"The Day Music Stood Still…"

 

In a story that started a few hours ago with “The King of Pop” being rushed to the hospital ended in the worst way imaginable. The man who had endured so many hardships throughout the last 20 years of his life (a lot of which he brought upon himself), Michael Jackson, has died at the age of 50.

It’s odd because although I had never agreed with his personal decisions, I have always loved and respected his music. The impact of his art is unexplainable being known from every neighborhood in America to the most impoverished nations across the globe. As I type this, I really can’t find the words to really explain how I truly feel. June 25, 2009, will forever go down in history and years down the road we will talk about what we were doing when Michael Jackson took his last breath.

My first introduction to music was through Michael Jackson and my mom when I was 4 years old (she remembers it, not me). While I could never perfect the “Moonwalk”, I knew the standard for entertainment was set with Joe’s boy. My respect level for Jacko is out of this world. At the age of 50, his body probably resembled that of a 95 year old (Martin Luther King’s body was that of a 72 year old when he died at 39). For better than 90% of his life, he didn’t have one. Every move dissected to the point where he truly became a prisoner of his own talent. He had been in the public eye since he was five and the stress of the music industry and being a worldwide icon takes its toll after awhile, so in essence maybe I shouldn’t be too surprised.

More so than anything, I thank Mike for his music and helping me to become the music enthusiast I am today. While I hate doing these types of posts after a person dies, no one in their right mind knew MJ was going to pass this morning. It happened so quick no one had time to brace themselves, which is the exact reason everyone has the same reaction. “Huh, not MJ…” Even Quincy Jones is stunned…

“I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words.

Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the 80′s.

To this day, the music we created together on “Off The Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad” is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all…talent, grace, professionalism and dedication.

He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever.”

Accepting a new angel into heaven has to feel like the exact opposite of losing a loved one on Earth, so in a wierd sense, this is a good thing. I guess. I’m just saying whatever to hide the hurt I have right now. Never having once met the man, I feel as if a family member of mine has died, but the beautiful thing about music is that it lives forever. And so will Mike.

As I close this out, I have no clue where it came from, a single tear rolls down my face. Even as I type this, I can’t begin to do this man’s legacy justice. It’s just the only way I know how to vent myself.

R.I.P. to the greatest entertainer of all time, bar none.

Look at the reaction he receives. Amazing, simply amazing.