Contactmusic.com: Michael Jackson Continues Chart Domination In Europe

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Michael Jackson Continues Chart Domination In Europe

Sales of Jackson's extensive back catalogue have soared since his death on 25 June (09), with his pop hits topping charts in the U.S. and U.K. And Europe is no different - a further four compilation discs feature in the new top 10 albums countdown: King of Pop is at number two; The Essential at number four; Number Ones at seven, and The Motown Years at 10. The superstar's classic Thriller album is also a big seller at number nine. Meanwhile, rapper Pitbull is dancing away at the top of the European singles chart - I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) remains in pole position for a third consecutive week.

The buffalo bullet: "Michael Jackson" - The Man Who Knew Too Much - by Chris Stevenson

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"Michael Jackson" - The Man Who Knew Too Much - by Chris Stevenson

"Early this summer another black man died with needle marks in his veins. It's not that I was shocked when I heard the news that Michael Jackson had passed. I was really surprised he lived this long. Sure, like many others I became misty-eyed. Two images of Michael automatically came to my mind as I was on the I-90W headed to Cleveland listening to announcers read the TMZ press release; My first recollection of Michael and his brothers on that 1969 "Ed Sullivan Show" and Michael's still unbeatable solo-performance on that "Motown 25" Anniversary special. Those two images were of a young Michael, healthy Michael, black Michael. How many of us blacks wish Michael continued to look like that, for our own gratification. Were that the case this might be a completely different story, but coming around the corner was-sadly enough-naive Michael."

Alternet: Michael Jackson's Death Was Tragic, But He Was Little More Than an Icon of Mediocrity - by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

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Michael Jackson's Death Was Tragic, But He Was Little More Than an Icon of Mediocrity - by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez

If Jackson was a musical genius, one realizes, it is not such a great leap to imagine Sarah Palin as presidential material, Lauren Weisberger as a great author, or Lou Dobbs as a substitute for real reporting and news. The Simpsons lampooned the growing cult of idiocy and mediocrity in the nation in the character of Homer; sadly, hardly anyone noticed because they were too busy relating to him. As a culture, it appears that the US has accepted the lowest common denominator as the highest they ought to aim. The US population is told Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, when in reality he is the Clown Monarch of Mediocrity.

The Huffington Post: Michael Jackson & the Media (Hello! What Happened to Iran? )- by Marcia G.Yerman

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Michael Jackson & the Media (Hello! What Happened to Iran? )- by Marcia G.Yerman

Everybody has weighed in on Jackson's death, from Cher on the Larry King show to Christine Hefner and Al Sharpton on MSNBC. This morning, the live coverage of the President's news conference with German Chancellor Merkel felt like it was squeezed in, between a further dissection of the Jackson persona - ranging from references to him as a Mozartian genius to a suspected pedophile.

However, the watershed image of loss for me of the past week was not the "King of Pop," with his unique musical skills, wonderful dancing, and gloved hand. It was the picture of Neda Agha Soltan brutally killed in Iran, looking squarely into the camera, for what may have been a passport photo.

Note EU-Digest: there is not one artist in the world who deserves adulteration following his death. Admiration maybe, but this total craziness we are seeing now with Michael Jackson absolutely not.

International Pop Superstar Michael Jackson dies at 50 following heart attack

Michael Jackson dead at 50

EU-Digest

International Pop Superstar Michael Jackson dies at 50 following heart attack

Michael Jackson died today at the UCLA Medical Center after he was brought in by paramedics who found him not breathing at his home after he had apparently suffered a heart attack, according to various reports. Jackson became a global megastar in 1982 with the release of his album "Thriller," which gave him seven Top 10 hits and the album still remains one of the two bestselling albums in history. Following the release of "Thriller" Michael Jackson remained a major star for the next decade, but as the years passed he began receiving more attention for his eccentric behavior than for his music.

Jackoson, the King of Pop, had already sold-out 50 concerts at London’s O2 Arena, which were scheduled to begin July 13th. The concerts were intended to save him from the giant debt he had accumulated during his lengthy absence from the world's pop concert circuit.

People Magazine: Michael Jackson Sells Out 50 UK Concerts in Hours - by Clarissa Cruz

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Michael Jackson Sells Out 50 UK Concerts in Hours - by Clarissa Cruz

Sales of Michael Jackson's just-announced comeback performances in London have been thrilling: his run of 50 U.K. concerts scheduled to begin on July 8 sold out five hours after tickets went on sale on Friday, according to promoters.

The 50-year old pop star was originally slated to perform 10 concerts for his This Is It tour at London's O2 Arena, but the overwhelming fan response – 750,000 tickets have been sold to date at the rate of 11 tickets per second – led organizers to expand the run to 50 shows, ending on February 24, 2010.