This past week I have done a lot of research…on a man I always had a liking for, but never really knew much about…Michael Jackson. Yes, with his recent death – there has been an outpouring of people there to say something about this musical genius and legend. And with this there are many to shout “hypocrisy” – as many of those people who are now claiming to love and miss Michael were ones who previously scrutinized and cared less about him while he was living; which to me is only proof of how much people follow the crowd. We’ve all heard the stories and gossip over the years about Michael’s “weird” behaviors, his changing appearance, and the allegations of child molestation. All part of our gossiping society that feeds off of dirt, lies, and anything that belittles others. But I personally was never one to read tabloids and keep up with the misleading stories from the news stations on our television…particularly when it came to celebrities. Growing up, I only knew that I liked Michael’s music…and, whatever was being said in the news about him I didn’t really pay much attention to or care about.
Now, since Michael’s death…there has been non-stop coverage on him. His face, music, and life story are everywhere…and, me being the big fan of YouTube that I am, I got curious to look a little closer at the stories about Michael since they appeared everywhere I looked. One video led to another – and over the past few days I have watched hundreds…(and I mean this in a very literal sense)…HUNDREDS of videos on Michael. News about today, from yesterday, interviews, documentaries, home videos, songs… every last inch of Michael and about Michael, I have watched. And having done so, I sit here more inspired and moved than I have ever been. I am beside myself with amazement, love, joy and sadness. His amazing talent has never been a secret…but the beauty in who this man really was as a person – was a secret to me…and I think still is to so many people. I am just so moved. I’m also shocked, at how many people got and still get suckered into the media and the extortion of lies. So many people often believe whatever comes from the news stands and television set that they don’t try to see the truth themselves I think…even when it’s in plain sight. People will see what they want to see I guess, but I will never understand how anyone who ever really heard Michael talk, could see anything less than a beautiful soul. The more I heard him talk, the more uncut interviews I listened to, the more I SAW him in home videos with his children, with other children, with his friends… I could just FEEL the unconditional love and pure childlike innocence that emanated from his being. He wasn’t weird…he wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t a child molester, he wasn’t ugly. This man…was nothing but love. And that was beautiful. I can’t help but weep, watching these videos. I am overcome with sadness for his leaving this world, for my never knowing who he really was until now, for never getting the chance to meet him, for knowing what he went through with the media, and for how misunderstood he was. But mostly I weep as my heart is truly touched by the love he carried with him.
So this is my heartfelt tribute to Michael Jackson. Not only for his musical talents, that paved the way for so much of what we hear and see today in pop music…but for what is even more amazing to me; Michael the man. The incredibly beautiful soul that helped and inspired so many. He truly did do his own part in healing the world.
Rest in peace Michael, my heart is with you.
~Amy
“We are the World”
Heal it.
Having gotten to know about Michael more, I now have a greater appreciation for many of the songs he wrote that I never took the time to really hear the lyrics, or know the story behind them…like “Scream” and “They don’t care about us”. One of my favorites of his when I was little though was “Heal the World”. I always knew the great message in this song, and as part of my tribute I wanted to sing it…because I believe it encompasses Michael’s true spirit and what he was really about. So this goes out to him.
