I can't help it. I know every major media publication is providing massive coverage for Michael Jackson. I know there are timelines, retrospectives, etc available at every major media and news website. I feel like I have to write about Michael Jackson though. A little something at least. His music was the music of my childhood. That's no exaggeration. It was Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, or the Jacksons. I listened to his music before I ever became aware of rock 'n roll, before I purchased a Marcy Playground or Matchbox 20 CD in '97 or 3EB in the summer of 1998. His music informed what my later tastes would be as well. There's really no going back once you hear "Off The Wall" or "Thriller." Those two albums are near perfection. "Thriller" suffers from one weak track. The rest is gold after gold after gold. I opened a piece I wrote on Carolyn Leonhart with a quote from Shakespeare about the charms of music. There really is magic in music. There's some intangible transcendental quality to music, in music. It exists within the creation. On those early solo albums, he combined disco (but good disco not that ABBA nonsense) with the soul of Motown and R&B. We all know "Thriller," "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Rock With You" and a bunch of other songs that are too many to list. We can throw out adjective after adjective to describe the power of his music but in the end his music is indescribable and that's what makes it as great, magical, and transcendent as it is. He just had the ability to tap into that part of our brain, something that is inherently within us and open it up (i hope you followed me there and understand what I mean).
I remember as a boy listening to my mother's Jackson 5 tape with all of the hits. I used to wear penny loafers (the closest I got to his trademark black shoes), tried to mimick his moves, made an embarrassing Thriller video at the age of 6 or 7. I used to sing Billie Jean and Beat It at the top of my lungs as a boy. I remember watching Moonwalker with my sister and playing the Michael Jackson video game on Sega Genesis I know there's countless others who grew up with the music of Michael and his brothers. My sister told me that the bars come alive whenever a Michael Jackson song come on.
It is sad though. I was watching CNBC when the news first broke and then followed it for about 2 hours. America has lost some wonderful entertainers and legends in 2009.
Included are some videos. I feel sad watching and listening to these songs especially the 1970 performance of I Want You Back when he and his brothers were so young. Gone Too Soon is what I like to call a Kairos song. Do enjoy. I'll be back with the next song in Oasis Off later in the day.
"I Want You Back"--1970 performance
Motown 25 Jackson 5 Reunion
Childhood
Gone Too Soon
Baby Be Mine
Off The Wall
Thanks Chris, for your moving tribute to Michael Jackson. I've featured an excerpt on NewsHammer On Campus, where you'll find other major stories from leading university student newspapers like yours.
ReplyDeleteFor a recap and analysis of the ongoing mysteries surrounding Michael and his death, including the sensational and conflicting media coverage, I've written an investigative piece "Michael Jackson: Dead Like Elvis" in NewsHammer and NewsHammer On Campus, click on Alan Gillis above.