Saturday, June 27, 2009
If the deaths of two very different cultural icons resonate strongly this week, it’s because the success of each says a lot about us.
On Thursday, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died within hours of each other. In very different ways, each came to symbolize not only an era but a generation.
Michael Jackson’s contributions can’t be denied. He revolutionized pop music by working with first-class composers and arrangers (Elmer Bernstein and Quincy Jones among them) and joining music to highly imaginative forms of filmmaking and choreography. He forever changed the way people saw music videos, beginning with Thriller.
For sheer energy, no one could match the so-called “King of Pop.”
And if Jackson’s latter years were mired in controversy, financial chaos and a weirdness hard to fathom, his heyday excited fans ripe for something new and truly creative. In doing so, he opened up limitless opportunities for artists of every type.
Texas-born Fawcett first came to our attention in TV’s popular “Charlie’s Angels,” but Texans lost no time claiming her as one of their own. She symbolized a sunny, high-stepping era when skyrocketing oil prices and Urban Cowboy made Texas chic nationwide.
During that giddy period, Fawcett became the epitome of Texas womanhood — wholesome, upbeat, athletic and oozing sexuality, complete with disarming smile, perfect teeth and big hair. How many women tried to emulate her when it came to all that hair?
Her movie career proved more fizzle than flash, but the impact of her best-selling poster — 12 million sold — made her a PG-rated icon in the late 1970s and ’80s. Some of us saw her as the very best of Texas during an oil boom that ended all too quickly.
Comments
By Waco. We do-do.
Jun 27, 2009 10:10 PM | Link to this
Jackson was without doubt talented, driven and energetic. Fawcett primary was a product of the lucky DNA club and Madison Ave. I don't begrudge either of them success, they were both worthy of the success they achieved... just as worthy as the hardworking kindergarten teacher, doctor, nurse, or electrician, or classical music performer from Julliard, Eastman or Curtis.
For me, Jackson died a long time ago, say, 1993, when the tune changed. In the '80's, my cassette player got worn out playing the Off The Wall album, and my band performed two of his tunes.
Their out of proportion financial success is more a reflection on the questionable tastes of Americans who, not surprisingly go for pointy nipples and crotch-grabbing pelvic thrusts than teaching a youngster, saving a life, or shaping a beautiful melodic phrase.
Brian Williams on NBC said they were going to devote the evening news to Farrah, but switched to Jackson on short notice. Ironic ending for a celebrity who spent her life chasing TV's bright lights. Moral- when you die, make sure you are the most important person to die that day.
I'm sorry MJ didn't get to do his tour to Europe, and re-focus the attention on his music, and not his prurient appetite. It would have been nice for him to go out on a high note. People, in general, have a right to be judged by their best moments.
RIP
By Bill Whitaker
Jun 27, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this
Bill Whitaker responds: We don't usually mark the passing of actors and singers on our editorial pages, but these two, I felt, were significant icons. If newspapers and news programs felt confident making them Page One news for a day, the least we could do was try to gauge their significance (if concisely) in our world. John and I did disagree on who was most significant, however. John favored the King of Pop, I felt Farrah might resonate more with Texans. (Maybe it's because I once interviewed her.) In any case, I finally agreed he was right and gave MJ the lead spot. But my heart remains with Farrah.
By mec
Jun 27, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
A short and dignified noting of their passing should be sufficient.
By KDF
Jun 27, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
My sympathies go out to the families of Ms. Fawcett and Mr. Jackson. But these stories are taking center attention away from some problems we still have in America. American "Idol" gets millions of votes each week for around a buck a piece. What if we were giving a buck each to feed people, help the homeless, etc.. That might mean $10 million dollars a week!! God says in Matthew 25:35-36 that "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat..." Isn't this what America is about??? Not Cap and Trade which simply makes us more reliable on government. <
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