Gone Too Soon….

Now that he is gone don’t you miss him?
Desperately?
His trance like music?
His unique rhythm?
His gyrating, levitating, unique dance style?
His soul stirring music!

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) conceptualized, visualized, created and popularized several physically complicated dance techniques, such as the ‘Robot’ and the ‘Moonwalk.’
He accomplished such incredible dance feats even as he created and vocalized music too. He did that for us ever since he was 10 years old.

Much as we tried, we could never learn to emulate what he presented to us so effortlessly through his performances. There we were, living it, loving it and enjoying it in awe, all the time knowing we could never reach his heights of accomplishments, as they were indeed out of this world. We were beaten to it….by miles.
Beat It!

His distinctive musical sound and vocal style not only influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists across several generations, it also inspired some of the greatest film makers in the Indian sub continent like Ram Gopal Verma. He has gone ahead and painfully recorded on his blog, “I truly truly hate Michael Jackson for becoming a grim realty from a fantastic fantasy. (www.rgvzoomin.com).
For RGV, Michael Jackson was somebody from outer space. Such was the impact of MJ’s creativity on this creative professional of global repute.

Not that the impact is not there within us as well. Isn’t there an inner sense of subtle pain gnawing ever since we heard the news of his death? Isn’t it there within each and every one of us who have lived, loved and loathed his creativity in these past thirty plus years?

We miss him like hell…now that he is gone.

I do for sure. I miss MJ a lot. I never met him in person even for a second. Still I do. Such is the power of his music. I lived and loved his presence so much that now it’s like a vacuum that has been created in me. A void that is there to stay. The pain within is numbing and constant.

The music he gave us has been haunting me since last Thursday, when I first heard about his sudden demise. I am unable to think my way out of that trance with his songs reeling in my mind. One by one. I am conjuring images of his videos as well. From the very first one, to the last one. I am so numb that I am unable to play them on any of my music playing devices. I am afraid I might cry in pain if I do so.

We grew up hearing tales about sensational performers like Elvis, The Beatles and other greats of the fifties and the sixties, that our elder friends and relatives enjoyed in their time. They would talk so much about their icons when we were teenagers. That left us yearning for our own musical icons as the seventies and eighties unfolded.

That was the time when ABBA and Boney M were rocking the airwaves. But the really phenomenal artiste that our generation deserved was quietly coming into focus in America in the form of a 10 year old called Michael Jackson. He was gyrating, moon walking and singing his way up as a part of ‘The Jackson Five.’
Then one day, he finally arrived. He arrived in style and ‘moon walked’ into our hearts to stay there for ever.

He arrived big and bold in the seventies and graduated too with his “Thriller” album, enthralling us to ecstasy in the early eighties. He was soon to be the ‘tsunami’ of music world. He arrived and remained as” The Music Maker/Entertainer of the Century.”

“Veni Vedi Veci” is one phrase that was defined and created for the likes of MJ. Conquer he did. Not a part of the world but the entire world as such. MJ conquered the music world and stayed as the number one artiste all these years. With more that 750 million records sold, he has set a record that would be very difficult to break in times to come. Those 750 million records are stirring billions of souls every day.

As an outstanding, respected and admired artist of African American origin, MJ has the distinction of being inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once but twice. The Guinness Book of Records highlights his recording successes a number of times as well – including the honour for being the “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time.” He had 13 Grammy Awards and 13 number one singles.

He made his debut on the professional music scenario back in 1968 as a member of ‘The Jackson 5.’
He made a mark and embarked on creating HIStory as well, moving up and mesmerizing viewers and music lovers with every performance. He continued to scale even higher heights, thanks to his decision to go solo in 1971, while he was still a member of that group. Soon he emerged as the “The King of Pop.” He still holds that title, even after death. His Album Thriller, released in 1981, is till today, positioned as number one, as it is still the world’s best-selling album of all time. With his death, the sales have gone up another notch as indicted by early reports. People want to desperately own a piece of him now that he is no more.
Four of his other solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: (1) Off the Wall (1979); (2) Bad (1987); (3) Dangerous (1991); (4) HIStory (1995).

Convergence of technology as it happened in those years, helped MJ and his entertainment reach every home thanks in part to the efforts of his record company that pushed an initially-reluctant MTV to show his videos. His followers quadrupled within no time. He made billions of dollars in the bargain. But he had his feet on the ground all of the time. MJ donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations and supported 39 charities through the years.

Aspects of his personal life, including his often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. And two ruptured marriages added to his many woes. Despite his personal conflict, he loved his children and since breaking up with second wife, Debbie Rowe, he has paid 9 million dollars a year to have sole custody of them.

Michael Jackson endured many tribulations but was all set to get back into the limelight with a bang in the near future. But fate had other plans for him. When death came, it came out of nowhere, as an unexpected gloomy surprise. It came while he was working extensively on a come back trail through a series of 50 concerts scheduled for London. Alas! He is no more. Physically, he is gone but spiritually he lives on through his unique soul stirring music.

I do not have the heart to witness his funeral which is expected to break all records as well. I would rather play his songs in my mind and remember him alive and rocking the night away. Rest in Peace Michael Jackson. We’ll miss you.