La Dernière Heure · 2003
Jackson: self-censorship everywhere
Translated from the French. Original: La Dernière Heure, December 2, 2003 · French version
JACKSON: SELF-CENSORSHIP EVERYWHERE (2/12/2003)
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN NEW YORK,
Bad. That is the general feeling whenever Michael Jackson’s name has come up in recent weeks. Since the King of Pop was accused of sexually abusing a minor, only the images of his arrest have been playing on a loop in the American media. His songs, his music, his concerts, his charity work: all his activities are generally censored.
In 3 weeks, Thriller, Billie Jean, Heal the World, all of Jackson’s standards have disappeared from local and music radio playlists. The music videos, usually so appreciated for their artistic quality on MTV or VH1, the American music channels, are now used to illustrate reports on news channels and special documentaries devoted to the controversial life of a singer either adored or hated.
While the hits have disappeared from the radio, the “80s” medleys that so delight nostalgic clubbers no longer include Jackson’s hits. The megastar’s frenzied melodies usually came between Prince and Madonna. In nightclubs, no one even notices that his songs are missing. The DJ of one of the biggest clubs in NY, the
Roxy, admits that no one asked him not to include Michael Jackson in his mixes. He justifies himself by claiming that “morality” had dictated a kind of self-censorship.
The
Brooklyn Diner, one of the most popular restaurants in Manhattan, has been playing the same records on a loop for years. “Customers don’t come to eat with us to be reminded that a fallen star spends his time sexually abusing children,” says Mike, in charge of the restaurant’s music. For two weeks, Mike has been heavy-handed with the Jackson Five’s ABC, which usually plays at lunchtime.
Last Thursday, the self-censorship became more official during the annual parade held on Broadway to celebrate
Thanksgiving, the most popular family holiday in the United States. Helium balloons in the shape of cartoon characters, majorettes, marching bands, high school students in uniform… the parade selects the music played very carefully. The Bloomington school, which was supposed to march to the rhythm of “Thriller”, did not want to take any risks. Thomas Wilson, the band’s manager, told the New York Times that “it would not be appropriate for the morals and ideals that Thanksgiving represents
to play a Michael Jackson song right now”.
The big store chains are also carrying out a barely disguised boycott. The Virgin Megastore in Union Square, a temple of music in the heart of a neighbourhood devoted to entertainment, has removed the singer’s albums from its end-of-aisle displays. His latest record, “Number Ones”, does not appear as planned in the holiday promotional catalogues. In the middle of the Christmas shopping season, the lack of advertising for his latest album relegated it to thirteenth place in the top 50, whereas Michael Jackson is usually in the top 3 of CD sales.
Some shopping channels that cannot afford to change their programming at the last minute keep showing, at night, looping programmes selling merchandise, compilation records and other items bearing Jackson’s image. But when the telephone operators are asked whether viewers are still buying, they admit that sales have collapsed since the affair began.
One More Chance, his latest single: premonition or coincidence? That is apparently all Michael Jackson is asking for his credibility. One last chance.
D.B.
© La Dernière Heure 2003