Farewell

Like you, I was stunned yesterday. Just, wow.

To be fair, I hadn't been the hugest MJ fan in recent years. I loved "Butterflies" and "Rock My  World" from "Invincible" but frankly had become less concerned about what he was up to musically. I hadn't bought a ticket to the shows in London. Buzz that he was recording with Teddy Riley and Akon and will.i.am elicited little more than casual interest. Nostalgia aside, in his later years, Mike's music had become less innovative and his dancing stiff and compromised.

But, what you can't deny is that Michael is, hands down, the most influential musician of the 20th Century. The man personified superstardom and global media domination in a way that only Madonna has and will for a long, long time. No pop artist today doesn't borrow something from Michael.

Watching his videos last night I remembered being frozen as a kid when they came on. He had a way of penetrating your psyche with his presence and visual presentation. They are still some of the most compelling pieces of commerical pop art we have yet to see.

Michael, do remember, was the first black artist MTV dared to play on TV. Watching this glamorous, free and sensual creature move and dress like he did had unspeakable impact on nearly everyone, but tremendously so, I think, for black boys. He represented a paradigm shift in cultural thinking; he was another crack in racial and cultural barriers. He was the possibility that you could be anything: he was fantasy, magic, charisma, sex, commerce and bling.

I saw him perform several times. My father worked for Pepsi in the 80s; I saw the "Victory" tour in D.C. in 1984. I saw him during the "Bad" era. I had a cutout life-sized poster of him in my bedroom; I would recreate his performances by flicking my light on and off and shooting talcum powder into the air. I had the glove, the shoes, the button...I once tried to give myself a Jheri Curl before school with Vaseline. (worst.spanking.ever)

He was the man.

Weird, yes. Possibly criminal, no doubt. 

But still a hero, a legend and someone who impacted the worls changed music forever. And for that, I take my hat off and pay my respect.

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