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Tears and tributes for the flawed 'genius' of pop
2009-06-27
LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2009 (AFP) - The world's most powerful figures from politics to entertainment joined in mourning Michael Jackson, hailing him as a musical genius but also grieving over a life filled with tragedy. The death of the "King of Pop" reverberated throughout the world, with heads of state, entertainment heavyweights and ordinary fans offering condolences for one of the most influential artists in pop history. Fans across continents converged to remember the 50-year-old superstar who died on Thursday in Los Angeles from a cardiac arrest. One of the biggest crowds gathered in Copenhagen, where 10,000 people turned out with candles, lighters and occasional tears at a three-hour concert near city hall. Britain's celebrated Glastonbury music festival temporarily turned to Jackson's best-known songs such as "Thriller" and "Billie Jean." US President Barack Obama thought the singer was a "spectacular performer, a musical icon" and offered condolences to family and fans of Jackson -- who like Obama is credited with helping bridge racial divides. "The president also said that he had aspects of his life that were sad and tragic," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. French President Nicolas Sarkozy voiced admiration for Jackson's ability to stir "emotion from different kinds of people all over the world" and said he would always remember the singer's "Moonwalk" dance. "I felt great emotion firstly because a page has turned and I found it quite distressing to see these images of a young Jackson with his childish face and hair and color that had not changed," Sarkozy said. In one of the most moving statements, Hollywood screen legend Elizabeth Taylor said her "heart and mind" were broken by her close friend's demise. "I loved Michael with all my soul and I can't imagine life without him. We had so much in common and we had such loving fun together," said the 77-year-old two-time Oscar-winning actress. The top names in pop music described Jackson as a legend. Beatle Paul McCartney, who collaborated with Jackson in the 1980s before an apparent falling-out, hailed him as "massively talented" and said he had "a gentle soul." The star's first wife Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, said she was "so very sad and confused with every emotion possible." And Presley revealed in a blog on her MySpace page -- titled "He Knew" -- that her ex-husband had once spoke of his fears of dying young like her father Elvis, who died aged 42 in 1977. "I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Father's Death," Presley wrote. "At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, 'I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.'" Jackson's influence was also highlighted by the new generation of pop stars. Justin Timberlake -- who like Jackson is known for both his singing and dancing -- said in a statement that the world had "lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only pop music, but of all music." Singer Beyonce said: "The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music." Jackson's career hit a pinnacle after 1982's "Thriller," the top-selling album ever. But his behavior later became increasingly eccentric. In 2005, he was acquitted after a sensational trial on allegations of child molestation. But the Vatican's newspaper Osservatore Romano said that "no accusation, however serious or shameful, is enough to tarnish his myth among his millions of fans throughout the entire world." In central Tokyo, Masato Tanaka, a 30-year-old bass player who was out shopping, said Jackson "was a star no matter what he did." "I am just shocked. One of the world's great men has died," Tanaka said. Jackson was remembered particularly fondly in Africa. The pop star in 1985 co-wrote the song "We Are The World" with Lionel Richie to raise aid for victims of Ethiopia's famine. "Apart from his personal behavior, he will be remembered as an icon, especially for his song calling for us to leave this world a better place for future generations," said Mahmoud Dirrir, the country's tourism and culture minister. At Wimbledon, two-time champion Serena Williams said that Jackson remained a "complete icon." "Everyone listens to his music. You think of the Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. They are lifetime icons that are never forgotten. Everyone of every color and race is a huge Michael Jackson fan," she said.
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