Michael Jackson

Now, almost a week after his death, I may finally be able to write a post about Michael Jackson. It is bizarre to think that somebody with whom I have never had an interaction can become so close to my heart. And now that I read that out loud, it sounds bizarre too. But, the fact of the matter is that I have been an avid fan of Michael's since I knew what music was. One of the first, if not the first, cassettes I ever owned was his album Bad. As I grew up, I purchased the rest of his albums and began to enjoy his body of work. He created so many songs that I can associate with early childhood memories and late-night college parties. What he did for the music industry is astounding; many popular artists of today undoubtedly owe their careers to Michael Jackson. Music videos, as we know them, did not exist before he started creating them. He broke down race barriers, sponsered disease prevention and treatment in other countries, and supported our troops. He truly was a humanitarian. It is difficult to put into words what he and his career meant to this world. Think about it, when was the last time you saw this much international attention focused on the end of somebody's life? This was a man that desperately wanted to make a difference in people's lives. He was able to do that by reaching out to the world through his music. There are plenty of facts to support that statement. From his album sales, tour grossing records, and 20+ number one hits dating back to the Jackson 5. I recently watched a concert from his Dangerous Tour in 1992, and the reactions from his fans in attendance is remarkable. They put the boy-band fans to shame. Emotion pours out of these people, as they cannot wrap their minds around what they are witnessing. His shows were so ellaborate, and, from what I have read, his London tour was going to be no different. Throughout his life, talent oozed from his weird body. And, you almost expect him to be so weird because that much talent cannot possibly be contained in a normal person; that part of his brain was not unlike a sevant's. If this reads like random thoughts stitched together, that's because it is. I still am unable to accept the fact this Michael Jackson is gone, and this world was robbed of his unique talents and gifts. He will be sorely missed.

I encourage you to read up on Michael Jackson's life, and enjoy his music. From Motown, to Disco, to Funk, to Rock, there is something in his library for everybodhy.