Michael Jackson Songs Banned

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 10:26pm

A dance studio where my oldest daughter teaches has basically banned Michael Jackson music. My daughter's boss sent email to all teachers stating she found the recent documentary "Finding Neverland" deeply disturbing and did not want his music being played in class or recitals. I understand it is her business and she has every right to make this decision. Also, I am sure his alleged crime (child molestation) is a factor in the decision with a business whose clients are children. Will we ever get to the point where people may never play his songs again? Can people enjoy his music even though he may have been a horrible person. Just curious what other people think about this decision by a private business owner.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 8:35am

This sounds like a sensible decision for this particular business. I do think that individuals can still enjoy his music with a clear conscience if they want to - it's not like Michael Jackson is going to derive any benefit from it. I also don't blame others who may not want to hear it anymore, and so I predict we'll hear less and less of his music played in public places.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 9:19am

We have hit a moment in time where MJ's name is gonna by synonymous with predator.
So truly we shouldn't be shocked that people are gonna make this decision.
It's not gonna change the past, but it will change the future.

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 9:19am

We have hit a moment in time where MJ's name is gonna by synonymous with predator.
So truly we shouldn't be shocked that people are gonna make this decision.
It's not gonna change the past, but it will change the future.

[Platypus]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 3:22pm

I also feel that it is a sensible decision. Since the documentary has aired, a lot people will forever associate his music with molestation, so it is best not to subject others to the music at your place of business. For those who would still like to hear MJ, it is up to them what they want to listen to in the privacy of their own home. 

I also want to point out that if the music is being played through a streaming app such as Spotify, the estate will continue to make a profit from each play of the song. The estate has basically started a smear campaign against the accusers to damage their credibility, leading to ongoing harassment towards the accusers and anyone who supports them. So that's one more reason not to play/listen to his music - to ensure that you don't contribute a penny of earnings to the MJ estate. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 5:19pm

It's hard to hear anything problematic here?! Just me?

 

[LuPita2]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 5:53pm

I fully respect what she did, it's her business, she will do what she feels is right.  I believe people can and will continue to enjoy his songs. They are iconic.

I don't know if this will be happening more and more ( I suspect it will) but my nieces' school recently sent an email to all parents that stated they won't be playing any of MJ's songs at roller skating parties, dances, assemblies or graduations due to complaints from many parents.  

[kdogg36]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 8:14am

haterobics said: "It's hard to hear anything problematic here?! Just me?"

If they say,
Why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way

 

Updated On: 3/19/19 at 08:14 AM

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 9:34am

Three of my first albums (LPs) as a young child were Jackson 5 albums. I remember wishing I could see them in concert when they toured nearby but my mom said no. As I got older, I was more of a casual fan. I didn’t buy any of their music when they simply became The Jacksons and only started buying his solo stuff from Thriller onwards. I was much more of a fan of Madonna, Prince, Tina Turner, etc... Then molestation allegations surfaced for the first time. I struggled with whether to believe, but at some point I did get rid of all my MJ CDs.

Then time elapsed and he died. I was working in Phoenix that week. As soon as my plane touched down back home in Tulsa, I drove from music re-sell shop to re-sell shop, collecting all the albums I had gotten ridden of plus ones I hadn’t ever owned before. I actually felt guilty that I had abandoned him all those years. I bought the idea that his accusers had only been out for money, that he was found not guilty in a court of law. I also combined stories into a false narrative. In my mind, the child whose family settled out of court is the same family whose father killed himself and the son said nothing had happened later. Combining pieces from differently families made it easier to convince myself of his innocence. In reality, I was now abandoning his victims.

I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for his victims to turn on the television the days after his death to see hoards of people mourning his death. Now we have the documentary which has snapped me/us back to reality, refocused on what is important, what is true.

I think it is probably instinctive to want to ban his music right now. I certainly have no desire to hear it right now. Will that change down the line? Perhaps. The reality is that sexual offenses are more prevalent than we’d like to think amongst popular music artists. Elvis Presley had a predilection for underage females. Jerry Lee Lewis married his underage relative. Then there’s all those rock bands who we hear about especially in the 70’s and forward who had after concert encounters with their underage groupies, actually picking them out of the audience. Oh and what about Chuck Berry’s and James Brown’s problematic behaviors? Even Bowie had an encounter with an underage female once upon a time. Does it matter that she considers it consensual and is glad it happened and it appears to be limited to just her?

Do we put them all to the side and consider R. Kelly and MJ separately? Because their behavior was more predatory, systematic, and vile? The simple answer is we probably shouldn’t, but we know life is more complicated than that.

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 3:20pm

The stories of abuses and #MeToo are so prevalent that it makes me wonder: does power corrupt, or does corruption empower? Does rising to the top of your industry mean you can do whatever you want and the old thrills don't cut it anymore? Or is it the opposite- do only those who have a stomach for the sordid realities of what goes on in the entertainment business make it far enough to thrive, and the rest either never get too far or leave the industry when their personal principles are first challenged severely?

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 5:17pm

Sex with underage groupies is one level of transgression. Daily sex with a rotating roster of seven-year-olds is on a whole other level. 

Wade Robson actually attended Mj's memorial at the Staples Center, at the behest of the family. I can't imagine how painful that must have been for him to endure.

Watching the doc along with the Oprah session, all I want to do is give a huge metaphoric hug to each of those men, along with the countless others (how many others must be out there!) who shared MJ's bed and are still guarding their own painful secrets all these years later. We are rooting for them all (and their ruined families) to heal however they can.

Updated On: 3/19/19 at 05:17 PM

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 3/20/19 at 10:59pm

Thanks to everyone for their replies to this topic.