Ed, Michael and Farrah R.I.P.

I was never a big fan of Michael Jackson's, but I have to give him credit. Not only was he the first African-American entertainer to accumulate a strong crossover following on MTV, but his 1982 Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time. He's made into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and his contribution to four decades of popular culture cannot be denied.



I was on Twitter when the first rumours were announced. I've only been actively using Twitter for a short time (see my post about 10 Ways Twitter Can Help Writers) but I've already noticed how ANY major (including pop culture) news hits Twitter before mainstream online news venues.

Within a matter of minutes, there were rumours that Michael Jackson was being taken to the hospital, that he had had cardiac arrest, and then he had died. I'm sure media companies, especially those with traditional print newspapers, are paying close attention and trying to figure out how to compete or (wiser) join. If they aren't paying attention, they should be.


Farrah Fawcett didn't get nearly as much Tweet-coverage, but she had a bigger impact on my life than Michael Jackson. Charlie's Angels was one of my favourite shows as a teenager. My favourite Angel was Kate Jackson, but Farrah Fawcett had a bubbly innocence that appealed to me.


I still remember one year in grade school, though, when all the girls (including me) had Farrah hair. We'd use a curling iron to get the flip and then a round brush to pull the curled hair into the shag. Unless you used hairspray, though, you had to keep brushing your hair to pull the curl back. It must have driven the teacher crazy, with all these girls constantly brushing their hair.

Hey, here's Farrah on the Partridge Family:



Anyway, the comic summarizes my general mood yesterday. I didn't know these people personally, nor was I a huge fan of either. But both were part of my childhood while growing up. Losing them means that another tangible piece of my childhood falls from the present into the past, and makes me that much more aware of my own life journey.

Ok, that's enough philosophizing for a Friday morning. :)

Comments

[tower_keeper]

I have to agree with you on Michael Jackson. I wasn't much of a fan but given the amount of talent he had and the level of stardom he achieved is incredible. As for Farrah, I don't really remember the show but I do know that I had both that poster and a T-shirt with that picture on it when I was in elementary. Great Comic BTW!!

[Allison]

Funny how my thoughts went to David Cassidy last night, too, seeing other pop idols of the same era leaving us too soon yesterday. I fondly hope he lives to a hundred.

I never tried for the Farrah flip (or ever watched the show), but we have some great photos of my sisters from the 70s with that haircut :). And I was sad for Farrah and her family and friends yesterday that the tributes that should have come her way were muted due to the rather ironic timing of fate.

I was never a huge fan of Michael Jackson, but it is a shame his life came to over-shadow his art. I was really struck watching his videos again on CNN last night just how brilliant a visual performer he was, how elemental and exciting his dancing was, his confidence and presence- it comes through as vividly today as it did in the 70s and 80s. An amazing talent.

[Chris C]

Farrah hardly got a mention here. All of the news stations are still full of Michael Jackson (still "breaking news" 5 hours after I heard it on the radio!), she seems to have been almost ignored.

My favourite of the 'angels' was Cheryl Ladd (Kris Monroe, Jill's "little sister'), and then a tie between Sabrina and Kelly.

(It happens that I've just finished rewatching season 1 of Charlie's Angels on DVD, at the end of which Jill/Farrah left as a main character although she did return for some episodes in later seasons.)

[The Magician]

(before you click on this link, it's a HOAX!)

David Cassidy is Dead!
http://david.cassidy.mediafetcher.com/news/top_stories/actor_new_zealand.php

(it's the Jeff Goldblum fake site that's going around too ... you put any name in the URL and it builds a "this person died while filming" webpage)

[Debbie Ridpath Ohi]

Magician - Holy cow...this could really fool some people. And thanks for warning me it was a hoax!