My childhood memories of Michael Jackson
When I first heard Michael Jackson died, I didn’t believe it. I immediately assumed it was a publicity stunt.
Michael was known for being over-the-top. Throughout his lengthy career, he has pulled many publicity stunts to gain attention, like when he pretended to be in love with Brooke Shields. I won’t even discuss that publicity stunt marriage to Lisa Marie Presley.
So, surely his hospitalization was a publicity stunt to attract attention to his upcoming concert tour in London right?
For several hours, I refused to believe the news reports that said he died. It wasn’t until I saw a newscast that showed hospital workers carrying his body to a van. When I saw him wrapped in that white sheet, I knew it was true. The King of Pop is officially dead.
Sadness and grievance overcame me for the rest of the night thinking about Michael’s death. 
Why should I feel so sad about someone that I’ve never actually met before? I hear fans say Michael Jackson was a major part of their childhood. He was in their homes everyday, and they truly feel like they’ve lost a family member.
I know this might sound cliché, but it’s the truth. Michael was a major part of my childhood. Therefore, a part of my childhood died June 25 with the passing of Michael.
And a part of my childhood is now buried in that coffin.
My first memory of Michael was when I was about 6 or 7 years old. I remember watching the “Thriller” video at my aunt’s house. I watched it about 10 times in a row because I was mesmerized by the dance steps in the video, and I wanted to learn it.
When I saw footage of him performing “Billie Jean” at the Motown anniversary special and doing the Moonwalk, my eyes were in awe. I had never seen anyone dance like that before.
For the next decade, I tried to duplicate Michael’s performances. I would put on my socks and slide across the slippery kitchen floor trying to perform the moonwalk. I was never successful though.
I also did the spin and tried to stand on my toes like he does.
Throughout Michael’s career, I owned every album that he released during the 1980s and 1990s.
I used to stay glued to the television whenever I found out he was releasing a new music video.
Throughout my childhood, Michael was always in my home. Music was a major part of my family’s everyday activities.
When we were playing video games, music was always playing in the background. When we were playing basketball or hop scotch, we always had music playing in the background.
If we were walking up the street, we always had headphones on listening to music. Most of the time, it was Michael Jackson songs we were listening to.
My family would also frequently get together in the living room and have a dance off to Michael Jackson songs. Every time his music videos were played, we would gather around the television and watch without blinking.
When we were in the car, his music was always in our cassette player. There wasn’t a day that went by when Michael was not in my home in some form when I was growing up.
I always stood in front of television, along with my siblings, emulating the dance steps that Michael was doing in all of his music videos.
I idolized Michael Jackson during my childhood. I had the trademark white glove and the red jacket. I even tried to put a Jheri Curl on my hair. (which didn’t work).
I also use to imitate his “crotch-grabbing” dance which used to get me in trouble with my parents.
When Michael became the celebrity spokesperson for Pepsi, I started drinking Pepsi. To this day, Pepsi is still my favorite beverage.
Michael donated money and participated in charitable activities that raised money to try to cure world hunger. So, then I decided to participate in charity fundraisers too.
Michael went on a date with Madonna to the Oscars in 1991. Therefore, I started wanting to date Madonna too.
Michael hung out with his chimpanzee named Bubbles, so I wanted a chimpanzee too. (Of course my mom wasn’t having that).
His music and performances have forever changed the music industry. When Michael emerged as a solo artist, he forced other musicians to step up their game.
If performers wanted to stay relevant in the music industry, they could no longer just stand behind a microphone and sing. They had to be like Michael and display the intricate dance moves and the flashy innovative videos.
If you watch Usher, Justin Timberlake, Ginuwine, Ne-Yo or Chris Brown on stage, they perform the same dance moves that Michael performed during the 1980s and 1990s.
He gave new meaning to the words “music videos.” No one can ever do it like Michael.
Sadly, as his lifestyle and music turned into a bizarre circus show during the late 1990s, I stopped purchasing Michael’s new music, and I stopped following his career.
I did, however, continue to listen to his old songs and try to imitate his old dances. Two years ago, my sister, my cousin and I went to a karaoke place, and we sang “Thriller” in front of an audience.
We did the “Thriller” dance too and received a standing ovation afterward. (Yep, we still got it).
Athough the King of Pop is no longer here, you can still see his influence everytime you watch any modern music video or attend an elaborate high-energy stage concert by any performer. Michael is the originator of that.
By Tim Henley
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Comments
My child hood idol of Michael Jackson was a great man with ultimate talent. The very first time I saw a video from the pop star was Thriller. I was 6 years old and at my parents home watching it with my older brother, back then I thought it was a scary video. However, a couple years later surfaced I realized it was all make believe. Ha Ha I can laugh at it now but it became the # 1 video Michael ever did “Thriller”. I couldn’t believe he was dead either and actually refused to believe it. When my oldest son who never knew who the pop star was said “hey mom Michael Jackson’s dead.” I ran to the Tv to watch, then I knew he was gone. He will be missed and nobody will ever replace him. R I P king of pop MJ you will be missed.
Rayna
Micheal’s death deeply saddened me and I could not quite understand why. Maybe it was the fact that, as my brother Tim stated in his blog, his music was indeed a presence in our home starting at a very young age. His music transcended 3 generations. I recall my parents listening to the Jackson 5, i became a fan when his “Off The Wall” album hit the airwaves, and now my son is fascinated by both his music and videos as well. Growing up in a large family with 5 children, regardless of what we were doing, when Michael’s videos came on, we all stopped and started dancing. Reading my brother’s blog brought back alot of childhood memories associated with Micheal’s music and then I understood my sadness. He was a part of my household and although I didn’t know him personally, I feel like I have lost someone close.
I had all but forgot about the infamous ‘Thriller Karaoke’ episode Tim referenced. I looked over at Timothy and we all had the dance steps down in perfect rhythm. (Although Tim was seriously getting into the whole thriller dance, he DOES think he has mastered that routine!) 
Despite all of his controversy, Michael Jackson had a true gift unlike any artist I have witnessed in my lifetime.
MJ will truly be missed and the world has been blessed with his artistry, humanitarian work, and God given talent.
micheal jackson was a wounderful singer and dancer. his dancemoves will live forever and his music is unforgetable. my favourite is ‘beat it’! i was so sad when i heard he had died. he was a musical legend who will never be forgotton x
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