I was at my parents’ house this past weekend organizing stuff in the shed where i came across a box of my old stuff. In that box i found some old cassette tapes and one tape in particular caught my eye. It was in my faded handwriting probably when i was around the age of 7 or 8 and the title of the tape read “Michael Jackson: Thriller”. I remember exactly where this tape came from. My birthday had just passed and one night my parents’ friends had come over and brought me a present. I excitedly opened up the gift and unwrapped a young Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

Wow was I happy. Since my dad didn’t want me messing around with the record player, he recorded the album onto a cassette tape. I must have listened to that tape a thousand times, so much so that i was able to sing along to every song. Along with many others, I think that was the height of my adoration of Michael Jackson the performer and Michael Jackson’s songs. Although his later albums came with great fanfare and were much anticipated my me, they never even remotely lived up to that Thriller album. Coupled with MJ’s ever increasing strange behavior, I soon forgot about this man and his music. I was turned off by his crappy songs, deteriorating face, and allegations of child molestation.

When I heard the news that Michael Jackson had passed away last Thursday, my first thoughts were, “oh well, another freak off the street”. Not until i started hearing his old songs again that it hit me…we will never get to experience this wonderfully talented person EVER again. I really can’t think of ANY other person in this world who’s death would have such a profound impact on so many people. It’s truly an amazing thing to see. I think it’s tragic that somebody so popular globally was also somebody who was so incredibly lonely. Somebody who the media constantly thrashed, somebody who the public mocked and ridiculed, somebody who probably looked in the mirror every morning and saw an empty shell. Hopefully his soul will finally be able to rest in peace.

I’ll probably end up keeping that tape for old times sake. Another personal reminder of a very talented musician. Thanks for the memories Michael Jackson.

My Top 5 Michael Jackson Songs
1) PYT (Pretty Young Thing) – Off of the Thriller album, this song just makes you want to DANCE. The beat, the lyrics, the instrumentals, everything about this song is GREAT.
2) Thriller – Off of the Thriller album, no Halloween is complete without this timeless hit. I literally have this song on repeat every Halloween. I also have been wanting to learn the “Thriller Dance” ever since I saw those Filipino prisoners doing it.
3) Baby Be Mine – Again, off of the Thriller album (I told you I liked the album), I didn’t really start liking this song again till maybe 2 years ago but boy do I love it!
4) Rock With You – The only non Thriller song in my top 5, this song (on the Off the Wall album) used to be a dance hit back when I first started clubbing. I remember the crowd going crazy to this song whenever they played it.
5) Lady In My Life – One of the greatest slow jams of all time. The last 2 minutes of this song is just straight BUTTER.