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By Sim Kwang Yang (Hornbill Unleashed)

I got up early this morning, switched on the TV, and the news was all about the sudden death of Michael Jackson from heart failure at the age of 50.

Millions of his fans will mourn the passing of this pop icon dubbed the King of Pop, though not being much of a consumer of pop culture, I was never a fan of any pop star in my whole life.

But the entertainment industry means mega bucks and worldwide sale, and no corner of the world can really be exempt from its influence.  Growing up in Kuching in the 60s, I was familiar with the music of the Jackson Five, and numerous pop groups like them.

When Michael Jackson grew up and went solo and became the biggest star around in the 80s, you heard his music everywhere you went in Kuching.  Young people were trying to copy his moon walk.  I may not be a fan of his, but I had to admit this chap did have peculiar talents.

His passing at a relatively early age must seal his enigmatic status of a folk hero, whose life ended tragically, just when he was working on a come-back trail.

His life’s tragedy began early, as a star exposed to the world’s limelight at a very tender age.  Public attention and the global limelight almost always tarnish and twist a person’s soul, especially at that young age.  You get confused about who the real you is, as compared to the larger-than-life image projected by the media.

All his life, perhaps MJ never grew up in his heart, and that is why he named his mansion Neverland Ranch, reminiscent of the tale of Peter Pan who never aged,  Looking back, how many child stars in Hollywood grew up to be happy adults?

Read more at: http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com/2009/06/26/2093/

Comments (34)

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written by gorshan, June 26, 2009 13:25:13

great public hero,tragic private life.
Michael Jackson is King to pop music as Elvis is King to rock & roll music.

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written by fknajib, June 26, 2009 13:41:30

The king is dead... Long LIVE the KING!
http://fakenajib.********.com

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written by dkkl, June 26, 2009 13:59:08

Yeah.... MJ Is gone..... Farah Fawcett is also gone

reminds us all time slip thru very fast and it doesnt wait....
reminds us all that our life is bound to expiry date

therefor,

reminds us all that we should cultivate good things
reminds us all that we should be kind & generous
reminds us all that we should live up a happy life

before the expiry date takes it place

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written by Fido, June 26, 2009 14:04:35

Rest in peace MJ

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written by temenggong, June 26, 2009 14:06:56

His music and entertainment set a new gold standard, a high watermark which will be hard to meet.

Elvis and Micheal Jackson are the only true solo legends.

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written by jonath66my, June 26, 2009 14:21:16

I played Ben when my son Benjamin was born
I am listening to this song now
And I am in tears
Goodbye Michael
We will miss you!

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written by imanj, June 26, 2009 14:33:42

Dear Michael,

I will never forget your concert in Kuala Lumpur.I still have the tickets,it was the best ever concert for me..I shed a tear for you and for all the weirdness and unbelieveable happennings in your life.May your soul find peace now..

Michael you and your legend lives on.Hope your children will find strength and joy in their lives.Maybe now we will see you in them...

Your fan always....

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written by imanj, June 26, 2009 14:36:06

And Michael my daughter's favourite played always..."BILLIE JEAN" Had to break the news to her and she just asked why,why are you gone...

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written by hckit, June 26, 2009 14:36:45

it doesn't matter if you are Black or White

i hope in Malaysia,

it will not matter if we are Malay or Non-Malay

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written by babakl, June 26, 2009 14:46:29

i was very sad when heard his passing away. Then the radio station played his song one ady in your life made me shead tears cos i was one who love this very touching song. Very talented individual and will never forget that one way or another he has touch my life with his songs.

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written by Wolzard, June 26, 2009 15:46:55

I found out about his death this morning while I was surfing the Internet.
As a tribute, I watched most of his videos on Youtube(Black or White, You Are Not Alone, Heal The World etc) & posted some condolences messages on many of the MJ videos!

So long, Goodbye, Farewell, Rest in Peace & May God Bless You Always!

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written by raven1958, June 26, 2009 16:16:13

Michael had a no childhood, no privacy and despite his phenomenal success...virtually lived a hell on earth the last decade.....

May he find in God the one thing he never had on earth.....peace. Rest in Peace Michael. People like you never die.

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written by mowadoha, June 26, 2009 16:20:02

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written by watchdogg, June 26, 2009 16:45:08

R.I.P. Michael.....

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written by fireduck, June 26, 2009 17:04:50

His most meaningful song to me, is Man In The Mirror. It should be an anthem for all of us.

God bless his soul.

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written by medicshan, June 26, 2009 17:15:29

Dear Michael,
Thank you for the priceless memories. I was so longing for your resurgence that was not to be.

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written by garfunky, June 26, 2009 18:14:43

Who know what I hate?

I hate people like "apa jadi" and "Diz".
If you don't feel any emotion for the passing of someone, then keep it to yourself.

I don't miss Farah Fawcett, but you don't see me being a dickhead about it by trolling articles or forums about them and writing stupid stuff to further upsetting the people who actually care.

These are the same kind of people that say "Steve Irwin got what was coming to him because he was messing with a kingdom not of his own."

What is wrong with you people? Do you realise that someone has died here? Get out of MT, and don't come back.

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written by Oscar Winner, June 26, 2009 18:37:22

To me, "EBONY AND IVORY" is his best and most meaningful song, which is a duet with Paul McCartney. It's a song asking why the blacks and the whites can't live together in harmony. It starts something like this:-

Ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano......why can't we? (don't quite remember this line)

Ebony = black keys on piano (the blacks), Ivory = white keys (the whites)

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written by kraznyoctbyar, June 26, 2009 19:21:14

From HIM we came, to HIM we shall return to.

May GOD bless the souls of the late Micheal Jackson and Farah Fawcett.

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written by bknight, June 26, 2009 19:25:00

one of his best for me as well is "We are the world". RIP Michael

There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on
Pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of
God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

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written by dkkl, June 26, 2009 20:18:18

OscarWinner,

Ebony & Ivory is not him but Stevie Wonder.

My favorite of his song is

"One Day In Your Life" & "Somebody Watching Me..."

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written by roadbarra, June 26, 2009 20:36:04

Thank you very much for the music over the years MJ. We will always remember you and miss your performance. I grew listening to your songs like Ben, One day In Your Life, Beat It, Billie Jean etc. RIP

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written by PASOK, June 26, 2009 21:01:21

Michael was an angel.
Now that he is gone from us I know this to be true.

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written by mezan, June 26, 2009 21:37:09

I remember in the 80's, even the kindergarten kids sing 'Beat It'. It was everywhere. He IS the LEGEND...

May God bless him...

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written by teohchye, June 26, 2009 23:49:51

This MJ is bigger than life! Only 50 years old and yet his music spans more than 4 decades, bringing entertainment and joy to at least generations of the populace! Long Live the King!

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written by roadbarra, June 27, 2009 00:30:12

dkkl,

Somebody's Watching Me is originally sung by Rockwell. That was MJ singing in the background chorus.

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written by SiHangChai, June 27, 2009 10:21:57

Agree partially with charcoy feng, except not die, but retire permanently from singing. He is a good and also bad example to children. Can't image some children here doing the acts as the King of Crouch

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written by Alice, June 27, 2009 10:55:23

You deserved one more chance,but unfortunately time is up and u had to leave so suddenly. Love your songs and music. Hope you will finally rest in peace. Bye MJ. Miss You

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written by Malay Ultraman, June 27, 2009 12:43:15

I was used to be a great fan of MJ since 80s. Her starting image was great... He did some surgical here and there. I was still OK. When he turned into a White man, he become freaky. He lost his soul, disbelieving himself and his history as a black man.
I wish he died believing he believes in The One.

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written by gondrong, June 27, 2009 13:50:18

its easy for King of Pop (KOP) to die, its much easier for King of Perak (KOP) to die also...haha

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