Michael Jackson not revered by today's youth.

[nrgbeat]

This article by Nicholas Fedyk appeared in a local newspaper.

In the aftermath of the passing of the King of Pop, two distinct aspects of Michael Jackson's life come to my mind.One is his amazing musical talent and the legacy that he left behind. His impact on the musical world is evident by the tributes that a countless number of artists have paid him throughout the years, and more importantly, by his 13 No.1 hits.

But honestly, his musical success only comes to my mind unconsciously. I do not remember his songs or his achievements. I did not live in his era.
Instead, what I remember most is the controversy that surrounded him during the last decade of his life. And the same holds true for most members of the younger generation that I am a part of.

When the name "Michael Jackson" gets around at school, we immediately ridicule him. We think of Michael as a child molester, as an outcast who had an obsession with plastic surgery and whose face resembled a ghost. These thoughts are cruel but unavoidable.
I do not remember Jackson performing Thriller, but I do remember the heavy news coverage of the child molestation case in 2005. I do not remember Jackson growing up singing in the Jackson 5, but I do remember the time that he lifted his baby over the railing on a balcony for the world to see.

So when I asked my parents about the life of Michael Jackson, they told me to concentrate on the positive aspects of his life. But I was never able to witness the time when it was only joy that Michael brought to the world. If I were alive to witness Jackson's rise to stardom, then I would truly be able to appreciate the life of one of the most famous artists ever. But I cannot go back in time. This is the unfortunate reality.

[thommy2458]

You make some valid points NRG-and I can see many that see him like you do.But there are also many who got past all that,one that quickly come to mind is Justin Timberlake.He is quick to point out that Jackson
influenced him in his music and his live shows-and it is apparent.
Musically,I stopped listening after "Bad" but there is so much to discover before that,you may want to invest in keeping an open mind and seeking out his large musical legacy-you won't regret it.

Thom
PS-I just realized this is posting someone else's view-apologies to NRG,but still put it out there for anyone else who feels this way

[Disco Funk]

Even though he may not have the same reverence to younger people as he does to older people, there are still a lot of younger people who idolized him, maybe even put him on a pedestal when those of us who grew up with his sound from Thriller and earlier knew him as just one of the Jacksons.

I was too young to remember Off The Wall, but I do remember the videos for Can You Feel It and everything from Thriller onward. I remember the Pepsi hair burning incident; I remember how he didn't appear in a video for a song he recorded with his brothers in the mid 80s, so they had a statue of him in it instead; and I remember his collaboration with Paul McCartney 'Say Say Say'. Then sometime around the mid-80s, the tabloid rumours started, and many have said that it was purposely done from Jackson and his people. Stuff about him sleeping in an oxygen tent to stay younger, having the elephant man skeleton, then his companion the chimpanzee Bubbles, who I think died suddenly, and was replaced by another chimp if I recall correctly. Then once interest in the chimps ended, some time during the early 90s began the building of Neverland (unless that was built earlier) and the tales of the little kids... :(

Disco Funk

[Salsoul1975]

Michael Jackson peaked with "Thriller", and he would never reach those same heights again. The bar had been raised infinitely, and he couldn't match that level.

"Bad" was his last album, as far as I'm concerned. But even so, "Bad" was no "Thriller" (I think the only two really great songs from that album were "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" and "The Way You Make Me Feel").

[Cory Ander]

is it really surprising the so many people don't recognizethe contributions of a man who not only made awesome music but who contributed millions of dollars to dozens of charities that help hundreds of thousands of people? Nope...instead people go ga-ga over whomever has the blondest hair, the most expensive boobs, the flashiest bling bling, etc. Sad, sad, sad.

[whitesockedfunk]

Originally Posted by Salsoul1975

Michael Jackson peaked with "Thriller", and he would never reach those same heights again. The bar had been raised infinitely, and he couldn't match that level.

To me, Michael peaked with "Off The Wall", there is a certain innocence to him that was gone when Thriller came out, he was starting to take himself a bit too seriously by then. Of course I loved "Thriller" at the time, but I haen't played it in eons, whereas I still regularly play "Off The Wall": some of the greatest horn and string arrangements ever on this album, thanks to wizard Quincy Jones!

[Salsoul1975]

Originally Posted by whitesockedfunk

To me, Michael peaked with "Off The Wall", there is a certain innocence to him that was gone when Thriller came out, he was starting to take himself a bit too seriously by then. Of course I loved "Thriller" at the time, but I haen't played it in eons, whereas I still regularly play "Off The Wall": some of the greatest horn and string arrangements ever on this album, thanks to wizard Quincy Jones!

I agree that there was an air of innocence with "Off The Wall" that was lost by the time "Thriller" came out. And yes, if I had to choose between which album I would play on any given day, it would definitely be "Off The Wall". It still had a late '70s feel to it but was sort of a precursor to what the music of the '80s would sound like.