MJ RIP
June 27th 2009 04:59
Rest in Peace, Mike.
I cannot say I was a big fan of MJ’s music, but I would be remiss to deny his impact on my generation. When Thriller was released, it seems everyone in my elementary school suddenly realized they LIKED pop music – and the LOVED MJ. It was a milestone: the first music that encroached on our internal radar.
My first memory of MJ is the Billie Jean video ( I wasn’t around for Jackson 5 era). Something about how the sidewalk lit up underneath him intrigued me. And the vague / mysterious story of the song / video was really enthralling for someone of my tender age. Even then I could sense it was more than music (chords, lyrics, etc.), but it was a style; a Big Picture type art to transcend all.
Remember when Mtv played music videos and wasn’t just a wasteland of bad reality shows? Back then, MJ videos seemed like Momentous Occasions Not To Be Missed. Beat It, Bad, Smooth Criminal and even Back or White seemed like Events.
I realize he became … eccentric. I realize there are some unanswered questions about improprieties around children. All potentially not good. But, like it or not, MJ became an Icon forever linked with a certain era. At a time like this, it is important to remember that.
Ben Gibbard - Thriller
Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Jake Shimabukuro - Thriller
Fall Out Boy - Beat It
I cannot say I was a big fan of MJ’s music, but I would be remiss to deny his impact on my generation. When Thriller was released, it seems everyone in my elementary school suddenly realized they LIKED pop music – and the LOVED MJ. It was a milestone: the first music that encroached on our internal radar.
My first memory of MJ is the Billie Jean video ( I wasn’t around for Jackson 5 era). Something about how the sidewalk lit up underneath him intrigued me. And the vague / mysterious story of the song / video was really enthralling for someone of my tender age. Even then I could sense it was more than music (chords, lyrics, etc.), but it was a style; a Big Picture type art to transcend all.
Remember when Mtv played music videos and wasn’t just a wasteland of bad reality shows? Back then, MJ videos seemed like Momentous Occasions Not To Be Missed. Beat It, Bad, Smooth Criminal and even Back or White seemed like Events.
I realize he became … eccentric. I realize there are some unanswered questions about improprieties around children. All potentially not good. But, like it or not, MJ became an Icon forever linked with a certain era. At a time like this, it is important to remember that.
Ben Gibbard - Thriller
Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Jake Shimabukuro - Thriller
Fall Out Boy - Beat It
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