I wager to say that "current" pop stars could not gather as much attention as MJ anyway. For all of his weirdness, eccentricities, and questionable behavior with children, no one could touch him as a performer.

You know-the guy's writing/recording abilities had atrophied, yes. However, the his other career....50 sold oot shows at the 02 Arena. That is 1 MILLION peeps! Thriller in my top 100 dessert island discs...on that mythical island with a power source but no means of escape.
Last add: whispers this a.m. of morphine dependacy and shots, even as Lou Ferrigno was getting MJ fighting trim for the mid July tour start. That would be elvistragic.
Paul

They're starting to hint at perhaps a case of over medication, ala Anna Nicole Smith and Heath Ledger. This got me thinking about all this medication. Is our society becoming over medicated? (I say yes.) My doctor loves prescribing pills. She prescribes pills for everything. When I hurt my shoulder last year, the first thing she did was presribe a painkiller and an anti-inflamatory. Did'nt even mention the word x-ray. Same thing with the knee - another anti-inflamatory. I've got pills for this, pills for that, and pills for the other thing. I'm supposed to take four pills daily. That's ridiculous!

Yes, Mary, I believe it is. The human body is a fascinating thing. Some ailments go away just by allowing time to pass. Sure, if you have a disease, get medicated. But I think some people get prescriptions for stuff that could be handled with rest, water and a healthy meal.

Gotta relate that the 'shock' has worn off. The retrospectives elbowed the ''nothing really new'' death coverage out of the way. And I started to realize that MJ had an incredible career....the lack of output in recent years notwithstanding. Influential. Was it as 'deep' as Dylan or the Beatles the Who, Floyd? No. But impressive in a different arena. I am convinced his music will ultimately overshadow the tragedy, the weirdness, and even the abuse allegations. Elvis, Lennon, Hendrix, Morrison, Joplin,cont'd

(cont'd)-even Colbain, Croce, and Denver, Bonham, Moon, etc, their musical contributions ultimately overshadow the way they died and the tragic way some of em lived the jast months or years of their lives.
PAUL

Another one at 50. Billy Mays dies
I can't say I was ever a fan of his high-pitched enthusiasm, but he was definitely a great - and I don't use that term loosely - salesman. I put him right next to Ron Popeil for being a friendly face pitching products everyday people can use.

This one shocked me. He's the guy you love to hate. His loud, booming voice was endearing. Poor guy.

Loud and annoying, but despite that, you always knew it was worth listening to.

FRED TRAVILINA
At his best, his impressions were right up there with Rich Little. He was great on the old ''Kopy Kats'' t.v. show.
Lost a long battle with cancer.
We hear that line way too much, don't we?
Rest in peace.
Paul