Goodbye MJ

Ok. I changed my mind.

I had decided not to blog about Michael Jackson's untimely death. To much hype, to much blabla. But just out of curiosity I watched the Jackson memorial on CNN. I figured I could turn it off if I felt like it anyway.

But I didn't.

I watched the whole thing.

And yes, I am man enough to admit I did shed a tear. It was when Brooke Shields did her eulogy. The most sincere I heard all evening.

Regardless of what you thought of the man: he was a living legend.

And if your 40-something like me, and haven't lived under a rock or in a monastery, then there is no way in hell that you didn't grew up with at least a few of his songs. And although Michael became a complete hermit with questionable mental and physical health and turned into a shadow of his former self, you gotta respect what the man did for modern pop music. His influence on later generations was huge.

In high-school (or the European equivalent to that) back in '82, Thriller was off course the album of the decade. I remember many school parties where they played all his hits from that album. And boy, it rocked.

Later in '88, when I was in the army I was on manoeuvres in Germany and bought a tape of "Bad", his latest album back then. My sister wanted me to get it (tax-free). I was in Germany for three weeks, stationed close to the Eastern-German border, and I found myself listening to that tape over and over. Each time I discovered something new in the lyrics or in the music that kept me interested.

But when you would ask me "which of his songs you like best", than it has got to be Billie Jean. I have some fond memories of that song.

I have selected to show you the 2001 version of this song. It shows Michael Jackson performing in Madison Square Garden in New York on his 30th Anniversary Celebration Special. If you ever doubted what kind of entertainer he was, just watch this video (click on it to go to YouTube and watch the HD version). Look at how the audience responds to his performance: young and old. One word: brilliant.

Goodbye MJ.