The world lost a legend.
I never thought I’d be writing about this news, at least not for a long long time. For any of us that grew up in the 80’s, Michael Jackson meant so much to us. He was the coolest, every boy wanted to be like him, and all the girls loved him. When I think back of my childhood, some of my fondest memories are watching his videos, which were so groundbreaking and innovative, it was like watching true art in motion.
I recall when Thriller came out, the whole neighborhood was watching it and talking about it. It was an event. Same with Motown 25, when he did the Moonwalk for the first time, at school the next day, kids were talking about how it was a trick done with mirrors and such. Everything Michael did was pure gold.
That’s the Michael Jackson I remember today.
We are all aware of his troubles over the past years, but I hope that people will see his legacy by his work and not his antics off the stage. He touched the entire world. I remember a few years ago being in a small town in the Dominican Republic and kids were dancing to Billie Jean, and I was thinking, wow there is truly no other person that is so universally recognized as Michael Jackson. I think that’s the legacy that he should be remembered for, all the lives that he touched and all the kids that he made believe in magic.
I don’t have many heroes, or people that I look up to. It’s hard to find heroes in today’s world. I idolized Michael Jackson because he was different and he strived to be the absolute best at what he did. He utilized his God given gifts to the best of his abilities. For that, I have so much respect for what he brought into this world. A bonafide trend setter. A musical genius. A global icon. Whatever you want to call him, he is undoubtedly a legend that people will speak of for years and years. I think he was ahead of his time in many ways and probably highly misunderstood.
I choose to celebrate his greatness.
The negative aspects have been focused on too much over the past few years. No need for that now. It’s strange because along with the sadness of knowing that my childhood idol is dead, I sort of feel like celebrating his music and feeling a sense of relief. He can rest in peace now.
Take your place in history Michael, you deserved it.
Here are some of my favorite performances:
Who can forget the most amazing live performance of Billie Jean ever! No one will ever show that much electricity on stage ever again
Here is an unbelievable performance of The Way You Make Me Feel. In his prime, he was the coolest, and no one could touch him on performance:
Here is a medley of all his greatest hits from MTV in 1995. I always thought this was his greatest performance. Just incredible, the consummate entertainer:
RIP MJ
