Ironically my earliest childhood memory of Michael Jackson’s visage was one of dread. At the unfitting age of three, long before his sordid child molestation charges, I gazed in horror at the music video masterpiece Thriller . The video served as my introduction to the concept of both zombies and Jackson, each becoming major areas of interest in later life. Over the course of my score on the planet my fear would dissipate giving way to respect and admiration. It would be an egregious understatement to say that I’ve heard EVERY Michael Jackson song at least 100 times. As I’m sure is similar for most of you as well. From the era of the Jackson 5, to Off the wall and invincible I was immersed in an archive of auditory achievement that to this day stands unrivaled. In my mind there was not a stronger, and often time’s stranger, solo performer in the realm of pop music.
Pedophile jokes and impure implications aside Jackson clearly had instabilities with his past, and no doubt his recently lost present. Hey, it couldn’t have been easy being hounded by paparazzi for nearly half a century. As information surfaced about his upbringing it became evident that Jackson’s dedication to his craft stemmed from catharsis. Robbed of his childhood is it really so much of a stretch to believe he was just a boy in a man’s body? Given his father’s reportedly stern hand is it implausible to imagine that he matured enduring constant bouts of insecurity? With his numerous acquittals of child molestation accusations, which now will forever remain unproven, maybe his legacy will be absolved of these allegations. However, knowing human nature as I do I sincerely doubt it. Conversely my knowledge of human nature assures me his life, and death, will reverberate through music history until the sun runs out of steam. Or a meteor hits Earth. Whichever happens first.
I was personally inspired, and will continue to be, by his catalog of work. I hope in death he will find the peace he desired so desperately. I rarely say this but...God bless you Michael Jackson. I hope you reached your Neverland.
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