The similarities are startling. As I miss Michael Jackson I find myself thinking about Judy Garland.
Growing up in San Francisco my mother had front row seats to almost everyone, from Frank Sinatra to Judy Garland and many greats in between.
The only one I can recall her talking about with emotion was Judy Garland. "I just watched the perspiration flow down from her face, you just couldn't believe it..."
I would listen as Muv's graceful fingers would float down away from her face, from forehead to the base of her neck and rest, for effect. Her eyes widening and then she'd shake her head with a small laugh and smile. "You just couldn't believe it..."
And no, it wasn't just the drugs, it was the effect upon you, not what you projected upon them.
My mother was very self-contained, a great story teller but bold emotion was expressed through art, only....more than one friend said while visiting, "oh, you mean she's a real artist. " I thought about that tonite, watching the 'last rehearsal tapes of MJ'. What it would have been like, to see him live. There is something similar and startling, inspiring, that lingers for a long time after watching and listening to both Michael Jackson and Judy Garland, on film, tape.
Tragic, yes, but that is what the arch of creativity is all about.
I've had more than one gay friend speak of seeing Madonna perform live...they say the same thing, 'oh, it was like a gay church' or 'she's in her prime," or "she's a great performer., got my money's worth"
For them perhaps, but what about that strange sensation, forever?
Back in June 2007, i paid 600 euro to see Streisand in Paris. Just the voice and the microphone, and the vase of lovely flowers, of course. I really missed that great American music. It was terribly emotional for me and I called Muv the next day, she understood, but I didn't quite see the perspiration, if you know what I mean...
We watch great performers and can agree there's something delightfully curious that keeps your eye on the screen and makes you marvel, the 'it' factor, maybe, but after the performance, you feel somehow rather empty and wonder, 'was it all that' after the production is done.
I can't help thinking with Judy and Michael, 'you just couldn't quite believe it...'
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