My memories of Michael Jackson begin in the 70’s. I was born in 1970 and by the time I was between the ages of 5 and 7 I already knew who he was.
It’s the classic songs that get to me: I Want You Back, ABC, Ben, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, The Girl Is Mine, etc. Then came the 80’s with Billie Jean, Beat It, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, P.Y.T. Thriller.
Oh my goodness… THRILLER was mind blowing for me. Back when MTV used to play videos I can remember waiting on pins and needles for the Thriller video debut. They used to work us up to it by promoting it for what seemed like MONTHS. I thought it was spectacular. The dance moves, the voice, the beat of the music. It was fantastic.
Back to the 70’s… I don’t think ANYBODY but me remembers Fat Albert. Is there anybody out there that remembers the Saturday morning cartoon called Fat Albert? It was one of my favorite cartoons to watch. If I’m not mistaken I think a lot of the music on that cartoon was done by the Jackson 5… right? Or am I wrong? My Dad used to buy me Fat Albert coloring books and my cousin used to lecture me about my coloring because I was using black crayons instead of brown crayons. I didn’t understand what she was trying to tell me until I was much older and then I kept thinking to myself “duh Angela… what on earth were you thinking!?” I just knew I liked the music and that cartoon.
I was entranced with the movie Ben. I admit it! I can’t help it! If it wasn’t for Michael Jackson singing that beautiful song I would have never given the movie Ben the time of day. I just wanted to hear Michael Jackson sing the song. It’s what kept me watching that movie.
Fast forward back to the 80’s…. me and Christine used to sit at the park and swing on the swings with our little boom boxes listening to Def Leppard, Michael Jackson, and yeah… Rick Springfield too. But Michael Jackson was the shit! (Excuse my french…but you know that word fits when you’re looking for emphasis.)
Those music award shows gave me goosebumps. Me and my Mom and brother used to sit up late waiting to see Michael Jackson win another award. Watching him dance gave us goosebumps. His moves, his voice, the dress, the MOON WALK… it was all revolutionary and unforgettable. The moment just made you feel good to be in it. He was terrific.
When I see the title to that song “Rock With You” I had to laugh because today they would have called it “Rock Which You.” But not Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was a class act ALWAYS.
So then the 90’s came around and things got a little weird. So what. We all have a little bit of weirdness in us. We’ve all done things that we look back on and thought “what on EARTH was I thinking” .. right? You know what I’m talking about.
So the 90’s stuff I’m thinking isn’t as good as the 80’s and doesn’t even touch the 70’s… but there are a few that I really like… like Bad (But I can only listen to that one about once every couple of months, etc.), Leave Me Alone, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man In The Mirror (SO Truthful!!!), Smooth Criminal, Black Or White (LOVED that one!!!), Remember The Time…. Michael Jackson had THE BEST music videos. His music videos can NOT be touched or repeated or copied. Simply the best, that Michael Jackson. There are so many more songs that I loved.
I went NUTS when he collaborated with his sister Janet Jackson but I can’t remember for the life of me what the name of that song is. I am picturing the music video though… in black and white. I think they were in outer space or something… anyway.
Michael Jackson is gone.
I can’t even believe it.
The entire situation doesn’t seem real, you know?
When I heard that he was having heart problems and rushed to the hospital I kept thinking to myself, “oh he’s gonna be ok…he’s Michael Jackson.” Then I was listening to Mark Levin on the radio and that’s when the news broke that Michael Jackson had died. I didn’t believe it. I had to turn on the news.
Then I started wonderring what my brother was doing and what my best friends were doing. I knew that Faithe was at work because she’s on the west coast time zone so I couldn’t call her. I called my brother and talked to Heather for a bit to find out what they were doing and if they had heard the news about Michael Jackson. We talked about being stunned that we have lost 3 really nice celebrities this week and how Michael Jackson’s passing was just too unreal. Then I called Christine. You know… Christine and I have been friends since we were 12 so I guess I wanted to connect with her because she was there when I was enjoying Michael Jackson’s artistry in the 80’s. It was comforting to me to know that people might ask me, “what were you doing when you found out Michael Jackson had died?” Then I could tell them.. I was talking to my best friend Christine on the telephone. (big sigh here)
Then my 17 year old called me to ask me if I had heard the news. She was out with her friends and they were all sitting around talking about what a big deal this is. And you know what? It really is a big deal. That’s when I got emotional. Yes, I cried. I had to suck it up though because I wanted to have a halfway decent conversation with her. We’ll probably sit down later on this week and talk about it.
Growing up listening to the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, and even Janet Jackson… their music for me, made it ok to be me. For some strange reason their style, their music, their voices, their music videos made it ok for me to be me… the white girl. I know that doesn’t make sense to all of you that don’t really know me… but there are other things swirling around that date back to Fort Dix, N.J. My parents used to send me to the back door neighbors house for a birthday party. I was the only white girl in the house and let me tell you… at that age I was afraid. I don’t know why… but I was. One time I was over there and you know what got me to chill out? The kids invited me to come and play with them in the bedroom. They were listening to the Jackson 5 on a 45 record. We had the best time. It’s the only time I felt like I could be me in a room full of black people and it was OK. (I know I’m going off on a tangent so back to Michael Jackson lol)
I am setting aside all the weirdness, the allegations, the innuendos, the brunt of many hollywood insider articles. I’m setting it aside. Like a dear friend of mine said… it’s not for us to say or to judge. He was not convicted of anything. Some will say that it’s because of his celebrity. Whatever.. I know a lot of celebrities in jail doing time for their crimes. Michael Jackson was never convicted of anything. Were there some weird moments in the media? Sure there were weird moments. I can remember Michael’s hair being caught on fire when he was shooting the Pepsi, or was it Coke, commercial. There was weirdness when he married Elvis Presley’s daughter. THAT was strange. But… I can set it aside. It’s ok… only God knows what was really happening in those moments and everybody involved will be judged when the time comes.
Michael Jackson to me was brilliant, thoughtful, he Loved children. He was quite generous with his money and always did whatever he could to help those that were terminally ill. I felt sorry for Michael that he couldn’t live an every day life like the rest of us and it did seem that he was out of sorts at times. But wouldn’t you be if you had paparazzi stalking you 24/7 ?? I know I would.
Ok… so I had to pick up a few things at Super Target tonight. I had some pictures and odds and ends I needed to buy. I kept thinking about my Thriller LP that I used to have wonderring why on earth I ever let that thing go. Had I known record players were going to come back into the picture I would have saved it ALL. I had Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson’s Control, Pat Benetar and Joan Jett, etc… all in those big LP record albums. All GONE!
So I found myself drifting into the CD isle wonderring if there was a chance there would be any Michael Jackson stuff in there. Not! I must have walked the isles 3 or 4 times as quietly as possible. I didn’t want to ask anybody about it because I didn’t want to draw attention to the fact that I was looking for something by Michael Jackson just to have, to blast in my van, on the way home… to sort of honor him in some way.
There was a guy doing the same thing I was. He looked at me kinda funny because I think he saw me running the isles the same way that he was. So I saw him go over to a display area. He picked something up, looked at me, looked back at the display and I was over there in no time flat! There was a bunch of CD’s for great music artists like Elvis Presley, The Beatles, etc… right next to the Elvis Presley one was “The Essential Michael Jackson.” – Limited Edition 3.0 — I snatched that puppy up quicker than flies on poop and headed toward the register.
On the way home I BLASTED the 1st CD.. “I Want You Back.” I’ll probably grab my favorites and make a play list for the gym this weekend. Gotta put some Michael Jackson on my play list next to the BOOM BOOM POW by the Black Eyed Peas. That’s just the way it is. Now you know if I go there tomorrow the isle will be empty and there will be no Michael Jackson songs. They will get snatched right up and for good reason.
Now he can rest in heaven. He can finally have peace and play for as long as he wants to. I still can’t believe he is gone and so young too. Dying at the age of 50 is just wrong. Rest in Peace Michael Jackson. God bless everybody that was moved by this man in some positive way. Please give his family peace to carry on. Please let the healing be quick because there will be tons of heartache over this I’m sure. Michael Jackson has his own children and now they are without a father. May the Lord bless and keep them strong. I hope the media will be nicer to Michael Jackson in his death than they were in his life. Ya think? I hope so.
So if you’re reading this I would love it if you would tell me what you were doing and thinking when you heard the news that Michael Jackson died. What are you memories of him like? It’s ok if you’re feeling a bit corny about it because the life and times of this great man goes all the way back. The world is different today as compared to the 70’s and 80’s… so tell me… what are you thinking?
I Love this Michael Jackson song
(the video was deleted)
26/06/2009 at 12:58 AM Permalink
Hi Angela,
I’ll be short and sweet, great little reflection of Michael. I’m a little older as Farrah Fawcett was the #1 pin-up, laced cravats were the “in thing” with your tuxedo during proms and leisure suites were tops! Michael Jackson’s “One Day In Your Life” was the only tear jerker song that carried me through my break up. Play that song now and i’ll guarantee that there will be a river of tears flowing from your eyes.
Keep the great memories strong and stay strong. . . Aloha from Hawai’i
26/06/2009 at 6:41 AM Permalink
Hi Angela,
Nice article and I am glad you gave him the respect he deserves instead of focusing on the negative. I was on my way to class when I found out. I was stunned. I was on my way to pick up the children up before class and I heard he had a heart attack. I new that was not good from my own family history. The sad thing is from most experiences celebrities die in threes but the last person I would suspect it to be was Michael Jackson. I did not even know he had health issues. Ed McMahon was another shocker but Farrah was not so much a surprise she was so sick and felt for her losing a lot of family through cancer.
Thank you for your tribute,
Shannan
26/06/2009 at 8:45 AM Permalink
I LOVED Michael Jackson back in the 70’s and 80’s. His music and dancing were SO above and beyond what most others were coming out with. He truly WAS the “King of Pop”. Remember when the band did “Billie Jean”? Doesn’t sound as great when it’s reduced to a high school marching band arrangement, but it was fun to do. I can still picture the Emeralds walking out on the field carrying those chairs!!!
Unfortunately, Michael totally lost my interest when he started going over the deep end. Clearly, he was a tormented soul who wasn’t even comfortable in his own body and skin. Here’s hoping that Michael is FINALLY finding some peace.
02/07/2009 at 9:12 PM Permalink
Angela,
I’m right there with ya! I was born in ‘73 and I remember all those very same things about Michael Jackson. And yeah, it was a Pepsi commercial. ;-)
I don’t know about you, but I personally have never believed he harmed any of those kids or did anything even remotely indecent with them. I think it was all a ploy by some greedy b**stards that wanted his money.
He was, from what I could see, a very generous, thoughtful – almost naive – boy himself. He wanted so much to believe in the good of those around him, he often seems to have been taken advantage of.
In any case, I enjoyed his music all through the 70’s and 80’s and was looking forward to his comeback. And when I heard he’d passed away, I sat here glued to the news for the rest of the afternoon and much of the next day. It seems to unreal. Not to mention, those poor children. What are they gonna do without their daddy? He seems like he was such a devoted father.
I think MJ’s death will be like John Lennon’s, Elvis’s and Princess Diana’s – everyone will always remember exactly what they were doing when they heard the news.
Another one gone too soon . . . miss you MJ!
~ Annie
03/07/2009 at 9:15 AM Permalink
I still can’t believe it’s gone.