Wow. Where do I start? Well, as many of you know I a big pop fan. I am a pop aficionado and I take it seriously.  It’s not just a nice-song-on-the-radio for me. I truly consider myself to be a student pop music and culture. Many, along the line, have considered this to be naff and some frown upon on it as a hobby. They think that pop is irrelevant. And I couldn’t disagree more. I firmly believe that arts and culture is the only method this world can be saved. It’s not a good economy, it’s not morals and it’s not politics.

Now, having said that, the day the King of Pop passes away is not an easy thing on me. Yes, I am a big Michael Jackson fan. So much so that if someone referred to him “Jacko,” I’d have a problem with them. If anymore brings up the child molestation case I cast them as unknowing and stupid. The point is Michael Jackson wasn’t just another performer or great dancer or a troubled celebrity. Michael Jackson was the single most valuable treasure of our generation.

He wasn’t “troubled,” as Barbra Walters said a minute after he died. The people had trouble with him. He has been judged on everything that does not pertain to what he is bringing to the table. MJ laid the ground for the pop music you listen to today. Play any pop song that’s hip today and I will trace back to you the MJ element in it. He has gone too soon.

For the half a century that we had him around us. The world mistreated him. The music industry misunderstood. And people who misguided about his life. To put in simple terms: he was ahead of his time. Maybe we will understand the capacity of Michael in the art world and as a cultural figure around the world.

He has been shunned for his lack of normalcy. Well, he’s extraordinary. He’s not average. He makes music perfectly and that’s a very hard thing to do, especially consistently. When see Michael on TV or in a magazine it was breath of fresh air. He looked different and he was right up on stage and people loved him. The plastic surgery debate has gotten so out of hand that people forget who they are talking about. Only the greatest artist of our time.

For everyone that grew up on Michael and felt outcasted or different there is a special bond there. It’s like when all the so-called freaks can celebrate freakdom. That different is OK and should be celebrated. And that no one has to fit into a box to be accepted.  I mean look at Michael. He’s was the reigning king of this world’s cultural sphere and his nose is falling off, or he hangs out with a chimp named Bubbles. Or he dislikes the world’s greed, hypocrisy and discrimination so he built his own fairytale of an abode and called it Neverland. He was different, that’s why he was great and everyone wanted him to change for their quest of normalcy.

“If the say why? why? Tell them that it’s human nature.”

- MJ

I grew up watching Michael, singing Michael, dancing Michael and appreciating everything he has done. i don’t know if I am angry or sad now. So, yeah Michael was a gem and I can’t have a good time knowing that he is no longer with us and that I can’t go see him on my birthday in London. His tour was called This Is It. And that was it. We get his for half a century to show is how it should go down, we treat him like shit and now he’s gone. I feel like he was stolen from us and I suddenly have an issue with everyone that ever said anything bad about him

It’s truly a sad sad day. Not just pop students like me. But for anyone with an appreciation for art. I am going to end this rant.

Now, if you’ll excuse me I am going to disappear for a little to collect myself. Meanwhile I have compiled my favorite Michael songs for all of you. Join the group and get the mix.

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