Michael Jackson

I'll try to give a different perspective, a personal perspective. As a child growing up in the 1970's my original memories are of Michael Jackson the child star. This was in an era when child stars were de rigeur, Jimmy Osmond, David Cassidy, Lena Zavaroni to name but a few, so it all seemed so normal. He clearly stood out from his brothers in the Jackson 5, and it was no surprise when "Off the Wall" was released that it was such a good album. In 1979, this album was very far being off the wall, it was very very at the centre of the disco and pop that was around then. To be frank, it seemed that would be the pinnacle of his musical output, but it wasn't to be. A few years later he released Thriller, which contained such variety and quality that it is no surprise that it remains, over 25 years later, the biggest selling album of all time. Anyone of my era will recall staying up late to watch the first screening of the Thriller video, a great coo for fledgling Channel 4. We were all amazed and talked about it for weeks. I recently had to remind my 12 year old son, when watching the video, that there were no CGI effects in play, and that blew him away! How many times have you heard the "I'm not like other guys" line being trotted out in parody or homage? Bad followed, which for me was the end of the road for his high quality output. However, some years later, when I'd long since written him off, he released Earth Song, which still sends shivers down my spine, and it was accompanied by a stunning video. Yes he was dogged by controversy, and allegations, but given his well documented childhood, and the fact the he would have been surrounded by sycophantic advisers (as was Elvis) it's no surprise that he was desperate to maintain a Peter Pan like existence. Whatever the truth of these matters, he remains a prolific performer the like of whom will never be seen again.
Darkness falls across the land... indeed it does, RIP, Michael Jackson