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Who is or [was-sadly added afterwards] Michael Jackson? The answer is simple: a human being, just like you and me, who discovered his love and passion for art and combining the two with his original (inner) talent, hard work; a larger than life will-power drive. As for, who really he was? Ask yourself, "Who really are you?
I think people should live the way they want to live, and not being the archetypal common man…the glue of society. We shouldn’t allow ourselves to be molded into whatever niches are needed to is valuable to society, embracing the values and ways of thinking and living of culture in which we find ourselves. Dress, behave and live our lives in the way considered normal for that culture.
And those allegations about child abuse? Is Michael really child abuser?
The million dollar question. I paused for a while considering it. I don’t think he is. When the media gets involved I don’t believe in American justice. One leak and the next day, newspapers around the globe carry the same headline: JACKO ABUSED AGAIN. However, in his shows, interviews one could see clues of pedophilia. But there are two kinds of molestation. One that involves violence, the other is non-violence. I doubt that Michael is using violence.
Meaning?
It’s not sex that he wants…touching. In search of peace of mind…interlacing and merging into wholeness with children, becoming One. This is also an act of affection and sensitivity. In fact, Michael is a wounded child himself.
But he’s forty-five years old.
Well, he’s coming from a very authoritarian and a frantic-successes-focused family. It’s known that, as a child, he was frequently beat and abused by his father . A child who’s beaten and held in low esteem becomes vulnerable, can’t grow healthily. That’s why Michael has the maturity of a five year old child. He’s trying to live the things he hasn’t lived as a child. And I don’t think he understands what he is blamed of. He’s sure that he actually is helping children.
But there sure has to be a line between affectionate touch and sexual touch.
There is very definite line between a violent sexual act and affectionate act. But it’s not the same for a non-violent affectionate behaving. Normally, adults can easily make a difference between the two. But those who like Michael, who never grow up, might have difficulty making that difference, because they can’t distinguish this with the others. They think ‘something that is good for me, is good for him, too’.
I picked up a CD from the case and I put the Thriller album on. You like Michael Jackson?
I used to, she answered. Boy, I haven’t listened to this album in years. It takes me back in time. She drained her café au lait. She looked at me with her large green eyes. His early works, mostly. Now, I don’t really understand any of his work. All the albums before Dangerous were catchy and passionate. It was with Dangerous when Michael Jackson got more complex and polemic.
What’s polemic? I asked.
It means controversial argument, she said. A classic example of this is They don’t care about us where he launched into a fierce polemic against the government’s policies. But since the lyrics weren’t printed, it was hard to understand his ranting utterance and what Michael’s singing about. He sounds more paranoid and alienated then ever.
People who don’t know much about music thinks like that, I said. That Michael made a great music back then. But they don’t know anything about keeping up-to-date with the time. The time was different then. That kind of music was okay. Had Elvis lived to this very day would he be still singing, Don’t be cruel? Or Love me tender? Music has become a lot crazier since Thriller.
Cousin Libby continued talking. I had never known somebody so beautiful and at the same time so gentle and intelligent. She was attracting me more than she knew. I wanted Cousin Libby to like me—no, to adore me. That worried me, somewhat—I liked her somehow weird humor and the vigorous for interest in consuming and entertaining the ones around her. She had a wide net that was filled with different sensations. She loved to talk about movies, best local restaurants, and she enjoyed telling stories and share them with others. Once she made a long a face and complained that there was not enough time in life to do all the things she wanted to do. Her desire wasn’t about new and better things or owning a huge house and a splendid car. She wanted more experiences and to do things no one ever thought or did. She believed that there were so many things in life to discover, to try everything, see and do it all—at least once.
She was a real experienced distingue.
I kissed her goodnight and went to bed.
My mind wandered for a beat, thinking about our conversation with Cousin Libby. I didn’t take it to heart what others thought of Michael Jackson. For no one could argue that he was one of the greatest entertainers ever to live. No contest. If you could make people have gooseflesh when you sing, you were a virtuoso.
Some genius, Michael Jackson, I wrote in my Phyrrhic Dance journal later, where I secreted all my confessions I could not share with any one. Complex and polemic, indeed he was. And what he has is an original talent: something that can’t be taught or learned. Michael is a modern-day counterpart to Astaire and Gene Kelly…no one could do it better. It was impossible not see in his supple, smooth and lithe dancing (a graceful spin on both foot, braking and tapping) to those of Fred Astaire’s and Gene Kelly’s, and in his whimsical mode of dressing (a white T-shirt and black slacks and black shoes, white plaster around his fingers) to those of Bruce Lee’s in his first debut movie The Big Boss, where Bruce Lee wears a black slacks, black shoes and white socks, a white T-shirt with a white plaster wrapped around his forefinger; and the influence of his flash-like-sweeping, quick and smooth and phantasmagoric dancing mirrors with that of Bruce Lee’s sudden, darting and swift kicks and fist strikes.
Michael’s genius was his uncanny ability to adapt all styles of art and make them his own. He is supremely gifted singer, a composer and perhaps the greatest entertainer ever to live and Michael himself had a unique voice yet mesmerizing. An unflagging self-discipline and rigorous self-criticism complement his natural talents and lifelong training.
Michael Jackson made a dynamic come back in 1995 with his HIStory album which has a spellbind charm and an air of daring sincerity—an autobiographical and heartfelt work. He is an exceptionally accomplished and ingenious songwriter. From the idyllic, commending respect, photo of him on the cover of the album (dressed like a futuristic Roman centurion or a ruler, or a prince; and a practically an invisible, genial smile which gives the impression of a stoic equanimity—a smile that viewed him with dignity and grandeur) and a majestic pose, on the back cover, (viewed from behind on the stage, looking over his shoulder at the spectators like a statue on a pedestal which shows him from below in order to emphasize his sublime grandeur and regal dignity) one becomes aware his vindictive triumphant return after an act of great fortitude; the album is rhythmic but vehement and Michael’s mellifluous voice whips up like a ferocious, plaintive wail and so piquant that it’s hard to absorb the album on a first listening.
It opens with Scream and They don’t care about us (my vote for the best video and dance song and potent lyrics of the ‘90s…at his harrowing best, I should say) both written and composed by Michael Jackson. Scream’s a scintillating duet with Janet Jackson
Michael is one of the greatest geniuses that exists and undoubtedly wants perfection and still seeking a way to go into the inmost recesses of pure art to find the source from where all originality springs. When I listen to his music, I’m awestruck that such trivial voice should muse and thunder in a lovely squeal and wail in an abstruse words.
And one of the primary reason I had been attracted to his persona was that we both wanted to be ourselves and alienated—engaged in a search for self. We could be serious and funny, vulnerable and emotionally strong.
⟪ Visit the Michael Jackson site
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