I was a bit hesitant to cover Michael Jackson right now. I've seen all the unrelenting coverage on the entertainment gossip shows and I've passed by the generously stocked CD displays that have been hastily set up in the stores. Are they just cashing in, or maybe I guess the're just feeding a hunger that's out there right now in the wake of his passing? I don't know but at any rate I didn't want to go out and be explotive, not deliberately at least.
In light of all that, and also the controversy in his life (I don't know exactly what he did or didn't do, but that's something others will continue to look at I suppose) but I still did want to pay tribute to my memories of the past and share that with others.
This is the Michael Jackson I 'met' as a kid. A happy, glowing young man looking at me from the 'Thriller' cover. The needle tracing the circles of the record, pulling out the enchanting music. Turning on the tv and seeing this guy move like I'd never seen anyone move before. And a really cool red jacket.
I've had more good memories of MJ and I've also witnessed him go through his 'changes' (so to speak) but that was my first and biggest experience of him and he defines so much of what the 80's was to me. Remember those Pepsi commercials? :)
In light of all that, and also the controversy in his life (I don't know exactly what he did or didn't do, but that's something others will continue to look at I suppose) but I still did want to pay tribute to my memories of the past and share that with others.
This is the Michael Jackson I 'met' as a kid. A happy, glowing young man looking at me from the 'Thriller' cover. The needle tracing the circles of the record, pulling out the enchanting music. Turning on the tv and seeing this guy move like I'd never seen anyone move before. And a really cool red jacket.
I've had more good memories of MJ and I've also witnessed him go through his 'changes' (so to speak) but that was my first and biggest experience of him and he defines so much of what the 80's was to me. Remember those Pepsi commercials? :)
Click to enlarge
I also remember the 'Michael Jackson' episode of the Simpsons long ago. That was cool. I've heard a few different things about it not being the real MJ doing the voice and others that say it really was. If you know for sure, don't worry about telling me, I actually think I'd rather not know.
Blog note - If you've been trying to email me, you may need to be patient if you're looking for a response. I've been getting a fair amount of messages, (a few of them I have discovered end up in my spam folder for some reason) so if you really need to hear back, just email again. Thanks.
AWESOME! By the way, your blog is definitely my favourite blog ever :).
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dean. For a while I was afraid you might not do it (you'd have been perfectly within your rights, but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have been disappointed.).
ReplyDeleteThe Simpsons episode...Stark Raving Dad...Michael Jackson did do his own speaking, but for the same reason he couldn't use his real name in the credits, he also couldn't sing in that ep. The singing was done by a dude named Kipp Lennon.
I do remember both Pepsi commercials, for some reason they showed one way more than the other. For some reason, this has just caused memories that I'd forgotten all about to just start flooding back...
ReplyDeleteCould it be better
ReplyDeletevery good drawing, I'm from Colombia in South America, I wonder if by chance you could do another but as Michael Jackson, Bad. again very good pictures and I hope you do as a tribute to MJ.
ReplyDeleteMauricio Lopez
Bogota, Colombia
You are amazing!!! in a few words this is a simpson-like tribute to the "king of pop"
ReplyDeleteGreat!!!
You're not exploiting unless you're trying to make some money from it. And your fans know that's not the case. This is a tribute, not an exploitation.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see other "versions" of Michael, too!
Different versions of Michael would be cool. I agree. If you just don't feel comfortable doing it because you feel conflicted (I know I do.), that's fine too. Thanks again, Dean.
ReplyDeletei agree with suzieq - this is a tribute, not exploitation. and this is how i remember michael too, thriller record, pepsi commercial, moonwalking at the grammys - all of it!
ReplyDelete"Lisa it's your Birthday. Happy Birthday Lisa"
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting that stuck in my head all day.
As usual great work. Love the blog.
Yes, it's definitely a tribute.
ReplyDeleteawesum! Right now I can't believe I haven't posted! Actually, I'm in Florida now...and I don't have my laptop with me. I have to use my Iphone, and that's nice, because I can listen to my MJ songs! I loved your work. IMF
ReplyDeleteCan You Do A White Micheal Jackson Please Thank You
ReplyDeleteHi Dean. I work at one of the last cd retailers left standing in Canada and I can tell you if the stores are stocked with Michael Jackson cds,we are filling demands. We had 35 MJ cds instock the day he died and within an hour, we were sold out. Since his death one third of our cd sales are MJ's. The stores aren't exploiting him but, in a few weeks his record label Sony will be. They've got new collections and "tributes" in the works as we speak. But what can you do? This happens every time a musician dies just not on a scale this huge.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting ms scrappy, thanks for that insight. It can be hard to tell from the outside, y'know what I mean?
ReplyDeleteMost certainly, dude. I went to Best Buy, Target, Fye, Borders and more, all sold out of MJ CDs. Felt pretty crappy having to hear Liberian Girl on my Itunes channel. At least I paid 1.99. I really thought more people would be commenting on this, It's awesome work.
ReplyDeletei`m impressed
ReplyDeletethank you so much
MJ actually did the voice for the Simpsons, the commentary on the DVD tells all about it. No one knows whether or not that really is MJ singing or not though.
ReplyDeletecan you do the werewolf or zombie versions of MJ from Thriller? that would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that Michael Jackson co-wrote "Do the Bartman?" For contractual reasons they couldn't give him credit for it.
ReplyDeleteReally, Mizti? Interesting. I would never have guessed that.
ReplyDeleteHi, very very nice, Could you draw the band acdc, it would be really nice!!!
ReplyDeletecool work dean!
ReplyDeletetry doing some other pop stars like elvis,mariah carey, maybe even Kanye West
Can you make more Michael Jackson Drawings Please
ReplyDeleteI need your permission to use your link and your Michael Jackson's cartoon in my blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.michaeljacksonmusicandme.blogspot.com/
Thank's and congratulations for your blog,is great
That sounds fine Music and Me, thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank's for your art and your gentleness.
ReplyDeletehttp://michaeljacksonmusicandme.blogspot.com/2010/09/enlacespringfield-punx.html
Please,tell me if it's all right
That's cool "Music and me", thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhen MJ died it will be one of those moments in life where I remember exactly where I was.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thoughtful and respectful words.
Keep up the excellent work! (I'm sure I didn't have to say that.)
me being a Simpsons freak, turning MJ into yellow thingy was pretty hilarious but i am kinda sad that he did die, and your blog rocks!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou're sooo good! I hope you're making some mula out of this. Great talent ;)
ReplyDeletethat was michael doing the voice on the show, but he didn't sing on the show. BUT, there is a version of the song on youtube that is a mix of him singing it and then kipp lennon (the man who did sing as michael on the show) taking over
ReplyDelete