Contest: The Jackson 6 (Six-Word Obits for MJ)
Saturday, June 27th, 2009
It’s been said by many, including the editors of SMITH, that a six-word memoir can be a lot like an epitaph, the ultimate summation of one’s life. We’ve always been fascinated by obits of the famous and obscure alike. Now, by popular demand, we’re starting a new reader challenge category: Six-Word Obits. There’s only way way to kick this reader challenge off, and that’s by respectively asking you for your Jackson 6: a six-word obituary for the King of Pop. Leave your entry in the comments section below. Since we set this one loose on Twitter—with six-word maven Mary Elizabeth Williams immediately replying wit “From ABC to PYT to RIP.”—yesterday, we’ve had some great responses.
“King silenced by insulation and prescriptions.”
- Eva
“Force did stop. He got enough.”
- Erin Fitzpatrick
“Survived by family, friends, widespread ambivalence.”
- Christiann
Keep ‘em coming. Our three favorite entries win the six-word memoir book of their choice. The contest ends on Monday, June 29 at 5pm EST. Update! Contest extended to June 30, 5pm EST.
Creative Commons image from Flickr user bernissimo.
black to white. Guilty or innocent?
the thriller will never be gone
Born artist and hierarch of stage.
Say Hi to Elvis for me!
Unique music, moves, lifestyle and face.
He’s moon walking for real now.
No one can mimic MJ’s moonwalk.
Imagine heaven with Elvis, now Michael.
Michael gone too soon. Remembered forever.
Michael, hope you realized the love.
Michael Jackson was our generation’s Elvis.
Loved Michael’s gloved hand, white socks.
Michael’s dance moves impressed Fred Astaire.
Grown but child-like. Beaten down. Sadly.
Michael, keep singing, dancing. We’ll remember.
Ebony to ivory, strutting in zero-g.
Performer. Artist. Hero. Legend. Icon. King!
Moonwalking Heaven Free. Forever Fixed. NeverLand!
Michael, whole world is shocked, grieving.
You definitely thrilled us, Michael Jackson!
Dazzled many but never grew up.
My first schoolgirl crush…is gone.
Never can say goodbye to Michael.
No more Man in the Mirror.
A music legend gone too soon.
He’s teaching angels how to moonwalk.
Got enough. We can rock forever.
We are the world. Shocked, grieving.
Michael, you beat it too soon.
Our greatest stars always die young.
Hope Michael’s kids inherited his talent.
King of Pop. Died too young.
Today Michael Jackson was forever silenced
Lost childhood, meteoric stardom, tragic end
Talented, shy, misunderstood. Michael Jackson RIP
Greatest contribution: We Are The World
Forever changed the “look” of music
Pop music never the same again.
6/25/09 the day pop music died
His contribution to music, simply unheralded.
“Thriller” introduced the entertaining music video.
From Ed Sullivan to world stage
Thriller, epilets, sequined glove, moon walk.
A comeback we won’t ever know
so much left undone, terrible loss.
Appreciate Michael Jackson - composer, singer, entertainer.
Appreciating the genius behind the music.
Mourning Jackson travels around the globe.
Mourning Jackson’s death, celebrating his career.
King of Pop touched my life
“The Love You Save” couldn’t be
The Man in the Mirror silenced.
Never had a chance at normalcy.
Jackson leaves legacy of incredible music
From lovely child to child lover
musical genius. cultivated. overexposed. freaky. dead.
Was born a poor black child.
What really happened behind the scenes?
His last song and dance routine.
Pedophile who got away with it
Another king has has left the building.
*Another king has left the building.
More music than we ever imagined
Amazingly talented artist…sadly troubled person.
The Man. The Myth. Finally Untouchable.
Groove’s dead/gone, legacy lives on!!
He never accepted restrictions. Why should we?
In Memoriam: Thrilling, tragic, dancing machine.
Black man. White man. Dead now.
Ding Dong, the freak is dead.
amazing singer dancer fragile man boy.
He came, he saw, he moonwalked.
Peter Pan Walking on the moon.
Musical genius. Personal life - giant asterisk.
Loved for years and remembered forever
Touched us all in different ways.
his life was never his own
Poor kid never had a chance.
Wall
Thriller
Bad
Dangerous
HIStory
Invincible
He wrote ditties and touched kiddies
Touched My Soul,Who Is It?
As a child, I respected him.
He made dancing zombies super cool.
My first concert, MJ “Bad” tour.
Who doesn’t like the “Thriller” album?
Wish he would’ve stayed a King…
Looks like Prince won this battle.
He died as a smooth criminal.
An unstoppable Thriller and an enigma
He is now in his neverland.
When he’s on stage, he’s bad!
Relatively short and really fucked up.
My youth died along with Michael.
Peter Pan or King of Pop?
Made great music. Slept with boys.
Great artist with family issues, dead.
Moonwalked His Way Into My Heart.
Catchy dance pop. Sad pathetic life.
He lived how he died. Infamously..
THE ELVIS PRESLEY OF OUR ERA
The loneliest man we ever loved.
Michael: Thriller!
Bad? Invincible? Dangerous?
History.
so sad was this child king.
Dancing supernova explodes into the void.
cute black boy strange white man
My Story: a ‘Bad’ ‘PYT’ ‘Heartbreaker’
R.I.P., Michael. Sing, dance in heaven.
Amazing performer. Tormented life. Musical legend.
Michael’s gone. Just rememer the good.
Must replace my MJ cassettes–CD’s.
Worldwide phenomenon. Musical genius. Died young.
Michael beat it much too soon.
Black, white. Man in mirror thrilled.
Never can say goodbye. Michael, R.I.P.
Never can say goodbye, Michael. R.I.P.
Michael owned the stage. Unbelievably talented.
Middle-aged white woman devastated about Michael.
Would Michael still be alive if?
What if he’d had a childhood?
What doomed Elvis, claimed Michael too.
This tour would have surpassed all.
We somehow forgot the genius there.
No one can duplicate his work.
It was never about his appearance.
Young, talented, controversial, exploited, now dead.
bizarre music icon and loving dad.
Now MJ can live his childhood.
Hope you play in heaven, Michael.
World was your stage. Tragic life.
If childhood were different, just imagine.
Preferred Michael’s cute 80’s black face.
genius man naive child in one
Embattled individual. Majestic Performer. Legend forever.
So who actualy fathered his children?
Thrilled, healed, and rocked our world.
He lived an awfully big adventure.
Heal The World. Honour The Man.
Young black old white three kids.
Afro, Jheri Curl, Pepsi Fire, Wig
Black superstar turned white. Tragic life.
Lost childhood doomed superstar’s life forever.
Michael: Currently teaching Elvis to Moonwalk
Tip of Hat. Sparkle of Glove.
Seemed to float above the stage.
The Thriller has left the building.
He finally did say goodbye, girl.
Gonna be startin somethin in Heaven
Wore white glove. Had some moves.
Father. Performer. Spotlight. Pain. Legend.
Moon walking on the clouds now.
Tragic death leads to musical rebirth.
“Thought he would die young. Did.”
Up, up, Culkin, down, down, down.
Cash-cow baby never grew up.
Died too soon. Dyed too white.
Micheal Jackson was not a martyr.
He commanded all moves and steps.
King of Pop arose, never landed.
Michael, danced,dreamed, delivered, and died.
The man in the mirror, reflected.
Michael moved the earth and moon.
Loved, hated, cherished, abhorred: Unique!
Now dancing in real never-never lands.
king of pop. wore one glove?
Our generation got it’s Elvis finally.
The Five, The King, Now Popped.
Precocious child turned juvenile adult, lost.
He sang, he moonwalked, he conquered.
Michael: Son, brother, father, friend, artist.
Gloved King ushered future of music.
Music industry and world forever changed.
World changed in just one glove.
One-gloved wonder awakened every generation.
Talented, confused, conflicted. But never convicted,
Loneliest man loved by whole world.
It got hard for little boy.
Broke the internet when he died.
Influenced. Impacted. Insulted. Invincible. Iconic. Immortal.
Moonwalk straight to hell, child molester.
MJ’s tragedy started many years ago.
kmart special: boys pants half off
to little to late now gone
not my hero alive or dead
Mama sighed. Mama sued. Mama Kusah.
John Lennon’s gonna kick your ass
millions of moms sigh with relief
The sound of one glove clapping.
This moonwalk requires
Gallons of Jesus juice.
Heart stopped when it got enough.
Genius lost. To megolamania, dysmorphia? Heartbreaking.
T’was ever thus, each of us.
Music: genius. Life: screwball. Death: adored.
It was ever thus, Mr. Jackson.
This is The Peace you needed.
I wouldn’t exactly call 50 “too young.”
So nice to finally retire, eh?
Honestly? I’m so happy for you.
Michael: the soundtrack of my childhood.
I AM YOU NOW BEAT IT
Boys are now safer from molestation.
Without Quincy Jones MJ is Britney.
Man in the Mirror: ghostly echo.
King of Pop led tormented life.
Pop thrill now moonwalking in heaven
Prodigiousness robbed youth; quintessential American tragedy.
Virtuosity robbed youth; quintessential American tragedy.
Pop thriller now moonwalking in heaven
Lost boy finally finds his Neverland
King of Pop; Moonwalks into Eternity
There’s one more angel in heaven.
He is now alone, without children.
He was stopped, they had enough.
Gloved one moon walked to thrill.
Peter Pan dreams, creepy plastic nightmares.
Born Black man, Died White woman.
His ill beats, will beat on.
He danced better than the best!
When the glove no longer fits.
Didn’t matter, Black or White, he’s gone.
Cardic arrest: Wrong arrest record.
Shiny, glittery one hand covered, Child.
Child that remained in man’s body.
Bleach job complete: Fade to black.
Saw him climb, watched him crumble.
The Glove goes on other hand.
Most shocking music day ever seen.
As a zombie he can dance!
Thriller: There is life after death!
Neverland, never the same, never visited.
Sorry Michael, but I don’t care.
I rollerskated to Pretty Young Thing
Holy crap! He was my age.
pretty good dancer pretty freaky parent
michael jackson - thrill is long gone
who will parent his children now?
Pedophile dead. Rat’s ass not given.
MJ truly lived off the wall.
Too soon sequinned gloves wave bye
Brilliant child degenerates into tortured man.
So much love yet so alone.
Earned the title: King of Pop
Needed love but never loved himself.
A torchured face, a torchured soul.
Did St. Peter recognize Michael’s face?
Lost boy, genius thrilled, man unknown.
Imagine King of Pop at eighty!
Was I only one not surprised?
My favorite song. Gone too soon.
Michael entering Heaven. Black or white?
Debts gone. Wealthier dead than alive.
Accidental death? Insurance wipes out debts.
Now the conspiracy rumors run wild.
Sad news. Let the circus begin!
Hi! Billy Mays here for Oxiclean!
A tortured face, a tortured soul.
Daddy Jackson emasculated little Michael.
Those white kids are NOT his!!!
Which one molested? Prince One? Two?
some folks sad, some kids glad
power, fame and money can corrupt
[...] What’s your six-word obituary for Michael Jackson? Leave your six words for MJ either at SMITH, or, if that’s too much work, as a comment here. Our three favorite entries win the six-word [...]
The jokes started way too soon.
Smooth criminal is gone too soon.
mama say mama so mamacu sad.
Changing faces, daring moves. Silence now.
Memories while listening to his songs.
the way you make me feel..
loved the world, never just himself
peter pan is gone to neverland
a child in a man’s body
the Glove that shook the world
defying color, defying gravity- not mortality
healed and rocked my world- thanks
the tragic artist, the starved soul
Michael, heaven doesn’t care about looks
knocked me off of my feet
Michael, i’ll always remember the time..
“When will I get my refund?”
“Who said that, King of POP”
“Pop, Poppers, Pauper, la-la land”
moonwalked in and out of reality
Music will never be the same.
His lonely days are now gone.
We weren’t ready to say goodbye.
Pop Genius or Wacko Jacko? Both.
Michael you are not alone anymore.
King of Pop…lives on FOREVER.
Talented Musician and a Legendary Icon.
“Livin crazy that’s the only way”
He Lived it Off the Wall
72 heavenly virgin boys deflowered today
He Lived LIFE Off the Wall
You worked for us! Thank you.
Born Julius Hibbert. Died Monty Burns.
Moonwalked off the wall; tragic fall.
Negro spirituals now Caucasianized cheshire grin
Negro spirituals now Caucasianized cheshire grimace
MOONWALK: dance steps. Steps to heaven.
FROM STAGE LIGHTS TO ETERNAL LIGHT
Boy prodigy starts young, dies younger.
at peace - can be a child
One glove; keeps evidence off children.
Let the dead bury the dead.
death by press, immortality by love
famous in life, immortal in death
From pop genius to Wacko Jacko.
Rock star; falling star; bright star
Boy angel; broken wings; gone; forgiven
1.Shook his body into the ground.
Just say
Recycled plastic: Just say “no”.
a Dangerous Thriller, an Invincible HIStory
you gave us butterflies - fly free!
He cried but no one listened.
Celebrity life taken for granted, sad.
Infamously famous for very impure behavior.
Neverland in ruins, Children in hiding.
Babies asked to say goodbye, awkward.
Farewell fragile ferocious talent. Manchild.
enablers killed the king of pop
remember how he lived, not died
the real mj died years ago
man as child, child as man
Survived by a generation of commentary.
Self-mutilating Drug Addicted Pederast Artist
Loved, gloved; unique freak; cool ghoul.
King of Pop - His heart stopped.
I sang. I danced. I lived.
Sang, danced, dazzled.
Self-denied;died.
his handlers should be held responsible
Who killed Michael, the conspiracies begin…
mis-taken, mis-colored, misunderstood- just plain missed
He became a Twitter Trending Topic
Accusations are not, by definition, facts.
Little man to man-child. Blame fame.
Little man to man-child. Blamed fame.
Bouquet of broken parts and genius.
Brought joy and trills to millions!
We all need Jesus, John 3:16
He said “he never–wanted to die.”
Michael. Not ordinary, even in death.
The Curious Case of Michael Jackson
Where were you when Michael died?
Survived by children, abused and not.
[...] more than 450 submissions via email, Facebook, over at The Huffington Post, and above all in the comments section of my original post. We couldn’t pick just three, so we’ve decided upon these five across five themes which [...]
Never wanted to grow old; didn’t.
Thriller or Chiller? Audiophiler or Pedofiler?
The circle of vultures claims another.
The King of Pop has exploded.
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