On paper, Jamie Stewart is a little intimidating. He writes brooding, intelligent lyrics for a band that I hold in high regard: Xiu Xiu. He is opinionated, but he has the wit to back his opinions whether on politics, social issues, the economy etc. Faced by the prospect of interviewing him, I was slightly trembling. What if I couldn’t reach his standards and came off as some dumb rando?

We found a “quiet” place for the interview just a block away from the interview: Pita Pita. I sat across from Jamie and he politely mumbled an apology for eating during the interview. Then, he began to stab his cup of fruit with a straw. A small smile crept up as I watched him use the straw. There was something so grounded in his behavior. My fear melted away and we began to discuss his band, his writing process, politics and a possible collaboration with bees…

Bethany Smith, PopWreckoning: Let’s start with your songwriting process. Especially with your last album, Dear God I Hate Myself, you have a lot of dark subject material/heavier subjects, but then you have some lighthearted things. How do you balance the dark and the light and where do you get the inspiration for what goes on to a record like that?
Jamie Stewart, Xiu Xiu: There is not really any attempt to balance it at all. It’s always an attempt to talk about the things that are happening in the lives of the people that are close to me and in my life and sometimes in politics. Sometimes those things are a little bit lighter and sometimes those things are incredibly morose and heavy. So, if it is a year that is entirely filled with hilarious things, then it will just be hilarious. I hope the next record will be hilarious, but if it is a year that’s entirely filled with doom, then it will be doom-filled. I guess that answers the second part of the question, too.

BS: With the politics angle, it seemed like while Bush was in office there were more political records and you had songs about that, but with Obama, there’s been a change in the volume of political angles. What’s changed with you with Obama in office and the change of politics and the changes with stuff like health care?
JS: I don’t the President is a maniacal idiot anymore, but he’s a politician still. I mean, I like him, twenty percent more than I liked Bush. He doesn’t terrify me, but the war is still in full swing, just not being escalated. I appreciate that he’s not giving up on health care, although the health care bill is…in theory, I’m glad it exists, but it doesn’t seem like it is going to help people particularly. He’s kind of exactly the way I expected him to be and its exactly the way I expected things would get in politics. I expected things would get a tiny, tiny bit better and slightly less terrifying, which they have. I didn’t expect the worst, but I didn’t expect anything wonderful to happen.

BS: Moving on from the lyrical aspect, how do you come up with some of the musical aspects like using a Nintendo DS for a song like “Dear God”? How do you think this would be a cool instrument to use?
JS: It’s kind of just that. Before I got into song writing, I was mostly interested in engineering and spent a lot of time initially just working on sounds before I really started trying to become interested in narrative songwriting. I have a lot more experience with that than actual writing. And probably trying to make sounds as important emotionally as harmony and lyrics, a lot of times, those begin with a sound and we try to work that into a song or build up a song around it.

Joshua Hammond, PopWreckoning: Based off what she said there with the sound, you seem to be the only consistent member of the band from beginning to end, how does that affect how your sound shifts from album to album: Seven people or primarily you?
JS: Depends on the song. Like the last song on the record, “Impossible Feeling,” Ches Smith played on it and Angela [Seo] played on it, then I played on it. And a cellist, our friend, played on it, and it does have a particular sound, but then on a song like “Dear God I Hate Myself,” I played everything. And that was a different type of sound. This is an obvious answer, but different people put their own hearts and own ideas and own interests in there. I don’t feel territorial at all ,but Ches lives in New York and Angela lives elsewhere, so there are days when I get to work with them and days when I don’t want to not work, so I keep going.

BS: There’s been a lot of controversy over your music video for “Dear God, I Hate Myself.” did you expect such extreme reactions?

Xiu Xiu – Dear God, I Hate Myself from Kill Rock Stars on Vimeo.

JS: No. We were really surprised. We were particularly surprised that a lot of the criticism had a racist orientation to it. A lot of them seemed to stem from  this belief that Angela, because she’s an Asian woman, is this terribly helpless person who couldn’t decide to do something totally gross of her own accord. The whole video was totally her idea, but there was all this speculation that I coerced this poor little Asian girl into doing something like that. If it had been some other chick, no one would have said anything like that. We were really, really surprised. It wasn’t overt racism, but it was racism by proxy of making stupid, ignorant comments and people accusing me of drugging her and insane things like that. We weren’t expecting it at all. We expected some people to like it and some to say it was stupid. There is a point to it, but as with everything, we figured some would get the point and others wouldn’t get the point. The other stuff we were really surprised by.
BS: I know when I watched it, it was hard to watch it because..
JS: It’s gross. It’s totally gross.
BS: It is gross, but it does make a lot of sense with the song and it is an important thing to get out there on a subject that a lot of videos wouldn’t even mess with in a two minute sphere; it’s something usually saved for a two hour drama trying to get an Oscar nomination.

JH: In some ways do you find the controversy has helped a little bit for people who might normally pay attention to you?
JS: Oh, I think if I looked on the internet, I’d have an answer for that, but I get way too freaked out and try to stay as far away from it as possible.
JH: Yeah, I never thought of that until right now.
JS: I’m sure there are, but it hasn’t changed our career.

BS: I think with that video, a lot of what helped me understand you weren’t doing anything malicious and just trying to get an issue across is that you’re involved with charities. Like on this tour you’re working with At the Crossroads. Would you mind telling our readers what At the Crossroads means and how you got involved?
JS: How we got involved, Brenda, who is a friend of Angela’s, does it and she came on this tour with us so it makes sense we’d do some work for it anyways and what it is is a referral and counseling service for homeless youth in San Francisco.
BS: How did you come up with the idea to take images and photos with fans to give to people for it?
JS: Yeah, each sort of level of donation, somebody can get something back for it. I wish that Angela and Brenda were actually here because while I’m involved, they’re doing most of it. If you donate at all, you get a poster; if you donate five bucks you get a little device from a truck stop and we’ll mail it to you.
BS: Have you already done some of these purchase?
JS: Yeah.
BS: What are some of the devices you got people?
JS: Actually, they did those. The one thing I did, there’s a set of unrealesed Xiu Xiu songs and if we raise a certain amount of money then we’ll release those for free download. Even if we don’t make the money I think we’ll still do it because the goal is pretty high, but still. If you donate 50 then this photographer shooting us will help make a special photo book for that person out of his photos. It’s pretty cool. It’s going pretty well actually. People can do it on our website at xiuxiu.org or at shows directly.
BS: Cool.

JH: You guys, throughout your career, have done a number of pretty amazing covers. I’m a huge fan of the “Under Pressure” one.
JS: Thanks.
JH: When you pick a song to cover, how do you choose that process? Is it just songs that you guys personally love?
JS: Yeah. that’s the only criteria. That it, within one way or another, meant something to us. It’s always an attempt to say thank you to that song and those artists. The motivation is never to remake a song or be better than that artist. It is an attempt to be gracious to artists that are really important to us.
BS: Yet you guys covered the Pussycat Dolls?
JS: Yeah. Haha.
BS: How’d that get in there?
JS: It’s a really filthy song. I loved how dirty it was. I spent a lot of time on the dance floor enjoying myself to that song.

BS: Haha. Yeah, I was just like on Youtube watching your covers and being like, ok Queen, Shangri-la and Pussycat Dolls… In addition to a lot of covers, you do a lot of collaborations. Do you have any upcoming collaborations? And following that, are there dream collaborations you’d like to do someday?
JS: I just finished doing one with Jonathan Mieburg from Shearwater and with John Congleton from Paper Chase producing it. That was in February. That’s not really a Xiu Xiu thing, that’s just Jonathan and myself. And at the end of April, Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof are playing all of Unknown Pleasures at a festival and then again in New York. I think that’s all that is coming up. As for dream ones, i don’t have any dreams ones. Usually anyone I want to collaborate with, I’m friends with and it isn’t unfeasible to ask friends to do it. It’s more fun to work with people whom you are pals with and know really well. It’d have to be something really insane then..like 50 million bees or something like that or with a volcano or something completely impossible.
JH: Which makes no sense at all, but when I was thinking who I’d like to hypothetically see you work with, I was thinking I’d like to take this band and Imogen Heap together because she does interesting things like using the poles of her staircase and stuff to record. Musically, it doesn’t remotely sound the same, but creatively, I’d like to see what would happen together. I wouldn’t mind seeing something something with The Books, too, because they have an album where they just walk around and record sounds.
JS: Yeah. I like that approach to things.

BS: Yeah, that stuff is becoming more popular. Like we played a piece called “Rollercoaster” and took a chainsaw to a ladder to be the coaster going up the ramp. I’d like to hear this bee collab…For a final question, there have been talks of a DVD. Is there anything more to that?
JS: Yeah. It came out with the last record.
JH: First thousand copies.
JS: It ended up being the first 2000. It was like a video collection.
BS: I thought I saw something about a DVD history story.
JS: Oh, we were going to do that at one point, but it ended up not happening, so we did this video approach instead.

At this point we got sidetracked by Jamie’s tattoo on his left arm. A combination of a deer with a human face, but arrows sticking out of its side. Slightly unjarring, but beautiful. Jamie said it was too personal to elaborate on, so after some more small talk we moved on back to the venue to see the band perform.

Related Posts

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• April 3, 2010 -- Xiu Xiu @ the Jackpot, Lawrence KS (0)
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The advantage that Zoe Keating has over your band, be it present, fictional or future, is just that: Zoe Keating.

Independent in a way few others are talented enough to even attempt, this one-woman musician brings a completely new definition to the words self reliant. Packing of a cello and a handful of loop pedals, Keating manages to create a rhythm section, bridges, verses and choruses, bass and lead riffs, and a whole life of music.

I first experienced Keating a few years back as the opening act for Imogen Heap at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas. The memory of her set then prompted me to make sure to catch her in Austin. When I found out she was playing one time, at the Central Presbyterian Church, I shunned Dawes and several other listed bands to make my way to her stage. That intimate setting is simply nonexchangeable.

Keating herself is pretty nonrefundable as well. Classically trained from the age of eight, she is no hack. She’s found herself on the charts of both the classical and electronica sections of itunes, while managing to sell in upward of 30,000 albums. In addition to Heap, she’s worked with the likes of Amanda Palmer and traveled with the group Rasputina, whom she was a member of from 2002-2006. Just because you haven’t heard of her, doesn’t mean she’s not a road tested genius. She’s not that simple.

Her music is also actually quite complex. Each loop adds a layer, which build a chorus. As time passes, the movements build into full orchestrations that filled the steeples of the church in a way that those passing by might assume 50 people were playing.

But no, it was one girl. One extremely talented girl named Zoe whom you should check out.

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Here at Popwreckoning, we’ve officially hit a level of mail that makes it impossible for us to give full reviews to every band. However, this does not mean we believe that these bands shouldn’t be granted some for of press.  It simply means we have to scale it down a bit. Therefore, we have opted to create a feature called Bite Size Reviews, which shall appear several times a week.  This feature will contain 5 reviews each under 100 words and links to the albums website, MySpace page or label.  We believe this is the best use of our mail and hope you too enjoy the reviews. They are as follows:

Greg Laswell – Covers
In the history of the world, I would have never imagined anyone could pull off a collection of covers featuring songs by the likes of Echo and the Bunnymen, Morphine, Mazzy Star, Kristin Hersh and Kate Bush without fucking up at least one. However, the aptly named Covers, the latest EP from singer/songwriter/twitter comedic genius Greg Laswell, does just that.  Managing to add his signature sound to each number without butchering the significance of 5 bands with very contrasting styles is impressive to say the least.   His ability to handle these individual sounds while tweaking them just enough to make them his helps make Covers an album and make Laswell an artist instead of that guy singing Jimmy Buffet at for beer money at your local bar.  (8 out of 10 stars)

website | myspace | @ beaumont club | Three Flights from Alto Nido review | @ world cafe live | @ sxsw 2009 | @ martyrs

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Tiësto – Kaleidoscope
So, I need to start off by confessing to fans of Tiësto that I may not be the best person available to give a fair review of this CD.  This is because I really could live a perfectly happy life without house music.  Remixes and samples seldom give me goosebumps.  Generally, I wish the originals has been left the hell alone. However, I’m going to do my best to stay positive regarding Kaleidoscope and simply say that I was rather impressed by the selections of artists Tiësto tapped to sample. When I think of house music, I seldom expect the likes of Priscilla Ahn, Cary Brothers and Tegan and Sara to touch my ears.  This alone should warrant this CD a single listen. I’ll let you choose if you want to keep spinning it after that.  (5 out of 10 stars)

website | myspace

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Asobi Seksu – Transparence
If Asobi Seksu can somehow fail to make you feel alive you might want to run down the street to your neighborhood family physician and place your order for a bottle of uppers.  There are few bands in the business with more charm and addictive tendency than this one.  Their new EP Transparence is par for the course. Sporting three songs and a remix this vinyl only release is the perfect follow up to the groups February 2009 full length Hush.  The only drawback I can find is that i personally have trouble moving past side A, which features a pair of brilliant songs in the title track “Transparance” and “Urusai Tori”. Rather than move on to a fairly reasonalbe side B, I often find myself simly starting the disc again. (9 out of 10 Stars)

myspace

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Imogen Heap – Ellipse
Anyone who knows me, or has been stumbled across my Facebook page in the past 3 months, has no doubt I am a fan of Imogen Heap. I’ve hyped her new album Eclipse the way the United States hyped Obama as the answer for change.  Her last album Speak For Yourself was just short of perfection and her work with Frou Frou doesn’t look bad on her resume either.  However, Ellipse to me feels a bit like a step backward for Imogen.  Her songs lack the catch that sucked you in on her previous records.  There are no golden tracks like “Let Go,” “Hide and Seek” or “Goodnight and Go” mixed in with the filler of her new work, noticeably leaving little reason for me to drop a twenty on the counter.  To date, I would have to call this album the biggest bust of 2009. It is a real let down. (5 out of 10 Stars)

website | myspace

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Thankfully, there is no need for you to look for alternate planets to score such a mix. Lights’ new single drops right at the heart of a movement overflowing with sunshine synth-pop lullabies.   This Canadian epic indie pop new single “Savior” is no doubt destined to cause a stir both on the airwaves and in the hearts of fans across the world.  Look for it to drop October 6th with the release of The Listening on Warner Brother Records.

Lights: website | myspace

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There is no name more recognized the world over than Michael Jackson. Just over two months before his 51st birthday, the King of Pop was rushed to the hospital for cardiac arrest and pronounced dead yesterday, June 25, 2009. His career began four decades ago with The Jackson 5 and blossomed into a rich and successful solo careers spanning decades. Five of his solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982) with over 100 million copies sold, Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

It should come as no surprise that many are calling Michael Jackson the Elvis Presley of our generation. Personal trials and tribulations aside, Michael Jackson was a great entertainer and earned the title King of Pop. He will undoubtedly live on in our hearts and minds. Read what some have to say about the late, great Michael Jackson:

“We will always love you, Michael, always.” – Jermaine Jackson

“Just as there will never be another Fred Astaire or Chuck Berry or Elvis Presley, there will never be anyone comparable to Michael Jackson. His talent, his wonderment and his mystery make him legend.” — Steven Spielberg

“He was deep.” – reader Gladys

“R.I.P. to Michael Jackson my music god. R.I.P. MJ: he lives forever in my heart. I will never forget the day he came to see me in the studio and I played him music.” – Wyclef

“It’s taken me a moment to grasp this … I understand life and death are part of the same magnificent cycle. But I literally stopped and broke down When I received ‘that’ text . Mike’s music lives in my DNA. It’s bigger than tabloids. That music shaped me. The frequency is real. My heart and artistry are truly influenced and forever impacted. Thank you Micheal for your hard work , dedication, philanthropy, and the sacrifice of your young spirit. Your vision and imagination live through us.” – Erykah Badu

The Lost Fingers – “Billie Jean”

“This has blindsided me. I feel strange. And sad. Reminders of how short life is. I’m going to profess my love to someone. you should too.” – Ingrid Michaelson

“I can’t stop crying over the sad news. I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats, but his music will live on forever! My heart goes out to his three children and other members of his family. God bless.” — Madonna

“I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I’m devastated he’s gone!” — Britney Spears

“I would rather watch “Thriller” over and over than any other music video ever made.” – Shawn Fogel, Golden Bloom

“Heal the world make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race.” – Ashlee Simpson Wentz

“Stop the gossip, stop the speculation. Take a moment for Micheal and remember his gift to us all. He was truly great. May he Rest in Peace.” – Joel Madden, Good Charlotte

“Not many people have long successful careers in the music industry, yet alone over a 30 year career. Michael Jackson did and earned his title ‘King of Pop”. I’ll never forget the first time I saw “Thriller”. His voice, songs, dance moves and ground breaking music videos will live on forever leaving a legacy where we answer ‘yes’ to ‘do you remember the time?’” – Stacy Clark

“America lost a little bit of its history today. So sad when a true genius dies! R.I.P. to the gloved one.” – Mona Shiekh, Popwreckoning

“Michael was undoubtedly a great entertainer and his popularity spanned generations and the globe. Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our shock and sadness over his death and our hearts go out the Jackson family, Michael’s children and to his fans worldwide.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

“No one better than brotha Mike.” – Q-Tip

“Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life! He made me believe in magic. I will miss him!” – Sean P. Diddy Combs

“I know we make light of me never getting sleep and overworking. But I’ll say that he didn’t go in vein. I will do my best to slow down as to not overwork myself to the point in which I can’t even enjoy life anymore. I’m  devastated over this but we all have memories. I just hope that he will get due justice in all the press memorials and whatnot. I know he was mired in controversy the last decade of his life but i think its time we let him rest in peace and learn to separate the ART and the ARTIST. –that is the MJ I will forever remember.” – ?uestlove

“Off the wall was my second record I ever bought.” – Margaret Cho

“His music is just as relevant now as it was the day they pressed record, I’m sure it will remain so for generations to come. R.I.P. Mr. Jackson” – Samantha Ronson

“There was no one like him.” – Greg Laswell

“We should never stop talking about Michael Jackson. I hope Michael will get the respect he deserved.” – Rev. Al Sharpton

“Raising a glass for Michael! Wow – I was obsessed with Thriller when it came out.” – Ariel Hyatt, CyberPR

“Michael Jackson was my inspiration. love and blessings.” -
Miley Cyrus

“Being asked to give a quote about all of this. so in shock I can’t find any words…” – Kid Sister

“Michael Jackson died? Seriously, as Wolf Blitzer said it, my stomach got knots.” – James Shotwell, Under the Gun blog

“I keep getting chills. This is crazy. Too much.” – Estelle

“Today is a very, very sad day for music. Whether you are familiar with his work or not, the impact Michael Jackson had on pop culture made him one of the most iconic artists of all time. As a fellow artist, you can see what his music did—it transcended generations; It created a movement. It’s something people only dream of doing. He was a musical genius, and by far, one of the greatest performers of all time. There will never be anyone like him—ever. Thank you for inspiring us the way you did. R.I.P.” – Tamar Kaprelian

“Thank you Michael Jackson for being my FIRST of many! My mother took me to my FIRST concert, I was only two years old. I fell in love. My fifth birthday party was M.J. themed, I insisted. My mother found a lookalike to come sing happy birthday and I KNEW he wasn’t MY Michael.” – Solange Knowles

“A strange story comes to an end. i do hope that history will remember jackson the artist/genius/pioneer.” – David Ford

“Rip MJ! Dream as if u’ll live 4ever, Live as if u’ll die 2day. U only live once, but if u do it right dats all u need! U did it Big MJ!!” – Reverend Run

Petra Haden – “Thriller”

“Both parents on the phone asking me if I remember MJ inviting me to take a pix w/ him when I was a kid. I do. It was creepy. I refused.” – Annie Heckenberger

“Noooooooo! Michael Jackson was my childhood! I loved him. So so so so sad. So nearly saw him live. Just a couple of weeks. Crying.” – Imogen Heap

“Oh god…Michael Jackson just died. one of my childhood heros. moment of silence, sorrow and reflection on a massive talent & tragic life. let’s share a shrine/moment of silence @ 7:45 pm outside @thetroubadour tonight. if you’re coming, bring candles and flowers for the king.” – Amanda Palmer, Dresden Dolls

“We just cued up “Wanna Be Starting Something” in the office. What a great song. R.I.P.” – Diablo Cody

“R.I.P. Michael Jackson. Greatest performer ever.” – Talib Kweli

“Sad, sad day for the music world & for family/fans of Michael Jackson. he was my 1st favorite artist & 1 of the very best ever. RIP Michael.” – Earfarm blog

“Thriller” was the first tape I ever bought in a record store after I saw him go supernova on the Motown 25th anniversary special.” – Cary Brothers

“R.I.P. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. what a tremendous loss in one day…. thoughts and prayers with their families and loved ones…” – Mandy Moore

“R.I.P. MICHAEL JACKSON: We’re in a state of utter shock. You’ll be sorely missed.” – The Music Slut blog

;_; – Diplo

“I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the ’80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.” — Quincy Jones

Chris Cornell – “Billie Jean”

“RIP Michael Jackson . My love and prayers go out to the Jackson family…’you are not alone’.” – Lindsay Lohan

“I guess it’s legit now. RIP Michael Jackson. Shit.” – Archie Powell

“I haven’t hope in so long that news isn’t true.” – Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy

“Reeling over the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett at the same time.” – BUST magazine

“I’m looking at pictures of my 14th bday party at Neverland Ranch, these memories will last forever!” – Kim Kardashian

Lightspeed Champion – “Thriller”

“We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations, and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.” — Justin Timberlake

“In shock.” – Matt, The Music Slut blog

“Sad. Michael Jackson. Dead. Bum out.” – Eisley

“When we worked together on ‘Bad,’ I was in awe of his absolute mastery of movement on the one hand, and of the music on the other. Every step he took was absolutely precise and fluid at the same time. It was like watching quicksilver in motion.” — Martin Scorcese

“Listening to ‘Human Nature’ by Michael Jackson and I am crying.” – Trent Vanegas, Pink is the New Blog

“Feels hypocritical not caring about Ed McMahon or Farah Fawcett, and then being upset about Michael Jackson’s death. I didn’t know any of them.” – Paco Fish

The Gay Blades

“Dazed in the studio. A major strand of our cultural DNA has left us. RIP MJ.” — John Mayer

Robert Randolph – “Billie Jean”

“‘Let the madness in the music get to you, life ain’t so bad at all, if you live it off the wall’ – Thanks for the music, the moonwalk and my childhood.” – Ali Hussain, Popwreckoning

“Michael was a great and wonderful artist and performer. We were privileged and honored to record him and his brothers here at Philadelphia International Records.” – Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff

“I remember my brother and cousin in 1987 bringing the boom box out into the living room at my grandma’s house and performing a dance to “Billy Jean” they had made up. They had to be about 7 years old and doing the classic spin move and grabbing their crotches! My mom, aunt, ME and granny WENT CRAZY! Michael Jackson made the crotch grabbing move not raunchy BUT hot!” – Kaytea McIntosh, XO Publicity

Richard Cheese – “The Girl Is Mine”

“Sony Music Entertainment expresses deep sadness and sorrow at the unexpected passing of Michael Jackson and extends wishes of sympathy and condolences to all of Michael’s family, friends and fans around the world.” – Sony

We at Popwreckoning would like to extend our deepest condolences to Michael Jackson’s survivors. His musical legacy shall live on. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us.

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