Michael Jackson's Death and Remembrance

I was late to the party. There were others my age who had already discovered Michael Jackson's music. I think Bad might have been my first MJ album. Not his greatest offering, but better than what was to come. My mother had the Thriller tape, up in her closet. I think I wore that tape out. Both Bad and Thriller join Dangerous in my green tape case that's still in my old bedroom in my parents' house.

MJ had an impact on me like many who listened to his music. He was my favorite artist for a long stretch, probably until he got too "weird" to claim. His music was pop. His music was melodic. His music was catchy. As a youngster, I knew his music was good.

Jackson lost me in probably the sixth or seventh grade. But he had started singing much earlier. If you assume his music with the Jackson 5 was current with people 10 years older than he was, that means he was relevant to those born between 1950 and, my birth year, 1983. This is a conservative estimate. These people would range from being 23 when Jackson 5 had its first single to just being born when Thriller came out. Indeed, his influence was much, much greater than even this!

I don't agree with those who argue Jackson's death is being over-covered. MJ was strange in his later life (last 10 years at least), while his music lives on forever. Pointed out above, everyone up to 59 (and likely older!) have heard and enjoyed his music. This encompasses three-quarters of the population of the United States, and an even larger percentage of the rest of the world.

This is why Jackson's death has been covered over the health plan, North Korea's missile launches, and all other news stories. Perhaps those who argued against the coverage were jealous of Jackson's influence. People around the world actively mourned his death and celebrated his life. It is obvious MJ connected with people across geographical and social borders in a way that no politician could ever hope.

Allow everyone this moment to mourn an enormous talent - perhaps a part of their musical development, perhaps a part of their childhood, mostly the forefront of pop culture since everyone alive could hear a radio.