This week’s edition of Happy News will be different since I would like to share my thoughts on the passing of Michael Jackson.
His passing came as a surprise and brought back numerous memories from my youth. My youth was not easy but my love of music and dance are what helped me survive those tough days.
It was thanks to his music video Beat It that I decided to study dance. I went on to study dance for twelve years.
For those who did not grow up in the late 70s and 80s, the full impact of Michael Jackson is not fully understood. Back in the early 80s, long before remote controlled television, computers, answering machines, call waiting, touch-tone phones, microwaves, ATM machines and so much more, Michael Jackson’s music was fresh and new. His dancing was unlike anything anyone had seen. Music videos were just starting and he made each video look like a piece of art.
He also broke through barriers and even though in his later years he may have appeared odd, the man was talented and a genius. As someone who has studied dance, it took me months to perfect the moonwalk and he made it look so easy. Plus, to drop to ones knees and jump back up is far more difficult than it looks. I have bruised my knees numerous times trying to master that ability.
Michael Jackson’s dancing was so fluid, he reminded me of how Bruce Lee used to say to be like water. Michael Jackson was like water and his music spoke to me at a difficult time. God Bless him and may his soul rest in peace.
{ 22 comments }
I’m so glad you wrote about this… and you said it wonderfully. Thank you, Nadia (and amen!).
.-= Megan “JoyGirl!” Bord´s last blog ..This Too Shall Pass =-.
Hi Megan,
You are welcome and thank you so much for the positive feedback. I was hesitant to post this since it was more personal than what I usually publish but I felt like sharing my thoughts. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!
thx for expressing your regards n honor for departed soul.i wish also may his soul always rest in peace till eternity. AMEN. He was a real G-E-N-I-U-S.
Manish
India.
Hi Manish,
You are welcome and thank you for sharing your thoughts too. Music has the ability to touch us all regardless of where we live. Hope all is well!
Thanks for sharing another layer of yourself with us. Do you still dance?
.-= janice´s last blog ..Take Time to Treasure What’s Important =-.
Hi Janice,
I stopped because I hurt my leg. I still dance around every now and then but not as intense as I used to do. I used to dance/practice for two hours, six days a week. It was so much fun despite the hard work.
what is say i have no word to say how much i love Michael jackson but i want to know its murder case or natural
Hi Akash,
Welcome to Happy Lotus! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I guess in time we will know more about what happened.
Nadia
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I agree that it’s difficult for those whom did not grow up with his music to really understand why we think of him as such a loss. I too spent countless hours dancing,singing, and celebrating his music in the Beat It! and Man In The Mirror days. I also enjoyed so many of his earlier songs from when he was just a kid a few years older than me- “ABC, 123 baby you and me!” and “I’ll Be There” oh and “Ben”! Anyway, Thank you for the video too.
.-= SpinDiva´s last blog ..Getting Fit with the Wii–oh yeah, it can happen =-.
Hi SpinDiva!
Welcome to Happy Lotus! I was getting my hair done on Friday and the girl who was doing my hair just could not understand what was the big deal about Michael Jackson. I think it means more to those of us who remember when “Thriller” was released and how it changed music. I was in seventh grade when his hair caught on fire and everyone freaked out because no one knew what happened. Definitely a different time. Thank you so much for sharing your memories!
Thank you for posting this, Nadia. Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” is one of the first videos I ever remember seeing on MTV (which was still totally new when I was a kid).
I remember buying the Thriller album when I was eight years old, wearing a red leather zipper jacket, having a Michael Jackson pin, and trying to moonwalk with all the other kids in our carport.
His passing is sad because so much of his musical genius was usurped by the strange episodes/circumstances that seemed to mark most of the last years of his life.
So many of us want happiness. It was so obvious that he did, too. But did he ever find it?
.-= Chania Girl´s last blog ..You’re Beautiful =-.
Hi Chania Girl,
Just like you, “Beat It” was one of the first music videos I saw too. It was like a mini-movie.
You are right that so much of his genius was overshadowed by all the unique circumstances of the past decade or so. I think he changed music, dance and video. He will always have that legacy. As to whether he found happiness, I have no idea. However, I think he contributed what he could to make the world a better place. Hopefully, his soul and his conscience are at peace. I have often thought that one of the greatest things a person can do in life is to bring joy and I think he did that to so many of us.
Wonderfully put, having heard the Thriller album in the sixth grade!! He was Amazing. And, I have read that his doctor gave him a lethal shot of Demerol– he did not wake from it. No doubt a botched pharmaceutical combination, a leading cause of death in the US. They would have us believe otherwise. Otherwise, pharmaceuticals would be in trouble. Funny, injections such as this highly addictive substance are administered by ‘doctors’— and yet, marijuana remains ‘illegal’— I say keep it illegal, to keep it safe. Thanks for your kind words on Michael—
Hi Molly,
You and I must be the same age because I was in sixth grade when that album came out.
I just read a story that Michael Jackson had lupus and was in severe pain. If that is true, then that explains the medicine. I guess the details will become clearer with time.
I listened to his songs when I was younger, although I wouldn’t call myself a fan. Still, I cannot understand why there are so many criticisms or snide remarks about how fans have been going mourning over news of his death. Without a doubt, he is a true genius (despite all his weirdness). I choose to honor him for all his contributions to the music industry and the love and healing his songs have helped create to the world.
.-= Evelyn Lim´s last blog ..How to Prevent H1N1 Flu Naturally =-.
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Yesterday on one major news website, there was an article that reviewed the life of Michael Jackson and focused primarily on the weirdness of his life. As I read the article, the thought that came to mind was that maybe the guy did weird stuff because he was in pain. And whether or not he was in pain and whether or not he was weird, the man changed music. Hope all is well!
Thanks for this. I grew up with him too. There will never be another like him.
Hi Lorraine!
Welcome to Happy Lotus! You are welcome and you are right, there will never be another one like him. I think for those who grew up with his music, we see his impact and the significance of his music. Hope all is well.
Tks for your reply, Nadia. Am also following you on Twitter now (@Lorling). I think you give out such positive vibes
Hi Lorraine,
You are so sweet, thank you so much.
I am following you back too!
By the way, for those who have Twitter, you can follow me (HappyLotus) and I will follow you in return. Talk about instant karma!
I loved Michael. He popularized so many things in the entertainment business and in our daily lives–things that were not popular until Michael did them: The flood pants with white socks (all the better to watch those magical feet,) the loose-curled long afro, the crotch grab, the head toss, the fan blowing onstage, the open shirt with the white t-shirt underneath, the vocal sound effects, the music video that told a story, the military look, the sunglasses, the poses for dramatic effect, the shoving up of the sleeve, and of course, the moonwalk. I grew up with Michael Jackson playing in the background of my life. You watched him in action and could almost not stop your body from getting up to imitate.
He was someone you looked at in later years with sadness, seeing a soul so obviously in pain, yet knowing that you could do nothing to stop his self-destruction. We all saw him, knew it would end tragically, and felt helpless to stop it from happening.
.-= Randi´s last blog ..Sunday Serenity 6-28-09 =-.
Hi Randi,
Welcome to Happy Lotus! Thank you for finding your way here. I always enjoy reading your comments over at Janice’s site.
I really appreciate you sharing your thoughts on Michael Jackson. Music really has the ability to reach so many people in so many unique ways. I think as the days go by, we will learn more about him and how his life was like towards the end.
{ 1 trackback }