Michael Jackson – Finally off the wall

I had only been back in the country for 24 hours, after having lived in Venezuela for the last six months.  I remember being in the mall or a store with my mom, excited to finally be procuring Dr. Pepper and Milky Way Bars (my favorite snack combo at the time) once again after not having either for months.  I saw the huge stand with Thriller on it.  Apparently, it had been released while I was gone.  The cover was striking with Michael in his white suit laying propped on one elbow, soulful eyes…you remember.

Rewind for a bit – the first album I remember from Michael was “Off the Wall” - I believe the first album he did unleashed from “The Five.”   The first thing I remembered was that his voice was as high as mine, meaning I could sing along with his songs, which made me extremely happy.  I also remembered how great the songs were and how I comendeered my mom’s LP and played it until the needle wore out (for those a wee younger, the needle was the to record player) – remember those?  

Finally back in the country, I remembered the pleasure of having someone actually ask me, “What?  Were you out of the country?” when I told them that I didn’t have my own copy of Thriller, and my being able to replay that, “Yes, in fact I was.”  I did however ask mom to buy the cassette (for those a wee younger – that was the little rectangular thingy that you put into a tape recorder with two spools..).  AND, I played it until it disintegrated and I had to ask mom for a second copy.  I loved that album – especially the “B” side (for those a wee younger…the B side was….oh, forget it).  One of my favorite songs was “Human Nature”  I remember how that album (and puberty) converged on me in a major way.  I knew all of the songs, the Thriller choreography, and Billie Jean, which made me, and every girl around my age, swoon.  He was an icon to me at that time.  Seeing in concert was an amazing experience. 

AND, who could forget seeing him (for me for the first time), on the  MTV Music Awards performing Billie Jean.  I remember sitting there eating Nachos with my mom around the coffee table, just casually watching the awards show, and then, having the fork fall out of my mouth when he performed as he brought the house down.  We just hadn’t seen or heard anything like that – we really hadn’t.

One thing I keep hearing from people around me this week is how talented he wasn’t.  How Quincy Jones produced him, and he didn’t write his own music, bla, bla, bla.  Is that the only thing that makes someone talented?  I dont write my own songs – am I a fake and lacking talent?  Has anyone forgotten how he could sing circles around most singers sharing the industry with him, but being a third of their age, or performed and danced enough to bring a house of cynical MTV music award attendees to their feet?   I’m listening (at this very moment) a recording of him singing “Aint no sunshine when she’s gone” – and it’s better than the original – his voice is flawless – and he’s, like……10 or 11 years old.

I know about the media, the controversy, the allegations, the weirdness.  I know about his weird family, the domineering father.  I know I was sad to see a talented performer layered in so much extraneous crap that the talent was lost at its core.  I know that.  What I’ll remember, however, is his voice.

…and now all we can do is remember.