Friday, June 26, 2009
Michael, We hardly knew you.
Pop Culture has a way of throwing its followers curve balls and spit balls, but last night's announcement of the death of "the King of Pop" was a real slicer. Putting aside all the strangeness that attended Michael Jackson's life after "Thriller," one cannot deny his incredible impact on popular music. When we listen to the fragmented, often unintelligible music of today, we can appreciate how Jackson united blacks, whites, Hispanics, everybody with songs like "Billie Jean." His music and performances had a seething energy that expressed both sex and innocence. The infectious arrangements made almost all of us want to get up and dance. What music today does that? Is it rap or the wailings of semi-talents on Amercian Idol? I don't think so. The 1980's was the last era of music bringing us together, just as the Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Frank Sinatra did in past generations. So farewell, Michael, and farewell to an audience that responds spontaneously as one group, despite its backgrounds.
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Bro - Your comments about Michael were oh, so true. I just loved his music and dancing. I'll never forget watching with you (in Rome) the "Making of Thriller". You had just taped it, and it was my first time to see it. It was such fun watching it with you. Another thought: I've always been so impressed that Fred Astair was such a big fan of Michael's dancing. I wish I could have seen him in concert sometime over the years. Sis
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