Michael Jackson is dead.

[andrewmoquin]

Sadly, one of the first things I thought of when I heard the news was, could this be a hoax?
The guy is supposedly pretty deep in debt, among other troubles. And it would be one hell of a way for a 'comeback' stunt.

And this Onion article http://www.theonion.com/content/node/30940 is a bit too close to the truth for me, since I think it's not that far off to say he may have been on metaphorical life support since the mid 90's.
But maybe it's because I'm a child of the 80's, who remembered listening and watching his music videos via smuggled videotapes from Dutch television. Since I grew up in a country where officially, those videos are a corrupting decadent influence from the West blah blah blah. (Some of his music was okayed for radio play, but not his videos, or any videos from the 'West' really.) Unofficially, anyone and everyone in the country probably knows who Michael Jackson is. One word. Thriller.

I don't have natural rhythm in my body. I can't carry a decent tune. But when I hear Thriller, God. Damn. Only the most churlish sanctimonius hypocrite would blather on about where is our value when we venerate pop musicians and celebreties bla bla blork blork blork. Here's the thing. Before people really bought into the 15 minute Warholism too literally, famous people used to be known for something.

And Michael Jackson, before the increasingly off putting weirdness even by artists standard, the sordid and horrid allegations, could really do something special.

/raises a Pepsi to toast MJ's musical and dancing talent, while playing Thriller.

We may never know the truth behind the child abuse allegations, whether his marriage to Lisa-Marie was a sham, the relationship he had with Bubbles the chimp or why he destroyed his friendship with Paul McCartney by outbidding his former friend for ownership of The Beatles’ back catalogue.

But whatever people think of his personal life, when it comes to his music, many will now relate with the chorus to You Are Not Alone, “though we’re far apart, you’re always in my heart”.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.