Inkless Wells

Paul Wells on all the latest out of Ottawa—along with the occasional post about jazz. Follow Paul on Twitter: @InklessPW

Categories: Capital Read, Inkless Wells

How we spent our weekend

by Paul Wells on Monday, June 29, 2009 12:15pm - 98 Comments

Special Michael Jackson commemorative issue. On newsstands (in the overprivileged central parts of the country, anyway) now. A 72-page issue, from conception to printing in less than 48 hours.

And if you get all uptight, you’ll only be encouraging us.

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Mike T.

while Thriller remains the best-selling non-greatest hits album ever and is either second or third overall, you're overestimating sales by about 60 million.

Lord Kitchener's Own

Well, estimates for Thriller (and especially with WORLDWIDE totals we're almost always talking estimates wrt album sales) range from 47-109 million copies sold, so if you believe the lower estimate I'm off by about 54 million, but then, if you believe the higher estimate, I'm off by about 10 million in the other direction.

I had a whole other long reply here but it disappeared, so I'll keep it short. Even if you low-ball the estimate for Thriller at 50 million (I refuse to even speculate lower than that) then still, Jackson is by FAR among the highest selling artists of all time. Elvis and the Beatles have him beat, but at 800 million records sold, he's about 500 million ahead of Bing Crosby in third, and well over 400 million albums ahead of ABBA in fourth.

Michael Jackson sold more albums than the Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2 and Frank Sinatra, COMBINED. That's not a definitive evaluation of the level of his talent f course, but it didn't happen by accident either. He was immensely talented and highly influential. How one judges the rest of his life is another question, but I don't see how anyone can really intelligently criticize the degree of his talent and influence.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SisyphusThis SisyphusThis

Though I'm not sure what that says about the billions of us who never bought anything he and his supporting
producers put out and managed to struggle through on the feeble offerings of , oh, say .. Bill Withers.

Lord Kitchener's Own

Well, I loves me some Bill Withers, so I have nothing to say on that front. Still, you hardly had to buy any of Jackson's stuff to be influenced by it. His impact on MTV alone is pretty impressive (Did MTV help make Michael Jackson? Sure. But no more so than Michael Jackson helped make MTV).

If you've really never bought Thriller though, you really should. I've been listening to it a lot again lately, and it really is a great album.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SisyphusThis SisyphusThis

Have to disagree. But it's all a matter of personal taste. and so be it.
There's no doubt the music was influential but not as much as the production techniques
that produced it. I don't think that influence was beneficial. But it's only pop music.

I'll go dig out my old vinyl copy of Nilsson Sings Newman. I'm really old.
Lord Kitchener's Own

LOL,

You're talkin' at me, but I don't hear a word you're sayin'

John D

I will buy this. Not because I care a great deal about MJ, but because of this:

And if you get all uptight, you’ll only be encouraging us.
http://intensedebate.com/people/truemuse truemuse

Well for once the Cover art is OK. Guess the regular art department took the weekend off…
http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

Preety soon they'll be saying Jackson isn't dead – he's been spotted at some place or other.
john g

Excellent post LKO. It is possible to remember and celebrate his music, dancing, talent, and influence (and this is coming from a metal head) without necessarily celebrating the man. At his peak, his popularity probably approached (if not eclipsed) that of Elvis and the Beatles; that's worthy of some respect and rememberance, even if Jackson personally isn't.

Lord Kitchener's Own

I'd say, at his peak, Jackson's popularity DID eclipse that of Elvis and the Beatles. North America and Europe are one thing, but Asia… MJ was HUGE in Asia. The King and the Fab Four may have eclipsed Jackson in their prime in the North American/European consciousness, but from a worldwide perspective, my estimation would be that Michael Jackson's popularity at his peak eclipses anything any solo artist has ever done, and even beats out Beatlemania.

john g

And I echo my kudos to Macleans for pulling this together so quickly…I guess that's why blogging was light this weekend.
Wotcher?

right-wing, dammit!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Inkless Inkless

little joke. no harm done or intended.

Wotcher?

no offense taken

André

So will Bill Gates get a commemorative issue as well? Or is he just not victimized enough in the public eye.
Canuckistanian

what LKO said ;-)
Two Hats

So, have any subscribers received their copy yet?
I fear the staff's efforts may have been a little in vain; I normally get my Macleans on Friday, but still haven't received it yet (no doubt delayed by the holiday), and am caring less about the cover story with each passing day.
Also, it looks like the "special issue" is actually this week's regular issue with special coverage (which is fine, except that wasn't clear in PW's post) — there's no other Macleans on the newstand right now.