I am an avid music buff and I listen to practically every artist on the planet. But no one has ever made an impact on me the way Michael Jackson did. I still remember the first time I listened to him, I was 8 years old. I couldn't stop myself from tapping my foot to every beat. I couldn't stop my little body from swaying as I watched a man move so fluently to the music. I was mesmerized. I always look back to that moment as the moment that changed the way I saw music. I made sure I collected as many of his music cassettes as possible and that was no easy task when you stayed in a remote part of South India.
In the summer of 1995, I was lucky enough to grab hold of the 'History' series which consisted of his most famous songs over the last decade. His songs were a rare mix of both simple and profound lyrics which instantly caught my attention. Songs like "They don't really care about us", "Stranger in Moscow", "Heal the world" would always be playing on my little cassette player which I bugged my Dad into buying me so that I could listen to what Dad would describe as "a man shouting all the time".
He revolutionized the music industry. His electrifying live performances were and still are the greatest moments in music history. The "Moonwalk" became his trademark and it is something that I still find mystifying. Each move was done with effortless grace that sometimes it was hard to believe such things were possible to be performed by a human being. I am yet to meet someone who has not heard of Michael Jackson. I know villagers in South India to whom the western world means only one thing - Michael Jackson. I am sure no one shall attain such immortality.
Like all famous celebrities, Michael Jackson did have his share of controversies. But imagine living a celebrity life all the way from the tender age of five. Throughout the the mid 1970s all the way to the mid 1990s, he was the most celebrated artist/performer on the planet. He was always under pressure and he dealt with it in the best ways possible. Celebrity status was pushed on to him and he never got a break from it.
But in the midst of his recent tragic death, I wish for once the media would celebrate his fantastic career (which spanned more than three decades) rather than still cling only to the controversies that scarred his career over the last few years.
Irrespective of what people say, Michael Jackson shall always remain an icon to me. My childhood role model. The man who changed my way of thinking forever. I hope he finally finds peace and I am sure the Gods shall greet him with open arms. I am also sure that no other artist will ever be able to set new standards which are in par with his.
I would like to end this post with a song that was Michael Jacksons message to the world and to the world's children:
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6 comments:
Thrilled to see a blog about the "Pop King" written in positive light and praise which he so truly deserves.
I agree with you, completely. The media is scrutinizing the poor soul, ripping the unconventional life he lead apart, analyzing every day of his life, to bring light to his untimely death. Why ? why now? after he is gone? It seems they throw intermittent praises of his legendary music, for the sake of it, when he should be eternally remembered for the otherworldly music he created, when he should be respected for the revolution he created, with sheer brilliance. I remember talking to you once about death, and its mysterious 'fame', how a person becomes all the more celebrated after he dies. Anyways, just wanted to say one thing that i caught in CNN the other day. Outside the home where he died, there was this middle aged guy, who was holding flowers, wearing MJ apparel, wearing a single glove in his hand, the reporter asked what he was feeling now..and he replied with a tear in his eye : "He provided the soundtrack to my whole life" .
@Harshini: Thank you.
@ Bhav: His death has really affected me at a deeper level. He was a hero to everyone. And no matter what controversies he was involved in, he will always be a hero to me.
Is that video available online?
hmmm wonder my previous comment didn't show up here...
anyway I'd like to reiterate !
MJ was a great performer. No matter how he fared in his personal life, it cannot take away from his achievements or his talent.
Even those who cringe or cry foul at his private life cannot take away from his amazing achievements in music.
RIP
"michael jackson"..now i really came to know about his death like only after 2 or three days.its a shame being a huge "mj" fan and all.upon hearing the news i was devastated.from that day on i kept hearing "mj" songs mostly from the albums:history and thriller which by the way still holds the world record for largest selling album in any genre on the planet.i personally like his dance moves from "beat it" and second in line comes smooth criminal and the next comes "bad".yesterday night i jus saw one of his movies "moonwalker" which reminded me of how famous and how fabulous his carrer was.a career spawning over three decades from the jackon 5 to the last solo album i think he last recoded "you rock my world".but his personal life i just wish he didn have the court case and also before the death turning to drugs.these things spoiled his career.but when he announced that he was going to do a concert in london i was hoping for another album from him 2 come out following that but sadly that wasn't to be.so i hope he can reitirate those moves which mezerrized us humans in heaven also to the gods and just witness the awesomeness of "michal jacskon-the king of pop".long live the king of pop rip.
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