July 7, 2009

  • RIP MICHAEL JACKSON

    Time for another blog.

    When I heard the news last week of Michael Jackson's passing (and Farrah's, of course) I was in disbelief and shock - as everybody. But I didn't know how much it really affected me until I watched the Memorial Service today.

    It was surprising, because I really haven't listened to Michael for some years now. I do have, of course, a lot of his music, videos and yes, his book at home. I'm not ashamed. I'm a fan. Whenever the question in one of those "surveys" comes up: "If you could talk to anybody in the world - who would you want to talk to?" I would always say Michael Jackson. Because I think he was an extremely unique person and despite all his eccentricities I think he was an extremely intelligent, extremely passionate, compassionate man and an "old soul". I think that he was crucified in the media, because it is just "fun" to laugh about anybody that's different then you. I don't think that anybody but those closest to him really knew him. So yes - I would have loved to talk to him personally and see what he was all about.

    This is not blind "fandom" - if anything I am usually ready to "punish" celebrities even harder than "regular" people, if just to show that there is no preferential treatment. But with Michael I just didn't feel that he did what he was accused of. Did he show bad judgement - yes, absolutely! But no, I'm sure he was innocent. I can't even imagine what it must have been like for him, not being able - ever - to go into public unnoticed. Living essentially his whole life in the public eye.

    But I digress. I was lucky enough to see Michael Jackson live in Germany on the "BAD" tour. I knew then that this was probably the only time I would ever have this opportunity. Needless to say, it was fantastic!

    Only 5 years older than me, Michael Jackson is basically my generation. I think this is one reason, why this is so hard. People my age are starting to die! That's not supposed to happen. Makes you aware of your own mortality. Another reason was seeing all those people at the Memorial Service.

    Michael Jackson really brought people of all walks of life together. He had a strong family connection, supportive friends, and admirers even among his peers. The love and respect in that room was awe-inspiring.

    And that's why I gotta break into a little rant. The Reverend Al Sharpton - REALLY? - does he have to stick his nose everywhere? This was not the time and place for his propaganda. While everybody spoke in low voices he needs to break out into a tirade in a "political-speech-voice", almost yelling? While - as he said - Michael opened doors for African American entertainers in every genre - that was not his goal. For Michael it wasn't about being black or white. It was about love - universal love, loving everybody equally, without seeing differences. He didn't set out to "pave the way" for black entertainers. His message to the world was "love your fellow human beings". So yeah, Mr Sharpton (who by the way I have met and who himself thinks he is better than a "lowly" airline agent) - was out of line and totally missed the point.

    Rant over!

    I was fairly composed until Brooke Shields took the stage and tried to compose herself before even starting her speech. By the time she cited the Charlie Chaplin song and said "today we need to smile, even though our heart is aching" I was sobbing. And, of course, when the whole family came on stage, Marlon, really moving - Janet and LaToya rallied around the kids, and, of course, Paris, talking about Michael as a Dad - OMG - I really lost it.

    I spent the rest of the afternoon importing Michael's Music onto my ipod and I know I'll be watching the Thriller video and Moonwalker in the next few days.

    Michael is at home now - as one of the mourners said "we needed him here, but God must have needed him even more"!

Comments (2)

  • OMG. This was a serious blog, and you cracked me up--not in a bad way or anything. I missed Al Sharpton, but I DO know that my sister was amused by the people that were ranting about him on the facebook comments thing part of the CNN live broadcast. But ok, here's the funny part. "For Michael it wasn't about being black or white." Why is that funny? Because clearly, the song started playing in my head when I read it. I mean, clearly anyone that wants to get up there and shout a bunch of race propaganda at the guy's funeral never listened to his Dangerous album...

    I didn't realize that his death would affect me very much until I found myself listening to the live stream in my office today (after I'd missed more than half, no less) and just getting weepy-eyed each time a new person started talking. It really got to me when someone was talking about how giving he was. I mean, the news never talked about that. It was always about whether or not he had done one thing or another with someone's kid. Or about how he went from a black man to a white woman. Sure, he was a BIZARRE character--I'm not going to be someone that puts him on a pedestal and forgets things like that just because he passed--but why did NO ONE ever say any of the good stuff? Why does it always take a death to get something other than bad press out there for someone like him????? Arghz.

    So, anyway. The part that had me bawling my eyes out was when his daughter started talking. My father LEFT me and moved to the other side of the country when I was little, but today, I don't know what I'd do without him. Michael was apparently the best daddy ever for that girl's whole life up until this point...ok, I have to stop. Weepy-eyed again.

    I loved a lot of his music, but for some reason, I don't own any these days. So weird. :/

    :(

  • Shana.... I love you so much right now! You don't even know!

    Thanks for that comment!

    So I wasn't the only one ranting about Al! Hmmm... Imagine that! And yes.... while I didn't do it on purpose... the irony of that sentence "it wasn't about being black or white" didn't escape me as I typed it out. Same thing happened to me... song started playing in my head. And yes - clearly, the dear Reverend has never listened to that song.

    I don't know why humankind always waits to acknowledge the great stuff somebody does until after they're gone. clearly that's a flaw. Cynics would always say that, of course, his family would HAVE to stand behind him when he did yet another "crazy" thing, but I looked at all these people that went up there today to pay their respects. Clearly they are not ALL crazy and none of them were "obligated" to him as family might be - most notably Brooke Shields.

    And yes - none of us have really ever considered him as a father, as a "Daddy" to his own children. He was the only parent these three kids have ever known - and apparently he was "the best Daddy ever". It's hard to lose a parent, especially at their age. I was very impressed with how Janet and - yes - LaToya (gasp) rallied around them and supported them. Here is to hoping they will continue that in the future.

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