02/27/2008 08:46:24 PM EST

Michael Jackson is the universal hello!

posted by chrisandyasemin

R.J. and I shared a similar experience in foreign lands that happens to be pretty strange.  What's up with people just randomly saying Michael Jackson to Americans?

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When R.J. just happened to talk about his experience with an Albanian running up to him and saying,"Michael Jackson" it instantly reminded me of this past spring break.  Yasemin and I were in Istanbul, and while walking down Divan yolu, this man just shouted "Michael Jackson" at us when we walked by.  He was genuinely excited, and it was definately not meant to be offensive.  It's like he wanted to let me know that he's hip to American culture, but he only has 2 words to do it because he has to do it while walking by.  I can almost imagine the conversation,"You know Michael Jackson?  Thriller was awesome man...."and so forth, but it's all summed into "MICHAEL JACKSON!"  Has Michael Jackson's music transcended cultural barriers so much that it is the world's only common ground?  Wouldn't that be fucked!
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What is your favorite Michael Jackson Song?
A. Thriller 0%
B. Bad 0%
C. Black Or White 0%
D. Too many to pick one 0%
E. I don't like ANY Michael Jackson songs 0%
F. Anyone who picks E is a fucking liar 100%

Votes: 2
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Michael Jackson is the universal hello! | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
From a Turk's perspective... (none / 0)
OK, so this may look like the same person writing in, but I'm the Yasemin part of the "Chris and Yasemin"...

Now we are debating whether or not the guy in Istanbul was excited to see an American, or a black guy, or both;) I think the local guy in Istanbul yelled "Michael Jackson!" at Chris because he was a black dude in a primarily white environment. The local man, to me, was clearly excited to see a black man and his excitement manifested itself in making a connection to the most famous black guy alive: Michael Jackson.

On a similar note, the whole time Chris and I were in Turkey he got called by other names such as "Bob Marley," "Cuba," "Jamaica," and "Rasta-man" (it must have been the dreads...)

I still think Chris is right though, Mike and his music clearly have cros s-cultural unifying properties.

by chrisandyasemin on 02/27/2008 09:35:19 PM EST

if m.j. is the universal "hello" (none / 1)

claiming that michael jackson and his music may be "the world's only common ground" is naive, pre-9/11 thinking.

michael jackson may be the universal "hello", but in the post-9/11 era:

  • george w. bush is the universal "dumb fuck".
  • dick cheney is the universal "fuck you".
oh what a wonderful world.

by neo on 02/28/2008 02:25:25 AM EST

Michael Jackson is the universal hello! | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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