Which part was Quincy Jones, and which part was him again? Because in the that Smith referenced, the term ‘for crying out loud’ does not appear. Nor, to my understanding, does the term ‘bleached his skin,’ but at this point who’s really counting. Okay, so quoting people is not his forte. Let’s try, hmm, the music industry (while sitting at a table with a top recording artist and music mogul): You look at the music industry and you got people selling (chuckles), you know, DVDs and what have you. That’s just the way the world works.
But the reality is that whatever assists in your popularity, it assists in your popularity. So, then make sure, you know, as an artist, you’re not going anywhere. If people are listening to you and you’re popular, you’re going to get noticed no matter what. Just because people are selling singles as opposed to albums your popularity is your popularity.
Good thing he didn’t let handle that one. And I can’t wait to pick up my DVDs of my favorite bands at Sam Goody this week. Instead, let’s try a response to the question posed about Jackson being so famous he was forced into relative seclusion: I think, to me, what I get out of it is the importance of family. I don’t care what I have — I don’t care what I go through, there’s a tremendous foundation I have. I have a wonderful mother. I have a wonderful father.
I have wonderful sisters and nieces and nephews. I mean, I think about that. And I say that because the saddest thing about all of this is that Michael Jackson never had a chance. Gee, that seems oddly personal, Stephen.
Got anything else you’d like to share about your family, while comparing yourself to the most famous man on the planet? When you’re in the public eye, you have to have somebody that you trust in your private life. Somebody that you know you can talk to and confide in and you don’t have to worry about it being in the tabloids. You don’t have to worry about it being circulated all over the world.
And somebody who is not a yes-person and will tell you the truth. I can assure you I have that. And I know you do. I don’t have a problem with people looking me in the face and telling me about myself.
And I don’t have to worry about it being publicized all over the world. And that’s really, really important because Michael Jackson clearly didn’t have that. A lot of these stars that have faded — I mean Elvis Presley, he died at the age of 42. Marilyn Monroe died at the age of 36 if I remember correctly. It’s that isolation factor that kicks into high gear, and unfortunately these stars suffer from that. If Stephen A. has reached a new chapter of his life, and does want to become the next Al Sharpton, or as some are more aptly suggesting, Tavis Smiley, he’s going to need to work on being a bit more succinct and on-point with his social commentary – and realize that when talking about the death of a global icon, he should focus more on getting his quotes right and less on giving shout outs to his sisters’ kids.
If he’s moving on from sports, or sports has moved on from him, he’s gotta watch out. If this political and social commentary thing doesn’t pan out, that isolation factor could start kicking into high gear real soon.
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