Michael Jackson 1958-2009

27th June 2009



At the moment I'm typing this post, Michael Jackson has just passed away yesterday morning, 5am+, Friday local time. Farrah Fawcett passed away on the same day too due to cancer but that's a different story. I don't feel that much impact. We've heard of her battle against anal cancer for a few weeks now and furthermore, I have only known her just as a sex symbol for the 70s adolescents. Close members mourn but I have to be honest, it doesn't make any difference to me.

Hitzfm played Michael Jackson's songs continously for the whole day on Friday. Other radio stations played his songs over and over again between other songs.

MTV has been showing his clip videos. And while Bewls is making David Copperfield magic, jumping and climbing behing the 4-panes curtains on one end and jumping out from the other end..meowing, 8TV is showing his Dangerous World Tour in Bucharest as of now. Coming right after this is his clip videos.

The concert started with the cameras showing the sea of people at the concert. This is no camera trick. He is well known for such biGG turn-ups. He can really do that without ever the need to lift a finger. Then the King came out, in his famous Dangerous World Tour 'golden long sleeved swimming suit cut' outfit with tight black leather pants. He just stood in the middle of the stage, poised in his big, dark aviator sunglasses. The crowd cheered, screamed, chanted his name and some had already fainted. He was static, assessing the sea of worshippers in front of him, beneath his feet, for nearly 5 minutes. And then he turned, just his neck...that sent a whole louder roar and scream from the crowd. That is the impact he created.

The songs on the radio, the replays of the concerts, the music videos, THS and interviews on E, all of these have brought me back to the way back when I was growing up to his songs. Cutting newspaper clips with a fellow friend from school who shared the same passion with me for Michael Jackson. Let it be even for the suits and scandals, tho disturbed and saddened, no matter. It was about him. He may be weird but in a harmless way, and that does not categorize him as a freak.

You and I must make a pact
We must bring salvation back
where there is love,
I'll be there...
I reach out my hand to you..
I have faith in all you do
Just hold my hand
and I'll be there...

I remember being introduced to Thriller sometime before I was 6. I was purely fascinated with the music video. The ghouls drama and the song and especially the dance, oh my God, was I fascinated with this guy...and I was introduced to Michael Jackson. All the while before that I was singing to daddy's collection of 60s songs, without knowing the faces of the singers, now there is one whom I can put a face to.

'Cause this is thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a killer, thriller, ow!

How ta hell did he manage to make the all red suit he's wearing look so kool. And what's the deal with the white socks? Is it him or it's just the 80's? But oh the dance moves...i just love all of 'em!
The video officially introduced his moonwalk move.


Then there was Beat It, more dance...Billie Jean...he was so kool when the lights on the blocks of pavements underneath lighted up when he stepped on each of them as he moved to the beat.

People always told me
be careful of what you do
And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
And mother always told me
be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do
'cause the lie becomes the truth

Billie Jean is not my lover
She's just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one,
but the kid is not my son

A couple of years later, I saw Bad music video. Black, leather, clinging chains, boy was he all rugged, baddie, scruffy, macho, with the mesmerizing ever changing dance routines and all and i was really taken by him out of breath !

And the whole world has to answer right now just to tell you once again
Who's BAD !

...the 8 yr old me was crazy about this guy then. I didn't know if I wanna like him or be him.

Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK
Are You OK, Annie
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK, Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You Ok, Are You Ok, Annie?

You've Been Hit By
You've Been Hit By - A Smooth Criminal !

Masters of Choreography are still referring to the dance video of Smooth Criminal on tv up till today. And one of my most favourite of all time. Seriously, watch the dance routine in Thriller, Bad, Black or White, in fact, watch all his music videos, literally, and tell me, how can you not appreciate him enough to love and admire him.

We are the world,
We are the children,
We are the one to make a brighter day,
So let`s start givin`,
There`s a chance we`re takin`,
We`re takin all our lives,
It`s true we`re make it a brighter day just you and me.

Dangerous came out in 1991. Black or White always, always, tickle the kid in me during the face changing sequence which I'm sure all of us remember, I still find myself entertained and clapping my hands after the end of the sequence now after watching it on tv,

I took my baby
On a saturday bang
Boy is that girl with you
Yes were one and the same

Now I believe in miracles
And a miracle
Has happened tonight

But, if
Youre thinkin
About my baby
It dont matter if youre
Black or white

Ain't this song beautiful?
But the dance routine towards the end was unnecessarily violent tho..nevermind about that..

and then, Remember The Time is so romantic, dude really rock in this album with the rest of the songs. I love this album all thru my adolescence. (Keep it in the closet is darn sexy!)

Do you remember
When we fell in love
We were young And innocent then
Do you remember
How it all began
It just seemed like heaven
So why did it end?

Do you remember the time
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time
When we first met
Do you remember the time
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time

It's been one hour the Concert on TV and he has been entertaining-singing, dancing, screaming, acting, jumping, running, flying, lying on the stage..continously saying, "i love you" throughout the concert.. smoother than those guys competing in Grand Slam tennis...like he was born to entertain...he showed that he really loved what he's doing..like, he's a robot programmed to entertain and that was all he does..1 hour and counting..he is still back to perform more songs and dance routines...smoothly.

I just can't stop loving you
I just can't stop loving you
And if I stop...
Then tell me just what will I do..
'Cause I just can't stop loving you

The Dangerous World Tour kicks off in Munich, lasts more than a year and covers 67 countries. He died of cardiac arrest highly likely due to a heart attack, just shy of a couple of weeks to his biggest comeback tour in London in July 2009. Read somewhere that the tickets were sold out just 2 hours of release.

Hold me
like the river Jordan..
and I will then say to thee..
you are my friend..
Carry me
like you are my brother..
love me like a mother..
will you be there...

Clearly I have taken this guy's existence for granted. Considering listening to his songs, watching his music videos these couple of days, actually bring back some of my memories and feelings of growing up years..with my dad still in the air force, came home one evening with MJ's Bad cassette and we played it on his stereo and me and my brother were trying our best dancing and impersonating his moves in his video. Hah! We also had a few small packs of nuts daddy brought back in our pockets to make the sounds of the clinging chains of small metals. Mind you, I was 8 yrs old..

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

If You Want To Know Why
There's A Love That
Cannot Lie
Love Is Strong
It Only Cares For
Joyful Giving
If We Try
We Shall See
In This Bliss
We Cannot Feel
Fear Or Dread
We Stop Existing And
Start Living

One particular part of my interest is how this guy, despite his famous indecent crotch grabbing moves, smooth kool moonwalking move, he actually has some real, beautiful songs about love and humanity..neutral love and decent feelings, about the world, on famine, devastation of wars and a greener earth. How many of our artists can actually pull this mixture of sensual and humanity recording in one album? I mean, you can be notty yes, but do not neglect these humanity values, please.

Nation to nation
All the world
Must come together
Face the problems
That we see
Then maybe somehow we can work it out
I asked my neighbor
For a favor
She said later
What has come of
All the people
Have we lost love

Two hours have passed MJ starts introducing his musicians and background singers, he said his final 'i love you's"continously to his fans in between the lines of the man in the mirror. His musician and background singers repeatedly singing, "make a change" at the back...

I'm Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It's Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .

I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror
I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways
And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place
Take A Look At Yourself,
And Then Make A Change !

The music video collection is next on TV. The more I'm watching his dancing, him moving, him singing, his facial expression changes with the songs and shouting, "i love you" to the crowd, I'm touched, and have indeed shed a few tears, I couldn't help but to feel saddened with the loss.

just look over the shoulders, honey !
Just call my name,
and I'll be there...

"Let them say I have walked with giants...let them say I have lived in the times of Michael Jackson..."