The Man in the Mirror
Well my brain's kind of exploding (as is the internet) and so I really feel like I have to post a brief (maybe?) entry regarding the tragic passing of Michael Jackson.
You see, I grew up listening to Michael Jackson music and watching his videos, and from the age of 2 until about the age of 10 when I started getting into country music, if you asked me who my favorite singer is, I would say Michael Jackson. We have several home videos of me at the age of 2 or 3 singing along to Michael Jackson songs, or at least trying to. Around that age my parents bought me a video called "Moonwalker," which was 30-45 minutes long and was a compilation of several of Michael Jackson's most famous songs/videos. I watched it so much that at two years old I practically had the thing memorized. My reaction to the video was so hilarious that one time my mom filmed me watching it. Literally, two years old, and I was dancing along and having a great time. In one song, there's a part in the choreography where Michael and his backup dancers drop to their knees. I wasn't even facing the TV at the time, I was facing my mother, and I dropped to my little two year old knees the exact moment that the video did. I was that ridiculous! As soon as the song "Bad," ended (the version with the kids imitating Michael), I turned around to face my mom and said "Do 'gain..... Do 'gain.... Do 'gain...." until she finally did. ("Do again"= "Play it again" for those of you who don't speak toddler)
I own all of the albums released by Michael Jackson since my birth (so, not Thriller or Off the Wall which were the early 80s, but most of those songs are on his greatest hits album so it works out). Whenever Michael Jackson was having a concert or an interview on TV my parents knew to let me know so I could watch it. It took a great deal of subtle skill for them to keep my little six year old self away from the TV when the first child molestation scandal was going on.
I don't know, there's been a lot of stuff said about Michael Jackson in the papers and on the Internet and God knows where else. Yeah, he was really weird and eccentric. But Al Sharpton (of all people) put it very poignantly today on MSNBC- many of these people coming out and praising Michael Jackson and his musical talents wouldn't have come within ten feet of him yesterday. That's simply not right. Maybe I'm crazy and naive, but I still hold to the belief that I don't think Michael Jackson ever harmed a child or anyone else, sexually or otherwise. I've seen where a psychiatrist who interviewed/examined him during the second child molestation charges in 2005 gave as his professional opinion that Michael was a regressed 10 year old and didn't fit the profile of a pedophile. And I think that psychiatrist was exactly right.
Michael Jackson grew up in the media. From the time he was 11 years old, he lost all semblance of privacy, and even before that he was terribly abused, physically and mentally by his father. I mean, can you imagine being essentially the MOST FAMOUS PERSON in the entire world? That pressure is enough to mess anybody up and it's a miracle and, I think, a testament to his integrity and humanitarianism, that we haven't had to deal with his death sooner due to alcohol or drug addiction. I think, since much of his childhood was taken away from him, it's no surprise that he had regressed into the mindset of a child. I just can't imagine coping with no privacy, whatsoever. I think considering what all he had to deal with, of course he was going to have idiosyncracies, and of course he wasn't going to be perhaps quite all there, or act like most other people would. And anyway, half the stuff reported about him turned out to be completely false. And I would just like to state for the record that he was acquitted on all charges in that 2005 trial. People talked so much about his alleged child abuse, completely ignoring the millions of dollars he donated to charities around the world, and his many humanitarian-themed songs.
Other people would sometimes make fun of Michael Jackson, but whenever I felt anything other than awe at his musical talent, I felt sorry for him. Sorry that he had so much pressure on him from such a young age. Sorry that because of that pressure he had become what he had become. Sorry that people hardly took him seriously anymore, until today when everyone's suddenly gushing about what a musical legend he was (which he was, but they should have admitted it before his death). There are two lines in his song that was on the Free Willy soundtrack, Will You Be There, and every time I hear them I think two things- one, they're such powerful lines, especially the way he sings them, and two, so true in regards to his life.
"Everyone's taking control of me, seems like the world's got a role for me. I'm so confused, will you show to me, you'll be there for me, and care enough to bear me?"
"But they told me a man should be faithful, and walk when not able, and fight til the end, but I'm only human."
Michael Jackson was an incredible singer, dancer, songwriter, performer, and humanitarian. His contributions to the world have been greater than I think anyone realized until today. What saddens me the most is that he will not have the opportunity to return to recording music and touring as he had been planning to do, to throw aside the eccentric reputation that had haunted him for almost two decades. He gave his all to his work, and set an example for working hard and giving to others. He truly was and will always be the King of Pop. He will be deeply missed.
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
Like the loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse
To inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of the moon
Gone too soon