After finally watching a few clips of the Michael Jackson memorial event, I thought about my own mortality and the fragility of life -- even if one doesn't take dangerous drugs that should only be administered by an anesthesiologist.
I realized that, not only do I need to write up a will, but I also need to plan my own memorial service and tribute for when that inevitable time comes. Granted, I don't have the celebrity or fan base of Michael, but I still think it could be newsworthy...or blogworthy.
The first problem to be worked out is where to have the memorial. My friends and family are scattered across the country. Although, according to my website, a good percentage of fans are located to the North East. So, I would shoot for NYC. Maybe Joe's Pub, where I play regularly, would be a good place -- although I would have to choose between the 7:00 or the 10:00 show. My fans are getting older and need to get home to relieve the babysitter, so I may have to go for the early slot.
Michael had a lot of famous people talk or sing, but I have celebrity fans too. Maybe Arianna could recite the lyrics of one of my songs. Cyndi Lauper could belt "I Kissed a Girl" -- the original. Although I would rather hear "True Colors." Margaret Cho could play blue and tell some jokes. Maybe we could hire Jermaine Jackson to sing "Supermodel." Where else is he performing? We could also have open mike and/or karaoke. Think of the great house band!
Mind you, I hope that I live for a really long time. I'm in no hurry for that final disappointment. But when I'm breathing my last breath... you are all invited.
By the way, to be able to afford the future deli tray and open bar, I hope you all visit my website -- JillSobule.com -- or go to your favorite music site and buy my new record, California Years. It was 100% fan-funded. Here is a song from it called "Good Life." It is also about the end times.
The chaos Michael left behind is a passive aggressive signal to all of the people who used him, but never really loved him. The disputes will drag on for years and diminish everyone involved. It is tragic for the children, but he must have known that even if he tried to protect them, the vampires that surrounded him would have contested it anyway.
The same thing happened to Bob Marley, who is now more product than prophet.
"But when I go
I want to go....
yes, I want to go ...
I want to go like
Eliah, when I go"
"Mike" for microphone is completely appropriate.
I would be so sad. Your music would end, your voice would be silenced, and your soul would be lost to our aching world. I would cry for days upon days.
If I were to attend your funeral, I would bring one perfect white rose, place the flower over your cruelly stilled heart, and kiss the brow of your beautiful face, a face which would never again be creased by even a single worldly worry.
But it would be so totally cool to be able to sing "I Kissed A Dead Girl."
You go, Girl ... but wait a few decades, m'kay?
If the service is at Joe's, I'm there, but I may have to skip out early. I'd ask if that's ok, but I know you wouldn't mind...being dead and all.