Reflections on Michael Jackson.............

It's 6:15 pm on Thursday, June 25th and I just heard the news that Michael Jackson has died. Apparently he had a heart attack in his LA home and was rushed unconscious to the hospital. Of course the media wasted no time in bringing up all the gossip and innuendo that surrounded his later life and focusing on questions regarding his sexual proclivities and personal idiosyncracies. Once I allowed the truth of the news to sink in, I could not help but feel a great sense of loss. I remember the year the Jackson Five burst on the music scene - it was 1969 and the hit singles "I Want You Back" and "ABC" played regularly on my favorite radio station - WWRL. I was just starting high school and listening to the latest hits and learning the newest dance steps were an important part of my school based social activities. We marveled at this new group of young men with great moves and a great sound and were astounded that the best performer was also the youngest. I'll never forget the first time I heard Michael sing, "I'll be There" - his voice was so beautiful and mature, it seemed impossible such music could be coming from someone so young............

For the next twenty years Michael Jackson, his family, their music and careers were always in the background of my life. I remember clearly the night of the Motown 25th Anniversary show when Michael performed Billie Jean and did the Moonwalk for the first time on television. It was the main topic of conversation the next day - everyone asked the same question - "Did you see Michael last night?", "Yeah, those moves were BAD!!!!", "How did he do that?", "What's up with the white glove?". And so it was with Michael Jackson - he was always more than the sum of his parts, his singing, dancing, stage presence were surpassed by none - he was a master at his craft - making music - making us happy and letting us live out our fantasies thru him.

Like Michael, I was raised in the Jehovah's Witness' faith so I understand the deep conflict created between his religious beliefs which eschewed all "worldliness" and his status as a "pop star" and icon from the age of ten years old. This tension between his spirituality and physicality played itself out in many ways, not least in the behavior which led to the allegations of pedophilia which dogged him during his later life. It's hard to adhere to a fundamentalist faith while living in a hedonistic environment - I think his parents did him a disservice by not providing him better coping mechanisms. Despite the role of his religious and family upbringing, there are many factors about Michael Jackson's life and death that are a reflection of the arc of American culture over the past twenty-five years.

It was clear from the earliest days that Michael was the star of the family - his talent was so enormous it could not be contained - nor could it be kept within the confines of a family group. It was no surprise when he elected to leave Motown and begin a solo career - his first solo album "Off the Wall" only confirmed his genius in doing so - it was far better than anything he'd produced as part of the Jackson Five. Then came the famous performance at the Motown Reunion event - we all watched because we wanted to see him performing again with his brothers not realizing the real treat of the evening would be his solo performance of 'Billie Jean'. That performance and the album that followed - Thriller - cemented his claim as the greatest performer of his generation and lifetime. It would be great if that was all he would be remembered for - his great talent - his commitment to excellence and his humanitarian commitment to peace and love - especially for the sick and destitute children of the world. Children who like him, were unable to experience the joy and carefree space we associate with youth.

Unfortunately, Michael Jackson's name will also be associated with the many bizarre events that characterized the last two decades of his life. From the numerous plastic surgeries that left him looking like a mutilated wax version of his former self with badly bleached skin to match his overly straightened hair to the allegations of improper sexual behavior culminating in the trial where he was accused of being a pedophile. That trial like the O.J. Simpson trial - was a total media circus - even though he was acquitted of the charges in many ways it marked the end of Michael's public life. He was never the same after that event - his descent into obscurity accelerated to its dramatic climax today. It appears he died while in the midst of attempting a career comeback - I for one am glad he died in the effort rather than in the aftermath of failure.

Michael Jackson wanted to be a star and he achieved that goal - well beyond his wildest expectations. What he discovered too late is that stardom can be its own prison, from which there is no parole or reprieve. A glass bubble in which every foible, eccentricity and personal weakness is magnified and spotlighted for public scrutiny and judgment. And judge him we did, the marriages, the adoptions, the Peter Pan-like fantasy world he created and inhabited at his Neverland Ranch in California. His denouement seemed to follow the color of his skin - as he went from a handsome black man to a somewhat spectral looking nearly-white man, he seemed to slip further away from reality, ultimately a victim of the fame his family had programmed him to seek but offered no protection or support from.............. There's more I want to say but the words that come to mind seem insufficient, so I will end this post with a song from one of his recent albums - Invincible (too bad he wasn't) the song is entitled - Heaven Can Wait - but apparently not long enough....................