Michael Jackson dead at 50
What a crazy day! I started this first thing this morning, and now it’s almost 4:00 pm and probably old news.
The King of Pop, Michael Jackson died yesterday at the age of 50. Last night I had the TV on after This Old House and was flipping channels when I saw Jackson on 20 minutes or 60/60. Then, as I was waiting for the 9 o’clock news on Fox, the end of So You Wanna Dance? announced that American Idol would be replaying a show with Michael Jackson. I asked my wife what the deal was, did he have a new album coming out? Then the news started and the first news story was that he had died! I was stunned. I had just posted on Farrah Fawcett a few hours earlier.
Michael Jackson ruled the airwaves and the new TV soundwaves (MTV and Friday Night Videos) during my high school years. I wasn’t a huge fan as I was more into Judas Priest and Led Zeppelin at that point, however there was no denying his presence everywhere and the excitement he brought to music videos. There’s also no denying that his songs have stood the test of time.
He should have stopped then, but like so many, the cruel spotlight of fame far outlasts his talent, or perhaps fame warps the person and ruins the talent. Either way, fame is very hard on many, many, people, and Jackson became a horrible tragedy looking more dead than in his Thriller video and facing disgrace for alleged actions. He’s not the first or the last, but I pray he has finally found peace.
3 Responses “Michael Jackson dead at 50”
He had so much going for him at first. He really didn’t have much to live for towards the end. No money, not much of a career (no way he was up to doing 50 concerts), facially disfigured. It was all just so sad.
i was stunned to find out about MJ… he was still relatively young
I was shocked to hear of his passing. I liked his music. His Thriller and Bad albums were big during my teen years. I listened to them constantly. Not as big of a fan of him as I was of other people. But I still thought he was amazing.