news re: MJ. I felt... disbelief and general disturbance. It made no sense because I have never been a fan of MJ (not a single song on my iPod). I know part of it was the unexpectedness. But I think it has more to do with understanding what it is like to be an obsessive fan of a musician or other celebrity.
If James Hetfield just up and died unexpectedly, I'd be inconsolable. So I guess I just feel a lot of empathy for the multitude of fans who were obsessed about MJ like I am about James/Metallica. There are a lot more of them, certainly. It feels kinda similar to when Dimebag Darrel was shot on stage. Even though I wasn't a fan of Pantera, I could just imagine the horror of the fans witnessing that - and how his family and the band must have felt, with the added layer of the injustice of it all. Also feels similar to when Heath Ledger died - mourning not just the actor but the great potential he had, and feeling like his early death in particular could have been prevented.
It's like not only did the fans lose MJ himself, but they lost all prospects of any new material, future tours, etc. So many levels of mourning.
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