No, I’m not nostalgic. Literally, I missed the 80’s. Oh yes, I was alive, but throughout that decade I was in the cult. I didn’t listen to secular music, watched very little TV or movies, and only read Christian books.
I first learned of Michael Jackson’s death on Twitter. The tweet: “What a week. First Ed, then Farrah and now Jacko!” Who? I immediately opened my trusted Google to enlighten me. Of course, I’d heard of Michael, but most of what I knew about him was his recent tragic life and lawsuits. Due to the media blast that has followed his death I have now seen a Michael Jackson video for the first time. I’m enthralled. I now understand his impact—the talent, genius, work ethic, and emotion that transformed music.
Michael Jackson did not experience a childhood; he tried to retrieve it, live it, share it with other children. Obviously, it affected his concept of reality and he spiraled into a neurotic, possibly psychotic, state of existence. David Edelstein of CBS Sunday Morning commented on the true tragedy of Michael’s life: “When you watch Michael Jackson sing on the video, “You Are Not Alone” your heart breaks that no one was singing that song to him.”
I don’t have the additional challenges of fame, fortune and tabloids, but I can identify with MJ. First lesson learned: All things in moderation. Any extreme is harmful to the psyche. I made a mistake trying to eliminate worldly influence. Second lesson learned: No one can go back. You can’t relive what has been lost. The past cannot be changed. But I can assimilate and appreciate gems from the 80’s. Can you imagine what it’s like to watch “Bad,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” or “Man in the Mirror” for the first time?
Excerpt from Playgirl:
“Are you sure you haven’t been listening to Blondie for years?”
“Positive. I’d never heard of them until you introduced me to “One Way or Another.”
“How can that be? You live in a cave or something?”
“No, just wide open spaces — no neighbors within five miles.”
“For real? Your nearest neighbor is five miles?”
“Yep.”
“Damn…do you even have radio out there? Is that why you’d never heard of
Blondie?”
“No, we have radio,” I giggle, “but I rarely listened to secular music for years. Now the world of music is wide open to me. I feel like I’ve just been born. I heard REO Speedwagon on the radio the other day and I thought it was a brand new group.”
“Oh…my…God.”
“I know. I have a lot of catching up to do. But, who better to guide me than you! I have my own personal DJ.”
“So what did you listen to?” Music is his life. He writes it, performs it, and he’s the disc jockey of the evening show on a “70’s, 80’s, and Now” mix station in Charleston.
“Christian.”
“Why?”
“Rock music is the syncopated beat of the devil, haven’t you heard?”
“Guess not…thank God! But there’s a lot of Christian rock out there.”
“Yeah, I know. The eternal debate in my church. I can’t remember how many times my son, Rand, came home from Bible camp, and we’d have a burning in the backyard.”
“Burning? Of what?”
“His rock CDs.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m not…I promise.”
“Now I’m really confused. How in the hell did you end up at a porno site?”
First off, let me express my sorrow that you thought REO was a brand new group! That cracks me up!
Second, I appreciate your understanding of Micheal’s sad life. Indeed, he exhibited all the symptoms of an abused child, including the fact that he went on in his adult life to abuse other children. I’m all too familiar with the unseemly world of pedophilia having spent 10 years drowning myself in research on the subject. Micheal Jackson was a pedophile and he was as guilty of his crimes as OJ Simpson is of his. Not only did MJ prey on children, he closed Neverland Ranch years agoand let go all his loyal employees with no severance pay. Many had worked for him loyal for years and he set them free like pigeons. He used people to gain access to drugs and ostracized those who would not oblige. Google Deepok Chopra. He died owing millions of dollars to many people. He was driven by narcissism, materialism, and addiction. He left behind 3 dear children who may never know who their biological parents are. Was his a sad life? Extremely. But it’s no excuse to wreak havoc on everyone in his path in life and in death. Like Nancy Grace said the other night, I’m not going to judge him, that’s between him and God now.
What a great post, Regina. So very eloquent and poignant!
Michael Jackson represented a RAT to me when in Jr. High. It was the song “BEN” and the movie “Willard”. Having an abnormal fear of RATS is haunting. That’s a whole other topic. When “Thriller” came out, I was not relating to him in the least. Fast forward 30 years. In the last 10 years, I’ve been a huge MJ fan. I keep a running list of who I’d love to have at a dinner party. Diane Sawyer, Martina Navratilova, Michael Jackson, etc. People would always say, “so much talent, wasted”, or simply, “he’s such a sick pervert”. If you spent time watching his videos and that Superbowl half time show, listening to the lyrics of “Heal the World”, “We Are the World”, “Black or White”, and the other songs you mentioned, you cannot help but be moved by the genius. Most of today’s top dancers are using his moves. The lyrics seemed to be generations ahead of their time. If I could ask one question, it would be “What makes your heart happy?” “What makes you have a huge belly laugh?” Just imagine being at a long dinner table of say 14 people, and we all talk about what really makes us happy. Now imagine Michael Jackson being there and telling you. Sadly, I doubt Michael Jackson has ever been to a dinner party in the fashion we know of. As Ghandi says, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world…..”
Deepak Chopra is alive and active in La Jolla today. I know nothing of his financial matters but all of his written and recorded material is top selling. I have read most of his work, but I will admit that he’s gone “pop”.
Thanks to all for your comments. Obviously, Michael Jackson strikes a nerve. I’m not sure to what Valarie was referring when she stated, “Google Deepok Chapra,” Jo. The next sentences refer back to MJ, not Chapra. I did google Chapra, who was a close personal friend of Jackson’s. He laments Michael’s delicate psychological state and substantiates his abuse of prescription drugs. But he also points out that Michael was a loving, protective father. Chapra trusted his own son with Jackson. The son speaks highly of Jackson with affection.
When Martin Bashir interviewed Michael Jackson in 2003, he asked him if he was the biological father of his children and if he had sex with Debbie Rowe. In my opinion, MJ’s body language revealed he was lying when he said, “Yes.” But when questioned about the child molestation, his answers are genuine and sincere, looking Bashir straight in the eyes. Admittedly, he had deranged ideas about interaction with children, but my opinion is he did not sexually molest any of them. It’s an antithesis to everything Michael Jackson believed. I believe he truly loved children and was desperately attempting to return to his lost childhood. Something impossible to do, which was the intent of my post.
Great post! Wow! It’s hard for me to contemplate people not knowing about pop culture – because it’s everywhere – but you give a fascinating perspective! Imagine not knowing anything about Michael Jackson – never having seen a video – I grew up loving MJ – I adored his music – especially his music videos. And here we are – brought together by one of pop culture’s most wonderful inventions – social media! thank you twitter!
My how you’ve grown. What we don’t realize about our friends. You’re an amazing wonderful surprise Regina. So glad we’re friends. See you soon.
What absolute genius, Regina, to tell your true story, then follow that with quotes from Playgirl. I’m not sure which rings with more truth!
P.