The past few days have seen the loss of three well known celebrities. While Ed McMahon enjoyed a varied career, he will always be known to me as the man who pitched Publisher's Clearinghouse. Farrah Fawcett, I didn't know who she even was until adulthood and even then as a reference to the 1970s. I remember looking in an old comic book and seeing an ad for the Farrah Fawcett Fan Club. It gave one the opportunity to keep up with the news on "one of the most exciting celebrities today". She was not part of my generation I suppose as I really never knew who she was until a few years ago when somebody referenced, "Farrah Fawcett hair".
Michael Jackson however was a part of my generation. As a child, I became an instant fan when I first saw "Thriller". From the opening "transformation scene" to the yellow eyes and wicked laugh that concluded the video, I loved every minute of it. I would have loved to have a Thriller jacket. My friend Jaime had one, but it was purple and white. I recall her saying it was a "Latoya Jacket". Regardless, I thought it was cool. Thriller may have very well been an early inspiration to film making. I had never been so enraptured with on screen images as I was with Thriller. Watching those zombies unearth themselves was spellbinding. Watching the one's blood pour from his mouth crossed lines like I had never seen before. Thriller was the first time I realized what could be accomplished with film, even if I didn't know it at the time.
"Beat It" was cool too. While no "Thriller" when it came to videos, it was still a good one and one that I enjoyed. I never pined for a jacket like the one in that video though. "Billy Jean" had the neat effect where everything Michael touched lit up. However, that song's message was a little too mature for my understanding at the time. One memory associated with this is how I had to watch MTV without my dad knowing. He approved only of country music. So, while MTV played all day in hopes of seeing Thriller, I would dutifully watch the picture window for my dad crossing the porch. As soon as he was in sight, I made a bee line to the TV to change it. Perhaps my dad had some insight. Michael Jackson's "non-country" music had inspired this child to rebel and defy his father.
The years that followed would see a decreasing following on my part. I remember enjoying Wierd Al's "Fat" much more than Michael's "Bad". The song "Man in the Mirror" did have a great message though. I don't know of any kids that played the Moonwalker Nintendo game and the video where he tossed a quarter into the jukebox was strange. By the time "Black and White" was released, Michael had taken a turn for the wierd and no longer held my interest at all.
In my high school years, I did begin listening to more and more 60's and 70's classics. Here I discovered Michael's early work as part of the Jackson 5. "I'll Be There" is a beautiful love song, even today. "ABC" has an awesome beat. There are other Jackson 5 songs that still energize the spirit and bring a smile to my face. It seemed as though Michael Jackson would remain just a part of the past; an artist whose time in the limelight had come and gone, giving the world some nice songs. This would not be the case though.
"Heal the World" was Michael's chance to reenter the mainstream and become reaccquainted with all those that once knew him. People nationwide watched him perform at the Super Bowl and there was an Oprah Winfrey interview that many watched to get to know the star again after years of rumors and allegations. Sadly, it was not long after these attempts to reenter mainstream America that other accusations surfaced. Michael Jackson would never recover as his named became aligned with the most disgusting and despicable acts known to man.
He was never found guilty of these accusations, but his reputation was forever tarnished. His bizarre behavior, multiple plastic surgeries and these accusations would see him ostracized and never regain that late 70's early 80's stardom that had made him the "King of Pop".
Today, Michael Jackson has left us. I don't know what to think of his final years. However, I will always remember those early years of my life as I sat in awe of the werewolf, spooky graveyard and zombies that Thriller brought to life. That is the Michael Jackson I will remember most.
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