Today is indeed a black day in the world of music as the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50. Fans of MJ will no doubt mourn the loss of a man with indefatigable energy and talent. A man who made the world dance to his tunes (literally). The twinkle toed singer who introduced the world to Moonwalk. The shy gawky teenager bursting into the world of popularity, paparazzi and crazy fans. 

I have not been a die-hard fan of his (having been introduced to English music pretty late in life).  But whatever songs of his I have heard, I have relished them all. Even today it’s a treat to watch his Thriller, Beat It, They Don’t Really Care About Us, Black or White We are the World, Heal the World videos. But somewhere he too like his predecessors lost the plot and gave in to human follies. By the late 90s, he was embroiled in child abuse cases, was in and out of 2 marriages one with Lisa Marie Presley and the other with a nurse Deborah (with whom he had 2 children), a third child followed (whose mother is still unknown). His fans were subjected to his idiosyncrasies like dangling his children from hotel windows, covering their faces to avoid paparazzi, his numerous rhinoplasties, his sudden change of skin colour (something he blames on a skin disorder) and very lately his alleged conversion to Islam. 

But everything said and done, his fans consider him next to God and for the musical delight that he offered them they are willing to let go of all his follies. In an earlier post I had mentioned about my cousin brother introducing me to MJ’s music. It’s ironical that both exited this world in 2009.

MJ’s death follows close on the footsteps of Sarod maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Sarrah Fawcett of Charlie’s Angels Fame. 

All we can say is RIP – these mortal souls have left us with immortal memories.