Michael Jackson
As much as I joked when I heard the news of Michael Jackson’s death, the shock is subsiding and I’m realizing that this man whose music and talent was a huge part of my childhood is now gone, for real. I have joked that he actually died in 1983, because his mental condition took a noticeable dive around that time – and this notion is in fact sadder to me than his death itself. But I sincerely hope when I die, someone will make jokes about me and have fun with it. In fact, you should start thinking of some now.
Yesterday I listened to Off The Wall and Thriller, twice each, and it evoked memories of having heard those songs for the first times. I’d dance along, sometimes with my parents. I’d practice my cool guitar moves, and I’d sing the lyrics all wrong. But to say it was all about the music would be inaccurate. Michael Jackson was a hero to me at that point. He danced well, he could light up sidewalk stones just by stepping on them, and, he had a second set of eyes that he could make roll over his existing ones. That last part scared me, but I still liked him.
It’s easy to recall childhood with fond feelings. It’s a time when most of us didn’t realize how horrible the world truly is. To me it was a time when my greatest concern was losing the small Lego pieces that served as lights to the space stations I’d create. They’d fall between the shag in the carpet and be gone forever, as those days are now.
Michael Jackson will always remind me of those days, and for that I will always have a special place in my heart for him. So, after all the insensitive jokes are forgotten, those memories will live on as long as I do. And at the end of it all we can only hope to be remembered fondly, because whether we like it or not, we all eventually become memories.
Shaun Hatton - June 27th, 2009 - 
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sobe on June 27, 2009 at 6:44 pm
RIP, I joked about him as everyone did during the trial and such but I am truly sad he’s dead:(
Lemcott on June 27, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I always wanted long hair as a kid, only because MJ had long hair.
as much as I admired the guy though, the death doesn’t shock me.
The MJ I know and loved died a long time ago…
Danglegin on June 27, 2009 at 9:01 pm
I feel strange about his death. I’m not sad, because his life up until now seemed really weird, whith his strange way of behaving and with that alien-like appearance. But his music, so energetic, and his moves, specially the moonwalker (I’m going to do it properly sooner or later) make me feel well.
He’ll always have a place in my heart just for being an integral part of the 80′s bar in Back to the Future II (those movies really defined my childhood; I still have the VHS cassettes with the movies recorded from TV).
Put your hat on, MJ, and don’t forget to turn the off the lights while leaving.
Alexei on June 27, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Yes, his contribution to arts and the memories of him will live on forever. And that is more than many of us can hope for… R.I.P. King of Pop
kojo87 on June 28, 2009 at 1:26 am
im torn. until the last year or so i’ve only known Michael Jackson as portrayed by the media. the strange, mentally unstable Michael Jackson. just when i start listening to his music and watching his absolutely awesome music videos, he dies. i can’t process the fact that these are the same person. i watch the video for Thriller and look at recent interviews with him and it makes no sense to me.
samwyse on June 28, 2009 at 8:35 am
“But I sincerely hope when I die, someone will make jokes about me and have fun with it. In fact, you should start thinking of some now.” Enjoy.
Nick Luckett decided to host a party for all of the 4CR contributors. Afterwards, three of them were found dead, yet all of them are smiling. Now a detective is talking to the coroner to find the causes of death.
The coroner points to the first dead man, lying near a television set. “This is Jody Anthony,” he says. “He died of shock after winning 20 million on the lottery.”
He then moves on to the second smiling corpse, who is in a coat closet. “This is Evan Murphy,” the coroner says. “He died while doing ‘it’ with June Thong.”
Finally he moves on to the last smiling corpse, out on the deck. “This is Shaun Hatton,” says the coroner. “He died after being struck by lightning.”
“Well,” asks the detective, “Why in hell was he smiling?”
“Oh,” says the coroner. “He thought he was having his picture taken.”
amanaplan on June 28, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Billy Mays is dead too.
sueveus rex on June 29, 2009 at 4:25 am
I just wanted to say, this is a really well written article, kudos.
Jorge on June 29, 2009 at 8:36 am
I am not depressed that MJ is gone. But I am also not happy. MJ is a prime example of the cost of fame. He was a wizard. A man who had the musical equivalent of the philosopher’s stone. The world was his oyster, but he lost something along the way and gained nothing but improper notoriety, whether on purpose or by fluke.
I feel bad that the jokes seem to outweigh the kudos for a man that changed the face od music.
I am not sure if I will write something on my own blog. I don’t know if I could do him justice. But I will say here that I think he was pretty amazing.
And “Billy Jean” was my favourite music video/song by him.
bodo on June 29, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Great article of a great musician and artist.
Michael Jackson is an important part of my childhood in the same way the first video games, LEGO space and Hip Hop were to me.
I will never forget the first time I watched the ‘Thriller’ video with my dad – we were both hooked from the first seconds.
Rest in Peace !!