SubscribeThe most vivid memory I have of Michael Jackson is one at Media Play, where I worked in the Norwood location for a couple of years during high school. The summer was just beginning, and the biggest album release of the year was about to drop. It was an all-hand situation where everyone was at work, ready to go. The store even opened early, and unlike any other 'early opening' which saw a trickle of peeople, people stormed in.
The album was HIStory, and was a compilation of 'greatest hits' and new songs from the King of Pop. For years, I had admired Michael, and he was always a consumate performer, and always made people happy no matter where he went; or at least, he tried to make them happy. In school, I was dreamed about being a performer like him, and bringing joy to people in a way that only he could.
HIStory was one of the first CDs that I listed to all the way through, every single track, in the first sitting. Both discs. It was just a joy to hear all those great songs that I was growing up with through elementary and middle school, the prime of my childhood, and to hear all those wonderful new songs. The truth was, there wasn't a single bad song on the entire album. To this day, I will contend that this is the only 'greatest hits' album worth buying, because Michael brought something new to the table, instead of having a greedy grab for cash.
Michael had an innocense about him, and I always believed that. I still do. Everyone demonizes him for the controversies, from Bubbles the Monkey to McCauly Culkin to the child molestation accusations. Michael loved children, but in a way that could only be described as a pure love. Michael loved all human beings, and just wanted everyone to get along. He didn't have a childhood, so he continued to live his throughout his adult life. To his dying day, I believe that he had a naive quality that thought one day there would be no war, and the world would live in peace and harmony together.
Others would stare at Michael because of his constantly changing appearance. The truth is, all of us have something about ourselves we would like to change, whether it be our nose, our face, our weight. The difference was that Michael could afford to make these changes. With a skin disease causing his skin to go white, he had to lighten other parts of of skin to match consistency; he was, after all, a performer.
Michael had music that transcended genres, and transcended life. He was an inspiration for peace, and he just wished that people could live together in harmony. He passed away a week ago, but his impact on me was such that I just only began to understand myself how I really feel about it; shock has now past, and I have moved to accepting his departure from us.
HIs essence was one of purity, as he led a sheltered life from the rest of the world. He will be missed worldwide, and he will be missed right here.
