Michael Jackson 1958-2009
I don’t usually follow celebrity news. The people, celebrities, aren’t part of my life, and the gossip around them annoys me more than entertains me.
But this… I don’t know, it hit close. It hurts. I never met the man, but his music was such a part of my growing up that it feels personal, even though I know it isn’t.
I sat with GlitterGirl and let her watch some of his performances on youtube, from his Jackson Five days all the way up. I tried to explain to her that he changed music, that he invented a whole new way to dance. That the music we have today is the way it is because of him. Maybe not completely because of him, but certainly a large part of today’s music was influenced by him.
This evening, I am sad.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Ditto, everything you said. I grew up loving his music and dance. Sad day.
Cindi
June 25th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
It is very shocking and sad.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I’ve never commented on this site but yes, a sad day. I was getting teary while watching the news. First Farrah Fawcett, then Michael Jackson.
June 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
very sad…esp for his children and family…
June 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
So so sad. I too grew up with his music. I still listen to his “Off the Wall” album (CD now).
June 25th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Very very sad. I was doing the same with Sam – explaining to him about his music and dance. I loved all his music and I have a few of his albums. I’m also very sad about Farrah, Michael was a complete shock.
June 25th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
I am sad also tonight.
Thank You for mentioning this tonight-
June 25th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I was a kid when “Thiller” came out and “Billy Jean” is one of my favorite songs of all time. My mom took me to his concert in junior high and say what you want about him, the man could perform!! One of the best concerts I have ever seen.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I totally agree that we have lost a true musical genius. I saw the Jackson Victory concert when I was in junior high and I will never forget it. So sad, especially for his kids.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I, too, am sad tonight. I am only a couple years younger than MJ and virtually grew up with him (his music), The EMP (Experience Music Project) here in Seattle will be displaying his sequenced blazer (from when he fist did the moomwalk) and glove in his honor/memory.
I also watched Farrah Fawcett as an Angel and Ed McMahon with Johnny Carson. A very sad week, indeed.
June 25th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I’m shocked that MJ died, so a piece of me was sad, because he appeared to be a lonely and confused man for the majority of his adulthood.
But I truly believe he was guilty of the molestations he was accused of, and for that I feel very little sadness that he’s gone. One less pervert in the world to harm children.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
Yes, Michael Jackson was a great talent. I am not sad, however, because he behaved inappropriately with children. And that is not okay with me no matter who you are or what you do.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
I am sad too…..I grew up listening to him (MTV kid) and Thriller was my first album. I still rock out to him once in a while….
June 25th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
I never really felt I had enough information to make a judgment call on what he did and did not do with children. I do know he was a target for that sort of lawsuit, so I’m not so quick to convict him. I wouldn’t have left my kids alone with him, but I’m not prepared to assume he was guilty, either.
Either way, I don’t get to play judge or jury. Nor do I want to.
June 25th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
I have a heavy heart tonight too!!! No matter how different he acted, he was a musical GIANT!!! God bless his family and friends.
Love, Kristy
LID 4/21/06
June 26th, 2009 at 12:45 am
I was lucky enough to have dealings with him around 20 yrs ago ( I used to work in the media) when the Whacko Jacko rumors were starting up. At that stage they were a marketing ploy but I sense it all got out of control. He was a genuinely caring, intelligent, sensitive & warm person. I have never heard anyone who has met or worked for him say anything bad about him. Unfortunately he was eccentric, but look at his life. Re Bubbles, he said, why would you own a cat or dog if you could have a chimp?!
So much has bee twisted, misinterpreted & fabricated over the decades that we will never know what did or didn’t go on. Many people did try & cash in on him though. Shame on them.
Personally, I tend to lean to the non child abuse side although I do feel his behaviour totally inappropriate. In his world & with his emotional naivety though, it seemed normal to him.With that said I also wouldn’t leave my child alone with him.
He leaves an amazing legacy for generations to come & is a true icon. He was an extremely giving person in many many areas & will be genuinely missed by millions.
RIP PeterPan
June 26th, 2009 at 12:46 am
RQ-
Just curious. If he were found guilty, would you then think he did it?
He was in the limelight, but really…how many famous people do you hear about abusing children (on several different occasions)?
Money changes everything. He was obviously not convicted, but he paid a pretty penny to more than one accuser. Why would he pay so many people hush money-starting with the first accuser, if he was not guilty?
Then again, I suppose someone could ask the parents, “Why would you leave your child alone (over night) with a grown man in his 20s, 30s, and 40s….on several occasions?” Both sides creep me out.
I just can’t bring myself to mourn over someone who was suspected of several abuses of several different children.
But, I’ll let you mourn in peace.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:36 am
I think for a lot of us it’s that his music was such a large part of our childhood/young adulthood. I know in high school Michael was all that. I still think Thriller is the greatest viedo ever made. To be honest it makes me feel old.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:43 am
Very surprising news, indeed. As I was never a big Michael Jackson fan to begin with, and even less so after his legal troubles a few years ago, I’m not really terribly saddened og shocked. However, I am very concerned about the kids.
I think the “who gets custody of the kids”- debacle could turn very nasty. Whoever get’s control of the kids most likely gets control of Jackson’s money, and that opens up the door for some really ugly scenarios indeed. I hope either Jackson’s family or the State of California steps up to the plate to protect the kids from becoming the center of the biggest custody-battle of the decade. The kids need a stable homelife with caring adults who will give them love and space to grieve their father – not to be made a target for money-grabbing vultures who want to get their fingers on their money and/or their celebrity status.
June 26th, 2009 at 2:55 am
Jackson, at least in the 1980s, may likely have been the most famous person on the planet. They say the candle that burns twice as bright burns twice as fast, and he certainly did burn brightly.
If anything, Jackson’s death (and Farrah’s) makes me examine my own mortality. Makes me think it’s time to get off the computer and start living life a bit more…
June 26th, 2009 at 3:09 am
I can guarantee you that Michael has a trust and will that will define who gets the children. I am sure that was discussed and defined long ago. However, I guess you never know.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:25 am
I was very sad and shocked to hear the news. I grew up with his music and went to some of his concerts, which were hands down the most amazing concerts I’ve ever seen.
Micheal’s poster was the first picture of a black man that ever went up on this Southern white girl’s wall…that? Was a huge deal at the time. For me, at least, it changed a lot about how I looked at the world. He will be missed.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:16 am
When I heard about the many concerts Jackson was planning at London’s O2 center, I had a gut feeling that he would not get through (or even start) them. He was so many things (good and bad) to so many people. He defined music trends for many artiists and listeners over many years. On the other, he exposed the underbelly of fame and excentricity too.
I mourn the loss of such a great artist, I am curious about his personal life, and I hope his kids are loved and supported to be happy/healthy/productive adults.
The self-proclaimed King of Pop is dead… long live his music and his legacy.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:41 am
I loved MJ when I was a child and my kiddos also love his music. They have been watching MTV this am singing and dancing along to the videos. When I asked big sister to give little sister a bath she said, “Can I do it when the Thriller video is over?” I’ve never meet the man and don’t know anything about his personal life but never the less I’m am saddened by his passing. He truely was a music genius! I am especially saddened that his children have lost their father.
June 26th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
So sad today. I promise that I am otherwise normal but I’ve always been a huge fan and everyone I know knows it. Check out what my friends did for me last night. http://www.boutonbrood.blogspot.com I needed a good laugh!
June 26th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
A tragic loss indeed. From watching the Jackson 5 cartoons on Saturday mornings as a young child, to rollerskating to the hits from Thriller and dancing with my hairbrush/microphone to “Bad” in the bathroom mirror…many of my childhood/teen memories include the soundtrack of Michael Jackson. Regardless of his eccentric and sometimes strange behavior in recent years, I believe he was simply a misunderstood individual, who now deserves to rest in peace – I hope the media will let that happen.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I found his death shocking. In the same way I was horribly surprised when John Lennon and Elvis died. Very, very sad for his children.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
If MJ had not been acquitted of the charges against him, I might (or might not) have felt differently. But in the last decade or so, I mostly felt badly for the gifted, eccentric and likely very lonely superstar.
I am pleased to see / hear / read that most of the media have so far chosen today to focus on his music (and his dancing). I doubt there would be an Usher, a Ne-Yo, a Justin Timberlake … and the list goes on (forever!) without Michael Jackson.
I can’t think of anyone who was such a pioneer and genius in music and dance.
I was very, very shocked and saddened to learn of his passing, particularly given that he may have been on the brink of a comeback. I know my husband and I would have remortgaged our home to see him live!
Jackie