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A bunch of friends of mine got into a big online argument about which singer’s death, if any, would be as big a worldwide phenomenon as the passing of Michael Jackson. While, for the most part, we all agreed that Mike’s death will probably be the biggest we’ll see for a while (if we ever see another one this big again), one point that I found particularly interesting was when my man John Simons suggested that the age at the time of death and circumstances of the death would play the determining factor on how big a phenomenon the celebrity’s death became.

I just did what I usually do which was make a list. Here’s how I figured it would go as far as global importance. If I’m wrong, tell me.

  • 1. Paul McCartney-if you front on the Beatles, you can’t front on Wings. If you front the Beatles and Wings, you don’t know music.

  • 2. Prince-He rivaled MJ in life and he’ll probably come close to rivaling him in death. Though “Purple Rain” never reached the summit that “Thriller” did, it came close enough. Also, Prince made more good albums than MJ and stayed much more active.

  • 3. Madonna-We’ve long passed the point where it was cool not to like her. Now if you diss her, you just look like you’ve got bad taste. She’s made too many hits, mothered too many styles and in her own way, inspired as many biters (Britney, Xtina, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, etc) as MJ.

  • 4. Stevie Wonder/Diana Ross-Theirs will be the final death knell to the Motown powerhouse. Our parents (and in some cases, grandparents) got their hair hot-combed and picked to this stuff. Get ready to listen to a lot of long, sad stories by the rocking chair.


  • 5. Jay-Z-The only rapper to “rewrite history without a pen” might not even make this list at the rate he’s going. Still, he is the greatest to ever do it and real rap fans would be devastated by his loss.


Tags: Jay Z, Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder
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News One Links

 
  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Kolossus5klub/ Kolossus5klub

    If U2, Paul McCartney or Madonna die, the s**t is gonna be just as big.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/black_amigo/ black_amigo

    Q. Could Another Celeb’s Passing Rival The Death Of MJ?”

    A. No,i doubt it very much. MJ is VERY special because no other artist (and very few people in the world in general.) have been able to command the respect of so many different people.

    It’s undeniable that all people whether they where black, white, arab, indian, jewish, oriential, poor or rich etc, etc either loved or at least respected MJ.

    With the greatest of respect, the examples named above by Kolossus5klub are fantastic artists but have never had the world as their fan base.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/BlackTomCruise2/ BlackTomCruise2

    I think my personal favorite Prince will draw a close 2nd..

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/SnapshotNTime/ SnapshotNTime

    When did it become breaking news to plan which celebrity would have the biggest death? That is kind of weird don’t you think?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/crazysexycool4eva/ crazysexycool4eva

    Madonna? get real. In my opinion, she is not a great artist nor a big deal to the African-American community.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/zromike1/ zromike1

    no other celeb will have a memorial as big as MJ period! he was like since the time he was a kid on up internationally who you know was international like that at the age of 10?

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/YOURNAWTEEGIRL/ YOURNAWTEEGIRL

    I DUNNO IF ANYONES DEATH CAN COMPARE TO HIS…MAYBE PRINCE OR MADONNA BUT DOUBTABLE
    I MEAN BOTH WOULD BE HUGE BUT I DON’T THINK AS HUGE

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/oeselecta7/ oeselecta7

    Again another dumb ass article from you again man give me a breal are you serious. Michael is the reason why any black artist along with Ray Charles whom broke black barriers and the reason why artist can own their own music nevertheless, stop white artists and producers from stealing black artist music like elvis LOL whom is so successful and he got Elvis Presley Blvd and not one weak a** black man or woman stop but one white woman stop Michael from being buried at the Neverland Ranch because she fear blacks will see her house.Now write about that write about us getting together to protest for the Neverland Ranch but no you probably got blood sucker on you lap now LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/goodkitty_02/ goodkitty_02

    Jay-Z wow your funny he’s shouldn’t be in the same list as them…no one can compare to him

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Eleonora43/ Eleonora43

    Non of those singers (wanna be) will ever be that big as Mister Micheal Jackson. If JZ died I’ll not feel anything it will be like the neighbour’s dog had died, finely some quiet in the hood.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Eleonora43/ Eleonora43

    who the Fukk write these stupid topic’s , djeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez compare Micheal Jackson whit those copy cats nothing new in there repertoire

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/AJ_Tisdale/ AJ_Tisdale

    maybe madonna while she is still “young” and stevie might do it.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/lottahips4u/ lottahips4u

    nah i dont think not one of those people can rival mj’s death although they are all talented and made their mark in time no matter how big or small. mj was doing it for over 40 years and still you hear his music every where and plain and simple he made his mark on each generation in those 40 years young and old not to mention in loving his music he closed the race gap all nationalities loved micheal if you ask a kid who’s paul McCartney they might look at you like your stupid i know him and love his contributions to music but alot of people of different ages and races are not aware of him i could go on for each person but i won’t. so much of Michaels Music just always remained relevant. true story my friend is looking thru her 8 year old daughters notebook and found several pages of information and her adoration of his music and she was surprised and said she didnt even know she wrote that i asked her if it was an assignment she said no now that’s love

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/2znm/ 2znm

    i think madonna could come close…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com//

    the 1 who would leave an impact aint even on this list. 2PAC!!! oh, u meant ppl who aint dead yet. how about eminem? he has nearly as many haters and fans as MJ did. maybe quite the huge number, but its about equal kinda like with michael. only eminem didnt change his skin and get accused of molestation, but he gets dissed for bein a bad role model to the youth and he raps about his daughter too much. i like eminem’s old s**t but if i have to hear another goddamn song about hailie im gonna diss eminem just so he’ll shut up about her for 5 seconds!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/sexxyblackman38/ sexxyblackman38

    This interesting , and i dont want any of them to pass but the only person i can think of who would have that type of memorial and GOD forbid it dosent happens no time soon because we really need him is BARACK OBOMA he’s a great man and has been bless to touch people of all races all over the world as long as he dont do anything stupid he would be the only only one . plus you gotta understand that MJ was loved by everybody not only in the USA but other places far far far from us that cant even stand our ass’s when he felt we betrayed him another they took him in lil moma made a statement that MJ passing was like jesus i dont agree with her but thats the kind of effect MJ had on people

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Kristi57/ Kristi57

    No current entertainer can ever surpass Michael. Besides his enormous talent, he had one other thing that none of the others mentioned have to the same degree: he was GORGEOUS both as a child and in his 20s (even as he started changing). He had a look that appealed to all races, which is no small part of why he was loved everywhere in the world. That’s the Michael we all want to remember.

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