Some Quick Thoughts on Michael Jackson

NRO ^ | June 26, 2009 | Jonah Goldberg

[garbanzo]

My own belief is that the people who like Jackson’s music probably haven’t listened much to classical, jazz, the great American songbook, or much other serious music.

You should see my iTunes playlists - contains a bit of everything. Classical, jazz, a wide array of popular music of various subgenres from a wide variety of eras.

If you have listened to and do like serious music and you think Jackson ranks right up there, then you have a serious musical aptitude problem.

You have a problem with being a soulless snob who probably can't dance.

[antceecee]

LOL!

[driftless2]

I resent the soulless snob insinuation.

[Mr. Mojo]

You can’t ignore that he’s sold more records than anyone else. That’s an objective fact.

lol...where'd you get that "objective fact," from Al Sharpton?

Here are the facts, Jack. The Beatles and Elvis have sold the most records worldwide (over 1 billion each). Michael Jackson comes in 3rd at 750 million. And in the U.S. Whacko Jacko comes in 17th at 62 million sales, over 100 million records behind the 1st place Beatles.

List of best-selling music artists (world)

List of best-selling music artists (U.S.)

[garbanzo]

Geez...somebody’s late to the party. You should read the whole thread BEFORE you hit reply.

[garbanzo]

And in fact, “Thriller” is the best selling album ever.

[Mr. Mojo]

You didn't say "best selling album," you said "sold more records than anyone else," and you described it as an "objective fact." ...and you were wrong.

Thriller was a POS of an album, btw. Sales were driven completely by the extended MTV vid, not the quality of music.

Whacko Jacko was a good singer who, with the exception of his time with the Jackson 5, sang lousy material. But that boy sure could dance, I'll give him that.

[garbanzo]

I also said I was wrong later in the thread (and also that it wasn't that relevant to the main point), which if you had read the entire thread you would have known that and thus no need to post it again several days after the fact.

Thriller was a POS of an album, btw. Sales were driven completely by the extended MTV vid, not the quality of music.

No need for revisionist history. I don't get why it's hard for some people to admit that others have different tastes than them and have to come up with cockamamie ideas for why something was popular that they didn't like.

[Mr. Mojo]

No revisionist history. Thriller album sales went through the stratosphere only after the release of the MTV video around a year later. ...a groundbreaking video, to be sure. The album that preceded it (Off the Wall) was probably his best. ...especially the funky opening track "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough."