Friday, June 26, 2009

King of Pop

The first cassette tape I ever had was Thriller by Michael Jackson. I was less than 10 and very confused by Billie Jean, but I played it loud - from my ghetto blaster. (The term "ghetto blaster" horrified my mother. "We don't say 'ghetto' in this house," she said. "We say 'poorer part of town'." As if I wasn't already confused enough over the true gender of Boy George, now I had to say 'Poorer Part Of Town Blaster'. ) I remember walking through Penny's with my mom begging her for a knock off red leather jacket. The most I got was white socks that I could hopefully hose down with glitter hairspray and wear them with my grey parachute pants. Even then I was fashion forward.

But I was never a fan of the crotch grabbing. I do not endorse such behavior. Just so we're clear.

Today I'm saying good bye to the King of Pop. His music was a real force in my life. For that reason I'll never forget him.



Did Michael Jackson's mucic influence you? What song was your favorite?

13 comments:

Unknown said...

Though I never had a girl bring a child with eyes like mine to me and claim that it was mine, I still have to claim "Billie Jean" as my favorite. I don't know why, but I really love this song.
"You Are Not Alone," and "Will You be There" were at one point in time my favorite songs as well.

Donna said...

ok, Stacey, now i'll be showing my age here......When Thriller came out, I was in college and we were hosting 2 exchange students from Japan.......who were excited about 2 things......buying blue jeans.....and buying as many Thriller albums and cassettes they could stuff in their suitcases.......

the look on their faces when my friends who worked at Camelot Music played "Thriller (the long version) over and over and OVER for them......priceless........

Kathy said...

I forgot about "Smooth Criminal." That's a good tune. I think "Man in the Mirror" is my favorite, plus all the Jackson 5 stuff.

Jessi said...

Though most of Michael's good music came out before I was born (I'm 21), my parents raised me on the music of the sixties and seventies. One of my favorite pastimes as a child was to play my "Motown's greatest hits" cds and have concerts with my barbies(no one told me Diana Ross wasn't white...) Anyway. The Jackson Five were some of my favorites. And then every time I spent the night at my grandparents' house, I would insist on listening to "Thriller", "Bad", and "Off the Wall" on the record player. I LOVED Michael Jackson's music.

I miss Michael. Even though for most of my life he was this consummate weirdo, I really am quite sad over this.

Raw Faith Real World said...

I could appreciate MJ's raw talent, but I still like "Weird Al's" versions better of Eat It and Fat. I do have a ghetto blaster story. Years ago when I was doing photos for album covers for a living I got a call from one of my friends who had friends who were in a black gospel group and wanted to know if they could maybe get some free photos. When I talked to them I asked them to bring some of their music and a ghetto blaster to play it on. They were totally offended and called me a racist. I tried to explain to them that in the ghetto... where I was living at the time we called it the ghetto and we called those ghetto blasters... and maybe she was the one with just a whee bit of a problem. It cracked me up.

Blasé said...

yeah, that "crotch-grabbing" annoys me, too.

Susan O. said...

I'm 46, so the Jacksons have always been a part of my life. I had the 45's of Rockin' Robin and ABC. Those are my favorites, when their family was just gaining popularity.

Of his solo career, "Black and White" rocks my world. Hands down the best video ever produced.

(Although Aha's "Take On Me" is a close second!)

Beth said...

My best friend and I used to cover one hand entirely with white soap and say it was our Michael Jackson glove.

Good times.

Karen said...

"The Way You Make Me Feel" -- it's the only MJ song I can dance to and not fall on my face.

Susan O. said...

Duh...it's Black OR White. I've been thinking of that all day, and finally had to come correct it. Join me in my dorkdom.

imfreenow.blogspot.com said...

Michael helped me to appreciate black people and culture. His death affects me greatly. I love "Ben"

author@ptgbook.org said...

My favorite Michael Jackson song is "Fat", as sung by Weird Al Yankovic.

Anonymous said...

Okay...I have a short attention span...and am therefore not actually answering your question. I do, however, have to tell you that I grew up calling them "gitto blasters," and having no idea why (we don't have ghettos in Kansas)...thanks for the lesson. :)