Ten years ago, on Tuesday, June 25, 2009, was a sad day for many people around the world. It was the day that the greatest entertainer of all time transitioned from this world. It was the day that music died…
I was at work, counting the minutes before it was time to go home when one of my co-workers came into my office to tell me that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital. Frantically, I turned on the small radio in my office. It was announced that he went into cardiac arrest. I remember panicking and hoping that he would be okay.
Say It Isn’t So
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As I left work to go home, I said a silent prayer for him. In my mind, I just knew that he would pull through. Unfortunately, that was not the case. By the time I got to the train station, my cousin had called to tell me that he died. I told her that it was not true, they announced it on the radio earlier that he went into cardiac arrest. She told me that she just finished listening to the radio, and they said that he died. I did not want to believe her, but there were other people at the train station saying the same thing she did.
When I got home, I spent hours on the phone with friends and relatives discussing his death. I turned on the television, and every channel seemed to be ablaze with news about Michael Jackson. On the sort of bright side, BET, MTV, and VH1 played his music videos non-stop. It seemed as if he gave us a parting gift to ease our sorrow. My daughter and I watched his videos all night long. We even watched them when we got up in the morning, and I ended up being late to work.
Let’s Honor the King of Pop
To celebrate the legacy of the King of Pop, here are some of his iconic (and my personal favorite) performances:
1. “Thriller” Music Video
The music video for the song “Thriller” debuted on MTV on December 2, 1983. John Landis and Michael Jackson directed it. I remember as a kid watching this video and being scared out of my mind. But that did not stop me from staying up late to watch it every Friday night. The video was 12 minutes long, and I do not think I have seen a music video to date that was as entertaining as this one. The choreography was extraordinary. This video is hands down the best one in history. “Thriller” is from Michael’s album, Thriller, his highest-grossing album. It was the first album to be certified 30 times platinum and as of this date, has sold 66 million copies worldwide.
To listen to Thriller, you may access the album from the following music streaming services:
2. Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
The Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, and Forever is a television special that was broadcasted on NBC on May 16, 1983. After eight years, Michael reunited with his brothers and performed a medley of Jackson 5 songs. However, it was his solo performance of “Billie Jean” where he completely and forever changed the game.
I watched this television special with my family. During this performance, he presented the legendary moonwalk. His dance moves were so phenomenal and otherworldly. The outfit he wore was just as electrifying; he donned a sequined jacket, glitter socks, and the infamous glitter glove on his hand. My sister and I went ballistic! Even my parents were excited; my dad, in particular, who is not an easy person to impress.
The whole world was mesmerized by Michael’s performance on the television special. His performance received such high critical acclaim that the moonwalk became one of his signature dance moves. Michael’s appearance on this show solidified his status as an icon.
3. 30th Annual Grammy Awards Performance
The 30th Annual Grammy Awards were held on March 2, 1988. Unfortunately, Michael did not win any awards despite having several number one hits from his Bad Album. Nevertheless, he graced the stage with a fantastic performance. In my opinion, this performance was the best one that the award show has ever had.
First, he did a slow rendition of the first verse of “The Way You Make Me Feel” and then continued the rest of the song in its regular upbeat tempo with killer dance moves to boot. Next, he sang ” Man in the Mirror.” The King of Pop took ten minutes to step off of his throne to become Reverend Jackson and danced right into the pulpit. He delivered a sermon and preached to us that we could make the world a better place by changing ourselves. Michael didn’t just take us to church; he made us catch the Holy Ghost! Let the church say, “Amen!”
To listen to Bad, you can access the album from the following streaming services:
4. “Black or White” Music Video
The music video for the song “Black or White” made its debut on November 14, 1991. It premiered on MTV, BET, VH1, FOX, and BBC. The video was broadcasted in 27 different counties with an audience of more than 500 million viewers tuning in, making it the most prominent music video debut in history.
John Landis directed the 11-minute music video. (He previously directed Thriller) It featured Macaulay Culkin, who portrayed a child that was admonished by his parents (actor George Wendt and actress Tess Harper) for playing loud rock music after his bedtime. Multiculturalism and racial equality were promoted in the video.
5. “Remember The Time” Music Video
On February 2, 1992, the music video for the song “Remember The Time” premiered on MTV, FOX, and BET. The footage was nine minutes long and was directed by John Singleton and choreographed by Fatima Robinson. Along with Michael, the video featured Eddie Murphy, Iman, Magic Johnson, Tom Tiny Lister Jr., The Pharcyde, and Wille Draper. The video was set in ancient Egypt. The astounding visual effects made this one of Michael’s most iconic videos. Also, this was his first on-screen kiss.
To listen to Dangerous, you can access the album from the following music streaming services:
Forever In Our Hearts
After a decade of his passing, Michael continues to leave an impact on the world. Not only did we lose the World’s Greatest Entertainer, but we also lost a humanitarian who selflessly gave so much of himself. He was a pure and beautiful soul who wanted to make the world a better place. Michael was a trendsetter in music, art, and fashion, and his influence is apparent in many artists today. He set the bar very high in entertainment and always tried to outdo himself. Although Michael is no longer with us physically, his legacy continues to remain. Furthermore, through his music, his videos, and, philanthropy, he lives forever.
Photo Credit: Vicki Miller from Shutterstock
