Black or White

Black or White…

THRILLER passes into HISTORY. A disturbing headline to start the day, which unfolded to reveal that death can’t be less devastating. Yesterday it was news; today every fan of this musical genius terms it a personal loss. Michael Jackson, the virtuoso, spent 40 golden years of a short span of 50 years of his lifetime as a beloved performer.

His life remained a mysterious saga of sordid affairs, so does his death. His life was haunted by lawsuits and controversies; and death unveiled a massive debt of over $500mn. Multiple face surgeries, alleged vitiligo, child abuse and now death as a result of misuse of prescription drugs, were all a part of his bizarre lifetime. Yet, the artiste prevailed over all other antics. As an entertainer, he was impeccable. 750mn record sales are just a testimony to the same. It is wisely quoted that ‘he was precocious as a child and childlike as an adult’.

He screamed “I’m Bad”, yet the fans never stopped loving him. He exhorted to ‘Heal the World’ and even seductively suggested ‘Don’t stop 'till you get Enough’. Remember the Time, Thriller, In the Closet, Billie Jean, The way you make me Feel, are some of my personal favourites. It has been a long journey for MJ. From Jackson 5 to Thriller, to Dangerous and Bad, he created HIStory and seemed INVINCIBLE. His rage was infectious and awesome.

He showed the world how a video looked with 50 people dancing in the background, a trend which still lives on in Bollywood. He redefined smoothness when he effortlessly MOONWALKed. One is at a loss of words while trying to define him. What will you call a singer, a dancer, a music composer and a lyricist? Let’s term him a ‘perfectionist’. An entertainment package, so multidimensional is made once in a millennium at God’s mercy.

It hurts to learn that he spent his last days in depression and anguish. An early death just led to curtains falling on the final world tour of the legendary artiste. A death which prevented his global audience from gasping and crooning as they watched the ‘King of Pop’ perform for one last time. Yet, what we have bequeathed is an immortal musical legacy; just goes about to prove that a legend has so much to give even in his death; that death is just another act of philanthropy. Let his soul rest in peace. As I pray, I assure myself that dear MJ will continue to live for years; in form of memories, in form of his music; reminding generations to come of the HIStory he once created…..