It's been one of those 24 hours when, in a seemingly accelerating world, the world for once is stood still. Frozen in disbelief at the tragic , untimely news of the death of the one and only, Michael jackson.
I am writing this , with the BBC website broadcasting live coverage of the news. There really has been nothing else on our screens, and on our social networks all day, and all night. It is a monumental moment.
Yesterday should have been a day of total celebration. The sun was shining, it had been a good week, with some exciting news musically, and best of all, my daughter was coming to stay with me, after a long time away. So it was all shaping up to be a fantastic week.
Then last night, I was sending back some audio parts to a producer in Ibiza, when my daughter shouted out to me, that Michael jackson has been rushed to hospital. I logged onto Twitter, and sure enough, people were talking about this. I can't tell you how much I hoped it would be a false alarm, a publicity stunt even, a hoax! But one by one, the updates kept coming, saying it didn't look good.
I'm sure that some cynics were thinking..oh there we go.. a way of MJ getting out of these gigs at the 02. You know.. I told you , it wouldn't happen etc.
I think that people have been at times, so cynical about Michael Jackson, and I blame some of that squarely on the media. Unfortunately so many people believe all that they read, in the press, and even on blogs. The written word is gospel, so it seems. I know from personal experience, that this is so. people seem to be able to write whatever bullshit they want and demonize people who don't deserve it, and some of us as readers take it as the truth.
We've delighted in poking fun at this guy, who though he undoubtedly had his flaws, didn't deserve to be treated this way.
I posted a status update on my facebook page, about this untimely death, and a couple of people have said some very nasty things about the guy, saying he was disgusting and words to that effect. We have to remember that this guy was not found guilty of the crimes he was accused of, and putting my cards on the table, I don't believe he was guilty.
Unfortunately long after people have been proved innocent , the stigma that was attached to them, remains. You just have to look at the ca of Colin Stagg, the guy who was accused of murder on Wimbledon common. Even after he was found innocent, people still continued to believe he was guilty, until recently when the real killer confessed.
Away from all that heavy stuff. Lets remember the guy for his music. Without a doubt in my mind, we have just lost the greatest artist the world has ever seen, or will see again. And I tell you what.. at least half of the people making music these days, or working in the music business, would not be doing so, without this guy. So many people have been influenced and touched by him.
Lets name some names who probably would not be here without him.. Justin Timberlake, Usher, Ne-yo, Britney, Madonna, Prince even... Prince's first record the falsetto heavy ' I wanna be your lover' was very much like Michael jackson.
Only a month ago, I saw Tito jackson, and was quite excited. At last i'd met a Jackson. Quite a few people I know , had met him, one was his Dr for a while, and my old manager used to hang out with him in the early 90's. I really hoped I'd get the chance to meet him one day. Like a lot of people I had tickets for his shows at the o2 Arena. Sadly, i won't now get to see him, let alone meet him, but his legacy , and his music will live on forever.
This guy remember, was the artist who made it possible to have black artists on MTV in the first place. Something we now take for granted. . Before him, black artists were not seen on this channel, but his Thriller video was too good to ignore.
Having sold a reported 750 million records. He really had nothing else to prove. No one will ever match this!
It's early days, and obviously an emotional time, but I am tempted to boycott some of the trashier tabloids who made a lot of money out of belittling this guy , and demonizing him while he was alive, but who will now be sycophantically lining up to sing his praises.
Berry Gordy took the words right out of my mouth. Michael jackson, wasn't the sort of person who comes along, once a lifetime or once a century. He was the kind of guy, who only comes along once, and we have been blessed to have been entertained by him for in many cases, all our lives.
I hope he has found peace at last!
Michael Jackson, Icon, Music legend, and humanitarian, RIP
Ben