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Isn't the USA the United States OF America. Meaning it is a part of America and not America itself. The country should never have been named the United States of America it only creates confusion. It would be like Germany calling itself the United States of Europe.. Instead we are having to engage in this moronic discussion about why the USA = America when two continents plus Central America and the Caribbean with dozens of countries in no less than the Western Hemisphere itself are located in the Americas. Of the 1 billion who live in the Americas the USA represents 313 million of those people - therefore The USA unequivocally does not equal America
On a bigger scale - the world has plenty enough fame, billionaires and movies without the help of the United States. This isn't an attack against the U.S other than to put things into perspective for some posters who believe that the most famous player on the team = the team
Like I said to someone else on another topic, you will most likely have to go the rest of your life being confused on the subject. Americans and non Americans alike who refer to the USA as America aren't going to suddenly stop because people like yourself think they ought to.
It's funny when people talk about how stupid Americans are, it's sudden very clear what America means
Have you not heard of the Beatles? I wager Beatlemania in the states was a lot larger in their time than MJ has ever been.
And many people (myself included- American and in my 30's) still love the Beatles today.
I think you missed the OP. Cali is apparently a huge fan of the "Beetles"
The Beatles are huge in the UK and US but MJ is much more of a global icon and that is a fact. No other artist - past or present - even comes close. It's a shame he's not more appreciated in his own country.
I think you missed the OP. Cali is apparently a huge fan of the "Beetles"
The Beatles are huge in the UK and US but MJ is much more of a global icon and that is a fact. No other artist - past or present - even comes close. It's a shame he's not more appreciated in his own country.
I wouldn't go quite that far Linda. He's appreciated here but remember, United Statesians (for those who are still confused) like controversy and MJ offered it. There are also global artist who are known in many countries but unknown, or barely known in the US. Dj Bobo comes to mind. He's been here once only.
I don't even think he was overly talented, even his famous moonwalk was invented by someone else decades earlier. Nor did he play an instrument. His voice was not exceptional, either. Without Quincy Jones in the background he never would have become the star he became.
I think Stevie Wonder for instance is way more talented, but not only is he blind, he never was handsome, either, which is quite important in view of all the groupies
It was a nasty thing to say indeed because MJ had a skin disorder (Vitiligo) that destroyed the pigmentation of his skin. To make jokes about this is just cruel.
To say MJ was not overly talented is insane, IMO. He wrote most of his songs, including his biggest hits like Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Heal the World, etc. He co-produced almost all of his songs since Thriller. He pioneered the medium of music videos. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest dancers that ever lived (including by people like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly). He may not have invented the Moonwalk (he never claimed he did) but he extended it. He was a huge fashion icon (the zipper jackets, the regal outfits, the arm bands, the white socks, the fedora hats, the penny loafers, the white glove, etc.) - all of which he designed himself. He (co-)composed almost all of his songs (esp. since Thriller) even though he didn't play musical instruments as you said. He was already a huge star before Quincy Jones ever came in the picture. He sold over a 100 million records with the Jackson 5 / Jacksons. But most importantly of all, MJ crossed over to all races, genders, ages, nationalities all over the world like no one has done before or since. He sold more abroad than he did at home. His music still sounds as relevant today as it did 30 years ago. Whether you like his voice or whether you think he was handsome is a matter of opinion. He certainly was unique in both aspects
Quincy Jones gets WAY too much credit for his work with MJ. Here's a demo of Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, recorded at MJ's home before Quincy ever got involved:
It doesn't sound too different from the final version. Quincy Jones didn't even want Billie Jean to be included on the Thriller album. Quincy didn't work on Dangerous and that's considered by many people to be MJ's best work. It's a shame you dismiss everything he did after Thriller because you're missing out on some great music, in my opinion.
MJ was also talented in other areas. He wrote a beatiful book of poetry and reflections (called Dancing the Dream) and he was a great artist in terms of drawing and painting. Here's some examples:
Sorry for the rant You're entitled to your opinion of course and I understand that not everybody is a fan of MJ's music. It just bothers me when people don't give him the credit he deserves as an artist.
I think a some Americans take the widespread reach of their entertainment industry as acceptance of all things American.
The image provided by U.S. media in general is a far cry from reality. A lot of people in poorer countries who see American movies or watch American pop stars get a skewed version of what the U.S. is about. Even poor people on American T.V. shows seem to dress well and live in nice places.
The reality hits some of them once they arrive. Certainly there are immigrant success stories but that exists in all developed countries.
Even tourists, once they move away from the tourist centres get a bit of a shock.
The image provided by US media is not all positive though. We have shows like Jersey Shore and Toddlers & Tiaras here too A lot of stereotypes about the US actually come directly from American media (music, movies, TV shows). I don't think too many people in developed countries still live under the illusion that the US is so much greater than the rest of the world.
Like I said to someone else on another topic, you will most likely have to go the rest of your life being confused on the subject. Americans and non Americans alike who refer to the USA as America aren't going to suddenly stop because people like yourself think they ought to.
It's funny when people talk about how stupid Americans are, it's sudden very clear what America means
Yes I say so and obviously you can't argue with that so stay confused my friend.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Catbelle
Yes, many people watch American films, listen American music, etc. But..................MOSTY? I don't think so. At least I can name too many films, singers, musicians and millionaires that are not American, not even anglo.
Wonder what country they were talking about here
Quote:
Originally Posted by viribusunitis
Europeans simply love America. Greatest nation in the world.
Obviously this Austrian meant Canada.
Quote:
Originally Posted by P London
Yeah I don't live in a basement mate why don't you visit another country and actually learn about something else not America centric.
Does this Brit mean Bolivian?
Quote:
Originally Posted by dunno what to put here
This person is now going on a rampage and will probably create 100 new threads all about America.
It's obvious this Brit is surely talking about Argentina!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oleg Bach
Can't stand the goof in the picture. He is a cut throat opportunist parasite....America has certain controls when it comes to art forms and art that is funded by the status quo..Americans are the greatest propagandists that have ever existed and a nation of idol worshipers. If you have a great motion picture script that might be heal or make the nation more aware...if it does not follow the policy according to a certain type of brain washing the film will never be made.
Motion pictures - certain types of music - art and writing debase America making it easy to rule...Bring the individual down to the lowest common animal denominator - and the country runs like an animal farm...the sheep and their masters who are clever wolves.
This Canadian used the American/America term three times in the same post. Was he talking about his own country or Mexico?
Please, you guys need to give it a rest. This is just from the first 6 pages of this thread. You people know damn well what country America refers to. From this point on, anyone who claims otherwise will be assumed to have been born two days ago and likewise be ignored.
Last edited by Gentoo; 06-29-2013 at 11:54 PM..
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