Michael Jackson was the last superstar of the Analogue Age. There will not be anymore of those again...
Many years ago, at the height f their popularity, John Lennon said that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus Christ. He was well criticized for that. Some fans even took to burning Beatles records.
Of course, the Beatles touched many lives... But I would contend to you that, when it comes to a comparison of how many lives were made better, then I reckon that Steve Jobs blows away the Beatles, Elvis and even Michael Jackson.
Blashphemy, you say? Oh really? Think about this: These western pop stars are a product of modern western "culture" and society. What percentage of the world is that? Did you know that China and India's population is more than 8 times that of the USA?
I wonder how many Beatles records have been sold in China or India? Compare that with the effect that Apple products have had in those countries.
I'll bet you that for every one Japanese person in Tokyo who owns a Beatles recording, there are 40 or more who own some sort of digital device... And, in these digital devices, Apple's influence has been massive.
Now, Steve Jobs seems to be ill again. I feel sad. And I bet there are many more like me who feel sad too!
When I was a university student in 1980, it was reported that John Lennon had been shot that night in December. My friends and I were all watching a very important NFL football game on TV. When it was confirmed that John Lennon died, the football game, that seemed so important moments before, was not important anymore. We turned off the TV and went to bed.
Think about that.
When a rock star or movie star gets sick the public cries. But when the president of some big company gets ill or dies, no one sheds a tear.... But... Steve Jobs, like Apple, is different.
It puzzles me that I feel this way, but I guess it is because guys like Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Elvis Presley represent the style of living icons of a bygone era. Steve Jobs is the first super star icon of the digital age.
The Last Superstars of a Bygone Era?
Let's hope that he gets better and sticks around longer, if even for a day, to make all of our lives just a tad bit better.
Because when Steve Jobs is gone, the world will lose someone who vastly improved all of our lives. When he is gone, an era will end and, with that, another chapter in our lives will come to a close.
Please rest well and recover your health, Steve Jobs. We all wait for your return.
This was inspired by Steve Jobs and for my friend's Paul Kitabayashi at Apple and John Flanaghan at iTunes
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