Thinking about Michael

I remember where I was when Elvis died.  I was all of nine years old, in the car with mom and my brother one afternoon running errands.  We were at the intersection of Ridge Road and Lake Boone Trail, turning right, when the DJ announced it on the radio.  What I remember more than the news itself was the reaction it got out of my mom - an audible gasp, followed by a long period of silence.  There may have been a tear or two shed.  Mom loved Elvis - she'd seen him in concert, had a few of his albums.  It was a big deal for her.  It was a big deal for everyone.

I imagine one day we'll talk about the day Michael Jackson died in similar fashion.  For the record, I was at last week's youth conference engaged in all kinds of retreat fun - hanging out with the kids, doing energizers and feeding ten thousand or so people.  I didn't actually hear about his death until the following day. 

When I got home, though, I got a little more reflective.  It probably had something to do with the fact that every television network on the planet had quickly assembled their two-hour tribute.  I was reintroduced to his story - child prodigy who never really had a childhood, putting out solid music for decades, always surprising with his creative prowess.  There were the troubling stories too - of eccentric behavior, of the gaudy Neverland, of the children who would frequent his estate and the accusations that followed.  There was the eerie way his appearance changed over time: dark skin to light, facial features distorted, that horrible nose.  There was the very strange shotgun marriage to Priscilla Presley and that godawful awkward kiss at the MTV Music Awards.  There was the accident while filming the Pepsi commercial that apparently started him down the path of his addiction to prescription pain meds.

But through it all his talent and influence on our pop culture was undeniable, whether we wanted to admit it or not.  Which is why I did something a few days ago that I'd never done before - I bought some of his music.  I clicked the download button on itunes before I knew what I was doing.  Was it possible that I, Steve Lindsley, was actually purchasing some Michael Jackson?

The collection has it all, including stuff from the Jackson 5 days.  There were a handful of songs in there I didn't keep (every musician is entitled to a few duds), but most are songs I distinctly remember hearing for the first time on the radio or seeing the video for.  I listened to the collection in is entirety and found it took me places I hadn't been in a while.  It'd do the same for you too, I promise.  Just try not snapping your fingers to the strings and trumpet intro on Don't Stop Till You Get Enough.  Or not singing "Ma Ma Se Ma Ma Sa Ma Ma Coo Sa" at the end of Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'?  Or not smile when you hear Slash rip off his guitar riff on Black or White?  And I haven't even gotten to Billie Jean, Beat It, or the other eleven number one hits the guy had.

Say what you will about the guy, but the fact remains: Michael Jackson single-handedly changed the formula for pop music and how we listen to and understand music in our time.  He took the idea of a performing entertainer to a level not seen since, well, Elvis.  He also revolutionized the whole genre of the music video - before they were nothing more than the band holding instruments and air-guitaring the song.  Michael came along and used videos to tell a story - an odd story, perhaps, but a story nonetheless.  So call him a flake, a freak, or even something worse if you must.  Michael Jackson's influence on the music and culture of the late 20th century cannot be denied.  In no way will I ever be confused with a crazed fan, but I'd like to think I know talent when I hear and see it.

Someone I was talking with the other day referred to Michael Jackson as "the Elvis of our generation."  They also said that rarely does one appreciate the good you have until it's gone.  I'm inclined to think they were right on both counts.

Comments

[The Commander]

I was not a Michael Jackson fan, but I have to admit that I was reflecting fondly as I listened to some of his hits recently. Yet, it was not in appreciation for his talent, but recalling my youth. Like most people our age, I remember the Jackson 5 as a child and the phenomenon of Thriller from high school, so hearing those songs reminds me of my past and not him.
For me, music has always provided a way to transport me to a place where I can smile and enjoy, including reminiscing about my past. As a result, when I hear his songs, my thoughts will be of my youth and for that I guess I can be grateful.

Ultimately, what I find really sad about Michael’s death are the deaths that it shadowed in the same week.
Ed McMahon and Farah Fawcett were also pop culture icons who will also be missed by fans.
Colonel Ed McMahon, USMCR Retired, served honorably in the Marine Corps during and after World War II. Like many Hollywood Veterans, we tend to forget their other service, focusing on the celebrity instead.
Farah was a beautiful and talented actress, who during her last years of her life showed her true mettle and beauty in her battle with cancer.

Sadly, these stories are not being highlighted by the media, demonstrating a truer testament about our society and culture. Perhaps that can be a conversation for another day.