Michael Jackson's Death: A 'Bad' Dream
How ironic. Between the economy and the weather -- seemingly endless rain that has robbed us of half our summer -- many of us New Yorkers have wanted to spend the last few weeks tucked safe in bed with the covers pulled over our heads. But not today.
Just as Annie promised all of us in her Broadway song, finally, the sun came out. So it seems like a cruel joke that on such a beautiful day we were greeted by such ugly news. First the passing of Farrah Fawcett, an American icon, which while tragic, was expected. Then came the passing of Michael Jackson, another American icon, which was also tragic but completely unexpected.
Just as millions of men had the famous poster of a smiling, vivacious Fawcett on their walls, I was one of the millions of young girls who had a poster of Michael Jackson, (circa "Bad") on mine. His death is tragic and unexpected but not nearly as tragic and unexpected as his last few years.
While other acts came and went, often copying the winning formula that first made the Jackson Five and later Jackson as a solo star, a success, Jackson long defied many of the odds facing former child stars. Frankie Lymon, the baby faced lead singer of "The Teenagers" (a predecessor of the Jackson Five best known for their hit, "Why do Fools Fall in Love" when Lymon was just fourteen), was dead of a heroin overdose by 25. The list of child stars who flounder in adulthood, with often tragic consequences, goes on. For every Jodie Foster there are dozens of Gary Colemans, but Michael seemed like he just might defy the odds.
There was Off the Wall, one of my favorite albums and songs, and then there was Thriller, which not only transformed Jackson from mere star to superstar, but transformed American music forever. Not only did it go on to become the highest selling album of all time, but it broke another barrier when Jackson's now legendary videos from "Thriller" became the first by a black artist to be aired on MTV.
And then there was Bad, which was anything but. I saw the tour live as a child and later discovered as an adult that I had gotten a two-for-one deal. A then unknown Sheryl Crow served as one of Jackson's backup singers, often dueting with him on his hit "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."
There was "Black or White" and one of my all time favorite videos, "Remember the Time." Yet again, Jackson broke a major pop culture barrier. The video was one of the first depictions of Egypt in American popular culture that actually featured black people, including Eddie Murphy, Iman, and Magic Johnson. I had classmates who never noticed that Egypt was on the African continent before then.
But then something began to go awry. There had been some hints along the way (remember Bubbles the chimp?), and then Jackson's seemingly endless legal woes. It was almost as though somewhere in the last decade and a half a flip was switched and all of Michael's childhood baggage began to finally weigh him down. Some have compared his later years to a train-wreck. I actually think it's been much more painful to watch. It's been slower, like watching someone disappear into quicksand as you can only standby helplessly, too far to throw a life preserver.
He didn't have much of a childhood but he certainly made a lot of ours better. Perhaps his life, but more importantly his death, will serve as a cautionary tale for other children born and raised in the spotlight: Britney, Lindsay, even those poor Jon & Kate kids whom I had never heard of until a couple of weeks ago.
In the meantime, I'm going to climb back into bed and pull the covers over my head and hope that tomorrow when I wake up, the "Bad" dream will be over and there will be sun, or at least some better news.
www.keligoff.com
*This piece was originally published on www.theGrio.com
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For those who grew up with M.J. it resonates hard in their heart to lose him at such a young age.Long ago it was Elvis who died way to young and lead a destructive lifestyle. We should never make these people icons, we should stay grounded to what is important in daily life. When celebrities destroy themselves it is tragic. You will always ask yourself, couldn't someone close have helped him? The other tragic loss that can not be second guessed are the murders. In my life the murder of John Lennon left me confused and mad, but I realized there was nothing anyone could have done to prevent it. Joplin, Morrison, Hendrix, all sucummed to their demons.
The worst thing about the death of Michael Jackson is that, in a news cycle where really critical things are happening (you know: Iran, health care reform, climate change law, economic meltdown...little things like those), both the MSM and the non-traditional media have gone AMJATT (All MJ All The Time).
Michael Jackson was a celebrity whose best days were in a previous century, and whose life came to an over-hyped tragic end just as many of us were (finally) beginning to be able to forget the excesses of it. I am frankly dismayed at the comparative lack of coverage of Farah Fawcett's passing, which happened on the same day. Fawcett spent the last year of her life showing women how to cope with cancer, while Jackson spent the last half of his life as a perfect example of what not to do if you ever become rich and famous.
I don't deny the man his accomplishments, but let's face it: Michael Jackson was, at most, the king of pop. This wailing and gnashing of teeth is more appropriate to the passing of a Pope. Do us all a favor and let him go quietly.
There were several videos aired on MTV by black artists before Billy Jean. Videos by Tina Turner, Donna Summer, Prince, and Eddie Grant, to name a few.
The brew-ha-ha over MTV's racism was engineered by record executive Walter Yetnikoff to get his artist Michael Jackson's videos in heavy rotation. Both MTV and Michael Jackson benefited greatly with their symbiotic relationship.
(...thanks, have to REALLY agree and think it was far more a "marketing ploy" , with the admission, was a teen before MJ came on the scene but DO remember OUTSTANDING black artists and think this bit that HE broke the barrier rather an INSULT those that REALLY did !!! There was a long history BEFORE MTV of performances on air and on stage...Will grant that their were ripoffs and along they way, but that actually happened to ALL "artists" for it was almost diriguer to riop them all for whatever that could be ripped by the "EXECUTIVES " who pulled the strings and doled out the $$$/benefits/etc !!! Truth be told, MJ has NOT really been putting anything much NEW into the music/entertainment scene other than his bizarre PERSONAL sideshowings !!! Got way too mired in self indulgence and demons he could not handle which tragicaly crippled him long ago.
(am adding, MJ got known for his talent in stage performance, but HE LEARNED moves from the earlier performers, refined them and took many moves to fresher levels, but they still came from predecessors who are sorely missing in proper accreditation !!!)
Thank You Keli. I feel like part of my childhood died today with the passings of Farrah and Michael. We need to remember life is short . Here's to a sunny tomorrow.
Why all the shock and despair? Everyone dies, no one gets out of here alive.
Yes, everyone dies, however we still feel hurt and pain when people we love will no longer be around. I Iost my son tragically ten months ago, and I still grieve his death.
God bless his children and family
I am realy sadden by the poor taste in words people have...Michael was an amazing talent we were blessed to have...let the Lord alone judge him but he gave the world music that will live forever...I feel a sense of loss..people forget the greatness he has shared globally, helping the less fortunate...so much to mention...I only pray haters refrain from saying ugly things because above all Michael was the son of someone, he leaves behind his children who will one day probably read things the good and bad...he was the brother of someone...respect people....Michael, you touched my life as a teacher I have used your music in so many of my performances and even tried a few of your moves...hearing ur music made me smile....I will celebrate the legacy u leave behind and honor ur memory in the best way I know...Celebrating the music u have given me...RIP you will be missed!
Nice article, Keli. You brought back some memories, as have others who are recollecting their own Michael Jackson experience. I listened to Tyler Perry on the Tom Joyner Morning Show recalling how, as a kid, he'd run into the room that had the cable connection whenever he heard the "Thriller" video come on television. Until he said it, I'd completely forgotten that I did the same -- practically breaking my neck each and every time, but it was always worth the risk. I'd sit through every minute of that video, awestruck, as if I were seeing it for the first time.
You describe these last few days as a 'bad dream.' For me, the reality keeps hitting in waves, and every time I think I've digested it, I wake up the next morning to find, once again, that I haven't. Every few hours, or especially when I see a poignant photograph of Michael with the caption "1958 - 2009," it hits me all over again. I simply cannot believe he is gone . . . and with him, a very large and wonderful symbol of my childhood. It would be an understatement to say that as a child, I adored Michael. Adored him, loved his songs, and was sure I'd marry him.
I'm grateful for the musical legacy he left us. I'm grateful that, although his childhood was not joyful, he brought so much joy to mine. And I'm especially grateful that Michael Jackson provided the soundtrack to my youth.
I am sorry Jackson died at 50, resulting from a self destructive life style of his choosing, for which he made millions.
I feel worse for those kids killed in Iraq serving out country with dignity and honor making less in a year than Jackson spent in a week for pet food.
one has nothing to do with the other. I think Americans are way too celebrity obsessed, but most humans have the capacity to feel empathy for more than one person at a time
This man was not a saint, a leading philanthropist or someone who madse tangible contributions to the world..
All three network news broadcasts devoted their entire half hours to the demise of a pop star who had massive insecurities about his appearance and questionable morals regarding young children. Step back for a minute.
This fawning, self indulfgent and manufactured grief is despicable when innocents are being slaughtered in Iran for fighting their oppressors. Where was the coverege for that while Katie Couric was balthering on about Jackson?
His death is significant in terms of popular music but that's all. It does not measure up to real loss for the world and many others have deserved such tribute in the wake of true accomplishment.
this is the ignorance I am talking about. You don't have a clue what Michael Jackson has done and accomplished in the world. Much of media is giving their normal tabloid craziness. Some other outlets are sharing that Michael was involved in more charities and raised and gave more money to help solve problems than anyone else in the 20th Century over the span of his short 50 yrs. He also motivated and got people involved in these causes so his life transcends your point of just popular music. Where do you get off making some sweeping generalizations about the "un"importance of this passing. People around the world have connected with this man and his music and he is a part of the inner fabric and joy of their lives. Real tears are being shed. Yours may not be among them, but don't mess with other peoples values, love and understandings.
....uh, mmmm, MJ did make charitible contributions, true but NO, was NOT THE ALLTIME SUPREME "giver" and perhaps in grief all prefer to disregard his flaws and foilbles , semi understandable but he was self indulgent to the point that such crippled him and ultimately killed him , he too believed the "good" myths and rejected other realities !!!
MANY of us give him his due where he proved to BE a real talent , but many were equaly turned off by other foilbles that got too often bizrre and displayed and played. Others of us find the coverage to be ad nauseum and far too much and rather just a marketing to help take care of debts even after his death. Look for MJ TRIBUTE TOUR to replace the "comeback extravaganza "one his death caused to be paused and reconfigured !! Another celebrity myth etended well beyond FULL reality going on !!
Good post.
MJ did disappear into some solitary parallel universe. I personally found it hard to watch, so I quite literally wiped him from my consciousness.
Then a couple of years ago a DJ friend left an old Off The Wall LP at my flat after a party. I played it on the Sunday morning and I was shocked to be reminded just how fantastic the songs were. The hangover was gone in minutes.
The saddest thing is that life of one of the most talented performers of all time has become a cautionary tale. A vivid reminder to every beauty pageant mum and over competitive baseball dad that they are their child's guardian, not their owner. A child are not an empty canvas on which you paint your own aspirations.
Such a spot on article. The tragic lives of these child stars used to entertain us is ridiculous.
A well written piece. He definitely changed and brought joy to our childhood while he suffered through the lack of his own. He was an amazing artist, perhaps the greatest ever.
Very touching. I'm old school and Michael, Prince, Duron Duron, Rick James and Madonna were some of the best days of my childhood. Then Mike blew all the way out the universe. It was tragic to see how the media [ especially the National Enquire] just pounded him weekly. He made very poor decisions though it all. But he was, is and will always be one of my heroes. PERIOD! ! !
A lovely piece, Kelli...
Your spirit is transcending. We should not judge others when we also have a journey to take...interpret and resolve....and do we ever? When we learn to love ourselves, and this is beyond difficult yet necessary, we can evolve and give back to others real sustenance and true love as well.
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