As we all know, the so-called King of Pop died. I certainly was never a fan and in fact was quite horrified by Michael Jackson. Regardless, his music was a significant part of my childhood. I was there for the whole music video transformation that Thriller started and I remember when a Michael Jackson video was an event not to be missed. I have to admit that he was a gifted singer and dancer, and he worked very hard to perfect his act.
Sure, I have lots of memories (just like most of you folks do) with his different his different songs and but what really gets me down is that I can't separate Jackson (his many surgeries, child abuse allegations, skin bleaching, and crazy behavior) from his music. Gone is the fun I had as a youngster being entertained by Jackson. It's like there were two of him. The memory of what he was and the grotesque parody he became.
I cringe everytime I hear his songs...
Well except Thriller... because Michael Jackson, it turns out, was a zombie after all. I guess he just needed his outsides to match his insides.
So maybe there really wasn't two Jacksons, and that's the saddest thing of all because now I realize that he was crazy the whole time.
here's the prisoner version of thriller:
On a comic book side-note (because I just gotta have one), of course we all remember the Thriller parody/homage in Dazzler #33 right?
-Swinebread
4 comments:
Kinda my thoughts too...I just didn't understand folks obsession w/him. In fact all three (McMahon, Fawcett, Jackson) never really impacted my life much...so meh.
I read that he had a disease that made his skin fade in patches, but that certainly doesn't remove the fact that he was a deeply disturbed individual who couldn't handle stardom.
I just remember going out of my way to watch the Thriller video because John "American Werewolf" Landis directed it.
He actually made Michael seem like a well-adjusted (if high-voiced) young man for the video. A feat that only a master director could accomplish!
LB: I never understood an obsession with ANY celebrity really. I also don't get sports fandom (though I love watching sports).
I never understood the attraction. He could dance, but sing? Regardless, I just don't get "fan-dom" - I have favorite singers,actors, etc., but I don't idolize them or make them the focus of my life. Jackson was kind a creepy choice to idolize at that.
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