This is a tribute to Michael Jackson, one of the biggest icons of the century.
As we all know, he died last June 25 after quite a turbulent life. What depresses me is that he died right before his comeback.
But I’m not here to talk about his death, I’m here to talk about him, and my thoughts on him.
When I was around five, I found a Jackson 5 CD in my mother’s CD collection. I stared at it for a while, not comprehending why my mother loved this CD much more than she loved the others.
My mother saw me, pointed at one of the boys on the cover and said, “That’s Michael Jackson.”
Back then the name Michael Jackson meant nothing to me. It was just another name, another inconsequential singer.
But soon after that, our maid and I sat in my bedroom, watching MTV. Michael Jackson’s video, Thriller, came on, and our maid broke into a huge grin.
“This is a nice song,” she told me. “It was number one for a long time.”
So I began to learn about Michael Jackson, and exactly how much he influenced the world. When reports of him molesting children came out, the same maid told me that she heard Michael sold his soul to the devil to become famous, and that he was now reaping the consequences. Being raised in a Christian school, I admit, has not done much good for me. But it did teach me that the devil is bad, and that our soul belonged to God.
So I said, “He’s a bad person, then.” And thus my first opinion of Michael was formed.
Now, at fifteen, I know much better. I can’t say I’m the best Christian in the world; in fact, I’m not such a devout Christian. I have my doubts about God, and I can say I don’t have much faith in humans. Maybe if I was an extremely devout Christian like my classmates were, I wouldn't have listened to Michael Jackson at all. But I'm not, and two years ago, when I was thirteen, I decided that I didn’t care if the man had really sold his soul to the devil. He sang, and he sang well. His music was good.
For that reason, I decided that he never really sold his soul. I believe that people whipped up that rumor, perhaps out of jealousy, or out of boredom. And so I put his music into my iPod, never mind if it might have contained evil subliminal messages. I was willing to risk it. He didn’t seem to be a bad person; just a misunderstood one, one with issues. And we all have our issues, don’t we?
My classmates didn’t believe I actually put his songs into my iPod. “You like Michael Jackson?” Then they’d snort. I shrugged and said he’s good. (On a side note, I’m not embarrassed to say that I have Britney Spears on my iPod either.)
My classmates love breakdancing, they love modern music, but most of them dislike Michael. They believe in the old “he sold his soul to be rich” rumor. They say that listening to the devil’s music will make you go to hell.
It appears that they’ve cast off Michael Jackson without realizing that he’s one of the forerunners of breakdancing. (I think.) He influenced modern music, modern fashion (in a sense) and roughly, modern culture. He is called the King of Pop for a reason.
Now he’s dead, and I don’t think any of my classmates realize that music has lost one of its greatest artists. They think the great artists are Fall Out Boy, Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers and hordes of other bands I won’t bother to mention. I’m not here to say that those bands are bad, but I say this with certainty: they never came close to Michael, and they probably never will. Their stars will rise and fall, but Michael’s rose and continued to stay in the sky. It probably will stay there forever.
I quote my father: “Michael Jackson has become a legend.”
And we all know legends never die.
~ Kara
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Kara, thank you for spreading Michael's love a little further.
Give your classmates a break, though; you, too, thought Michael was a "bad person" once upon a time. Perhaps you have matured quicker than your peers. You have come to grips with one of the greatest aspects of the human race. In every good there is a little bad; in every bad there is a little good.
Michael wasn't the picture of perfection, and never once did he claim to be. He had many flaws, the public just chose to scrutinize and exploit him for want of a freak to gawk at.
Kudos to you for accepting others the way they are; that speaks of your character and I am sure you are the type of person who would apply it to those you meet in everyday situations, not just the King of Pop.
Thank you for your message.
some michael jackson quotes
And I remember going to the record studio and there was a park across the street and I'd see all the children playing and I would cry because it would make me sad that I would have to work instead.
Michael Jackson
Because I think every child star suffers through this period because you're not the cute and charming child that you were. You start to grow, and they want to keep you little forever.
Michael Jackson
Because I wanted to have a place that I could create everything that I that I never had as a child. So, you see rides. You see animals. There's a movie theater.
Michael Jackson
Because parents have power over children. They feel they have to do what their parents say. But the love of money is the root of all evil. And this is a sweet child. And to see him turn like this, this isn't him. This is not him.
Michael Jackson
Before I would hurt a child, I would slit my wrists.
Michael Jackson
But I will never stop helping and loving people the way Jesus said to.
Michael Jackson
Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone. This simple goodness shines straight from their hearts and only asks to be lived.
Michael Jackson
Elizabeth Taylor is gorgeous, beautiful, and she still is today, I'm crazy about her.
Michael Jackson
Everyone who knows me will know the truth, which is that my children come first in my life and that I would never harm any child.
Michael Jackson
Everything that I love is behind those gates. We have elephants, and giraffes, and crocodiles, and every kind of tigers and lions. And - and we have bus loads of kids, who don't get to see those things. They come up sick children, and enjoy it.
Michael Jackson
I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin, it's something that I cannot help, OK?
Michael Jackson
I just wish I could understand my father.
Michael Jackson
I love my family very much. I wish I could see them a little more often than I do. But we understand because we're a show business family and we all work.
Michael Jackson
I rememeber one time we were getting ready to go to South America and everything was packed up and in the car ready to go and I hid and I was crying because I really did not want to go, I wanted to play. I did not want to go.
Michael Jackson
I was a veteran, before I was a teenager.
Michael Jackson
I will say again that I have never, and would never, harm a child. It sickens me that people have written untrue things about me.
Michael Jackson
I'm a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity.
Michael Jackson
I'm happy to be alive, I'm happy to be who I am.
Michael Jackson
I'm just like anyone. I cut and I bleed. And I embarass easily.
Michael Jackson
I'm never pleased with anything, I'm a perfectionist, it's part of who I am.
Michael Jackson
I've helped many, many, many children, thousands of children, cancer kids, leukemia kids.
Michael Jackson
If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.
Michael Jackson
It's a complete lie, why do people buy these papers? It's not the truth I'm here to say. You know, don't judge a person, do not pass judgement, unless you have talked to them one on one. I don't care what the story is, do not judge them because it is a lie.
Michael Jackson
Just because it's in print doesn't mean it's the gospel.
Michael Jackson
Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul, and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation.
Michael Jackson
Me and Janet really are two different people.
Michael Jackson
My mother's wonderful. To me she's perfection.
Michael Jackson
People write negatives things, cause they feel that's what sells. Good news to them, doesn't sell.
Michael Jackson
Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court.
Michael Jackson
The Bee Gees who are brilliant, I just love great music.
Michael Jackson
The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work.
Michael Jackson
The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation.
Michael Jackson
There were times when I had great times with my brothers, pillow fights and things, but I was, used to always cry from loneliness.
Michael Jackson
They did it to try and belittle me, to try and to take away my pride. But I went through the whole system with them. And at the end, I - I wanted the public to know that I was okay, even though I was hurting.
Michael Jackson
Well Brooke, I've always liked her, and when I was little I used to stay with Diana Ross, me and my brothers stayed with her for years and I never said, but I always had a crush on her.
Michael Jackson
Well, especially now I come to realize - and then - I would do my schooling which was three hours with a tutor and right after that I would go to the recording studio and record, and I'd record for hours and hours until it's time to go to sleep.
Michael Jackson
Well, you don't get to do things that other children get to do, having friends and slumber parties and buddies. There were none of that for me. I didn't have friends when I was little. My brothers were my friends.
Michael Jackson
When I see children, I see the face of God. That's why I love them so much. That's what I see.
Michael Jackson
Why can't you share your bed? The most loving thing to do is to share your bed with someone. It's very charming. It's very sweet. It's what the whole world should do.
Michael Jackson
Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice.
Michael Jackson
Yes, and I had pimples so badly it used to make me so shy. I used not to look at myself. I'd hide my face in the dark, I wouldn't want to look in the mirror and my father teased me and I just hated it and I cried everyday.
Michael Jackson
You know, let's put it this way, if all the people in Hollywood who have had plastic surgery, if they went on vacation, there wouldn't be a person left in town.
Michael Jackson
I have not read many personal articles on Michael Jackson's death- and none written in a young persons point of view. He oviosly ment a lot to you as he did to many people.ut
I myself, although he was a very talented musician believe that he did more than revolutionised music. But he made people more comforble with african americans.
You're piece not only reports on his death but gives in emotion and depth.
You describe how he meant to you very well with a lot of emotion. However, Its not journalism, if that was not you're goal, if you just wanted to say what he meant to you than that is fine.
You describe you're fellow class mates do not care for him or his death. I find this curious because millions of poeple around the world have spoken of how much they love him.
It might have added another level to the piece if you talk about the many scandals.
You talk about you're personal struggle with his death, It might be an idea to add some other perspectives, just a thought.
In conclusion, I love this piece, It shows yours personal love of him, and his influence, which many people can relate to. Well Done.
All I can say is, W-O-W.
and now I really, really, really feel bad. 
(No sarcasm included)
This is an amazing peice of writing, I use to tease about Michael Jackson
And those last lines
Ended it perfectly.
Over all your a great writer and i can't wait to read more of your work!
This was so good. To be honest, when I first saw the title, I thought that it would be a boring, slow-moving biography about Michael Jackson's life. But this, however, was not what I was expecting. =)
It was very cleverly written. I loved it. It caught my eye, it made me interested, and it left a lasting impression on my mind. I think this is one of my favorite pieces I have read on YWS so far. =)
Great job, I can't wait to read more of your writing!
Aw this was lovely, because you spoke so simply about your feelings. Loved it!
I am a huge Michael Jackson fan too. I first learned about him because I hugely admire his humanitarian and environmentalist work. And he was a vegetarian(woo!)
lol.
My favourite song is Earth Song!! Or maybe Black or White.
But this was a lovely piece.
I can relate to nearly everything you said, especially the forming of different opinions and then the apathy because of how good his music was. He never TRIED to be the pop icon we made him or the strange man we assumed him to be, he never got political and he never promoted how he was black (or white). All he did was produce great music. I'm glad you weren't ashamed to have him on your iPod. :]
perhaps some day they will.
Definitely the King. I love him and his music to death. I love hearing good things about him, and I definitely appreciate this tribute. I hate the devil remarks. And the pedophile remarks. And the plastic surgery remarks.
Welps, that's my two cents.
*caitlin
So true, he was a legend. That thing about all those bands, I totally agree, I don't listen to much music, mostly because most bands don't have any depth, they make music for the audience, and they're all so similar, it's unbearable.
My favorite Jackson is Billie Jean, and I love thriller
I compare him to Boo Radley from To Kill A Mockingbird, everyone thought that Boo was weird and scary becasue he never left his house, but he was missunderstood. Boo was actually a good person, he put toys in the treehole so the kids can find them and play with them. Same thing applies to Michael.
Michael Jackson is a legend. He will always be known as the King Of Pop.
He has changed the world in so many ways.
People used to make fun of him but now that he has died people realized how he really is.
Thriller is one of my favorite songs!
That is so true, he was a legend. Good Job!
This was very good. I wasn't really paying attention to mistakes because I was totally wrapped up in the moral. These few lines really got to me.
So amazingly true. Keep it up.
*gold star for Michael and Kara*