In The Now

Or – How Can You Mend a Broken Idol

My neighbour, Nicole, was the first person I knew that owned a Michael Jackson tape.

We played the crap outta that thing.

I won’t ever forget Michael Jackson’s songs, his trademark “WOOO” or even the horrible Sega Genesis game created in his image. Thrill to the thought of Michael Jackson dancing dogs to death.

He changed the way people thought about music videos. His legs looked like they were made of rubber. His voice was amazing, and perfectly appropriate, whether he was singing faster songs (Thriller, Bad, etc.) or slower ballads (You Are Not Alone, She’s Out Of My Life).

Probably, I also won’t forget his fall from grace, though I wish I could.

Too often, I wonder how much of an artist’s private life should be made public. The internet and the pervasiveness of paparazzi and TMZ (I know they’re basically paparazzi, but they tend to take celebrity-stalking to another level, entirely) have put the details of these people’s lives up to the light, and, with Michael Jackson, some of the details were very disturbing.

I don’t know the depths of his private life. I don’t want to. All I know for sure is that there was a disturbing man under all those layers of plastic surgery.

What all of this leads to is this: How do you mourn Michael Jackson? I believe he does deserve to be mourned. The artist left a legacy of music and showmanship that cannot be ignored. The person was a parent and, therefore, loved. How do you celebrate the life of a man who was so divided?

I can’t answer that. But I will continue to play the crap out of his songs.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Liam