Michael Jackson Dead at 50

Today in Los Angeles, California Michael JacksonMichael Jackson was found not breathing and was rushed to the UCLA hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

He will be missed. I was a huge fan. The only one among my friends.

He was only 50 years old.

Michael was practically a joke in the US. Memories of Michael's successes were all overshadowed by his appearance and sexual abuse cases. This blog entry is not about those two things.

Michael Jackson's influence is almost everywhere in the music industry. Justin TimberlakeJustin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Under The Influence of Giants, Chris Brown, Kanye WestKanye West, Rihanna, Usher and many many many others all owe something to the King of Pop. Rhymefest a year or two ago even did an album with Producer Mark RonsonMark Ronson taking sample and interview excerpt from Michael Jackson. Many black comedians used Michael as the center point for their best routines. He was one of a kind.

Michael Jackson's concerts were filled with people fainting left and right. He would just stand on stage, just stand, and the crowd would go crazy. He had something every entertainer wish they had.

His music videos were directed by hollywood directors like Scorese and Landon. They were mini-movies. When Michael did something he did it big. The release of HiStory was incredible. The promo video he made looked like Michael had just taken over Russia. He danced in the slums of Brazil and inside LA prisons for his "They Don't Care About US" videos. For is "Black or White" video he introduced morphing to the world, like he had Moonwalking. His video for "Scream" was the most expensive music video ever made. And "In The Closet" was possibly one of the sexiest video ever made.

Michael Jackson sang with Diana RossDiana Ross, danced with Michael JordanMichael Jordan, hung out with Elizabeth TaylorElizabeth Taylor, got into it with Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney, rocked with Slash, befriended Maculy Calkan and other child actors. He lived with giants, and shined with stars.

His music and songs were not just something to bop your heads to. His music made you want to dance. He literally put his heart into his music. He sang about injustice and cruelty. About the enviroment and children, relationships and celebrity. You could not listen to a Michael Jackson song passively, whether you liked the song or not. He got you involved.

Michael Jackson rest in peace.

Love,

A Fan