The documentary of Michael Jackson’s concert-that-never-was, This Is It might be smashing box office records around the world, but the film’s lack of commentary, insight and context will make it a struggle for most to sit through, says Luke Buckmaster. One for the fans.
Michael Jackson
Which dead celebs earn the most from beyond the grave?
Too bad you can’t spend it when you’re dead, because Forbes have released their annual top earning dead celebs list. It’s a surprise number one this year with Yves Saint Laurent beating out the likely favourite Michael Jackson. Well, Le Smoking, is a classic.
Michael Jackson’s This Is It: the reviews are in…
With the release of the much (over?) hyped doco of Michael Jackson’s final concert, This Is It, MTV has a roundup of some of the world’s most critical reviews. Is it a Thriller, or just plain Bad?
Fight the war on drugs or make the world’s biggest taco?
Mexico may have some problems — a violent drug war, economic issues — but they are winners when it comes to Guinness World Records. Michael Jackson dances, world’s biggest meatball, longest catwalk, the list goes on…
Video of the Day: A Thriller of a new world record
Following weeks of rehearsals, 13,957 people in Mexico have broken the world record for the most people dancing Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ dance.
Examining the man in the mirror
So you’re probably sick of hearing about Michael Jackson by now, (did you hear he was murdered?). But, check out Lisa Robinson revisiting her numerous interviews with Jackson, starting when he was just 12 years old.
The musical history of the mp3
This decade will go down in music history, not for the tunes created but for the technological changes. Mp3s have reaffirmed that the music industry is about more than just capitalism, writes Eric Harvey.
Crikey Clarifier: How did Michael Jackson die?
What was the cause of Michael Jackson’s death and why was it ruled a homicide? Crikey intern Emily Finlay digs for clues.
Read the search warrant for Jacko’s doctor [PDF]
A coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide. Read the search warrant and affidavit for the offices of the singer’s doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, which states the singer died with “lethal levels” of the powerful anesthetic Propofol in his system.
2009: The Summer of Death
Forget the deaths of Kim Dae-jung or Baitullah Mehsud. So many celebrities have died lately — think Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett — that New York Magazine is dubbing it the ‘Summer of Death’.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Stephen Smith in top five
The Airlines PNG crash and icy diplomatic conditions with China took Stephen Smith up ten places to a rare appearance in the top five, while Wayne Swan dropped off.
How Jacko helped bring down the Wall
An uncovered internal Stasi file from Michael Jackson’s 1988 concert outside the Reichstag building in West Berlin reveal his East German fans, listening from the other side of the Berlin Wall, planned to riot and “test the limits of the security organ”.
Tips and rumours: Building classrooms to destroy them
Tipsters tell of classroom-building chaos, the Michael Jackson msuci store cash grab, price fixing and the new head of FremantleMedia.
Michael Jackson: was he a castrato?
Michael Jackson a castrato? It sure would explain a lot, writes Jack Ellis.
Could Michael Jackson’s death be murder?
TMZ, the site that broke news of Michael Jackson’s death, is claiming that sources say the LAPD is already treating Michael Jackson’s death as a homicide, and they are focusing on Dr Conrad Murray and the anesthesia drug Propofol.
Washed up with the Jackson detritus
In the blinding wake of Michael Jackson’s death I collected a couple of odd, polar-opposite items — his relationship to Miles Davis … and Curly.
After Michael Jackson Part 3: The tease of a new studio album
Popular culture commentator Ross Stapleton examines the life (and after-life) of Michael Jackson in a five-part series. Today, the third instalment .
After Michael Jackson Part 2: Beatles become Jackson’s security blanket
Popular culture commentator Ross Stapleton examines life after Michael Jackson in a five-part series. Today, the second instalment.
After Michael Jackson Part 1: where there’s a will…
Even by Elvis Presley standards, Jackson’s dying has provided one sensation after another. Ross Stapleton has written a five-part examination of life after Michael Jackson. Today, the first instalment.
LA begs for alms to pay for Michael Jackson memorial
Los Angeles faces its greatest financial crisis in 75 years, with an estimated budget deficit of $530 million. So how to pay for the Michael Jackson memorial? asks Binoy Kampmark.
Media ignores Jackson’s dark side
What truly floored me in the past week or so has been the complete sidelining by the entire media of Jackson’s later life, says John Niven. You know, the bit where he was a paedophile.
Michael Jackson coverage that won’t make you feel grubby
Because people are interested in Michael Jackson’s memorial — and so are we — but we want to remain above it.
The strange business of being MJ
How does such a notoriously dysfunctional American idol receive the kind of adulatory send-off even a Pope might envy? wonders Ross Stapleton.
Jackson memorial: in death, a clean slate
At his memorial, which the media couldn’t bring itself to ignore, Michael Jackson’s better self was “sprinkled over the stage like fairy dust from Neverland”, writes Robert Lloyd.
