Blog
THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED June 26 2009
To some, he was an expiring pop star. To others, he was a freak. To most, he was guilty. But to me, MJ was the greatest. I have loved him since I can remember. I never grew out of the habit of listening to him. My iPod has the same collection my walkman had when I was a child. He made me appreciate the music before my time with the Jackson 5 and tracks like “Never Can Say Goodbye”. He changed the sound of R&B with Off the Wall. And just when critics thought he couldn’t top his own success, Thriller, Bad, and Dangerous were released. My generation has suffered a tremendous loss, similar to those who lost Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. Both in life and in death, Michael Jackson created an unparalleled legacy. He defined stage performance with the anti-gravity lean, moonwalk, and crotch grab, he influenced all genres of music, he bridged generation and racial gaps, he trademarked the one glove, white socks with black shoes look, he had people believe in the love he felt for a rat, and he made the Wizard of Oz and Disneyland even cooler. The sad part is that he was so close to doing that all over again. At least I think so…
I am heartbroken, I am sad. No one will ever do it like you, MJ.
EDIT: When I said that MJ bridged generation gaps, I also meant that in my own family. My younger cousin (and performance poet), Ela, shared her thoughts with me through a piece she wrote for the King of Pop. Read it on her site here.
Photo courtesy of Reuters
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