It is not everyday that you hear of the greatest entertainer of the world passing away. I think the world stopped and the moon bled on June 25 2009, the day of Michael Jackson’s passing. My heart certainly stopped and cracked. From my father’s father, to my father, to me and then now to my six year old daughter who can’t help humming hits like “Human Nature” and “Bad”; how could it be that someone could transcend four generations and still leave room for more. My great grandchildren will know and love Michael Jackson’s music. His lyrics are timeless and his melodies resonate with the beat of your heart. How can one man touch the lives of so many people? How come we all feel like we knew him and that he was/is family—when did it become personal?
I would say it was/is his spirit. Michael had the most gentlest of spirits, ever soft-spoken and mindful of others, ever so generous and definitely not of this world. He exemplified the light that is in all of us; the light of God, the true nature of how man and his fellow men ought to be. Such a light could not have gone out even under a bucket, his light still shines bright and brighter than ever.
His body of work is astronomical, never before have we seen someone who can move like Michael. He was a perfectionist, a different kind though, because when you go to watch “This is it” you will find out what many of us his fans have always known about this incredible man; he was a very humble guy. Most rehearsals for singers I imagine are full of prima donnas who yell at the staff and give off angry vibes when something is not as they want it to be, but never Michael. He was always so respectful, polite and so kind in words and deeds. This is Michael Jackson we are talking about, the king of pop, the greatest entertainer that ever lived and he never let it get to his head, I love him even more for that.
In the documentary ‘This is it’, you never saw the drugged-up or weak man the media speculated. He was full of energy and full of life, he was so full of LOVE and Light. Just watching the grueling rehearsals made me tired, but he never missed a step or got winded. He was always precise, right on cues, perfect pitch and emotionally and physically very present. I was in awe. This show would have been one to talk about for years to come. What Michael was preparing for his fans was nothing short of perfection. His crew, technicians, back-up singers and dancers had so much love and respect for him. The energy between them all was a beautiful one to watch.
At the ripe age of 50 Michael’s voice was at its best; his soulful serene voice that makes you want to get up and save the world, his loving gestures welcoming you with open arms to not be afraid join in. Michael was not just a phenomenal dancer and incredible singer; he was a wonderful human being. He was Michael; a mother’s beloved son, a brother, an uncle and most importantly a great father. He was a child at heart, the child in him never ever left and while we may sit and point fingers or call him “wacko-jacko” or weirdo, while we became the bullies we disliked in school yards, we helped shun him into despair when the only thing he wanted to do was share his joy and love, love for humanity and his love for music. Michael was a human being, not just some robotic thing without feelings. And to have come back again and again after the ‘slaps’ to the face tells you what a resilient spirit he had, the very sensitive ones are sometimes the ones with the most powerful will to survive.
Michael didn’t want to die, he wanted to live. There is no way the energetic man in that documentary wanted to die. He wanted to live. He loved life. He loved people. He loved his children. He loved his family. He loved his fans. He loved the world. All Michael wanted was to make the world a better place. He sang it time and time again, wrote countless songs on that topic, songs you know come from a very special place, “We pray for our fathers, pray for our mothers, wishing our families well, we sing songs for the wishing, of those who are kissing but none for the missing…let’s pray for all the lost children…” (From Invincible Album) That was Michael, he always thought of others, always. Not too many of us can say things like that preoccupy our minds, not many. There are special people God put on this earth to share his message and Michael Jackson was definitely one of them.
As you watch the documentary, every song will have you crying or humming or jumping to your feet. Your eyes will be glued to the big screen because you will not want to miss a second and you may find yourself shaking your head from left to right wondering why he had to die and so, so suddenly and right before what would have been a spectacular show. I left the movie theater, warmed, moved, sad and happy, blue and purple but one thing that Michael is great at doing, I left with a singing heart and more love than I could carry. Love for the world, love for this planet and love for all human beings. Indeed, there should be a Michael Jackson holiday; why not make it August 29th of each year for one that will never be forgotten.
P/s
To have lived your whole life wanting to come to America so you can meet the one who inspired you to become what you are today, to have made it through and gotten all the way here and never to have really met him…I will always love you, Michael, yours is a spirit that just doesn’t die. Live on.
Copyright© 2009 by Bernice Angoh
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