Michael Joseph Jackson: 1958 - 2009I don't know about all of you. I know Jacko went wrong many times in the last 15 years, but for me and so many other kids growing up in the 80s, he was IT. This is how I choose to remember him. I kept telling myself I would see him perform live "someday." Eddie and I even talked about trying to catch him in London later this year. Now we will never have that chance.
Much will be said, written and offered about the original MJ in the coming days and weeks. A lot of it will be, deservedly, critical. Nonetheless, no matter which part of the globe you sat on, you knew this dude, and loved at least a song or two. How many people can you say touched that many lives?
Along with the Challenger disaster of the 80s, 9/11, Obama's clinch in the election of 2008 and the moment I learned my dear friend Jesika had passed, this day is forever seared in my memory. How about yours?
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After I stopped crying, I checked FB & my usual blogs to read the tributes to MJ. I have extremely fond memories of Jackson 5 and MJ music.
ReplyDeleteAs kids, my siblings & our friends spent an ENORMOUS amount of time dancing & singing in the den of our house. We (like all other kids/teens) owned every record album, poster, etc distributed by them.
MJ's "Off The Wall" album was the very first record I owned. It was Tremendously Cool. Everyone tried to mimic his 'moves'.
He was this AWESOME ENTERTAINER!!!! And perhaps a very flawed man. However, I choose to remember him as the man that gave us fabulous love songs, amazing dance tracks and thought-provoking lyrics.
R.I.P. Michael. And Farrah. And Ed. May God be with your all of your families in this terrible time.
YM - thank you for your words. I think your childhood memories reflect the experiences of so many of us. I am still a bit weepy today.
ReplyDeleteLosing two childhood icons in one day sadly overshadowed the loss of one just the day before. Even though it isn't a tangible personal loss, it still will remain with me. I can't explain it. Along with being told by my work that they will not cover my loss from the theft that occurred on their premises, the day had enough of an emotional punch that this will definitely be remembered.
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