40,000 tributes on just one website for Michael Jackson

Invincible

By Aly Dahya – Special to Vancouverite©

Michael Jackson was a “brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era,” said Sony Corporation CEO and President Sir Howard Stringer as a single website memorial forum recorded more than 40,000 tributes to the dead pop star.

The King of Pop, a generational icon, Jackson died suddenly on Thursday at his LA home after suffering cardiac arrest. Toxicology tests have been ordered to investigate the possibility a prescription drug may have caused his death.

News of Jackson’s death travelled the globe like a wildfire; and shocked web surfers almost brought down the internet as they searched for any and all news about him. Several websites found themselves overloaded. On Social networking site Twitter, he occupied five top trending topics for most of two days.

“His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work,” said Stringer in a statement that occupied the home page of www.MichaelJackson.com.

Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: “Michael Jackson’s unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly.”

“Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon,” said Martin Bandier, Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Worldwide tributes continued to pour in even as the mystery of how Jackson died remained unexplained with the Los Angeles Coroner’s office saying it may take weeks to determine if some substance caused his heart to stop.

“We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music,” Justin Timberlake said on his Web site.

“I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family,” ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley told MTV News. “This is such a massive loss on so many levels. Words fail me.”

And Madonna told People Magazine she can’t stop crying over the sad news.

“The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever,” she was quoted as saying.

According to Uncut.co.uk Paul McCartney released a statement to say that his memories of working with Michael Jackson “will be happy ones.”

“Way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama, Michael did with music what they later did in sports and in politics and in television,” Rev. Al Sharpton in a statement issued in New York.

By early Saturday morning, 40,000 fans had posted their sympathies and messages of love at a memorial forum on www.michaeljackson.com.

“I’ll Miss you…..I feel so empty now that you’re not here now Michael. I have been a fan of yours since I was a little girl and you inspired me to dance and be involved in music. You will be sorely, sorely missed and the music industry will never see a legend like you ever again. I only hope that you have the peace in heaven that you never got to endure here on earth with you loveing fans such as myself and my family. R.I.P Michael, I’m gonna miss you. God Bless You,” said a comment posted by Amanda Louden on the forum.

“I am bewildered and crushed by the passing of one phenomenally, remarkably, talented man! My heart has broken and my prayers go out to his family. I have followed his career throughout my life, danced to his music (or tried to anyway), and watched his video masterpieces. He was a brilliant man! I felt I knew him personally. He made us feel that way about him. The people that tormented him, passed un-fathomable rumours, and hurt him should be ashamed. The public criticized him because he was different. How unfair! I wonder how we would feel if our lives were under a magnifying glass for the world to see our every move and thought. Let him without sin cast the first stone. I will miss him. The world will miss him. He was truly an ambassador of good will and acceptance. God Bless you, Michael! May you now have the peace that you sought so diligently in life. I cannot believe you are gone,” said Ginny Peele.

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