Michael Jackson

We all have heard that Michael Jackson has passed away recently. It took a while to actually hit me. I haven’t thought about him in a long time and that’s mostly because the man has become a very sad character towards the end of his life. But who knew it was going to end at the age of 50? That’s too young—that’s way too young.
 

So, I, like most other people in this world, started to relive the Michael Jackson glory days. I re-watched all of his old music videos, his concert performances, and miscellaneous YouTube clips. I compressed 40 years of his life into a day of online streaming. I watched him perform the Moonwalk on Motown’s 25th Anniversary Special; I watched him get a standing ovation during the 1988 Grammy Awards for his compelling Man in the Mirror performance; and I watched him—strangely enough—literally turn from black to white. And that is when the sadness crept in.
 

I was always a fan, even into the early 2000’s when no one would admit they wanted to check out his new Invincible album. I caught the MJ fever on the tail-end of the Thriller era, then Bad came around and I was hooked! Whether you liked only a few of his songs or you were a die-hard MJ fanatic with your very own sparkle-encrusted white glove, you had to admire his celebrity. The man was bigger than life, and he had the talent to justify it. Unfortunately, his eccentricities eventually overshadowed his genius—the same eccentricities that built up his elusive superstar persona.
 

I’m sadden that it took his death for me to remember him at his best. I suddenly remembered how much I adored him and how much time I wasted putting tape on my fingers and imitating his dance moves…to no avail, of course. But at least he is remembered once again around the world for his 40+ years of hit songs and memorable performances. He was that little black kid that broke hearts when he belted out “Ben.” He was also one of the most girlish men in entertainment, but oddly enough, was loved by women the world over. And most importantly, he was a performer that broke down barriers and made it possible for other young black men (with half his talent) to have their chance in the limelight (I’m pointing right at you, Chris Brown).
 

Rest in peace, MJ. No one will come close to matching your success in my lifetime, but it’s good to aspire to such levels of greatness.
 

Check out my favorite Michael Jackson performance below. His delivery of the song towards the end of the clip is mind-blowing.