A week ago, I was on a Michael Jackson high, and I posted an MJ video from his Off The Wall days. The news of his death today caught me off guard, and despite his legal troubles – and the media’s dubbing of the title “Wacko Jacko” - he will always be an icon for those of us that grew up on his music.
I was having drinks with friends when the news broke, and the entire bar went quiet and became glued to the TV. After his death was confirmed, strangers went from shock to fondly recalling their favorite MJ song with other patrons.
What’s remarkable about his musical legacy is that each time someone named a song, we all agreed that it was our fave too! In other words, there are too many great songs to name as favorites, and too many memories that coincide with them. As an 80’s kid, Michael was one of the many artists that formed our life’s soundtrack long before we embraced hiphop and found our adulthood in the current soul movement. From being a young girl with a huge Michael Jackson poster on the back of my bedroom door, to owning a Michael Jackson doll, to holding the Thriller LP or donning a white glove and red leather jacket for Halloween, Michael Jackson influenced our culture in a significant way. I can remember seeing him Moonwalk (and trying to imitate him with my cousins) and the way the Thriller video scared the ish out of me and my friends when we saw it on MTV – a historical moment in and of itself.
Of course, the other tragic news is that Farrah Fawcett died today, and may her spirit rest in peace after her battle with cancer. Tonight, my iPod’s tuned up and I’m going to reminisce and celebrate Michael Jackson’s genius and legacy.
RIP MJ. And watch his videos here.
Filed under: Entertainment, News | Tagged: Farrah Fawcett, Farrah Fawcett dies, Jackson death, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson dies, Michael Jackson's death, MJ dies
