Published: July 02, 2009 06:23 pm      

KENNETH HART: Hoping MJ is at peace 070509

So, are you completely sick by now of hearing, talking, e-mailing, IM’ing, texting or tweeting about the death of Michael Jackson?

If so, you might want to stop reading right now. It’s OK, really. I won’t be offended.

I can’t really say I blame you for being fed up with the media’s saturation coverage of the King of Pop’s passing. Indeed, there have been times over the past few days when I have experienced MJ overload myself.

Still, I couldn’t let such a significant cultural event pass by without offering a few of my thoughts.

I definitely consider Jackson’s sudden and shocking demise to be the most significant death of an entertainment/pop culture figure since that of Elvis Presley more than 30 years ago.

And, the more I think about it, the more I realize that there were so many parallels between the lives and deaths of MJ and the King — Jackson’s sham marriage to Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, notwithstanding — that it’s downright eerie.

Both were the biggest pop stars of their generations. Both died far too young.

Both had their share of detractors, too, mostly older folks who didn’t “get” them.

Both helped shatter racial barriers. Both capitalized on the potential of music as visual medium.

Both were incredibly charismatic performers and were noted for their signature dance moves — Elvis the controversial hip swivel; Michael the moonwalk.

Both had their sartorial trademarks — Elvis the white jumpsuit; Michael the white glove.

Both lived in garish estates tailor-made to suit their offbeat tastes — Elvis’ Graceland and Michael’s Neverland.

Both eventually gave in completely to their own eccentricities, and, it would seem, became prisoners of them.

The popularity of both Presley and Jackson had dimmed severely at the times of their respective deaths. Both were widely considered to be “washed up.”

Both were preparing to mount “comeback” tours when they died.

Drugs definitely played a role in Presley’s death. It definitely looks as though that could have been the case with Jackson, although that had not been proven for certain as of this writing.

I believe Jackson’s death will become a cultural and generational marker, too, just as Presley’s was.

A comment posted by a Facebook friend of mine on the day of Jackson’s death illustrated that point quite eloquently.

“I feel as old today as my parents must have felt when Elvis died,” he wrote.

Music-wise, Presley’s songs have withstood the test of time and I believe Jackson’s will, too. (His early ones already have, in fact.)

I have to admit, I was not particularly saddened when I learned of Jackson’s death. As I mentioned earlier, he had largely faded from popular view. And, the allegations he had engaged in inappropriate behavior with young boys had definitely lowered his standing my eyes, even though he was acquitted on child-molestation charges in 2005.

Watching a Vh1 retrospective on Jackson’s career a couple of days later, though, I felt an unexpected sense of sadness and loss.

Whether you loved or hated him, there was simply no questioning the man’s brilliance.

I hope that in death, he was able to find the peace that obviously eluded him in life.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.