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Current mood:  indescribable Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities
"I believe in us, and the people. I know we can make a difference.""
Michael Jackson said that.
When things move me deeply, it takes me awhile to sort out my feelings. I've always been a Michael Jackson fan. "Thriller" came out when I was in the eleventh grade, and everyone loved it. I had only just discovered top 40 pop music, having been raised on country music and oldies like Dolly Parton and Fats Domino. Even then, Michael's music moved me. It made me want to dance.
But in recent years, we had all forgotten about Michael's music, letting the media feed us with constant references to the child molestation charges leveled against him, even years after he had been acquitted, twice, of those charges.
I had forgotten about the music. And I am ashamed of myself for it. over the past few days I have been re-acquainting myself with his work.
Folks, we have lost a icon, a legend, and a musical genius. In recent days I've heard him referred to as "The greatest entertainer of all time." I believe it. Even if you disagree with that statement, you certainly have to admit he was the greatest since Elvis died, and even Elvis didn't go to the ramped-up production extremes that MJ did. Everything Michael did was big. HUGE. His videos were extravagant, expensive mini-films. His live shows were fantastic and electric. His songs were rich, complex, and multi-layered.
And I believe he was genuine and sincere. He loved people, his fans, he was an environmentalist, and the biggest celebrity contributor to charities. His friends say he was innocent and child-like, and maybe that's why his sudden death shocked the world, and me, so much. To me, he was and always would be the Michael of "Thriller," young, healthy, and a powerful performer with endless creativity. Fifty years old? That can't be! Michael Jackson was Peter Pan. Or so we thought.
I don't think he would have been able to endure those fifty performance dates in London, and I believe he knew it too. Perhaps it's for the best: His death turned what might have been his biggest failure into his greatest triumph - a renewed interest in the man and the music that made him great.
His music moves me. It makes my soul soar, and yes, dance, even though
my feet have no rhythm. I am sad that there will be no more music from
him. I'm sad that we in America often remember the wrong things about
people, always focusing on the negative,...until it is too late.
The world is a harsh place. I think some people, especially creative artists, are too sensitive and delicate for it. They get blown away, like dandelions.
The video below is for "Earth Song," his biggest hit in the UK (Yes, even bigger than "Beat It" and "Billie Jean") that was never even released as a single here in the states. It's my favorite song and video from the King of Pop.
1:19 AM
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