Yahoo!7 Answers Australia

We’d all agree. there has been such an outpouring of grief over Michael Jackson’s death. In fact, the coverage almost hasn’t stopped. From the moment we got news that he’d died of a heart attack, we’ve been bombarded.

What really killed him: Cardiac arrest, Painkillers, his doctor or the media? Are his kids biologically related to him? Who will look after them – his mother Katherine Jackson, Janet Jackson or Debbie Rowe? Where can you get tickets to his memorial? What were some quotes from the memorial?

All these questions and thousands more have been debated on Answers and it’s not looking like it’s ending. Where will he be buried? Do you think the press will honour his wishes by keeping his children out of the spotlight?

However like his life, Michael Jackson’s death hasn’t been without controversy. Mostly people seem to have adored this icon and truly appreciated the impact he’s made on this world. Others are focused on his accusations of sexual impropriety and still feel Michael was a paedophile who was allowed to walk free. Regardless of what you think of him, you have to admit we’ve all got an opinion about Michael Jackson and we’ve all given our two cents worth over the last few weeks.

The other question that I have been pondering is the media coverage surrounding his death. It’s been the most dramatic coverage since Princess Diana died but did he make the biggest impact on the world? Do you think it was a little extreme or do you think it was justified for such a star? I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

Caitlin
Community Manager

My goodness, what a morning.

We’re all shocked to hear about the passing of Michael Jackson, the ultimate King of Pop. For many of us born in the 70′s and 80′s, a Michael Jackson album was the first music we ever bought and most of us have special memories of his multitude of songs.

His 1982 hit Thriller became a world wide smash. It yielded seven top-10 singles and sold at least 27 million records worldwide. The year later, the moonwalk was released while performing Billy Jean in New York and we all spent hours trying to perfect this unique style.

We posted a great question on the Yahoo!7 homepage asking you What are your best memories of him and his music? There are so many great responses (keep them coming!) but I wanted to share a few with you.

HIS MOONWALK. I still remember all my friends trying to do it.. we’d fall down laughing when our teacher tried to do it, looked like he was constipated.. No one came quite as close to the King of Pop.
- Sydney =)

Billie Jean, 1983. His red suit, white socks and black loafers. I still think this song is his finest musical moment.
- R2R

My positive memory….he landed in Papua New Guinea in 1997 in search of fuel on while on his way to NZ from some place in Asia….I saw him from 20 mtrs away.. in less than 50 minutes more than 1000 fans gathered at the Jacksons Int Airport…
- Pontai

Running home around the corner from a friends place after dark at 8years old after just having watched his big sisters recording of the Thriller filmclip and freaking out,wondering if there were any grisly ghouls after me!
- Birds

So, So, many of them, where to begin. Which one? Everytime I stepped on stage (now retired professional dancer 27yrs) in OZ or OS! Having the privilege to perform to this icons works, but alas, seeing MJ @ Parramatta Stadium in 1987. Source(s): Yahoo of course! Thanks for your coverage on MJ.
- donna

For me, almost every one of his songs remind me of something in my childhood.  Blame it on the Boogie will always take me back to teenage discos and those hilarious dance moves, Bad reminds me of dancing around the living room with my brothers and I’ll always remember the feeling of hope and inspiration the first time I heard Heal the World.

What will you always remember about Michael Jackson?

RIP Michael Jackson and thanks for the wonderful memories.

Caitlin
Community Manager

It’s humpday, it’s cold outside and it feels like ages since we’ve had a long weekend. I know, I know, we shouldn’t still be upset about missing out on an ANZAC Day long weekend but it really does feel like a long time since there’s been a chance for a Monday sleep in. Unfortunately we’ve still got a few weeks until the June Queen’s Birthday Holiday (although WA gets their long weekend a week before the rest of us).

So for the mid May humpday blues, here are some pick me ups!

Q: What’s the most uplifting and happy song to you?

A: Love Inc. Your A Superstar
Taking the Long Way – Dixie Chicks
Garth Brooks – Standing outside the fire
Sheryl Crow – if it makes you happy
Alanis Morisette – Ironic
Alicia Keys – No One
Amy McDonald – Mr. Rock n Roll
Cher – Just Like Jesse James
Letters to Cleo – I want you to want More

Q: What are some happy movies that make you smile?

A: I loved “Ever After” with Drew Barrymore
and “Never been Kissed” also with Drew.
I also liked “The Wedding Date” with Debra Messing & Dermot Mulroney.
And I liked “Enchanted” even though I’m a grown up! LOL
I hope these help! More

Q: What things do your kids do that makes you smile?

A: Well the random I love yous are the best by far.. or the goofy pictures he draws me to hang at my desk at work… But the most recent smiles I get from him, is how well he does with his new sister. Every night he has to tell her he loves her and kiss her (which usually wakes her up lol, but I have to deal with it haha) When she was 2 weeks old she had a stuffy nose and started screeming, my son ran into my room (it was about 3am) he jumped on my bed and asked what was wrong, I said I don’t know as I hadn’t figured it out yet, and said would you like me to sing her a lullaby? He sang to her as I calmed her and he didn’t go back to sleep until he knew she was ok. More

Q: What is the funniest joke you have ever heard?

A: A bus carrying only ugly people crashes into an oncoming truck, and everyone inside dies. They then get to meet their maker and because of the grief they have experienced; he decides to grant them one wish each, before they enter Paradise.
They’re all lined up, and God asks the first one what the wish is. “I want to be gorgeous,” and so God snaps His fingers, and it is done.
The second one in line hears this and says “I want to be gorgeous too.” Another snap of His fingers and the wish is granted.
This goes on for a while with each one asking to be gorgeous but when God is halfway down the line the last guy in the line starts laughing.
When there are only ten people left, this guy is rolling on the floor, laughing his head off. Finally, God reaches this last guy and asks him what his wish will be. The guy eventually calms down and says: “Make ‘em all ugly again”. More

Last month, 2008 Miss Universe Australia Laura Dundovic asked the community What are your tips for feeling great on the inside and looking good on the outside? She got some great responses, but one of our favourites was:

Nothing beats, the “smile”. Smiling helps keep yyou feeling good, but makes you look better on the outside too. A warning though, it is contagious. Smiling will eventually pass onto others making others feel good too. haha… As a bus ticket once told me, “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours”

If you want to see Laura’s tips, check out the video below.

How about you? How do you get over the humpday blues?

Caitlin
Community Manager

Strictly Ballroom is one of those movies that will always remind me of my adolescence. I think my first crush may have been Paul Mercurio in that tight white singlet and floppy hair. And for a young girl with two left feet, it was quite encouraging to see daggy Fran being transformed into a graceful Ballroom dancing champion with a hundred times more flair than her bleached blonde competitors.

Baz Luhrmann was the writer and director of that classic Aussie movie and it was pretty clear he was destined for big things. He went onto film a remake of the Shakespeare’s classic Romeo & Juliet, thrilled us all with the singing dancing fun of Moulin Rouge and put our country on the big screen with Australia.

Now Baz is looking for a new project and wants your help. He’s asked the Answers community:

If you could influence the next film I make or the next story I tell, what would you encourage me to do?

Check out this video of him asking the question.

Don’t forget to Answer!

Caitlin
Community Manager

With whom would you like me to cooperate on a track in the future and why?

When I heard that DJ Tiësto would be asking a question on Answers I was so excited as he is my absolute favourite DJ! As a Gen X/Gen Y-cusp, I grew up with the early techno and dance music era when radio stations were underground and rave parties had mysterious phone numbers to call on the day to find out the venue.

The electronic music scene has come a long way since then and has been greatly advanced by DJs like Tiësto. Born in Holland, DJ Tiësto was the first DJ in the world to have a sold out, one-DJ event in a stadium for more than 25,000 people. His remix of, perhaps my favourite track by Tiësto, Delerium (Silence) by Sarah McLachlan was the first house song ever played during the day on US radio (it stayed in the UK’s top ten for eight weeks). He’s worked with Moby, the Dave Matthews Band, Cirque du Soleil and Disney, and has also played live for billions of people during the athletes’ parade at the opening ceremonies of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

Even though Tiësto is mainly known for his contributions to the trance scene, his style has developed into more of a mix of several genres, including trance, house and techno. His productions and sets include everything from fast-paced songs to more mellow tunes and regularly reach the number one spots on European charts.

Tiësto continues to explore new places, and experiment with new sounds in the studio, but he wants to know what you would like to hear, so let DJ Tiësto know who you would like him to work with on a new track.

Alana