Michael Jackson's Last Laugh
Michael Jackson's death will be a JFK-Elvis-Diana memory for decades. "I remember where I was, who I was with, and how I found out Michael Jackson died," will become part of the vernacular into the 22nd century. Modern technology allowed us to be intimate with Michael from afar, and now he is gone. Michael Jackson is dead. It's hard to grasp, like yellow not being a bright color.
Celebrity death is tough on the public. Instinctively we want to run to help those we know and love, but with a famous person, all we can do is run to a television. It's a connected disconnected with emotional strings tied into a knot. When I heard Jackson was dead, I was knocked off center by the switch that occurred among millions of neurons in my brain. I just can't imagine Michael Jackson - dead. Like Diana's death twelve years ago, the cultural getting-used-to will take some time.
I met Jackson twice, most recently at a Carousel of Hope Ball in Beverly Hills. He was timid and gracious but still bigger than life. We hugged the hug he probably had given to hundreds of thousands of fans. I told him I missed his performing, but he told me he was performing every time he stepped out of the house. As he stood there in his spangles and epaulets, it was easy to understood what he meant.
Last December when I heard Jackson moved yards from my home, I was hopeful he might be reigniting his career. Surprisingly the infamous recluse had chosen the corner of Sunset Boulevard that most screams "I'm back!" I'd drive by his home daily, consistently amazed by the legions of die-hard fans camped across from his gate. Just days after Christmas I remember how simply normal I thought it was so see empty toy boxes poking out of his recycle bin - an ordinary holiday for an extraordinary American.
By very late January Michael Jackson still had his Christmas wreaths hanging on his gates. It was slightly odd, so I made a video about it. Michael Jackson was in a neighborhood - I was not about to let him think that he wasn't part of our tribe. About three weeks after I put the video on OVGuide.com, a blocked call rang on my cell phone. "Hello, this is Tom," I said. All I heard in the receiver was the sound of my own voice playing from the video and a soft giggle. Then the voice said, "man, you're crazy." I laughed and asked who it was but all I heard was more giggling until the end of the video when I heard "thanks...crazy" and then the phone went dead.
I made videos two and three, expecting I would tape number four on the pivotal Fourth of July date. I had planned to bring a reindeer and/or Santa along to help me plead my case for Jackson's Christmas wreaths coming down. I suspect Michael would have tuned in to see the fiasco I had invented. As it is, the Christmas wreaths that Michael might have left up for my silly videos got their real claim to fame by overtly hanging on his gates the day he died.
As we fight the war on economic meltdown, terrorizing attacks, and common household germs, Jackson's shocking death reminds us to live life fully now. Time seemingly moves faster and faster ever year. Death is the end of the tracks. What will you do with your life if this is your last day?
In Michael Jackson's case, he lived life out loud his own way, not because had the money, but because he knew none of us have time to waste.
The painting below is by my pal, soap star Thom Bierdz. It seems more real to me today.
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RIP, Mr. Michael Joe Jackson. The world loved you, except those who are so "perfect" that they never have, and never will make a mistake in this life, according to them. They love the "moral highground". They sit around and wait for other people's halo's to fall off, celebrity or not, so they can feel better about themselves. If the truth be told, some of the same folks that hate/hated you, have more skeletons in their closets that would shock them if they mentioned their deeds to themselves or are ever alone with their own thoughts. I'll not be your judge or jury; that would be a job for GOD. Fly away, Michael. This world can never hurt you again. GODSPEED, in JESUS' most holy precious name.
Always searching for his inner child, I could see Jackson digging Christmas decorations year round. A sort of rebellious statement, perhaps.
22nd Century, huh? I think not. I would imagine that even 10 year olds who will be 100 when the 21st century fades into the 22nd. By then many Idol will have come and gone.
And then there is the vernacular. I guess you mean on the tongues of the common man. Probably not. Who were the major Musical influences in 1909, a scant 100 years ago. Who was the big Box Office draw then and when adn how did they die?
Jackson was an extra-ordinary talent and an influence upon music and popular culture, but on the tongues of the common man in 2109 is pretty much hyperbole.
I'll tell you who was/were popular in 1909.. IRVING BERLIN.. & the young GEORGE GERHWIN.. starting his illustrous career.,. with SWANEE.. AL JOLSON.. THE MJ OF HIS DAY.. lol...
Good job, now are they house hold names? Michael ended his life not began his carreer so Gershwin does not count. The word was vernacular, a horrible misuse of the word, so it hard to tell what Tom meant, but it is the elite and educated that know of Berlin and Jolson, not the common man.
Did you even read the last sentence?
Berlin died in 1989, and his first hit was in 1911 and it was "Alexander's Ragtime Band." Can you hum a few bars of that. Jolson began his career in 1911 also and died in 1950.
100 years is a long time and while I am absolutely positive that there will be people who know Jackson's work it will not be the common man and it will not be in their vernacular.
I am reminded of the old "Elvis is dead..." joke. Upon hearing the news Elvis had passed, a bar patron turned to his pal and murmered, "Good career move..."
Remember the hype nearly got Anna Nicole Smith nominated for sainthood as well!
With today's media overkill, we can all say "I remember where I was when I found out that Billy Mays died." We are a country in need of deep therapy.
So True
geez!! how can one compare Billy Mays with MJ..
it's all kumquat & durian,isn't it?!
You should try this one, use the URL or google Germaine Greer on Michael Jackson, beautiful and sadly true.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-death-in-la
GREER always did have very interesting & perceptive things to say-- I've always liked her.
How true about MJJ on other hand hand.. rather off with Nijinsky-- who redefined ballet & brought about the 'premier danseur' that opened the floodgates for talent like Nureyev.. et co.. to the way we know it today.
the influence of Nijinsky in ballet is immeasurable..
I'm watching the DANGEROUS VIDEO MJ released before all the scandals.. it's good to see him here in top form.. rather poignant really .
this is how I like to remember him.
I'd like
Loved the music.
But this man said on national TV that he'd "welcomed many children into (his) bed". How can that NOT override everything else?
Why did my 16 year old call her friends to cry? And MJ music never plays in my house! It will, now.
Save the children!
like the GREAT SHOWMAN he was.. HE KNEW WHEN TO LEAVE THE 'STAGE''....
he really had nowhere else to go..50 years has a nice round ring to it..
goodness he didn't even wait till he was 51.. which he would have been this Aug.
RIP.. Michael.. no one can hurt you now.
Clearly one of the best senitments I have read so far about Michael, with that being said I am one of those people who seriously had to re-evaluate how seriously I take day to day living..I too shall try to live to the fullest. I was blessed to experience the phenom the world will forever hold dear... Michael Jackson.,
GOOD ONE...
really, MJJ on the whole had such a rich life-- the heights hardly any mortal can attain..nor have attained..
he's having the LAST LAUGH indeed..
You should try this one, use the URL or google Germaine Greer on Michael Jackson, beautiful and sadly true.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jun/26/michael-jackson-death-in-la
oh dear... Greer wasn't kind to Madge,was she?? true though..lol
Hon:
Michael Jackson the Artist died 15 years ago. That was tragic...the last 15 years have been nothing but sad. No one will remember where they were when this death occurred, just like few under 21 remember any of his music.
Helen
Why did my16 yr old call her classmates to cry? I suspect you are wrong. I also suspect that there are unreleased songs in the vault that will be dribbling out for the next 10-20 years.
I for one, will remember where I was when I read about his death. For every one person that dislike Michael Jackson, there is one hundred of us who loved, cherished and played his music because he was a major part of our life and childhood.
I'm with you Helen. He had some great songs, and then he went to Neverland and never came back.
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