I can understand what people are saying because I - as a Jackson fan - take notice anytime MJ is mentioned in any type of news outlet. But please don't for a second think that in today's society that Michael Jackson is more popular than Akon or any type of musical talent. And before any 'haters' start their bashing ... I am not saying historically ... I think anyone who is old enough to remember when Michael ruled the music industry - 1984-1992 - gets goosebumps and takes notice of everything he touches because they are aware of his superior talent ... but as a teacher who works with teenagers - I have to tell you - MJ is not the 'hot commodity' that many people believe he is.
It is funny to hear people say that the whole world as well as the media has gone nuts over this song when the fact is - it has barely garnished any media attention at all and I mean the kind of attention MJ is accustomed to receiving. (limited online attention - other than message boards and sporadic musical sites ... In Jackson's heyday this would have been on television media people ... not delegated to 3rd rate websites)
I am not bashing MJ - I guess I am just skeptical as to how great Jackson is anymore. Are we holding onto hope that somehow the magic of 'thriller' is penning and producing quality material. Not sure how it will come off ... but my thoughts.
Let the bashing begin - its what happens on this site when anyone differs from the majority opinion lol
No one is bashing you, but anytime someone comes on here with the first 6 postings or so challenging/accusing MJ fans and members of mass delusion/illusions, excuse me if suspicions about intent and motive aren't being raised here.
As I have stated time and again and will continue to do so, people can agree to disagree without the dramatics and without making generalized statements about what they think other people are thinking. People should worry about stating their own opinion without making overreaching assumptions about what others think. Others will tell you that without much prompting.
Furthermore, I don't think this is about who is more popular. Obviously as a contemporary, Akon is at the top of his game. Also, I think that it should go without saying that MJ at the top of his game back in the day will never repeat that -- no artist does and certainly no artist has been where MJ has been either. It's just part of the natural cycle of things.
But make no mistake here, Michael Jackson is still WAYYYYY more known than Akon or any of his contemporaries and Akon would be the first to admit it. Good press or bad press, MJ still is talked about with any move he makes.
Also, I don't have to be a teacher of teenagers to understand that they are into their contemporaries. All teenagers are going to gravitate towards music made by folk closer to their age because they think that these folks relate to them better.
The good news here is that Michael Jackson doesn't have to relie on just that market. He has a huge fanbase and despite what some will say about him personally, they will be the first in line to see his show if he ever tours again, I promise you that. He is established enough to succeed in ways that Akon and others still have to build up to.
And again, the record has generally received great buzz from fans and non fans alike. All you would have to do is to read our news reports to understand this. Why you persist in stating otherwise is not exactly accurate on your part. If you are waiting for the world to stop at a MJ video, those days are GONE and no here is implying that at all. You assumed that yourself. Also, if you are comparing MJ today to his yesterday, then perhaps your view of this situation is clouded. It's certainly not keeping it on the real. No one can live up to that, not even MJ.
Lastly. If you are so skeptical as to MJ's greatness, then perhaps you aren't into MJ anymore and that's okay. You wouldn't be the first to move on from him. If Akon or others are more to your suiting, then that's okay as well.
But you can't come on here expecting people to understand why you would want to converse with people who obviously don't feel that way and they come here to converse with others who do feel the same way.
Given that no one has bashed you should give you an indication that your opinion is being respected enough to respond to.
But don't think for a moment that means that it will not go unchallenged and rather vigorously at that.