Culch.ie

The Man In The Mirror 1959-2009

Last night, the news of Jacko’s demise spread at the speed of Twitter (11 mph faster than the speed of sound). 18 minutes after the confirmation of the death of The King of Pop I sat at the train station sans broadband connection and therefore totally cut off from the world. I watched in curious disbelief as a carriage full of strangers held a minutes silence and then broke into seemingly pre-prepared jokes and puns. The man was dead 18 minutes. It took Billy Connolly months before an ill-tasting pun was cast in Princess Di’s direction and he paid dearly for it. Doesn’t Michael Jackson even deserve a day or two?

Less than 24 hours later and we are bombarded with crude jokes and emails about a man whose life was littered with controversy after controversy and who was reduced to practical hermitage to try find some semblance of peace.

It’s easy to cast the stones of ridicule at a man who like a real life Willy Wonka, as he aged grew more and more peculiar. No doubt he was a disturbed individual seeming always to me to live a very sad, lonely and unfulfilled life. If it wasn’t his family drama, plastic surgery, break-downs or bizarre love-life plastered across the tabloids and magazines, it was stories and suits relating to alleged sexual abuses. Despite never being convicted of child abuse, this followed him for the remainder of this life causing near financial ruin.

In spite of all this he achieved astounding professional success akin only to the likes of Elvis and the parallels of his untimely death are sad indeed.

Remember the young child star who made the Jackson 5 the legendary? At his peak, the young vibrant handsome man who wooed generations with his fashion sense, soft voice and moon walk. As we really so jaded and bitter that in the days following the death of a relatively young man, people could remember him for the icon he was? What can be gained from another “forward to all” email making some crude reference to “strokes” and “children’s wards”?

Michael’s accomplishments will echo in our lives for many years to come. He has been a keystone of pop culture for almost half a century, influencing music, dance, technology, expectations. For instance, did you know that Michael Jackson was the first black pop star on MTV in the music video “Billie Jean”? Following this he becuase the quintessential MTV star and ushered in a new generation of pop. Without MJ there would be no Justin, no Britney, less Madonna, no Rhianna.“ For shame” I hear some of you music snobs cry. He then created the ultimate musical dynasty when in 1994 he married Elvis Presley’s daughter Lisa-Marie.

His commitment and involvement with Children’s charities and organisations has attracted unwanted attention but it can’t be ignored that through direct donations and his influential support he raised millions for charities world wide. In 1999 he raised over 3 million dollars in two nights for Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

My own affections for his music have spanned twenty years and I can say candidly without a shadow of cynicism that I will mourn his passing.

Michael & Me

1988 -At age 6 Michael Jackson’s “Bad” was the first album I ever owned on cassette. I got it the same day as Brian Adam’s “Cuts Like a Knife” and Kylie’s “Kylie”. My music tastes haven’t changed much since then.

1991 - At age 11 I dressed up as Jackson’s Thriller character for Halloween. You wouldn’t believe how hard it is go get shoe polish out of your hair.

1995 - Age 13 I took to the dance floor hand in hand with some young roughian and had my first kiss to the lyrics of You Are Not Alone. I thought Michael & Lisa-Marie made the cutest couple. I was young and naive.

2008 – Aged 26 in a drunk attempt to to teach a group of friends the steps to Thriller. If at first you don’t succeed, make them up.

25th June 2009 – I receive a phonecall to tell me that Michael Jackson is dead. I stand still for a moment and think how very sad.

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