Forever, The King of Pop
Today is the 40th day since he went ahead of us. There had been news that his passing is planned and that he’s somewhere in Hungary or Moscow living a simple life. I would like to believe this and I would be greatly delighted if it’s really true. It took me some time to finish this entry, finally it’s done.
June 26, Friday Manila time (June 25 Thursday US time) –
I was watching DZMM on television and suddenly I heard something that really caught my attention. I just have to hear it again cause I think it wasn’t right. The anchor said that there were news about the passing of Michael Jackson. What? Is this a joke? I’m sure it is one hell of a big joke. This can’t be real. It just couldn’t be real. Then I heard it again that is confirmed that MJ passed away already on Thursday. What again, I told myself. Why? How? It can’t be. It just didn’t seem real to me at all. Not until I saw some clips on television showing his body being carried by a chopper. At the back of my head, I was OH MY GOD!!! I couldn’t believe it, that of all people it would be MJ. Just following the likes of legends and icons Elvis Presley, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe.
I was born in 1986 and he was born in 1958 and yet the gap didn’t matter at all. I wasn’t able to see him perform then as a kid while he was with the Jackson 5. But I know the Jackson 5 even though I wasn’t born yet when they were bringing waves to the music industry. I even know the song “Ben “. I knew they were an awesome bunch of very talented people.
Fast forward, MJ went solo and on he was at the start of becoming part of history as one of the greatest musicians ever known; as The King of Pop. His first solo album Off the Wall was a massive worldwide success. This cemented his place along with the musical royalties.
His is definitely the most influential music I’ve ever seen since Elvis Presley. Like they said, he is our generation’s ‘Elvis’. His music means so much to me. More than Madonna or any singer now. I know Madonna, yes and she’s the Queen of Pop but Michael’s music was different. His was bigger, different and has more of a vast influence. I know, he’s not the first Black American performer, there was James Brown, Nat King Cole but Michael seemed to be the first to really break out from the usual. MTV and Michael grew up together literally. MTV was only showing then, White American’s music videos and Michael became the first Black to ever be seen on MTV. He changed the norms; he defied the odds and entirely changed the world of music since then. MTV realized they were being left behind.
He was also an innovator; there was no one that time who ever dared make music videos like they were movies. He was a creative thinker. He wanted to make new things. He introduced us the moonwalk, even though he saw it from street kids. He made zombies dance so awesome. He made us sing and dance to the tunes of the world famous Thriller and his countless hits. And he made us swoon with his dance moves and great voice. He made the world’s best selling album of all time. He was a pioneer. A great singer, futuristic songwriter and very good dancer. An all time top performer.
I didn’t know his birthday. I just now he never had any normal life growing up. I didn’t know much about his family. I didn’t know he was married to Deborah Rowe after Lisa Marie. I didn’t know he had kids. But being a fan doesn’t mean having to know everything about him, instead it’s more on what he and his music meant to you as a person. I may not actually know him personally but it seemed like that to me and to other fans as well.
He was notoriously shy ever since he was a youngster. He once said, “I hate to admit it but I feel strange around everyday people. See, my whole life has been onstage and the impression I get of people is applause, standing ovations and running after you. In a crowd, I’m afraid. Onstage, I feel safe. If I could, I would sleep on the stage. I’m serious.”
He’s not some artists today, who just write songs to make a hit, or for the sake of writing. No wonder, most are one-hit wonders these times. Who writes songs to ridicule someone. Who writes trashy lyrics over and over. Who makes monotonous music. His music was never the same and always changing. Who acts like superstars when the next day they’re so over. There’s great innovation, a thing artists should really learn today.
He had been attacked personally by critics, by the people, the media but he was also an ordinary person just like any of us. We didn’t know how he lived his life as a father to his kids. We didn’t know what he was like as normal father living his everyday life. We might not have seen it but I know his kids made him the happiest father and person. I’ve seen it in videos on you tube. He really loved them so dearly. Something I didn’t expect from a man of his stature. Do you see Brangelina playing with their kids and teaching them to dance? Do you picture Britney sitting on the floor playing with puzzles? Or Madonna feeding and wiping his son’s lips? He was a very dedicated father. It is unquestionable.
I never saw him as someone who thought of himself as a powerful man. He didn’t act like Paris Hilton or Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears. He’s kind to his workers and didn’t treat them as just staff but almost like a close kin already. That time in 2005, I heard that news but I never once said that he’s this or that. It didn’t change how I look at him. Besides, I never believed it. I might not have paid attention that much then because I was busy with school. But I never turned my back on him. When you’re a fan, you shouldn’t just believe anything you hear, see or read. Because this is where your true sense as a fan comes up.
The awful truth is that people will always be greedy. The bigger you are, the harder they will try to bring you down. This is the spiteful reality of life.
Michael, thank you for being with me, for being with us. You will always be the one and only KING OF POP. I will always remember you and your great legacy. He was a man of full top talent. One of the greats we should and will always remember through the times.
His music will continue to live within me as I live. The music can’t stop playing. His music will forever be a part of my human living. I will continue to sing and dance along with his eternal and enduring great music of all time.
Music doesn’t pass away. They live on as time goes by. There’s no end to melodies, to lyrics, to the grooves, to the voice, to the messages. His lyrics were his music. His music was his story. And his story became history.
LONG LIVE THE KING OF POP!!!
HIS MUSIC WILL LIVE FOREVER.
