R.I.P. Michael Jackson

The first song I heard after learning about Michael Jackson’s death was ‘You Are Not Alone’. It made me sad. In the past, I’d watch footage of girls going hysterical, sobbing and fainting while the King of Pop performed and wonder what would happen when he died. I guess now I’ll find out. Except, this wasn’t quite how I imagined he would go. Not on the eve of his comeback series of concerts, not when for the first time in years, he seemed like he might be getting it back together again.

Talent trumps controversy. That was my first thought as I sat in my car. Granted the man has had his faults, his eccentricities, his many, many controversies, but he was also one of the most talented people the world has ever seen. He was the greatest in what he did, and although there will inevitably be imitations of him, I don’t think there will ever be another combination of songwriting, singing and dancing like Michael Jackson. Oh the dancing, especially the dancing. And that is what people are going to remember.

My second thought was, now I’ll never get to see him live. I should have gone the one chance I had, that one time he performed in KL. It’s a constant regret of Y’s, one that he brings up from time to time whenever we talk about concerts and live performances. Guess it’s too late now. I think if I had seen him, his death would feel even more surreal. I think it’s a sign that I’m getting older when celebrities I’ve actually heard of and listened to and watched start dying. Until this morning, I’d forgotten that Michael Jackson was already 50 years old. He would have turned 51 in August.

When his London concerts were announced, someone in the office asked if he was healthy enough to perform. I guess so, I said. He seemed pretty alright from what we saw of the press conference. And then someone (and none of us could remember which of us it was) said, what if he dies during the concerts? As it turned out, he never even got to start. Rest in peace, Michael. I know you’ve got some pretty nasty stuff to your name but you deserve to be remembered for your music. That’s your real legacy and I hope we don’t screw that up.