Michael Jackson Gets ANOTHER Tribute Show September 8, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, Ruth's Ramblings , 61comments

So, Michael Jackson has had a public memorial service at the Staples Center and a private funeral at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California… and now it looks like we’re milking his death even more – this time by putting on a concert in Vienna.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for remembering the King Of Pop, but really, can’t we remember his CD’s and music videos? Why do people think that we – the fans – want to watch a load of celebs singing his songs and trying to moonwalk?

What’s more, they’re only bringing in shamed R n B star Chris Brown for the event too… great, so we’re trying to forget Michael might have had a couple of run-in’s with the law, but who cares, lets bring in a bloke who’s got five years probation after assaulting his ex-girlfriend Rihanna. Brilliant.

But standing up alongside Mr Brown on September 26 will be Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole and Sister Sledge as well as 13 other acts… Sister Sledge?! I mean, come on, we can never replicate the tributes by Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Lionel Richie.

It seems to me that these ‘tributes’ are just going on for the sake of it now, we’re all mourning his loss, but we can’t bring him back, and isn’t it better to remember Michael’s music rather than pay to go and have the pain of our loss dragged up again?

Organizers are billing the event as the main global tribute to Jackson, who died June 25 in Los Angeles, but I think that that could have been the memorial… or maybe the funeral? Or maybe one of the hundreds of Facebook groups…. Correct me if I’m wrong.

Ruth x

Michael Jackson Tribute Ruined By BBC Commentators July 8, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, Ruth's Ramblings , 72comments

Last night I spent the evening watching the Michael Jackson tribute on BBC2, and I have to admit, I spent the two hours going through a whole box of tissues as I found the whole thing so moving, but what was up with the BBC commentary?

The reason I am writing this blog is because I want to know if anyone watched the commentary on BBC2? For me, some of the comments made by Trevor Nelson and Paul Gambaccini were just disrespectful and completely uncalled for when millions of people were watching this tribute to their hero.

We do not need remarks such as “bet Simon Cowell will be happy” with regards to the Shaheen Jafargholi performing Who’s Loving You? or “I thought she was to go on for ever and ever” after one of the speeches. Fair enough if they were commentating on a  light-hearted event such as Eurovision or something, but this was a memorial, would it hurt to retain a little bit of professionalism.

The BBC are supposed to be a credible news source, but they way these commentators behaved last night was appalling, even I – who isn’t a huge Jackson fan, but appreciates his music and mourns the loss just like millions of others – became angry at their scathing remarks as the night went on.

When Usher walked over and touched the gold casket they couldn’t help but jibe; “I wondered how long it would be until someone came down and touched it.” and then, the final nail in the coffin, if you excuse the pun, had to be after Paris’ emotional speech, when they bantered; “Oh I’ve never heard her before” …. “yeah its her public début”

So, as the world bid a final, and very emotional farewell to a musical genius, the BBC showed their view on the King Of Pop as they made snide comments at every opportunity. It’s a shame that what should have been a celebration of his life, just turned into a sham at the hands of the British taxpayers money.

But please, tell me, am I being over dramatic or do you agree with me?

Ruth.x

Ruth’s Monday Madness June 29, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Daily Dis , add a comment

We take a year by year look at Michael Jackson’s Life from his early years in the Jackson Five, to becoming a father, and of course, the wild stunts that helped to create the legend.

Daniel Radcliffe wants to be a toy boy and has no interest in girls his own age. The Harry Potter star believes that girls in their twenties are too complicated, that just sounds like laziness to me Daniel!

In light of the days event’s we thought it would be fitting to honour Michael Jackson with this week’s ‘Song Of The Week’ title, and who can deny Thriller as one of the greatest songs of all time?

Finally, if you’re a fan of Big Brother you can find all the gossip from the housemates locked inside Big Brother 10 on FemaleFirst – and trust me, we tell you how it really is.

Ruth xx

Get these stories as well as all the latest news from the world of celebrity as it happens at FemaleFirst

Michael Jackson: Was He Off The Wall? June 26, 2009

Posted by Ruth in : Music, Ruth's Ramblings , 4comments

Waking up to the news that Michael Jackson had died was something I’d never expected to hear, I don’t know why, but you think someone like Jacko is invincible, after all, he is, and will remain, The King Of Pop, and to some, Wacko Jacko.

The first time I really heard him I was in junior school, and I’d gone for tea to my friend Rachel Gregory’s house for tea, when we were messing about in her room putting make up on and generally acting like kids do, she put on one of his albums, and I heard The Earth Song for the first time.

There was something in hearing that song that made me really sit up and recognise how influential these lyrics were, and I asked Rachel to make me a tape of that CD… and when it was done, I was constantly rewinding The Earth Song as I walked to and from school.

It’s shameful to admit I only really listened to that, but let’s face it, I was only 10 years old, and my musical tastes weren’t quite as broad back then, I really only listened to what my mum used to sing along to in the car.

To be honest, I was never really a true ‘fan’ of Michael Jackson, and as I got older and saw the media calling him a peadophile and ‘Wacko Jacko’ I’m going to have say that, as an impressionable young girl, I took in everything they said.

I carried these opinions of the star with me into my adult life, as it seemed the papers only ever focused on the crazy antics of Michael, for example his colour changing skin, the adoption of a Chimpanze called Bubbles and the opening of Neverland Ranch, aimed to bring pleasure to under privileged kids.

Obviously the influx of children to his home led to money grabbing families to realise they could exploit the already negative image of Michael and a number of alleged assaults came to fruitition, with one of the families being quoted as saying; “If I go through with this, I win big-time. There’s no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever…Michael’s career will be over”

The problem is you see, whilst I appreciate what a massive recording artist he was, the only memories I really have of Michael, is that evening listening to him with my friend, and the reports of what a bad man he was, and I worry that his memory might be tarnished by what he did (or didn’t do) during his life, rather than his huge musical achievements.

No matter what your opinion is of Michael, or whether you own just one single or his whole back catalogue, the influence he had on this music business should never be overlooked when telling the story of this incredible human being.

Please share your thoughts with me, I would love to hear how Michael touched you.

Ruth. xx