I can’t believe Michael Jackson is dead. I grew up listening to him and for quite a long period, practically worshiped him. I had all his albums and until today, find it physically impossible to listen to his songs without getting a crazy urge to jump up and sing and dance. I love Billie Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror (swoon), Smooth Criminal, Dangerous, They Don’t Care About Us, the list goes on and on and on.
I remember scraping together RM300 or so in 1996 (tough to do when you’re studying and have like, no money) to go see him live in concert in KL and becoming near hysterical when he appeared on stage and jumping up and down and screaming myself hoarse for two straight hours. I entertained the idea of camping outside the hotel where he was staying but decided not to as that might have been a bit too insane.
I’ve watched his videos, live performances, concerts and interviews many times and I can still watch them today and be just as transfixed as I used to be years ago. I can go to Sungei Wang and they’d be playing one of his live performances on TV, you know, in those electrical shops, and I will still stop to watch it, nailed to the floor, unable to pull myself away.
When news of all those accusations surfaced, I ignored them – those attention-whoring money-suckers can straight go to hell for all I care (as you can see, I’m totally unbiased). When they started making fun of him for all sorts of things – from the chimp to the elephant man skull, skin bleaching to plastic surgery, sleeping in oxygen tanks to dangling his baby over the balcony – my response was, “Mind your own goddamn business and leave him alone!!!”
I may not have watched Michael Jackson much recently but all it took was five minutes of youtube-ing him and I’m reminded of the musical genius he was. He had an extraordinary ability to connect with people through his music in a way that nobody – current or past – has ever done and, I can say for sure, will ever do. He was a phenomenal performer. Nobody will ever exude that level of magnetism, that all-consuming star power, that ability to work millions of people into a manic frenzy. And nobody will ever be able to carry off ankle-high trousers and beaded white socks in the same way he did.
The most successful performer of all time … the only artiste to garner eight Grammy awards in a single night … the biggest-selling record in history … There’s only one Michael Jackson; the rest are just sorry imitators.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go watch Billie Jean.
Again.
6 Comments
June 26, 2009 at 4:30 PM
Yeah, I was so shocked to hear that he had died. I always assumed he would live longer until a ripe old age.
It’s still hard to believe.
June 26, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Spent practically the whole night watching videos of his performances. I have no words. This is just too tragic … and he was hounded throughout his life too. All those leeches never let up – #@$#!@!!!
June 26, 2009 at 11:20 PM
my uncle was a hugge fan too.. i remembered the days we used to sit in front of the tv watching Thriller
June 28, 2009 at 3:12 AM
I tell you, I used to be scared to watch the Thriller video when I was younger … and I still am!! For some reason, the zombies still freak me out haha
August 1, 2009 at 8:06 PM
I love Michael Jackson’s moves and I love Michael Jackson to and I was so shoked when my grampa told me that he died at the age of 50. He will always be in my heart and my famiy’s heart to. we love you Michael!!!
August 3, 2009 at 12:55 AM
Hi kk, thanks for dropping by
yeah, Michael Jackson is the only icon in the whole world whose death I care about. that sure says something!