As one blogger said on another site.

DEAD at 40 stopped breathing at 50

what I say is

King of the bubble gummers

his music was always way over produced for such a great talent

legal drugs  didn't kill him his profession and the people who work in it did

as super talented as he was he sure didn't know how to help himself

there is only one person that can save you from you and that person is you

if you never find yourself you won't be able give yourself the help you need

he needed so much help and he was so ill and no one heard him calling

It was so awfully sad to watch him rot away for the last tens years.

A great loss for those who loved him and his talent

Just another bit of dust in the wind for those of us

who weren't all caught up in the hype of the sins

Fame and hypersensationalism ruined Michael Jackson's perception of himself. I never felt like he could live up to the success of "Thriller" and was constantly trying to match that "kind of" achievement- no doubt the record companies wanted more of the same- which will also ruin an artists life and probally did.

His appearance scared me- it was a testament to reality and what happens after commercialization alters ones life. I have no or little respect for those around him that never helped. Where was Oprah and Suzie Orman when he needed financial advice. People like Justin Timberlake are imitations- Michael was an original, its true that others feed off famous people- I always thought Justin Timberlake wanted something for himself from M.Jackson: dance moves, fans, notoriety.

I thought Madonna's feeble attempts to cash in on the publicity from Michael Jackson were horrid. From her altered kiss scene on MTV with Brittney Spears reminiscent of the Lisa Marie Presley+ Michael Kiss- to her crotch grabbing acts- and her positioning of seating this past tour- legs spread like the "Scream" video. Getting that high pitch in the studio is also work for some of these- wanna be's.

Michael Jackson's music is everywhere today- his physical appearance no longer weighs the sound down. And the "famous" entertainers who imitate him should be kareoke singers. Long live fame and the ignorance that surrounds its acquisition.

-MikeAlike (kdrone)

Having grown up in the 70s and 80s when Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson were the icons of that era, I can’t help but have my youth flash back in front of my eyes after the events of yesterday’s sad news.

I have suggested that everyone make a donation to cancer research in tribute to Farrah Fawcett and to make a purchase 1 or 2 Michael Jackson songs or an album of his to help his children erase his almost $400M debt. We made a purchase of an album of his number 1 hits. A sad day it was - so many memories come flooding back where my life was affected by the music of Michael Jackson and the smile and the hair of Farrah Fawcett.

Susan

Over at "<a href="http://raisintoast.typepad.com">RaisinToast</a>"