A Tribute to Michael from another Gen Xer

UPDATE:  Michael Jackson died after a Demerol Injection (via Gawker).

I know I’ve been out of the loop here at the Confluence, but I came here because this is home to me on the intertubez.

I was 5 years old when Elvis Presley died.  I knew him very little.  My mom had a couple of his records and in her broken English she’d sing to his “Suspicious Ways.”  When Elvis died, I lived on Broomfield St. in Lawrence, Massachusetts and I remember it like yesterday:  I was playing with the neighborhood kids outside in the street.  It was a hot day and my dad had just come home from doing a double shift, and had to go back to work at 11pm – so like every 70s kid, we left the house to go play outside.

Then a huge scream came from one of our neighbor’s house.  “Elvis is dead!”

Now in my 30s, I realize the great impact Elvis Presley had to the Baby Boomer generation.  He was the KING.  Who can forget Elvis in his famous performances gyrating and killing it onstage, to then softly coo into a microphone if you “were lonsesome tonight” – the man was an ARTIST.

Technically speaking, Michael Jackson (like Madonna and Prince) are Baby Boomers, but they were adults in the 1980s and through their brilliance, became symbols of the 80s, the Generation X decade.

And Michael died.

We lost Farrah Fawcett too.  I can remember my Charlie’s Angels lunchbox, bubblegum cards and playing with my cousin.  I was Kelly, she was Jill Monroe.  And a few days from now, we will commemorate the deaths of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison – symbols of the 60s – and who died sudden deaths.

Regardless of his personal life, Michael Jackson made SUCH an impact in mine, like in millions of people across the globe.  He was an ambassador of peace and American ingenuity, creativity and brilliance.

I remember when I was about 6-7 yrs old, my older cousin who was the disco dancer of the family, taught me to dance the hustle & we danced in front of the family to “Dancing Machine” from the Jackson 5.   Then when my parents divorced, Michael’s “Off the Wall” song saved me from sadness.  We do have to live life Off the Wall at times to get by the hard times.

So here’s my video montage – there are many songs that I love that I can’t find good enough Youtubing-ness to post here.  But Michael, despite it all, THANK YOU for the music and for the moments you created.  Thank you for inspiring millions around the world.  As much as you suffered in health and in your personal life, just know that you were loved by me.

THANK YOU.

Got to Be There – please listen to this child’s voice!

Can You Feel It – YES!

Off the Wall

I HAD TO-  from Thriller “Wanna Be Starting Something”

UPDATE: Other Thriller songs like Beat It & Billie Jean are disabled.

Remember the Time (FOR REGENCY!!!)

Embedding disabled – CLICK HERE.