He’s Out of Our Lives… Michael Jackson! Bigger Than Life!
Although he has been out of the spotlight as a singer/performer, we always knew Michael Jackson was somewhere doing something. The thought of him being gone forever is still numbing, but a reality we must accept. Although we must accept his passing, the world is grieving the loss of a legendary singer and performer. Imagine this: there isn’t a place in the whole world where someone doesn’t know who Michael Jackson is. Talk about crossing over!
During the grieving period, those of us who were fans will undoubtedly think back to certain moments where Michael Jackson made us say, “wow.” A lady that works in the building next to me was asking everyone who came up to her desk what their favorite Michael Jackson song was. Only a few said they weren’t fans, but they all know who the King of Pop is. On my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thomasesawyer), I asked the following: Is Michael Jackson’s death the equivalent to Elvis dying for our generation? Surprisingly, this guy replied with “Michael Jackson can’t hold a candle to Elvis.” It made me think of what the rap group Public Enemy said about Elvis – if you know what I’m talking about, you know what I’m talking about. If Elvis was a bigger deal, I can’t imagine how much the world loved him…but my money is on MJ.
These are some of the things I remember about Michael Jackson:
1. Michael made up words and he sang them with such conviction that we didn’t care. Does anyone know how to spell “Schumone” correctly?
2. The moonwalk! You can’t tell me you weren’t mesmerized the first time you saw it. Ironically, I was watching a special on the old group Shalamar and one of the original members, Jeffrey Daniel, said he was doing it before Michael. He called it the “backslide” or something like that and they actually showed footage of him doing it. Still, Michael is the one who made it popular.
3. The dancing in the videos. MJ’s dancing is a true testament to his charisma and star power because he really didn’t have very many moves. Yes, they choreographed things with other dancers, but when Michael was dancing alone he normally did a variation of the same moves. But we watched intently anyway.
4. Has anyone before or since been able to have such long videos? How long were the Thriller and Smooth Criminal videos?
5. Would “We Are The World” have been made without MJ?
6. I really liked those cartoons. Some people may be too young to even remember them. That was back when Saturday morning really meant something.
7. I’m originally from Indiana and I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked if I knew Michael Jackson. Do people really think the state is that small?
8. How many people had one of those red “pleather” jackets with all the zippers?
9. He wore tight, short pants and we let him get away with it because he was Michael Jackson. Now you know if Beyonce came out wearing something whack people would talk about her, but MJ was beyond fashion criticisms. Who else could make wearing one glove OK?
10. I don’t know of any other performer who could have women and men crying and passing out in the audience.
The passing of an icon is a loss for the entire world. Michael Jackson will truly be missed.
Go ahead and use the comment section below to add some memories of your own.
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Let me start off by saying, I really still can’t believe it. I was sitting in a restaurant last night and noticed a text from my beloved son. Three words: Three spell bounding, unbelievable, impossible words. Michael Jackson died…. How in the world? As long as I’ve been cognizant of life, Michael Jackson has been a part of it. I grew up in church not being able to listen to “ungodly” music. Lol. But here’s the thing, it didn’t matter where you were (all corners of the world) or who you were (You’re black, You’re white, Yea, Yea, Yea!) everybody knew Michael Jackson. Personally, I loved him. I didn’t let anyone bad mouth Michael Jackson around me. I didn’t care what charges came, my opinion was; if it is all that, lock up EVERY parent who let their child go to the ranch! Other than that, I don’t want to hear it. Enough of that.
I pray for the family and all those connected with Michael that will go through the grief any of us go through when we loose a loved one. I pray for all those fans that we have seen crying in the videos and falling out. This is probably very overwhelming as an idol they, apparently looked up to, is gone. I have never been to a concert (remember, I’m saved! Couldn’t do it!) or seen him in person, but I myself am devastated!
To me, Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time! The absolute greatest! Period! I am sad that Michael went down in health and found it necessary to reconstruct himself in so many ways but… wasn’t he fine back in the day? Didn’t he just do it for us? I never lost sight of our “ABC, Easy as 1,2,3″ Michael Jackson. This was a man without a childhood and a real sense of reality. Can we really fault him for any of his idiosyncrasies? Tom, I too watched the cartoon with fascination that a real family could have a cartoon TV show. Hey, I guess that was the real beginning of reality TV, cartoon style!
God bless the Jackson family. Our prayers are with you! I’m sure I will be back later with more comments. (it’s me, Kathy of kleverkathy. I’m wordy!)
He’s out of our lives… out of lives…. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry… I don’t how fans will live and not die… but it cuts like a knife… he’s out of our lives…
I remember being in elementary and all the little black girls liking Michael Jackson and the little white girls were all in love with Donny Osmond. At that time they were almost rival family groups that were vying for the same audiences. They both faired very well with their success, but only one produced the King of Pop. As I got older, I remember singing Dancing Machine to flex my voice for a run that’s in there. The final significant song was “Remember the Time”. I was in a place and they were playing that song. The music was really bumping. There wasn’t really anything else that happened, but I never forget that time associated with that song. He has made so much great music over his career that has touched us all on so many different levels. In my opinion, he was the last great singer of his style. It’s like it was when Luther passed. There aren’t any other singers that I would compare to either of them, in their styles. Not to be compared with Gospel – that’s a whole different genre. He will be greatly missed. May God have mercy on his soul.
You knock me off of my feet now baby….whewwwwwwww!!!!!!!
I was always mesmerized by Michael. Interviews, documentaries, his performances, his marriages (what!!!), watching and listening to him talk. He was simply fascinating.
While driving home from work I heard it over the Christian Radio and they gave prayer for his family and played a tribute to him in song and all I could say was “This is a bad Joke, why don’t people stop playing!” And it hit me, this is real…..It totally over shadowed Farrah Facets Death also the same day but everyone knew she had been battling Cancer. I am just shocked even today….I keep asking myself why are you shocked yolanda. And I know why. Because I have it in my mind that it is not time yet. But I am not running the Show God is.
It is amazing how such a Man could take dancing into a level of impossible feats and his voice is one that can’t be categorized, it was just out right different. He was a perfectionist at his craft, just like Tiger Woods and and Venus. I always wondered what is the Driving Force in the minds of these people, how do they stay focused on something and practice it until they pass out and start fresh the next day? It has to be the Love of it, and after a time maybe it turns into something else. I am going to miss MJ….And I hope he is in the Lambs Book of Life…….
See Yolanda, even in my grief, I have to quietly holla at you for the Lambs Book of Life comment. lol.
Yolanda,
I first heard it on the way home on Christian Radio too. I know not to think it strange that they would announce it – everybody knew him and knew of his greatness. It’s really a weird feeling to even be having this conversation because it seems so unreal. It makes me want to cry as if I really knew him more than through his music, videos and from TV. I guess that’s because his music was such an influential part of my life as I was growing up – even though I never had a single record of his (couldn’t). It just leaves an ache for the loss. Imagine what his family is going through. Poor Janet. My heart really goes out to them. I sincerely hope that through all of his searching, he was able to find Jesus as his Savior. We don’t know for certain and can only pray that Al Sharpton or somebody else influential in his life was able to lead him to the Lord.
He was the best entertainer ever! Too many people do not have albums that go diamond (10 million). On top of that, this man can’t go ANYWHERE in the universe, that has living humans there, and not be recognized! This is very very sad. I have or have had all his albums, and he was a beast. My personal favorite Michael song, other than the obvious Thriller and Smooth Criminal, was Butterflies… I still listen to that song quite often. I just still can’t believe it’s true.
I am so very sad…it hurts!!! I just kept watching CNN in hopes that someone would say, there’s been a terrible mistake of identity…it isn’t true…but I guess we do have to say goodbye…one of the finest entertainers of our time…love you MJ
I can’t believe it. I’m so grief stricken not just because he’s dead but because of the life he lived. He was in a bubble and didn’t get to experience every-day normal stuff. He was supporting his family at the age of 10. My husband (who KEEPS his finger on the pulse of EVERYTHING)told me MJ would be in the studio all day (as a little boy) and would want to go outside and play at the playground that was across the street. I feel so sad for him. I feel like Florida Evans when James died (Good Times). All of you who know what I’m speaking on, go ahead and say it right now…..with your fist in the air.
I blame Joe!!!!!
I like so many of his songs. I like all the songs from the Thriller album. My art teacher would play that album every class. I like the song where he did the video in the desert with Naomi Campbell and I like Dirty Diana.
I too was devastated when I heard the news of Michael Jackson passing. I will truly miss him. It just reaffirms the fact that life is too short and we should cherish every moment we have with family, friends, and loved ones. Our destiny is locked into how we live our lives while here on earth. I hope that Michael’s name is in the Lambs Book of Life, but more importantly we need to make sure our own names are written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Well, let me start this off by saying, I can’t believe he’s gone. I grew up with Michael Jackson. There’s only a two year difference between us. We both look GREAT for men over 50. I saw Michael in the early 1970s at the Savannah Civic Center with my siblings and cousins. Then it was the Jackson 5, with Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson. The performance was off the chain! Back then, we didn’t know that phrase “off the chain”. I have followed his career from then until now, and now that he’s gone, who could make wearing that glove ok? Usher, Ludacris, Ice-T, Chris Brown? I don’t think so. The “moon walk” was FABULOUS. Not even Jeffrey Daniels of Shalamar could touch Michael’s dance style. I have had all of Michael’s albums/CDs until the late 90’s, due to moving, but I still have some CDs and music videos that I will cherish for many years and pass on to my small child and grandchildren. The loss of a music icon is a loss for the entire globe. Michael Jackson will truly be missed and memories of him will last for years and years. We LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON, we love you. There’s no other performer on the entire planet earth. or the universe. that will have both women and men crying and passing out as Michael Jackson has. I’m from the old school and I have seen many performers that I truly like, but none are Michael Jackson. I could go and on, however, I will end saying this, I hope that he was able to find Jesus and was lead to the right place. Man! What a ICON. Wow! He’s out of our lives. The man in the mirror is gone. I am too devastated to finish this – I LOVE YOU MJ.
My coworker (she’s 50 years old) came in today with her Jackson Reunion pink silk, trimmed in red sleeves and red collar, jacket. She dug it out for such an occasion as this and she was proud to be wearing it. Here’s the funny thing, when she bought the jacket it was a beautiful silver color. It has been through storage with moth balls, several dry cleanings and plain ole age and now radiates the beautiful color of soft pink! lol. Regardless, she couldn’t have been prouder to wear it in honor of our Michael!
Ive been watching MJ videos all weekend….I still cant believe he is gone. I remember getting mad when the ground didnt light up when I walked…lol I have too many MJ memories to list…so in memory of the King of Pop Im gonna slip on my socks and Moonwalk on the hardwood….
@Barry Palmore – lol. Barry just like our beloved MJ, you too are one of a kind!
Barry,
You can moonwalk?
Yes…..with the aid of socks and a hard wood floor..lol
OK. Now you know Barry, the next time I see you, it’s on. Wear some socks. We’ll find the hardwood.
He gone y’all!!! Wow! What a shock. There are so many things to remember about not just MJ but the Jackson Five. He truly has provided us with entertainment in 1 form or the other for our entire lives!!!! I pray for his family and heard 2 different people say he was further with his relationship being right with God than people realize, that’s good news!! Barry, I want to see the dance also!!LOL
As a side bar to the topic at hand, I want to put it out to all of the Klever Kathy followers that Kathy’s birthday was Saturday, July 4th. She’s our family Firecracker, Sparkler and all around reason to celebrate on that day. I no longer get to celebrate with her since she moved to the south, but AT&T allows us to reach out and touch each other. Please join me in wishing her belated birthday greetings and love from us all.
Why couldn’t you guys have gone to his concerts or bought his albums?
I’m saved, and I don’t see anything ungodly about Michael’s music.
Hi Kiersten. Glad to have you at kleverkathy and I understand your question. Alot of people feel the same way you do but that is how we were raised. We were only allowed to feed gospel/Christian music into our spirit.