Music miss you Michael Joseph Jackson
On the 25th of June 2009 Michael Joseph Jackson passed away. I remember the date clearly because i was on the sick bed, listening his songs and then i got a text from a friend “ur super music-man is dead! I felt a sense of loss because he created music to both critical and popular acclaim for most of his life. He was an enigma, a thing too incredible to be described on the pages of newspapers or magazines. Too few people can actually claim to understand Michael, but that’s part of what made him such a huge figure, almost a deity.
It’s easy to label people “the next…” but every so often there comes an artist so great, so different from the pack that it’s impossible to compare anyone fairly. Michael Jackson was that rare breed – a person so absorbed in music he failed in so many other ways – from paedophilia scandals to financial difficulties to extensive bleaching and reconstructive surgery to repair the damage, he was hounded by an all too eager press trying to find out all they could about the genius that was Michael Jackson.
Different people will remember him for different reasons, but the truth remains absolute – Michael Jackson was an incredible singer, songwriter and dancer. His songs have inspired other acts to take up music, and even today dancers are compared to him. The Ushers, Justin Timberlakes, Chris Browns and now Justin Bieber of this world all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Michael for giving them a template to base their careers on.
But today I’d like to focus on the music. The first three CDs I ever bought were Michael’s – Thriller, Bad and Dangerous. For that reason most of my favourite MJ songs are from that era (1984-1992) when i only 2. Well, most people’s favourite MJ songs are from that era anyway. I say “most of my…” because it’s almost impossible for me to pick out one favourite MJ tune. When I’m heartbroken there’s She’s out Of My Life. When I’m reflective there’s Stranger in Moscow. When I’m angry there’s Give in to Me and Dirty Diana. When I’m happy there’s… erm… wait a minute. Now that I think about it MJs music wasn’t really happy after he grew up. Yes there is Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, but for the most part there was a sadness that pervaded Michael’s music, a melancholy that crept into almost every track made after the Off The Wall album was released.
When it comes down to it there’s a track for every mood. There are tracks that make you get up outta your seat and dance, tracks that make you think, tracks to make babies to, tracks to scream to, tracks to be all self-righteously pissed off to, and tracks to just savour in any way you can.
Michael often said his favourite song was Smile, a song he eventually recorded for his 2005 HIStory album. It quickly became my favourite song. It was written by Charlie Chaplin – like Michael a troubled, misunderstood genius. It’s one of those songs that you can sing when you’re sad to raise your mood, and it’s just as good when you’re happy, to make you think about those who aren’t smiling – who don’t have as much of a reason as you to be happy.
This brings me to the real reason why I wrote this. I’d like to know your thoughts on the man – What do you remember Michael Jackson for?
you may also LIKE and SHARE with friends 😀
M'ADE 