Michael Jackson died yesterday. He was 50 years old. I wondered how I would feel when this day came. I honestly didn’t think it would happen quite so soon. The relationship that I have had with Michael has been a very strange one indeed.
As a child of the 80s I was not familiar with his work as a part of the Jackson 5 until a little bit later in life. I was, however, privileged to be a spectator to the phenomenon that was Thriller. If my math is correct, I was 8 years old when that record hit the streets. As that young, impressionable boy I too fell in love with the music of Michael Jackson. I remember listening to my vinyl copy ad nauseum while flipping through one of several full color glossy picture books of the man. I couldn’t get enough. I thought him to be a musical genius.
As I neared and entered my teenage years I found that not only were my musical tastes growing but I also found his music to be less interesting and less interesting. Eventually I began to loathe his music. I would tolerate Thriller but I assumed that to be out of nostalgia. I am not so sure that is true now.
As I became an adult and a father and watched the deconstruction of what some people called a musical icon, I became more disgusted with him: the over doing of the plastic surgery; the amusement park in his back yard; the sissy way that he acted while portraying being a tough guy; the way that his music became less edgy & watered-down. These were all reasons to scoff and make jokes at his expense.
The final straw was the little boys. You can say the word “alleged”; you can say “acquitted”; I say “wake the hell up”. The man lay in bed with under-aged boys, he served them alcohol and (no I have no proof but I am not stupid) he molested them. People argue that he was a little off due to his childhood. I don’t care. As terrible as most of you will think this is to say: I am a little glad that he died. The world is a better place for it.
Further adding to my disgust were the discussions on the television about him. First, Al Sharpton referring to him as a hero and making comparisons to Muhammad Ali then mentioning that Jackson’s death was a tragedy. A tragedy? What the hell? The Washington, DC train derailment resulting in nine deaths is a tragedy; the state trooper that was senselessly shot in his cruiser during a routine traffic stop is a tragedy. All this was is a 50 year old pedophile that couldn’t outrun karma. How many 50-ish year old men died yesterday due to a heart attack? How many of them had to provide for their families but can no longer do so? Why aren’t we celebrating them?
What about the Larry King Show last night? King was prepared to dedicate his show to actress Farrah Fawcett who also past away yesterday. He announced that since Jackson died he was changing his show. I guess since King knew Jackson personally as a friend that takes precedence. How rude for the family and fans of Farrah Fawcett. That was a reprehensible, no class act. Period. All of this praise for a man who fondled little boys and was rich enough to get away with it.
Maybe my opinion is not a popular one but I can’t imagine that you would have allowed your small children to stay unsupervised with a man like him. I know I wouldn’t. The deification of this man yesterday, today and in the days to follow is putrescent and horrendous. I, for one, will not be a party to it.
** As an aside, maybe this is the opportunity for Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and/or the relatives of the other Beatles to legally own the music that truly is great and rightfully theirs to own. **
Our opinions are the same. People fondly remembering what effect his music had on their lives is cool, but this absolute worship makes no sense.
And your example of what a true tragedy is? Exactly.
while i’m not sure i would have been so blunt, i echo your thoughts. it’s sad. lots of people have bad/awful/rough childhoods and do not choose to inflict their mess on others as adults. i have very little patience for people who excuse unacceptable behavior that way. well put. (not sure I’m “glad” he died, though.)
now get back to work!
Well, I was never much of a Michael Jackson fan, but I am a fan of American jurisprudence. Since he was found not guilty, and the only public ‘prosecution’ came from entertainment reporters and pot-stirrers, I’ll consider him innocent of those charges. Granted, I wouldn’t have left my young kids with him…but I wouldn’t have left my young kids with just about anyone else either. I also don’t feel the need to judge those parents without more first-hand knowledge of the entire situation.
Well sir, the good thing about this country is the freedom to express yourself! You’ve done so, and in so doing revealed what an ass you are for real! Nonetheless, you voice what is on the minds of many other shallow minded and myopic individuals such as yourself and to them all we say: Micheal Jackson touched more lives in his short life-time and left a greater impact than ALL of you put together will ever do in your life times. I for one thank Allah that he Blessed us with his presence and his extraordinary gift!
Furqan – As you put it we are free to express ourselves in America and yes, that is mostly a good thing. However; I find that it is myopic to think that a man as convoluted and perverted as Michael Jackson will be revered as a national hero for making songs that people enjoyed yet the majority of the population looks the other way in regards to how he mistreated innocent children. Sure, he was acquited in a court of law, but wasn’t OJ Simpson?
YOU were eight during Thriller?? (Well done. Felt the same way. Wasted talent if you ask me and there was the bizarro. As a former journalist though, the way the news broke was quite incredible. As I said, yep.)
So very well-put. Agreed here, too. I can’t help but groove when his old stuff comes on, but…yeah. You said it.
(And perhaps if you’re going to refer to someone as a blessing from Allah, you might want to spell his name right? Just a thought.)
Speak your mind, brother. Fear not the opinions of others!
I mourn the loss of MJ from the Thriller era, but I’ve been doing that for two decades already. I just hope Prince stays healthy so we can maintain at least one talented mutant in the popular music world. Like Mozart.
Great post, thank you.