Remembering Michael Jackson

I learned of the death of Michael Jackson early morning yesterday at the office. While approaching my cubicle, my supervisor announced that the Pop Superstar just died. And true enough, when I opened my mail, the news was on Yahoo’s front page. Incidentally, it was also just yesterday that I learned of Farrah Fawcett’s death the day before.

After a few minutes, people started to come in and the talks from the pantry to the lobby were almost everything about Michael Jackson. One officemate smilingly said that it should be a holiday as his pop idol passed away. Throughout the day, conversation tidbits would often be heard regarding the King of Pop’s life, music, and demise. Although Farrah Fawcett also came up in the office talks several times, it was definitely Michael Jackson who reigned.

When I got home last night, I got to read several online articles on Michael Jackson too. It seems that almost every writer in the internet wanted to write about him. Anything about the Pop Superstar is definitely one hot topic these days, which will continue to heat up during the coming weeks or months.

So what’s about Michael Jackson that made him as popular as he was? Almost everything about him – from speculations to confirmed facts - has been written. Is there anything about him that people have not heard about?

Although not a particular fan of Michael Jackson, I admired his dancing and singing prowess a lot. But I guess, I like the Michael Jackson I used to know when I was a kid in the 70’s better than the grown-up Pop Superstar.

The first time I heard of Michael Jackson was when I learned one of his songs, “One Day in Your Life.” I could still remember how I loved the song so much that I used to sing it often.

Then I came to hear a few more of his songs such as “Ben,” “Happy,” “Music and Me,” and his Christmas song, “Give Love on Christmas Day.” Although he was with his brothers then (Jackson 5), it was only Michael who really made an impression on me and on most people.

When I grew up, Michael Jackson continued to soar as a solo artist. And what was to become one of his greatest trademarks – his dancing prowess – made him rise to stardom more than his voice and music. Who could ever forget those awesome legs doing the moonwalk? This dance movement is undeniably a memorable legacy left by the King of Pop.

When his Thriller album was released on November 30, 1982 by Epic Records, it sealed his fame and stardom even further. Although the album’s theme dwelt more on the darker sides like the supernatural and paranoia, it rose to the charts and easily became the best-selling album of all time. The album was also among the first to use music videos as promotional tools.

Looking back though, I guess the reason why I became less interested in Michael Jackson when I grew up, was because I am not much a fan of funk, disco, or pop rock. I prefer music with clear vocals, just like his early songs. But I certainly admire his dancing talent – who wouldn’t? For me, Michael Jackson was a genius in his own brand of dancing. He did not have to prove it; he merely had to dance a few steps for one to see that this man indeed possessed a talent most people would die for.

But what made him become notorious for several negative publicities and unfavorable experiences later in life? People of course would not run out of speculations regarding the private life of Michael Jackson. What a pity for one so talented, wealthy and famous to be living alone and hiding behind a mask of self-sufficiency. Many people speculate on Michael Jackson’s stolen childhood as the main culprit of the negative things that happened to him in his adult life. Maybe that is half the truth; and the rest, only he and God knew.

And with this article, I am bowing to the Michael Jackson I liked – the young singer, the awesome dancer, the concert king; and to the would-be Michael Jackson had somebody guided him to the right path and helped him see the good and simple things in life while growing up.