# Did anyone else expect Michael Jackson to bust out of his coffin and moonwalk across the stage? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 9, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415 "2009-07-09T04:34:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/1 "2009-07-09T04:34:21Z")
I knew it would never happen but part of me hoped it would. It would be the greatest coming back concert in history. No one would ever top it. A surprise concert at the Staples Center, although it didn’t happen. RIP ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/2 "2009-07-09T05:49:37Z")
And dressed like a vombie from _Thriller_. It would’ve been pretty cool if Michael Jackson came out of the coffin and did a dance number to _Thriller_, but, sadly, it didn’t happen in this world. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/3 "2009-07-09T15:41:36Z")
It was a closed casket. Very suspicious. I see a Michael and the Cruisers movie in the future. He faked his death so he could escape the hounding and bad pub. He was not broke. He stashed his cash in a safe country and will live a weird life away from the press. ---
**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/4 "2009-07-09T15:46:27Z")
I hope he’s still alive. I had resigned myself to never ever finding out the meaning of ‘Shamone’. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/5 "2009-07-09T15:48:08Z")
I admit, there was a tiny part of me that wasn’t quite convinced the whole thing wasn’t a massive publicity stunt, and that he wouldn’t come busting out of that casket in the “Thriller” makeup. I’m sure that would have pissed a lot of people off, but it would have been the most awesome television moment ever. Better than the moon landing. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/6 "2009-07-09T15:51:06Z")
My wife holds the belief that there was no body in the casket. During the private service before the big public one, the Jackson family said their real goodbyes to Michael. The body was then later buried at an unknown location or cremated. What we all saw at the public memorial service was an empty casket as part of a ruse to protect the body. Oops. [I sit corrected](http://www.abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=8041223&page=1), for now. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/7 "2009-07-09T17:42:34Z")
Heh- one of the first things my husband said! ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/8 "2009-07-09T17:48:39Z")
> [@MrFloppy](#): > > I hope he’s still alive. I had resigned myself to never ever finding out the meaning of ‘Shamone’. You reminded me I wanted to look up the lyrics for “Wanna Be Starting Something”… he \*does \*say “you’re a vegetable”. Huh. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/9 "2009-07-09T18:54:59Z")
He’s definitely in the next world, having joined Jesus and Mary (sorry, Joseph) in the pantheon of [Those Whose Face Appears In Things](http://cbs13.com/local/michael.jackson.tree.2.1072797.html). ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/10 "2009-07-09T20:00:42Z")
As I said in one of the other Michael Jackson threads, I am baffled by the tree stump. I can’t see anything resembling a face in there, let alone the unmistakable image of MJ. Any help here? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/11 "2009-07-09T20:10:28Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > You reminded me I wanted to look up the lyrics for “Wanna Be Starting Something”… he \*does \*say “you’re a vegetable”. Huh. 😕 I think it’s about how people use you. Not you generally, but I suppose famous people who often feel like everyone wants a piece of them. Well, maybe not all–but I think it’s how he himself felt. “You’re a vegetable, still they hate you, you’re just a buffet…they eat off of you.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/12 "2009-07-09T20:17:59Z")
I can go with that…got any ideas about “mama say, mama sah ma ma coo sah”? ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/13 "2009-07-09T20:18:01Z")
I admit for a split second I expected the KoP to enter stage right. Of course the backlash would be unbelievable, but as **Dio** states, it would be the Biggest Media Stunt Ever. But “knowing” MJ the reports of his faked death would cause untold angst and grief to his fans, so I only thought this for a millisecond. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/14 "2009-07-09T20:19:28Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I can go with that…got any ideas about “mama say, mama sah ma ma coo sah”? Here you go: [Quote=Wikipedia] According to writer Mark Anthony Neal, “the lyrics were taken directly from the music of Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango who broke into the American market in 1973 with his classic ‘Soul Makossa’.” Kelef Sanneh of The New Yorker magazine, explains that “Soul Makossa”, “was [a big] hit, in Africa, in Europe, and in America, where it came to be seen as one of the first disco records”. Also, Sanneh explains that, “[Dibango] named his song after the makossa, a Cameroonian dance, but he stretched the word out, [and] played with it [so that it sounded like]: ‘Ma-mako, ma-ma-ssa, mako-makossa’.”[1] Although Jackson’s chant imitates Dibango’s chant, Jackson’s version is essentially a mispronunciation of the word Dibango is chanting. [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/15 "2009-07-09T20:25:46Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/16 "2009-07-09T20:27:43Z")
Michael Jackson - singer, dancer, actor… pro wrestler? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/17 "2009-07-09T20:28:45Z")
So any word on Shamone? Which I had always thought was Jamone…but…I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2009, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-anyone-else-expect-michael-jackson-to-bust-out-of-his-coffin-and-moonwalk-across-the-stage/502415/18 "2009-07-09T20:35:36Z")
I guess a little plastic recycling bin next to the coffin would have been too much to ask? Yeah, probably so.