Being that I'm am not, never was and probably never will be a huge MJ fan, when I found out I really wasn't affected much. I mean, it is tragic of course when anyone dies but that's life, people die. A lot of my friends are crying and telling me I'm heartless for feeling that way I guess because I'm black, was born in the 80s and am also very into the music scene that I'm SUPPOSED to feel something but I don't. I actually grew up listening to and following Prince so I don't share the attachment to Michael Jackson like most people in my age range. However, I understand how he affected so many people's lives in different ways and I respect that. I have my own personal opinions about Michael Jackson that I will not share here because of my respect for other people's feelings however I definitely DO NOT wish death on anyone. He was still young, only 50 and being that my parents are both only 2 years from 50, it makes me worry more about their health than anything.
I grew up watching Jackson Five and Osmonds on Ed Sillavan show. Donny was a few months older then me and Micheal was a few months younger. Then i have 4 kids and they listened to Micheal and i have 7 grandkids ands most of them listened to him. I still liked hearing him sing and dance. As I've watched the news I have felt like some of my past has died with him. Micheal will be missed,he was a great enterainer.
When someone is a public figure there comes a feeling of "knowing" that person. You've seen interviews, watched them perform, followed their successes ... and failures, know the name of their kids, etc. The untimely deaths of both Farrah and MJ are shocking given the legendary status of both individuals. Their names of part of our cultural vernacular and collective memory. Losing figures that had such profound influences on music, women in media, and, let's be honest - sequined vests and 80s hair - touches all of us both personally and as a society forever changed by their contributions.
As a child of the 80's, it almost seemed like Michael Jackson was part of the soundtrack and wallpaper of my life. I remember being freaked out by Thriller, watching the 'Black or White' video, and I always LOVED Captain E-O at Epcot center. He always seemed so profoundly troubled and sad, and I really felt sympathy for him, as someone who was denied a childhood and forced into celebrity as a young age. When someone's music or career touches our life, it almost feels like they're a friend, and we feel that loss.
As much as I didn't care for MJ's music, it was omnipresent during my adolescence and brings me back every time I hear it. I've never been more thankful for his tunes.
For me, it's because they each were such a huge part of my growing-up years. I was a child of the 70s and a teenager of the 80s; every little girl I knew in the mid-70s played Charlie's Angels, and every little girl wanted to be Jill/Farrah. (Though, as a brunette I eventually resigned myself to being Kelly/Jaclyn.) I had the famous Farrah poster hanging in my room and I can remember trying to style my hair look like hers. I hate that she suffered through cancer, but I love that her legacy won't be her hair, but her bravery in sharing her pain with the world to somehow make that pain easier for others. I roller skated to Rock With You and Off the Wall, and my 14th birthday party was arranged around the MTV world premiere video of "Thriller." Michael Jackson music is a huge part of my life soundtrack. It's a sad loss...RIP MJ and Farrah.
I was surprised at how much MJ's death affected me personally - it affected my entire day and I felt a real loss. But even as it was happening, I was trying to figure out why. Then, I heard someone say that when an icon of your youth dies, it's like a part of your inner child dies, too. Thriller was my first record and MJ was my first musical idol. I have a terrible memory, but have lots of MJ memories. I think I took it so hard because I am a musician myself and feel a deep connection to music; plus, he was such a tragic figure. I always felt for him. He was one of a kind and will be missed tremendously.
