Michael Jackson – One Year Later

Last year, my brother-in-law was in town for a couple of weeks. He’s only 18 and is still in his fast food phase, so he wanted me to pick up some Burger King for him. While I was standing in line, some creepy guy who hadn’t shaved in about a week and smelled of feet got four inches from my face.

“Did you hear? Michael Jackson died.”

“Um…OK?” What do you do when someone gives you unsolicited news? “Thanks?”

This news didn’t shake me at all. First of all, I didn’t find the source to be all that credible. Plus, I hadn’t really given Michael Jackson much thought in the last several years. “The King of Pop” had been reduced to a punchline because of the allegations of pedophilia (because nothing is more HI-larious than sexually abusing kids) and his “changing colors” (again, saying that African-Americans really want to be white…so funny; especially in neighborhoods that are still segregated). He had been in societal exile for a few years, and persona non grata on the radio. People had distanced themselves from Jackson and his music, because he was “a weirdo”. He was tried and convicted in the court of public opinion with some very shaky evidence.

Growing up, I was not a huge Michael Jackson fan. I loved Thriller when it came out and thought it was one of the best albums of the early ‘80s. However, that’s where I stop. Everything after 1983, in my mind, was forgettable. “Bad” sounded more like a track that was understandably cut from Thriller rather than a brand new song.

I’ve always thought his best song was “Rock With You” from Off The Wall. I’ve always felt that Quincy Jones took way too much credit for Michael becoming a star. He had forgotten that Michael had already proven his musical chops before Jackson hit puberty.

Watching the people who ripped into Jackson (literally the day before his death) mourn his passing and proclaiming him to be a musical genius had to have anger the people who truly stood behind Michael. It took him dying before people started to appreciate him again. It’s kinda sad to think if he had felt that support in the previous 15 years, things might have been different.

I know that there are people who never let the accusations of wrong doing or his death change their opinion of his music. I respect these people immensely, even though I may not share their views. Music is music. People’s obsession with the private lives of celebrities tainted the legacy of a talented musician.  

MJ deserved better than that.
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