Michael Jackson Memories
The King Of Pop left this earthly plane today June 25, 2009. I “never can say goodbye”
Like the rest of the world, I can trace so many great life moments to memories connected to him.
When I was a little kid in the 70’s, my brothers and I would pretend that we were the Jackson 5/Jackson's. It was always a battle between my younger brother and me as to who would be Michael. Sure my brother had the sharper dance moves, but I was committed enough to lose my voice if need be to hit those high notes (not very successfully without cracks eventually-but the passion was there). We would do “Dancing Machine” and my older brother Gary would rock the robot like he was getting paid for it. I We won a talent contest once (I humbly submit) with me singing lead on the song “Ben” I got a early bootleg taste of the dream. Those Jackson’s had the clothes, the girls, the moves, the money, the respect, and the dream come true of leaving “the ghetto” They were older cooler versions of who we wanted to be. Everybody had a favorite Jackson. I admit that I thought that Jermaine was smoother, but Michael was the one that all of the girls my age swooned for.
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and Rock With You gave a very shy(with the girls)young brother an opening to the dance floor . I moved my one leg up and down in sort of a stomp, then I would spin and throw one arm in the air. It sounds ridiculous I know, but I really thought that I was channeling MJ.
And then there was Thriller! Whoa-there was a time when the world was Michael Jackson –and then the rest. PYT, , Human Nature, Wanna Be Starting Something were all like separate pieces of musical magic that were included with Billie Jean( I saw that Motown 25th Show live when he threw down the hat and commenced to turn it out), Beat it , and the video that is in everybody’s consciousness since it unveiled – Thriller. Before MJ, besides Prince, videos with Black Artists were cheesy and cheap looking. Those record companies were not spending more than a nickel. MJ busted out Billie Jean and changed the game. That sidewalk lighting up alone was mesmerizing. And the winner is…. Michael Jackson (every award). In Thriller album time you could turn on the radio and hear a different MJ song on different stations all playing at the same time, I never cared for the message of Beat It-but those guitar chords sure sounded good. I had a choice between going out with a girl that I was fiending for months who finally agreed to go out with me-or to see The Victory Tour-Dallas show ( last minute ticket ) blame it on the boogie-the girl was lost to me forever-but that was hell of a show.
The bigger he got, the less interested I was. I was more of a Prince guy. Not that he wasn’t still BAD, it’s just that my taste was more hardcore. My nieces loved him. Remember moonwalker the movie? They would wear that tape out- a new generation with their own memories.
I must admit that I’ve done some MJ parodies-but one can only do that if a person is that etched in the collective consciousness. I recently challenged a group of students to hear a MJ song without wanting to dance or reflect.
I was never sure what to think about the charges against him . There were some disturbing allegations for sure. However that Jacko business(press) was always the height of disrespect.
Race, class, age, and musical boundaries – MJ transcended them all
