I’m not sad to say I missed the spectacle of the Michael Jackson memorial event yesterday. But I am happy that I came across reporter Bob Greene’s New York Times column elegantly drawing the obvious parallels between the two pop deaths — the collective public grief and the post-death career boost. Greene was at Graceland the day of Elvis’ public viewing. He concludes:
Seven steps into the foyer, there was Presley, at peace, or some semblance of it. The sounds of sobbing filled the little room as each fresh wave of fans caught sight of him. He seemed defenseless: not in the traditional sense, for no one could hurt him now, but defenseless against all that was to come.
