I know this is not Bollywood related, but I felt the need to do a tribute to the King of Pop.
Memories of a teenager...
Thriller was one of the first lp's I ever owned. I remember listening to it over and over again trying to emulate zombie dance moves. As a 12 year old girl (I am truly dating myself now!), I used to sit in the school library looking at the one picture book they had of Michael Jackson fantasizing about how one day I would be Mrs. Jackson - this lasted well into the Bad years. Geez, now that I reflect I see a whole lot hasn't changed!
When I was in college, I came to a crossroads. Do I continue in my studies as an English major or do I follow my passion and take music. This was at the time Michael was going through his first rounds of child molestation accusations. I was enthralled as I watched the interview with Oprah in '93. The day he was acquited was the same day I found out that I'd been accepted into the music program.
Last year, a group of friends and I were out bowling and the jukebox was playing an assortment of music. Thriller comes on and K and I instantly start doing that same zombie dance that I'd practiced years ago, still fresh in our minds - sort of. Of course everyone laughed at us while we secretly made a pact to learn it step for step for our next gathering. We're still working on it.
No matter what you think of him, you can not dispute the fact that he was a very talented man, and that's how I will remember him.
Some fav songs:
Bollywood, how I love you. In my searches I came across this...
If you have any stories about how he may have impacted your life, I'd love to hear them.
June 29, 2009 at 10:03 AM
R.1.P indeed, Michael is absolutely a legend, and his influence definitely reigned world over, hence why i did a post on Bollywood and its love for Michael
MJ Forever.......xx
June 29, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Loved your post. I think, even if you don't like him, you can't deny that he impacted movies, music, pop culture world wide.
June 29, 2009 at 1:15 PM
MJ is one of the few American popstars that I did grow up hearing about, in my Bollywood dominated childhood/teenage. I even liked some of his songs, though he was never a favorite of mine. One of my friends though, was a BIG fan of his and seemed to share all your fantasies!
June 29, 2009 at 1:32 PM
I think you'd be hard pressed to find another musician that has such cross-over appeal as MJ did, and my fascination with him ended with my teenage years - had to make room for different obsessions!
June 30, 2009 at 3:49 AM
MJ forms a huge part of my memories growing up - I was very little when Thriller came out, and the video TERRIFIED me... I used to go and hide behind the sofa everytime it came on (which was often). Earlier this year, I ran into an uncle of mine who lived with us at the time, and he reminded me of how much Thriller scared me out of my wits back then - it was that bad. I remember going to birthday parties when I was little and always dancing to Michael's latest hits. I remember watching the video for 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' and loving his total abandonment to the beat. I remember listening to 'Heal the World' for the first time, loving the melody... I remember re-discovering all his songs again a few years ago...
I really loved Michael - I don't think I realised how much until he died. He was ENORMOUSLY talented, no-one can dispute that - as a singer, songwriter, dancer, overll performer. And he was such an innovator and trendsetter. He transformed the music industry like no one else. Despite all the other stuff that went on in his life, I will always love him for the music.
June 30, 2009 at 6:57 AM
What wonderful memories. I think it's funny how pop culture affects our lives in ways we don't even know. I had a friend who I knew back in my junior high days who I recently connected with on facebook - she told me that when she'd heard MJ died the first thing she thought of was me. He's definitely someone who made an impact on people's lives. I will always love his music.
July 3, 2009 at 9:11 PM
All three deaths that day a tragedy, for sure. It's always a shame whenever society loses such influential people!
July 4, 2009 at 7:33 AM
Am I missing something? Who was the third?