[news article]

The Michael Jackson Phenomenon (Toronto Sun)

And now, a few words about Michael Jackson. Oh no, you say, not again. You say you already know more about Michael Jackson than you ever wanted to know. You say the only thing you don't know about Michael Jackson is why he's the biggest phenomenon in the history of show business. Hence, a few words about Michael Jackson -- and who and what he is. But before I tell you what he is, let me tell you what he isn' t. Who is Michael Jackson? And why are all these people writing all those things about him? Michael Jackson is not a media star. Michael Jackson was not created by the media. The media, frankly, are sick to death of writing about him. In much the same way as many of you are sick to death of reading about him. And my guess is that Michael Jackson is as sick to death of reading about Michael Jackson as you are. Michael Jackson is news. He's news because he rose to superstardom on talent -- his own. It wasn't the media who sold umpteen zillion Thriller albums - - it was Michael Jackson. You, the audience, made Michael Jackson a star. As for the media, well, we're still scrambling, just trying to keep up with you while we cover our tracks. Who is Michael Jackson? And why are all these people saying all those things about him? Ah yes-- the Michael Jackson jokes. Michael Jackson recently issued a press release in which he stated, flatly and unequivocally, that (a) he is not gay, (b) he has never taken hormones to maintain his high voice, (c) he has never had cosmetic surgery on his eyes. (His decision several years earlier to have cosmetic surgery to narrow his nose was not exactly a closely guarded secret.) The fact that he felt compelled to go on record at this time, however, seems more indicative of a man who is weary of swatting media flies than of a man who has something to hide. I suspect that he didn't much mind the jokes at the beginning -- he knows he has a light voice and, like many male singers of his generation, a high octave range -- but that he grew irritated when jokes persisted, unrefuted, and were consequently misinterpreted as fact. The word most commonly over-used to appraise his appeal, by everyone from the man on the street to New York university psychologists is "androgynous." Some showbiz analysts have stated their belief that Michael Jackson sends out "non-threatening" sexual vibrations and consequently appeals to a wider audience than the average entertainer. Ask young girls if they find his appeal androgynous; the polite ones will try hard not to laugh in your face. Both young girls and not-so-young girls tell me that Michael Jackson sends sexual sparks flying the moment he walks on stage, but -- and this is a big but -- both groups seem to regard him as a romantic sex symbol, which they clearly regard as a definite improvement over garden-variety macho. Who is Michael Jackson? And what is the secret of his appeal? It's not much of a secret. First and foremost, it's his music. Beyond that, of course, it's his peculiar personality, with which he imbues everything he touches, personally and professionally. Part of his appeal is a child/man image that seems to arouse maternal instincts in older female fans. But "mothering" him, to put it delicately, is the last thing on the minds of younger girls I've talked to. Mixed with that, however, is an element of maturity and sophistication that is markedly lacking in the images of run-of-the-mill rock stars. Michael Jackson may do a photo session for the cover of Rolling Stone, but he keeps his clothes on. Michael Jackson, unlike current pop pretender-to-the-throne Prince, keeps his armpits to himself. Rock stars, traditionally, manufacture their images to appeal to the rebel soul in teenagers -- those adults-in-transition who unconsciously choose music idols they assume their parents will disapprove of.

From The Toronto Sun