RIP Michael Jackson

RIP

It’s been a while since Michael was actually the King of Pop. We’ve seen Usher, Timerberlake, Chris Brown all take the reins as the “king.” But when I think back to the Michael Jackson I loved growing up, it was this guy, pictured above. I once had a teacher tell me Michael Jackson “invented Rap.” While she was wrong in her chronological history, she was right about one thing. Michael Jackson made it cool to be “Bad.”

I stopped defending him after the second allegations. I watched the Martin Bashir interview and saw how crazy and displaced he was. He was so lost. I can go on and on about the Michael of the past 20 years…but there is no need. That wasn’t the Michael that touched the world (no pun). Michael left this world with a collection of music that will forever be cherished.  I think it is important that we set aside the drugging and raping of sick children (I’m sure Roman Polanski would agree) and take a few minutes to listen to Michael’s music. It will make you feel a little better.

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Man in the Mirror

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Beat It

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Bad

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Billy Jean

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Thriller

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ABC

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