SteynOnline - BEYOND THE PALE

BEYOND THE PALE

Not everyone remembers the glowing positive aspects of Michael Jackson's tremendous talent. Here's a remembrance that, while highly literate, seems to hit only the low notes.

"Jackson had to settle for the Presley career trajectory – descent into parody and premature demise. In splendid contrast to Little Richard and Pat Boone, he was the first black singer to become his own lucrative white cover version."

"Did he ever look in the mirror, recall that little boy with the Jackson Five and think 'I Want You Back'? Don Black, who wrote the Michael's first big solo hit in 1972, is married to his childhood sweetheart Shirley - they grew up together in the East End of London - and is famously one of the sanest men in showbiz. The teenage Michael used to go round and see them at their place in Hollywood and Shirley would put on a nice cuppa tea for him and Michael would make some fey zonked-out observation and Don would respond with one of his old London music-hall gags and they’d play snooker with Don’s teenage boys and Michael would spend the rest of the afternoon drawing pictures with Shirley. And you realize that, in the end, even for the most famous and famously damaged celebrities, wackiness is a choice. Michael Jackson made his. In the years ahead, we’ll remember the freak show, but not much of the music."