In recent times, I have come across many articles in magazines, newspapers and in online journals, in which Michael Jackson gets compared with Elvis Presley, and in a pretty casual manner too, and even a verdict passed at the end.

The verdict, has always been in favor of Jackson. This of course is quite understandable as many music fans who were born in the seventies and eighties, adore him and consider him the supremo in entertainment.

He certainly was a great entertainer irrespective of whom he entertained.

Otherwise there would not have been massive crowds to watch him perform, and even paying exorbitant prices for tickets.

Even his albums are supposed to have generated record sales in many parts of the world.

Perform he did, to please many, and he did please many, and in the process created hysteria amongst most of his fans and succeeded in capturing a continuous following from all parts of the world too.

According to unconfirmed statistics, Jackson was liked by the younger crowd like the present teenagers and those who have left their teens within the past couple of decades.

He did compose lyrics for most of the songs that he sang and thus gets called singer, songwriter, and entertainer.

One single word is substituted by his fans to represent all those three. "Talented."

I quit the radio with the emergence of rap music thinking that the end of music was near, convinced beyond any shade of doubt that video killed the radio star. My collection of cassette tapes continued to be my source of music, most of which were later converted to CD format, and newer CDs of older songs were constantly being added to my collection.

More excitement came my way with the discovery of you-tube which contained many tracks that I had missed.

Although I am full of admiration for Michael Jackson for his qualities which have been spoken of after his passing away, I am somewhat vexed by this constant comparison with Elvis Presley.

Jackson was reported to have been a very nice guy, and never had been noted for any form of arrogance. It is a fact that he was also an excellent dancer, one of the best, although he never really had the intention to draw attention to his prowess.

Ignoring challenges, he somewhat stayed away from competing with others as I guess his interest did not involve proving anything. He just danced to some powerful music and also "sang."

Then video barged into the music scene, placing itself unceremoniously between the musician and the music that the musician was responsible for creating. Of course this enabled many musicians to display their other talents. Jackson was one who benefited much from this.

His dancing prowess was generously displayed on video over the next few years. This was the beginning. The start of something new.

His eccentric behaviour and the quest for "perfection" where his facial features were concerned was somewhat baffling to psychologists. They pointed it to an uneasy childhood. Cool.

Whatever the case has been, he entertained. He really did. He made some physically impossible gyrations at speeds that would entice Kung-Fu specialists to call for closer scrutiny. He vocalised too.

The thundering rhythmic and pulsating powerful music dished out by the musicians backing him, provided him the impetus as well as the energy to "perform." He accepted it gratefully and carried on. Fodder for fans. Fans needed to continue being fans. He was ageing. They were too.

Now ... all you Elvis Presley fans listen carefully. Imagine. Image hard. The stage is set, the flashing lights are on stand-by mode, the thundering pulsating music is ready to spill ... drum-roll please ... and then ... all hell breaks loose, the thunder of the music, starting off in low decibel mode, and the psychedelic lights flashing, spotlighting pre-set areas on the stage, and to an effect-creating sequence ... exactly as planned ... the music slowly gathers momentum and ... rushing on to the stage, with that unmistakable hint of a smile, confident as ever, even more today than yesterday ... is ... as always, dressed in dark blue ... ELVIS PRESLEY!!!

"Wont you wear my ring ... around your neck ... to tell the world ... I am yours, by heck! ... "

Time flies in between ... flies ... time does fly! It is Elvis after all! Can anybody else take his place? No way! Never! Nobody can even come close ... they will burn up to cinders! Sure they would! What's the big deal here? Well, his looks, his voice, his personality, the charisma attached, in fact everything!

" ... and let them know by the RING AROUND YOUR NECK ... Oh yeah!"

Hey! Snap out of it everybody! It was ELVIS alright!

You are perfectly right man, there will never, ever be another ELVIS PRESLEY!

... concluded