j.lowe : making and finding stuff

One of my first cassette tapes was Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall. Later Dangerous would be my first compact disc – and the sound quality with headphones on, blew me away. There’s an intro track before Black or White where you hear knocking, and the CD sounded so clear, I thought my dad was knocking on the door to my room.

But this isn’t about sound effects.

This is about Michael Jackson.

I remember watching a TV movie about his life as a kid and thinking that he had it hard – no kid should be pushed into showbiz. A kid should get to be a kid.

Today, hearing that he died, reminds me a bit of Ike Turner’s death. Mixed feelings. You respect the music they made, while not approving of the actions and mistakes made in their personal lives.

Perhaps people put up on a pedestal – presidents, popstars, saints, policitians fail, so we learn not to treat them as heros, when they are just people.

That’s not to justify any of Jackson’s actions*

But I can certainly appreciate the amazing pop music he leaves behind – and that still to this day, can lighten up a dancefloor.

MJ – rest in peace!

*though there is always the possibility that Jackson was more of an asexual person, his growth stunted emotionally, so as to be a naive adult kid. i am opposed to the idea that michael jackson could be innocent of the sex abuse he was accused of.