I was 5 when Thriller came out. My brother Scott had it on vinyl, and I had it on tape. At some point in the 90's, I bought it on CD. Every single kid wanted to be MJ... black, white, it didn't matter. Will our kids will ever be part of such global adoration? I doubt it. The entertainment options today are already too many. Radio doesn't have the power it once did; MTV doesn't play videos any more. The Internet shines too bright a light on celebrities' lives. There's no wall between them and us; no longer any way to create the kind of mystique that someone like MJ had. No, I doubt Alex, Brandon or Lila will ever experience anything like us 80's kids did. It was fun, wasn't it?
The guy had his issues, and he made some bad decisions. No doubt about it. The worst of the allegations never seemed legit to me, but he sure didn't do much to help his cause, with the choices he made. But I'm not a psychologist or a judge, I'm just a guy who looks back fondly upon the soundtrack of his childhood. I'm just a guy who -- and I am not making this up -- tried to learn to moonwalk last year, by watching instructional videos on YouTube (I wasn't successful, but I can show you the mechanics sometime if you're curious.)
Our kids are growing up in such a different world than we did. But maybe it's good that they'll never see someone like MJ. Maybe that much star power is just destined to consume the one who wields it.
Be free, Michael.
Don't worry, we'll keep listening.
But they told me a man should be faithful,
and walk when not able,
and fight till the end,
but I'm only human.
--Will You Be There
2 comments:
Great post! Can't believe how many times I watched the making of thriller. Brad used to play Thriller along with Bon Jovi on his Fisher Price record player. I remember watching the Man in the Mirror video in my 6th grade class. Wow!
I am really impressed that my son in law remembers what his kid brother in law played on his fisher price recorder.
Love,
Debboe
Post a Comment