I was really affected by the death of Michael Jackson a week ago. I never cried or anything! I'm too tough for that (see previous post about pop music)! But, I was really sad finding out he died. To me, his death is the death of an era. My childhood and prepubescence was riddled with Michael Jackson music. I remember watching that Moonwalker movie over and over again. I loved it! My favorite song and music video was Smooth Criminal. I loved the beat and groove and his costume and the dancing in that video was so much fun, as well as the dancing in most of his videos. I remembered staying up watching MTV when they first aired his Black and White video (that was when MTV showed music videos). It was a huge event! I even remember the VJ (which means Video Jockey, which MTV doesn't have anymore since they don't have music videos) right after the video aired, she wanted to see it again, so they aired it again. I remember watching the Dangerous tour: Live in Bucharest when they aired it on MTV (why does MTV suck so much now?!). I was enthralled with him, as most other people were. So, one can see why I'd be affected so much by his death. He was one of the most compelling and identifying music figures for my childhood.
It pains, nay, it KILLS me that there are so many Michael Jackson haters out there who feel "the world is BETTER without Michael Jackson", only because of his last 15 years of constant media discrimination and slander. I've never once turned on him as far as my opinion goes. Was he weird? Definitely!! He was a very strange person! Most real artists are! However, I never thought he really did commit those molestations that those families tried to convict him of. In fact, they could never ever get any substantial evidence for any of it. If he did do that stuff, then he will pay! But, he was never found guilty here so who are we to judge?!
I also think most people have forgotten that he has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to various charities and philanthropic causes throughout his life! He believed in a peaceful world with no hate and bloodshed and did all he could with the talents given to him to help "make the world a better place". He holds the record for "Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star" found in the Guiness Book of World Records in 2000. But, I guess most people just wanted to know how many different noses he's gotten in his life.
I was really curious to see if this "Comeback Tour" was really gonna work and if he was gonna be on top again. We will never know! I've been watching a lot of Michael Jackson stuff on YouTube lately and it reminded me of all that talent that just left us forever.
You will be missed by most! Thank you for everything!
