I apologize to my neighbors because on Saturday evening I am pretty sure they could hear my music blaring through their walls. This weekend I brought out my Michael Jackson gear. I proudly rocked my MJ paraphernalia and blasted his music all night in celebration of the King of Pop’s birthday. Michael would have been 51 on Saturday.
I am aware of the rule that says; refer to someone by their last name when writing, but I am giving myself permission to overrule that today only because addressing him as Michael feels so much more personal to me.
I know what you are thinking, “Personal? But you didn’t even know him.” And you’re right. I know it’s crazy to feel like you have a connection with someone who doesn’t even know you exist. However, if Michael’s music moved you the way it moved me and so many others, you would understand why I feel that way.
There are not many artists that can create a song that actually inspires and evokes a change within. Michael did not rely on a “sick” beat or a catchy phrase to make his music sell. He relied on the message he wanted to convey. As a perfectionist, Michael’s priority was the lyrical content as opposed to how many records he could sell.
There are so many meaningless songs, the ones relying on a “sick” beat or catchy phrases that gets stuck in your head. Michael mastered what many artists have forgotten about. Michael’s music had content.
He possessed the skills to make you feel where he was coming from ,as if he were talking directly to you. Each time I listen to “Man in the Mirror” I want to get up and make a change. How many songs can do that?
Michael’s music made you think, made you feel good, made you want to get up and do the moonwalk in your mama’s kitchen.
As shy as he was, the stage was his haven, and he put on a darn good show. Michael had fans that fainted before he even stepped foot on the stage.
I will never forget when my older brother Michael took me to the mall and gave me the opportunity to pick out anything I wanted. I was only in third grade so naturally he started walking towards KB Toys thinking I would want a Barbie or some sort of toy or baby doll. To his surprise, I ran past the toy store and straight into the music store. I glided through the Michael Jackson section and picked up Michael’s “Blood on the Dance Floor” cassette.
It amazes me when I see kids even younger than myself singing his songs word for word. A true artist makes songs that live in generations beyond the generation it debuted in.
That is why Michael will never be forgotten. His music will live through generations to come simply because he was just that good.
Stacy Vieux can be reached at svieux@ut.edu.
Thank you for that simple but real memory of MJ. That’s how I feel. I could relate to every word you wrote.