Michael Jackson 1958-2009

Like most people I was shocked to learn of the death of Michael Jackson. I truly am a child of the 1980s (born in 1977) and I heard someone say his music was the soundtrack of our lives. That is pretty accurate, at least my childhood.

Thriller was one of the first albums, if not the first, I ever remember having. I still have it (on vinyl). I used to listen to it all the time. In fact I wasn't allowed to listen to the song Thriller if my sister, who was a couple of years younger, was in the room because Vincent Price's creepy laugh at the end scared her! I vividly remember the We are the World phenomenon, and I also remember when the Black or White video debuted on FOX to HUGE fanfare.

I hadn't really thought about MJ much recently, though I was aware of the upcoming "comeback" tour. But I was truly saddened by the news, and grew more sad the more I saw the news coverage, the retrospectives and the obligatory video montages. I literally had to make myself turn off the TV in the living room last night (early this morning). I was GLUED to the coverage on CNN etc. and the non-stop music videos on one of the MTV channels. When I did finally go to bed (sometime after 2 am) I turned on BET on the bedroom tube and fell asleep to the sounds of Dirty Diana and the like.

I believe Michael is my generations' Elvis equivalent. Statistically as an artist he was probably bigger, and his early death will add to his legend-status, and comparisons between "The King" and "The King of Pop." And I wonder if he had still owned his Neverland home when he died, if it would have become like Graceland someday.

I hope he is remembered for the INCREDIBLE talent he was, and not all the other crap that went on in his life.

For the record, my favorite Michael Jackson song is Beat It. I have changed my phone ringer to Beat It in honor of the late great Michael Jackson!