Money quote:

'Ask any person from one side of this earth to the other to name the most culturally significant pop music star to come onto the world stage in the past few decades and the most common responses will likely range from Madonna to Britney Spears to the late Michael Jackson. One name you're far less likely to hear would be that of English singer/songwriter, the prolific and melodramatic, Morrissey.'

Yes, you're unlikely to hear it because Morrissey isn't well known on a Planetary Scale. He's a major Icon in the British Isles, but nowhere else. Why does everyone and his Aunt suddenly want to find some impossibly tenuous link to MJ so that they pop up on the endlessly looping 'Michael Jackson' search engine China Syndrome Meltdown?

Until the recent tragedy, it would have been Bob Marley, Certainly not Elvis, The Beatles. Or poor old Jarvis: One moment of madness and a career trashed. His. Not MJ's. But the Great British Public are no fools. They saw through the tabloid trashing of MJ, as they also saw through the ridiculous attempt to ground The Smiths over alleged paedophile tendencies.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/michael-jackson-earth-song-biggest-uk-single-not-released-in-us-video.php

So the World Historic Influential Status Title is no longer held by Bob Marley. It's passed to MJ. The black hole vortex at the end of the Hollyweird Celebritney Big Brother Fame Game. Morrissey is simply not in the 'influence' picture unless you're talking the kind of silly snob value so prized by writers like this and many contributors to this 'fan' site. Like kids swapping 'rare' Pokemon cards or whatever the latest craze is. For the record, I think Marley will reclaim the title within the next 10 years, but it's going to be a close call.

"Being single on Valentine's day is like being out of costume on Halloween - you're overlooked, mocked and even pitied by the people around you. And what about the throngs of good but unfortunate individuals who spend every day of their lives uncostumed - yearning to be understood and cared for by someone who sees the world the same way they do?"

Is this bit meant to be about Michael 'Charlie Chaplin' Jackson? Or Morrissey, in that rather interesting video for 'ITMAAP'? Oh, for God's sake, Smokey Robinson. The Tracks Of My Tears. The Tears Of A Clown. Morrissey could make a good fist of both. After all, he did namecheck 'Needle In A Haystack' when Tamla was 'out' amongst pale white boy string-plucking raincoat wearing pseuds. There's no point comparing the dim-40 watt bulb of Morrissey's minor footnote celebrity and 'influence' with MJ, Madge and Britney's apocalyptic FAME. And there's no point comparing them artistically either. You may as well discuss if MJ is as 'influential' as Nick Drake or Leonard Cohen. Alternative but linked universes. If Morrissey were ever unfortunate to read this monstrous critical 'endorsement', he would jump straight out of the nearest window.

'why is it that such a busy, productive artist who had already made a name for himself by the time The Smiths disbanded in 1987, has been able to avoid the hordes of paparazzi for so long?'

Er, quite simple really. I repeat: He's not famous. Not as in FAMOUS like Britney Jackson and Michael Spears, so why would the papz bother him? Is 'busy, productive' artist meant to a compliment or an insult? Sounds like he's just cracking them off, unlike MJ who kept schtum for years on end yet was never left alone. Even when he fled to Bahrain and dressed in a burka. Now, that's Fame.

'Homosexual lusts, ego-driven mania, unattainable relationships and celibacy are not typical topics for upbeat pop songs.'

Is this a reference to MJ's 'post-modern parlare' masterpiece 'In The Closet'? It's surely not a reference to Morrissey? Is he saying Moz is a bender, or wot? Morrissey sought out FAME and realised 'fame'. MJ had no choice, he was forced ch