The Passing of Michael Jackson
As well all know, because of the extreme media coverage on all major news stations and music channels, The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has passed away. Millions upon millions of people have been (and still are) affected by this shocking, heart-breaking, and sudden event. The headline on the homepage of my computer read “The King of Pop is dead.” Personally, I was shocked at this headline, but I did not freak out like most of the world did. But, after seeing the headline, I knew that the world would be sent into a frenzy and that my newsfeed on Facebook would be dominated by statuses memorializing Michael Jackson.
Jackson’s music had an indescribable impact on not only the United States, but the entire world. When I think of global icons, Michael Jackson is the first person that comes to mind. He was so ahead of his time with his music and his music videos (which I think should be called mini-movies rather than music videos). Jackson also had a huge influence in many of the music artists that we enjoy listening to today. For example, artists ranging from Justin Timberlake to Usher and Ciara to Keri Hilson credit Jackson for influencing them and their work.
The sad part about Michael Jackson dying, besides the fact that he died, is that I believe that people will focus on more of the negative side of his life. It is well known and documented that Michael Jackson went a little crazy in the latter part of his life. I’ve seen on all the news channels talking about his extreme drug use, not being the biological father of his children, who was going to take care of his children, and who was going to have to take on his extensive 400 million dollar debt. Yes, these are important details that need to be dealt with, but they are also private matters that don’t need the input of people who have nothing to do with this unfortunate situation. Being a major celebrity is usually synonymous with having no privacy, and that’s being shown right now. Michael Jackson was always under the microscope of the entertainment world ever since he was a child performing with The Jackson 5 and the lens of the microscope was magnified more and more as his behavior became more unusual. I’m no expert on human behavior, but I have to believe that the stresses of celebrity life and lack of childhood were a major cause of his abnormal actions.
Not to take away at all from The King of Pop, but these past few days just haven’t been good for famous people at all. Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Billy Mays all passed away recently. I feel that these people did not get the appreciation that they deserve because the death of Michael Jackson totally eclipsed them all. Jackson and Fawcett died on the same day, how many of you knew that?
All in all, when someone dies, I think their life should be celebrated, not ridiculed. We all know that not everyone has a perfect life, and for people to pick apart all of the bad things in someone’s life is not the right path to take. Hopefully after everything is sorted out from Jackson’s death, he will truly be able to rest in peace.
by Jonathan Holden
themissingink
“Michael Jackson Dies” read like the title of a new “Thriller”
Thought came to mind, this can’t be for real
For “We Are the World” and his music gave us “Butterflies”
But the truth is man, born of a woman must die
It’s simple as “ABC” and doesn’t matter if he was “Black or White”
All that really counts is being pleasing in God’s sight
So when he took his final look at the “Man in the Mirror”
I pray he liked the image his eyes were given
That’s not for me to judge, no the decision is not mine
But as I sit and reflect, I can “Remember the Times”
When his behavior was a bit “Off the Wall”
But I really didn’t think he was “Bad” at all
And on that great day, he’ll stand in judgment’s stare
But Michael, “You Are Not Alone”, we’ve all “Got to be There”
I’m sure many will cry and even cause a scene
To name a couple, “Dirty Diana” and Billie Jean”
So if you “Wanna Be Starting Something” with “Who’s Lovin You” or just
Feeling like “They Don’t Really Care About Us”
Keep playing his music, “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”
For this day we found that he wasn’t “Invincible”
Whether you thought of him as a “Dancing Machine” or a “Smooth Criminal”
When it’s all said and done, one thing you can’t deny
He left a legacy of music to which we “Never Can Say Goodbye”
RIP Michael Jackson