Death Excellent Career Move For Michael Jackson, Snags 2 AMAs
The 2009 American Music Awards was a climactic moment for several artists, all in stages of some sort of comeback. Rhianna, taking the stage for her first nationally televised concert since last year's Chris Brown catastrophe, looked fierce as she performed the single "Hard" from her fourth album, Rated R, which so far hasn't scored any major hits.
Jennifer Lopez, also out of the spotlight since her marriage to Latin artist Marc Anthony in 2004 was performing live nationally for the first time since having her twins, Max and Emme, in February '08. JLo, was performing her new single, “Louboutins” when she busted a move on her backside after attempting a big jump. Ouch!
Even the former "crack is whack" queen, Whitney Houston took a stab at a comeback, and got a little love for her efforts, with an International Award of Excellence by the AMAs. Houston, who's been promoting her new album, I Look to You, performed her single, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
Perhaps the biggest comeback of the night, and certainly the year, goes to Michael Jackson who scored two AMAs ( a total of 23) for Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock M Artist, posthumously. Michael's eldest brother Jermaine was on hand to accept the award on behalf of his brother and had this to say:
"The message that Michael had will live on forever, and that's he saw good in everyone and he wanted everyone to do good, and he always started with love. Start with love, and let's love each other. We miss you, Michael. You'll always be in our heart."
When you add in the on-going coverage of his death (now in the lowest level of tabloid minutia) the success of the documentary of what was to be his comeback concert, This Is It, Michael Jackson finally found the winning formula -- the downside being he's not here to enjoy it.
Fittingly, Michael Jackson seems to be achieving in death, what was so elusive to him later in life: a comeback. What's most miraculous about this evolution, is how in death Jackson was able to finally get the world to focus on his music legacy, not his eccentricities.
Better late than never I guess.
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