Michael Jackson Dead at 50

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LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the moonwalking former child star who became known the world over as the "King of Pop" before his life and career deteriorated in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. He was 50. The person said Jackson died in a Los Angeles hospital. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to UCLA Medical Center, Ruda told the newspaper.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music's premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves, his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove and tight, military-style jacket were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance. Over the years, his skin became lighter and his nose narrower.

[LadyTevar]

Well... shit.

The best thing I can say is that he's gone before he could make a bigger fool out of himself on tour.

[Derek Thunder]

He's moonwalking with the angels now...

I mean, okay. After the release of Dangerous, MJ's quirky weirdness became a bizarre spectacle suited only for late-night comedy shows and later blogs, but during the 1980s Jackson was a standout musician and performer who produced hit after hit during a decade already loaded with stellar performers and musical movements (I am not being ironic saying this).

[General Havoc]

Honestly, yeah, Michael Jackson was a weirder guy than normal, but at the same time, it has been my experience that most people are incredibly weird in some ways, but due to financial and societal limitations are unable to flagrantly display said weirdness to the world. Michael Jackson had no such limitations, and thus we all saw him for the weirdo that he was, and that many of us also are.

So I'm gonna go home and throw on Thriller and Bad and Dangerous and listen to some of the excellent music he gave us all.