MANILA, Philippines?At Michael Jackson?s emotional tribute last week, famous record producer, Berry Gordy, got a big ovation when he movingly intoned that ?King of Pop? didn?t adequately describe Michael??He is simply the best entertainer who ever lived.?
Quite a number of fans would agree, especially when they factor in Jackson?s decades-long stellar career, the major inroads he made not just of himself, but also for other black and minority entertainers, his humanitarian initiatives, his singing and dancing prodigy and wizardry?etc.
Fulsome praise
However, others believe that Gordy went overboard in his fulsome praise for Jackson, pointing out that other entertainment icons shouldn?t be dismissed as so much chopped liver, just so Michael can be given the bigger boost.
They applaud and honor Jackson, but don?t believe that his contributions to the entertainment world are greater than the career achievements of the truly exceptional likes of Charlie Chaplin, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, Barbra Streisand?etc.
Chaplin wasn?t just the world?s finest comedian, he also wrote, directed, produced and composed music for his movies, many of which are still regarded as seminal classics. In addition, his early training as a gymnast made him an exceptional dancer and mime, a performing artist who could ?speak? volumes without actually saying a single word.
Another unforgettable performer was Sammy Davis Jr. Even Michael himself venerated the sassy and immensely talented singer-dancer, who astounded audiences with the immensity of his gift as a performer. And, like Michael, Davis also opened doors for minority artists. He even shocked a lot of people when he became one of the first black stars to marry a Caucasian luminary (May Britt).
Chance
Filipinos were given a chance to appreciate Davis? talent when he performed here in the ?60s. He was simply amazing as he entertained his SRO audience practically all by himself?for more than three hours!
For his part, Gene Kelly was acclaimed for decades as one of the film world?s top dancer-choreographers. The modern movie musical owes a lot to this exceptional star of such memorable musical classics as ?On the Town? (which he codirected with Stanley Donen), ?Singin? in the Rain? (ditto), ?Brigadoon? and ?An American in Paris.?
Some movie-musical buffs think that Fred Astaire is the better dancer, but Kelly?s creative contributions to the filmmaking process as choreographer and codirector were definitely more significant.
The same multiplicity of talents similarly adds to Barbra Streisand?s iconic stature in the fields of theater, TV, film, recording and the concert stage. She began her career as a musical theater star, but after she announced her virtual retirement some years ago, Streisand had chalked up major accomplishments in many other fields. She even excelled at film directing with ?Yentl? (1983), a film that struck deep at her Jewish roots.
Among the film world?s thespic greats, movie buffs idolized Sir Laurence Olivier, Marlon Brando, Robert de Niro, Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and other iconic performers, whose insightful and powerful portrayals have enriched popular culture in truly significant ways.
Surely, they too deserve to be honored as some of the best and most iconic performers of all time?and Michael Jackson would consider himself privileged and proud to be included in their august company.
