25th
The King is Dead
I was born 20 years to the day after Michael Jackson. His Thriller album was the first “grown up” record I ever owned (I had dance contests to it with the neighbor girls, and the song “Thriller” scared the shit out me). On January 5, 1996, I dueted with Charlie on “Billie Jean” during Virtual Einstein’s initial recording session, and when I first laid eyes on Jessie, she was lipsyncing with Nikki to “The Girl is Mine.” Michael Jackson taught us all to moonwalk, to not stand too close to open flames while filming Pepsi commercials, and to not dangle babies from open windows. He singlehandedly proved that black people are cooler than white people. “I Want You Back” was one of the great records of the late early 70s. Thriller was the album of the 80s. And “Smooth Criminal” still kicks my ass (and is included below, for Jessie, who couldn’t recall it).
Michael Jackson was strange as hell, and he probably molested little boys. But for 5 years, he really was the king. May he rest in peace.
