King of Pop

Unless you've been living underneath a rather large boulder-like object, you are aware that the world lost an icon yesterday. Michael Jackson died at the young age of 50, of what is believed to be a heart attack - this is of course unconfirmed until the reports of today's autopsy are released. Michael was an influential piece of American culture. If you don't believe me, I can tell you that to this day I tell my dog "Shumone" when I want him to proceed forward instead of sniff things on our walks. He revolutionized the music industry with a new brand of music which we now refer to as "Pop". He blurred the lines of race in music (though not unprecedented) by performing a new kind of rock 'n' roll with a twist - and colaborated with Eddie Van Halen and his smooth guitaring. He paved the wave for what is much of today's on-air listening enjoyment.

He did not do this all without vain, of course. Sure, when he was a kid he got pushed into the industry, going on to make millions of dollars while sacrificing his childhood 'normalcy'. In the mid-90s he started to sink into obscurity and got caught up with a lot of legal and financial troubles. He physically turned into what could be described as a freak. Michael changed his nose (several times), cheekbones, hair, and skin to look like some sort of extra terrestrial incarnation. Getting into trouble for allegedly touching little boys did not help his image either. What was such a prolific career sort of faded into this bizarre mess of a man who a lot of today's youth will only remember as just that.

Fortunately I was a child of the 80s and early 90s and can remember Michael at the height of his popularity and talent. He cranked out some of my all-time favorites: Billy Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal, Wanna Be Startin Somethin, and who could forget the Thriller video (and song, of course). That video made me shit my pants. I was only a toddler when it came out, but it played on for years and I caught it on MTV when I was very young at the babysitter's house. I thought it was a horror movie, but then there was all this dancing and a seemingly happy ending. Very confusing for a tot my age, but I remember it and can still be amused by it to this day.

So anyway, I just wanted to share some of my thoughts and memories about Michael. Feel free to add to the conversation in the comments below.