~Brownbeansprout

Michael Jackson, pop star, died Thursday June 25, 2009 of cardiac arrest at the age of 50.

The news broke and spread like wildfire Thursday that the “King of Pop” had died.  One news outlet after the other reported the news to shocked fans and curious listeners.

Where were you when you heard the news that Michael Jackson died?  One news broadcaster said that like Elvis Presley, John Lennon and President Kennedy, people would always remember where they were when they heard the news that Michael Jackson, mega-star, had died.

I was in the swimming pool with the kids enjoying the Texas summer sun.  The radio had been playing and suddenly the DJ broke thru the scheduled playlist with the news report that TMZ was reporting that Michael Jackson had died and for hours and now days later, the radio played homage to Jackson by playing his music, the TV played his old music videos and clips of his devastated fans. 

Today they are dedicating their news segments to disect his life and his estate, his children and the autopsy results.  It’s not a story that will be ending soon.

I haven’t been a Michael Jackson fan since the 80s.  He was a musical genius there was no doubt.  No one had ever danced like he could.  He was a mega star to me until the late 80s when things changed.  He became “wacko jacko” and a “pervert” and an alleged child molester and while he had never been convicted in a court of law, he had been convicted in my eyes.   He had become a reclusive eccentric personality that I never thought much about anymore.

The shock of his sudden death did have an impact on me.  I feel sad for his children and his family.  I felt a personal loss too…not of a mega star, but of that time in my youth that he was so much a part of.  Listening to his music and seeing those old music videos made me think of a time when life was awesome and simple and I was so young and carefree.  His death sort of puts a closed door on that period in time for me.  That was sad.

After watching some of the news coverage it was hard not to feel nostalgic and sad that Michael Jackson was gone.  But like I said, I hadn’t really thought about him in a positive way since the late 80s. 

I think the older I get the more I understand the term, “rest in peace.”

Nothing else is supposed to matter except that the spirit of that person rests in peace. 

Unless you’re a celebrity or the slightest bit newsworthy.

The media legendized him the minute he died.  They built up his character and spotlighted every minute of his celebrity as it changed the music world.  He was labelled a pioneer and an incredible person.  He was said to be a tortured soul who didn’t have a chance in life to be normal…they made us sad and sorry for him.  They made us mourn him more and more with each passing hour.

The next day those same media reports were dissecting his physical disabilities, his mental state and prescription drug use.  They compared him to Elvis Presley and tried to place blame on his handlers and those closest to him for his drug use and death.

It makes you wonder if it is still news if it’s hipocracy with every new story angle.

The only broadcaster who didn’t commit hypocrisy was Nancy Grace.

Like everyone else she capitalized on the breaking story, but she prefaced the hour by recapping his latest years.  She spoke about the child molestation allegations, the jury members who said they wished they had convicted him and the bizarre life he lead.  And she said, matter-of-factly, that those child molestation allegations where now between him and God.

Good for her. 

I’m glad I watched that hour of coverage.  She put things back into perspective for me.  Snapped me out of the media-induced grief.

I’m sorry the King of Pop has died, but I can’t  say I’m surprised his life ended the way that it did.