King of Pop

Michael Jackon has, as everyone by now is aware of across the world, died at the age of 50. It is no surprise that the premature death of the King of Pop has received great attention worldwide, but the enormity of the outpourings are truly a testament to the man's lasting impact on not only music, but pop culture as well. From Gary, Indiana to Neverland Ranch in sunny California, his was a truly amazing journey.

I was only 11 years old when the Thriller album, to which I am currently listening as I write this, hit the world and a global phenomenon was born. I suppose that Michael was the superstar of our generation's teenage years, although we were too young to have appreciated his youthful rise to stardom in the 1970s with the Jackson 5. I did, however, get the chance to see him live during the Dangerous Tour, in 1992 in Stockholm.

Al Sharpton said of Michael that he 'made culture accept a person of colour way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama... Michael did with music what they did in sports, in politics, and in television. No controversy will erase the historic impact'.

Legendary producer Quincy Jones (who produced Thriller): 'For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words... He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him'.

One YouTube tribute features Michael's 'Human Nature' from the Thriller album, one of his finest songs:



But perhaps the best way to remember the singer who became the greatest pop star and symbol of all that is exciting and fundamentally troubling with the modern cult of celebrity is the early days, singing I Want You Back with the Jackson 5. What a lovely boy he was then.

technorati tags: Michael Jackson, MJ, King of Pop, Jackson 5, Neverland, I Want You Back, Thriller, Human Nature, Quincy Jones, Al Sharpton, pop star, celebrity cult