simplerich

The Star Spangled Banner, like you’ve never heard it

I first discovered this oral history of the Star Spangled banner by Francis Scot Key on Jan Mickelson‘s show on 1040AM, WHO Radio. If you can listen to it with a dry eye your a damned dirty ape!
Happy 4th!

I listened to his music for a 3 hour drive last night, and spent quite a while on the net today watching some of his videos and live performances.

At his peak there was nobody like Michael Jackson in my lifetime. (Maybe Madonna) He was one of the only two superstars I ever paid much attention to. Madonna is the other. They’re the only two to this day I cared anything about meeting. If I had a list of people I’d like to meet it would have just gotten shorter by one yesterday.

He had drama in the last 10 years and God knows he did some outrageous things to himself with plastic surgery. It’s too bad. He was immensely talented and the world is a more interesting and vibrant place because of his having been here. His music changed things.

I quit a job to see one of his videos. It was a second job and a part-time one and I’d asked for the time off in advance and they didn’t give it to me. So, I quit to see the premiere of the video after an episode of The Simpsons. I was old enough to know better. But it was Michael Jackson and there was a group of friends gathering to watch the premiere. I didn’t want to miss it.

I’d hoped this come back tour would be the one for him. I’d have happily bought his next CD, probably on Amazon.com for a DRM free MP3 version of it, but I’d have paid for it, like I have the rest of his music.

Take care Michael, and thanks for the music.

What is that? (Τι είναι αυτό;) 2007

One of the dangers of management is that while we have heard a question 21 times the person asking us hasn’t asked it 21 times. It’s their first time asking it.