NationStates Jolt Archive

I was inspired by the recent death of James Brown, soul and funk music entertainer also known as "The Godfather of Soul". R.I.P, Mr. Brown. He was 73 years old.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-12-25T083855Z_01_N25340534_RTRUKOC_0_US-BROWN-DEATH.xml&WTmodLoc=EntNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-2

I keep thinking, decades into the future. Many of the celebrities/notable figures you kids know now would be unknowns.

Out of the blue, there would be a 5 minutes new item or short articles. "Mr./Mrs. Soandso died yesterday from (cause). He/she was X years old."

Can any of you name the celebrity whose death would truly have you break down in tears on the spot?

I'm especially interested in hearing from the younger posters among you.

"911 emergency? Yeah, my thread just got murdered. I'm looking at its remains right now, something about a hobo from New Zealand and fictional characters..."

Most of the folks I love or respect in music are dead already or long past due. I haven't cried for a famous passing since Harry Chapin in 1981...well...perhaps Bill Hicks in 1994. It's sadder when someone with great potential or stories left to tell die before their time than when someone like Brown dies after becoming a doddering, drug-hampered near-embarrassment.

Most of the celebs who pass are very old and lived long, comfortable lives. I'm not sad to see them go, they left years ago, and I'm glad they're at rest. I remember the legacy they leave behind, and move on.

James Brown died?! Shit. That sucks. He was cool.

Can any of you name the celebrity whose death would truly have you break down in tears on the spot?

I'm especially interested in hearing from the younger posters among you.
I'm youngish (20), and mine already died. In late August. Maynard Ferguson. Jazz Trumpeter. I love jazz, especially the in your face type stuff. Birdland, big band swing, hard bop, heavy latin stuff. And Maynard was definantly this sort of player. But why it really hurt? I'm a musician. About 18 months ago I was losing all of my passion for music. Music has been my life for three or years now, and I was loosing it (or it was being sucked out of me). And then I saw Maynard and his band perform. And met and talked to them. I have never struggled with my passion for music since. When Maynard died, I cried, I'll admit that.

I'm youngish (20), and mine already died. In late August. Maynard Ferguson. Jazz Trumpeter. I love jazz, especially the in your face type stuff. Birdland, big band swing, hard bop, heavy latin stuff. And Maynard was definantly this sort of player. But why it really hurt? I'm a musician. About 18 months ago I was losing all of my passion for music. Music has been my life for three or years now, and I was loosing it (or it was being sucked out of me). And then I saw Maynard and his band perform. And met and talked to them. I have never struggled with my passion for music since. When Maynard died, I cried, I'll admit that.

Classy choice. Maynard was one of the greats.

Willie Nelson. I sat and shot the shit with him for a fw hours once at a USO event and was really impressed by him as a man. He even knew what my awards were and knew that I wasn't a REMF without having to ask. When I was a little boy my dad used to listen to him while he worked on his car, and I was the tool boy. I still whistle his tunes when I work on my car.

I used to say John Lee Hooker. I missed his last concert in Santa CRuz and cried when I found out he died. Stupid of me.

I'm 18. I don't think any could get me to "break down in tears", seeing as I don't know any of them, but I can think of a few whose deaths would sadden me relatively deeply. Dennis Ritchie, for example.

The Death of my beloved hero...
Santa.

Conor Oberst

Not sure if I would cry, but I'd definately feel something there.

Want a reason? FINE.

I found out about the band he's in "Bright Eyes" recently, and amusingly enough, he is the person I have been developing into (Well, as close as you can reasonably get, he's a little fucked up compared to me :) (And of course, I'm not a musician)) I feel an empathy for him, yet of course, I don't really understand him, and I think that's great. I'm a big fan of his, although I do hate some of his music.

I'm slightly tickled that the majority of people would be sad at musicians deaths. There are plenty of other celebrities out there, why not artists, actors, governmental figures?

If I had to pick someone who wasn't a musician, just 'cause, I would definately pick Ben Hana (Brother).

In NZ he is a celebrity, here's his Wiki article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hana

Oh, This is serious, I would be greatly saddened at the loss, everyone (Well, most people) love him, pausing to give him food, alcohol, smokes, and drugs. He's always happy, and is always smiling back at you when you greet him in the early morning sun. He is a ray of sunlight on days when you're sad.

A fantastic quote from wiki " Before Ben became a feature of Wellington, he lived in front of the court house in Tokoroa, and in fact caused controversy in the town when he was convicted of stealing and selling the Court house's copper guttering for scrap"

I'm confused, how did that kill a thread?

No, really.

well he's...he's from New Zealand. Wasn't that enough?:D

Actually I think it's just xmas day man. In america it's the middle of the night, and everybody else is ripping open goodies or napping.:cool:

Oh right, I forgot that my christmas is over. Everyone here is too freakin busy. Heh.

Tempting to do a "This thread is now about Captain Planet" but that would be cruel, I'll just leave this here until people see it.

Oh right, I forgot that my christmas is over. Everyone here is too freakin busy. Heh.

Tempting to do a "This thread is now about Captain Planet" but that would be cruel, I'll just leave this here until people see it.
I'll captain your planet. Punk.

:)

I'll captain your planet. Punk.

:)

Hot. Meet at the Bus Depot?

<Edit> I assume you meant it in a worrld leader sort of way, but this si much more fun :) </Edit>

And to not be too Off Topic, I'd be sad if A: Captain Planet died, or B: Any of the prominent NSGers died (I'd be sad if any of the ones who have had an impact on me (That includes people I don't agree with (And of course including the non-famous(Woot, four close brackets)))).

Fair enough?

http://www.beggingtodiffer.com/archives/pryor.jpg

*sniff*

:(

The death of Linus Torvalds or RMS would make me fall down and cry.

John Lennon. That sucked.

<flirty snip>

Fair enough?

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he!
He called for his pipe,
and he called for his bowl,
and he called for his fiddlers three!

I'm slightly tickled that the majority of people would be sad at musicians deaths. There are plenty of other celebrities out there, why not artists, actors, governmental figures?

If I had to pick someone who wasn't a musician, just 'cause, I would definately pick Ben Hana (Brother).

In NZ he is a celebrity, here's his Wiki article. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Hana

Oh, This is serious, I would be greatly saddened at the loss, everyone (Well, most people) love him, pausing to give him food, alcohol, smokes, and drugs. He's always happy, and is always smiling back at you when you greet him in the early morning sun. He is a ray of sunlight on days when you're sad.

A fantastic quote from wiki " Before Ben became a feature of Wellington, he lived in front of the court house in Tokoroa, and in fact caused controversy in the town when he was convicted of stealing and selling the Court house's copper guttering for scrap"

by which i take it you mean he frequently drunkenly abuses passers-by, and falls asleep on the road in the bus lane

"became a feature of wellington" my arse, he just became a stinky bum who can barely form a sentence - don't give me this 'che guevara' crap!

http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/13114367/705072

Old King Cole was a merry old soul,
And a merry old soul was he!
He called for his pipe,
and he called for his bowl,
and he called for his fiddlers three!

~Dances~

by which i take it you mean he frequently drunkenly abuses passers-by, and falls asleep on the road in the bus lane

"became a feature of wellington" my arse, he just became a stinky bum who can barely form a sentence - don't give me this 'che guevara' crap!

Ok, so he's fallen asleep in a bus lane, I had heard of that one.
As for drunkenly abusing people, I've only seen him do that when people were actively harrasing him for being smelly or whatever.
Whenever I've spoken with him he's been quite coherant, maybe just bad timing?
As for 'Che Guevara'... wtf? I see him as someone who is happy with who he is, someone with a comforting and strong religion, someone who actually follows it closely, but someone who lives for himself. I don't even compare him to Che Guevara.

The death of which celebrity/known figure would get you to cry your eyes out?I don't know any celebrity well enough to give a damn.
Now, if you include fictional characters on the other hand...

Ok, so he's fallen asleep in a bus lane, I had heard of that one.
As for drunkenly abusing people, I've only seen him do that when people were actively harrasing him for being smelly or whatever.
Whenever I've spoken with him he's been quite coherant, maybe just bad timing?
As for 'Che Guevara'... wtf? I see him as someone who is happy with who he is, someone with a comforting and strong religion, someone who actually follows it closely, but someone who lives for himself. I don't even compare him to Che Guevara.

i work on courtenay place and see him every day, and i've seen him pissed out of his nut, barking (literally) at random passers-by then cackling like a pantomime character at his apparent cleverness far more often than i've seen him being jovial and all-santa-like

he chooses to protest the european occupation of his land by wearing a loincloth and a rug, getting wasted, and listening to a walkman! (which never seems to run out of batteries - how the hell does he afford that?)

yet people (wellingtonians) endlessly try to sell him to me as an ideological hero - he couldn't even pronounce the concept for craps sake!

i work on courtenay place and see him every day, and i've seen him pissed out of his nut, barking (literally) at random passers-by then cackling like a pantomime character at his apparent cleverness far more often than i've seen him being jovial and all-santa-like

he chooses to protest the european occupation of his land by wearing a loincloth and a rug, getting wasted, and listening to a walkman! (which never seems to run out of batteries - how the hell does he afford that?)

yet people (wellingtonians) endlessly try to sell him to me as an ideological hero - he couldn't even pronounce the concept for craps sake!

He used to wear pants, but he doesn't have the money for them.
His Walkman is a radio, you do know that there are battery-less radios right? (Although admitedly, it is likely to be a battery one, people give him stuff, maybe batteries too)
Not a Hero, but I think it would be nice to be as happy as him.

I don't know any celebrity well enough to give a damn.
Now, if you include fictional characters on the other hand...

A lurch from the mythological to the mythical, from the mundane to the irrelevant ...

He used to wear pants, but he doesn't have the money for them.
His Walkman is a radio, you do know that there are battery-less radios right? (Although admitedly, it is likely to be a battery one, people give him stuff, maybe batteries too)
Not a Hero, but I think it would be nice to be as happy as him.

so if i donated a pair of pants to him he'd wear them?

and somehow no-one has ever tried this

implausible

so if i donated a pair of pants to him he'd wear them?

and somehow no-one has ever tried this

implausible

Well I'd have to say yes, I've never heard of anyone offering him pants, and it's well known that he used to wear a pair of khaki pants (They slowly deteriorated) and he occasionally wears shirts etc. So I guess yes, you could probably get him to wear pants, if he liked them. Iunno, have you tried talking to him?

so if i donated a pair of pants to him he'd wear them?

and somehow no-one has ever tried this

implausible

Let's just say you wouldn't cry your eyes out if he died.

Is there anyone we might have heard about, for whose death you would cry your eyes out?

A lurch from the mythological to the mythical, from the mundane to the irrelevant ...Sounds poetic, but I haven't a clue what you're on about :confused:

Let's just say you wouldn't cry your eyes out if he died.

Is there anyone we might have heard about, for whose death you would cry your eyes out?

~Picks up thread and puts back on rails~ So who would you cry for? If anyone of course, some people (at least one) have already stated that there is none that would do that for them.

Well I'd have to say yes, I've never heard of anyone offering him pants, and it's well known that he used to wear a pair of khaki pants (They slowly deteriorated) and he occasionally wears shirts etc. So I guess yes, you could probably get him to wear pants, if he liked them. Iunno, have you tried talking to him?

well, i'd hate to be mistaken for some kind of western oppressor, forcing an ideological and cultural dress standard upon him
because apparently traffic lanes are a form of colonial oppression to him
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/3903070a11.html

Sounds poetic, but I haven't a clue what you're on about :confused:

Excellent! Perhaps you would like to purchase a slim volume of verse?
No, wait ... would you like to write the cover notes for a volume of verse ...

It's 23:23 on Xmas day here. I'm drunk, and all the family have retired. Excuse me for making no sense! :)

It's 23:23 on Xmas day here. I'm drunk, and all the family have retired. Excuse me for making no sense! :)Oh that's quite al right, as long as it's not just me ;)
I suppose merry christmas for the remaining 31 minutes

Oh that's quite al right, as long as it's not just me ;)
I suppose merry christmas for the remaining 31 minutes

It WAS a merry Christmas, thankyou!

Now I would like to sleep. Perhaps it's all the flashing lights, or seeing my sister after a year, or it could be the half-pound of sugar I've consumed today ... but I don't much feel like sleeping.

Let's set a nice tone for the swarms of christmas refugees coming to NSG in the next twenty hours or so. I think this is a great idea for a thread, I acknowledge the odd sociological fact that so many posters chose a musician, and I repeat my first choice:

John Lennon. That sucked.

well, i'd hate to be mistaken for some kind of western oppressor, forcing an ideological and cultural dress standard upon him
because apparently traffic lanes are a form of colonial oppression to him
http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/3903070a11.html

Interesting, he wasn't in the traffic lanes in order to protest though, something that isn't stated on that news site.
All it says is that he feels he should be allowed on that land. The roads being (As he sees it) public property.

How about movie stars? Any of them you woulw weep at the death of?

Christmas was over 100 minutes ago for me :( But the chocolate lives on. :)

Edit: Forgive the spelling, 1:40 AM and I'm drunk from christmas. (By drunk I mean ~Strokes cat, Says in an incredulous voice "You're covered in fur"~) (Apparently when I'm drunk I say and do the stupidest things, with the utmost coherance, leading people to believe I'm some sort of nutter)

I would cry if Michael Crawford died.

Edit: Forgive the spelling, 1:40 AM and I'm drunk from christmas. (By drunk I mean ~Strokes cat, Says in an incredulous voice "You're covered in fur"~) (Apparently when I'm drunk I say and do the stupidest things, with the utmost coherance, leading people to believe I'm some sort of nutter)

People meaning "your immediate family" or people ... meaning your cat?

This end, we didn't have any brandy so we used OP rum on the pud. It was good!

I would cry with laughter if Dubya died in an excruciatingly painful and public way

I've never cried for any celebrity, and doubt I ever will. Just can't get that emotional over someone I don't know.

That doesn't mean that deaths of famous people don't make me sad sometimes though. While I feel sympathy for James Brown's family, losing a loved one anytime is bad, but on a holiday that usually brings families together would make it much worse, I don't feel sad about it because I wasn't into his music and really know little about him.

Johnny Cash's death on the other hand did make me feel the loss. He was one in a million. Deaths of young people also hits a bit harder. Whether they are celebrities or not.

People meaning "your immediate family" or people ... meaning your cat?

This end, we didn't have any brandy so we used OP rum on the pud. It was good!

People meaning whoever is drunk with me. Normally I'm licking their tonsils at that point though.

People meaning whoever is drunk with me. Normally I'm licking their tonsils at that point though.

So you normally lick the tonsils of your immediate family?

I would cry with laughter if Dubya died in an excruciatingly painful and public way

Rather clumsily, you have illustrated the point I've been trying to make all along. It's not just death, it's the death. How a person dies matters.

Dubya puts his penis into a vending machine labelled "Big Penis" but fails to notice hand-written note above coin slot: "Out of Order." Funny.*

Dubya appears in the Superbowl to throw a pitch or whatever Presidents do. Is shot dead by a professional assassin with a rifle disguised as a crutch. Not funny. **

*thx Leunig http://www.leunig.com.au/cartoons/
** The Jackal.

Rather clumsily, you have illustrated the point I've been trying to make all along. It's not just death, it's the death. How a person dies matters.

Dubya puts his penis into a vending machine labelled "Big Penis" but fails to notice hand-written note above coin slot: "Out of Order." Funny.*

Dubya appears in the Superbowl to throw a pitch or whatever Presidents do. Is shot dead by a professional assassin with a rifle disguised as a crutch. Not funny.

*thx Leunig

clumsy is as clumsy does *hyuk*

So you normally lick the tonsils of your immediate family?

Have you seen my family?;)

But to be as serious as I get, I'm normally not drunk with family, so as a majority rule I'm normally playing tonsil hockey. And no, no family.


Steve Irwins death actually hit me quite hard, I didn't cry, but dude, he's not supposed to be able to die. I didn't make any jokes fro at least 2 days.

Have you seen my family?;)

But to be as serious as I get, I'm normally not drunk with family, so as a majority rule I'm normally playing tonsil hockey. And no, no family.


Steve Irwins death actually hit me quite hard, I didn't cry, but dude, he's not supposed to be able to die. I didn't make any jokes fro at least 2 days.

Glad to see you're over it now. :D

I'd be really upset if David Attenborough died. And will smith. He just sems like a really nice guy and itd be a shame.

I was inspired by the recent death of James Brown, soul and funk music entertainer also known as "The Godfather of Soul". R.I.P, Mr. Brown. He was 73 years old.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-12-25T083855Z_01_N25340534_RTRUKOC_0_US-BROWN-DEATH.xml&WTmodLoc=EntNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-2

I keep thinking, decades into the future. Many of the celebrities/notable figures you kids know now would be unknowns.

Out of the blue, there would be a 5 minutes new item or short articles. "Mr./Mrs. Soandso died yesterday from (cause). He/she was X years old."

Can any of you name the celebrity whose death would truly have you break down in tears on the spot?

I'm especially interested in hearing from the younger posters among you.

Eric Clapton. Or Angus Young.

PS: I'm 13.

probably Bono.

Stevie Nicks.

Can any of you name the celebrity whose death would truly have you break down in tears on the spot?

I'm especially interested in hearing from the younger posters among you.

Sacha Baron Cohen, otherwise known as Borat, Bruno or Ali G.

Noam Chomsky, perhaps.

All the clebrities and/or public figures that would have elicited that response from me have already passed on.

Well, except maybe Bowie. I'd be very upset about losing David Bowie.

Lunatic Goofballs

we should preserve him in a glass cage like Lenin.:)

I'm not sure any celebrity would induce quite such a spontaneous reaction, however, close calls would be Stephen Fry and Thatcher.

Lunatic Goofballs

we should preserve him in a glass cage like Lenin.:)
a mud tank, more like

I'd be really upset if David Attenborough died.Where would nature documentaries be without David Attenborough. He's been making programs for years. He still seems to be making them; and he's 80. It'll be a sad day when his brother, Richard Attenborough dies. I guess my seeing him playing Santa in "Miracle on 34th Street" might have a lot to do with it, but my respect and admiration for him has grown over the years after I watched "Ghandi" and recognised him in "The Great Escape".

There's a number of celebrities that I would be sorry to see die, but I don't think that I would cry. Mel Brooks, for one. Also members of 'Monty Python's Flying Circus'; simply because they bring a smile to my face. It's ironic really that I was watching a Monty Python DVD just before I went on here, because it focused on Graham Chapman, whose death I don't remember because I was a baby. If somebody like Michael Palin died, I'd be pretty upset. And what about Nelson Mandella? I'm sure there will be a number of 'false' tears shed the day he dies, and if I'm still alive that day I doubt that I'll burst into tears, but I'll sure feel like it's a very sad loss.

More recently French actor Philippe Noiret passed away and I was very greived to hear it, because the films 'Il Postino' and 'Cinema Paradiso' (ironically neaither of which are French) are very close to my heart and partly because I felt like it was such a shame that he had been dying of cancer and I hadn't known, but mostly because I was angry that I didn't find out until a couple of days afterwards because his death had been completely overshadowed by Robert Altman's 3 days earlier (not like it was Mr Altman's fault) but I still was annoyed.

I don't know about cry, but two of the saddest deaths I could think of would be Tony Kakko and Jhonen Vasquez.

Define my youth, don't dare die on me when its over boys!

The Death of my beloved hero...
Santa.

Sorry to break it you, bud, but... he's already dead.

There aren't any celebrities that I'd break down into tears over. That's reserved for immediate family and close friends. However, I would be rather sad if Kathy Kinney (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455745/) died. I met her when I was in Iraq and she was doing a tour of most of the bases in Iraq along with a bunch of other people associated with the Drew Carey Show (she was Mimi). I sat and talked with her for about an hour and a half and she's the sweetest person you'll ever meet. Until she gets on stage that is......

I was pretty upset when Mitch Hedberg died, he was great.........it's been a while since someone actually funny was around. :(

I am not really sure if there are any more people who I would be sad about.........

oh, Julie Andrews. that would be sad. :(

James Brown died?! Shit. That sucks. He was cool.

The Godfather of Soul. The Hardest Working Man in Show Business. Soul Brother Number One.

He was so cool, he didn't show up on infrared. He was so cool, his ice cream never melted. He was so cool, Fonzie had to wear a parka to stand next to him.

:(

a mud tank, more like

YAY! :D

Robert Lane Saget.

i find it hard to find pitty for those i do not know. sure i have heard of him and heard him. but it doesnt really make me want to cry now that he is dead.

i think many people over react when there is a death of a celebrity. ex. when princess diana died

no one that i know of yet

The only time I ever cried over the death of celebrity was at the assassination of JFK. I was 14 at the time.

There is no current celebrity who would have that kind of impact on me.

The Death of my beloved hero...
Santa.


If Santa/Sinter Klaas/Saint nick/father christmas/father frost/pere noel/ect. died, children would be depressed for their whole generation, and who knows what would happen to the world?! There would be no happiness...EVER!!! That would just be terrible.

-

Do authors count? If so then I will genuinely shed a tear when Gabriel Garcia Marquez passes on.

I have to rescind my earlier post, at least partially.

I would be very upset if Jill Sobule died before her time.

There'd be no more wistful, insightful and wicked-smaht lyrics like:

I wake up in the morning to the sound of birds
It's really not birds, it's my neighbor's TV
She watches talk shows all day long
I used to hate her, but now we get along

I used to sit under a gloomy sky of grey
But now the sun is shining and it won't go away...

Used to go up
I used to go down
Now I'm just even here in Happytown
Don't get excited,
But nor do I frown
The lawn is always green in Happytown

My boyfriend Bobby said I made him mis'rable
But we stayed together 'cause the sex was really good
Then he packed his bags with me to Happytown
We don't fuck anymore, but we can really snuggle down

Used to sit under a gloomy sky of grey
But now the sun is shining and ev'rything is beige...

[chorus]

To get to Happytown you can call your doctor
You can unscrew the child-proof bottle cap, pour yourself a glass of water

[instrumental]

I used to sit under a gloomy sky of grey
But now the sun is shining and it won't go away...

Used to go up
I used to go down
Now I'm just even here in Happytown
Don't get excited,
But nor do I frown
The lawn is always green in Happytown

Don't get excited,
But nor do I frown
Life is just okay in Happytown

I would be very sad if informed genius like this were gone forever without more gems like that.

Burgess Meredith.

http://www.beggingtodiffer.com/archives/pryor.jpg

*sniff*

:(

:( he was teh coolest :(

John Elway

I'd be rather sad if Natalie Portman died. I <3 her as an actress.

And probably Al Pacino too.

The only time I ever cried over the death of celebrity was at the assassination of JFK. I was 14 at the time.

There is no current celebrity who would have that kind of impact on me.

You must be old and grey then, eh? :p

None, I have never become emotionally attached to anyone I have never met.

You must be old and grey then, eh? :p

Your point being...?

Sorry to break it you, bud, but... he's already dead.


No.. This can't be... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! How..? When..?

i cant imagine being so upset by the death of a celebrity that i would cry. especially the old ones. they lived a good life, its over, why cry?

i didnt cry when elvis died. i didnt cry when john lennon died, i cry when reagan died. i dont see any reason why i would.

Celebrities generally don't elicit that kind of response in me. However I was quite upset when Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash a couple of years back. He was one of the last progressives in American politics (if not the last) and the only politician I respected. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wellstone

Kiera Knightly. She's fit

I'll be P.O.'d if Christopher Walken dies. IF. He just might be too cool and tough to die.

Hes an even better actor than Al Pacino and Robert Deniro.