Michael Jackson: Why Does His Death Have Such an Impact to So Many People?

Friday last, I came out of the cinema, in Glasgow, watching the late show of “Red Hill”. On my way home, two girls stopped me, and told me that Michael Jackson was dead. They then asked me what my reaction was. I looked at them a bit surprised. I was not really sure if Jackson really died or not, or if they were just having a laugh with passers by. I asked them what did he die from, and they replied it was a “heart attack”. I said, “then I guess it was his time to go”. They looked surprised that I was not shocked with  the news.

Do not get me wrong. I grew up in the 80s and my favourite music channel is VH1 Classic with all these 80s video clips. But I did not understand what were they expecting from me. To start crying? To start screaming hysterically? 

I came back home and I opened the BBC News channel, which showed nothing but repeated reports of Michael Jackson’s death, with the occasional update of a “friend” or someone who knew Michael intimately.

Michael Jackson was a great singer, a great showman and a pioneer of his time. He did some great work and then he faded. As they say, what goes up, finally comes down. His personal problems, the scandals, the courts and the settlements … they all left Michael a man in deep financial difficulties. This was portrayed by his booking of 50 appearences in the O2 Arena in London. For God’s shake, who does that? Who does 50 concerts the one after the other? It was more than obvious that this was his last attempt to collect as much money as he could. He was the man who bought the rights to numerous Beatles songs and he can not make money out of them? He was the man who sold more pieces of an album than anyone had and ever will in history, and he could not make money?

He died, apparently from a heart attack. He was under stress, he was taking medication. He was responsible for his actions and his lifestyle. Why should anyone feel so devastated for his death? He died like every other mortal did. And who are those people who are out in the streets crying their hearts out? Have they solved all their problems in their life and all that was left was to mourn for a pop singer? Have they overcome all their issues? Have they actually seen people with real problems? People with real diseases and real suffering?

I do not judge Michael for what he was and what he did. He had his own needs, his fantasies, and he was found not guilty for the charges brought against him. The court’s decisions are enough for me. I believe that everyone is presumed innocent. But I believe that Michael Jackson was a very troubled and lonely person. He was alone in the crowd. He was trying to make up for his lost innocent in all the wrong ways.

What I can not understand is the people who feel more sorry about Michael Jackson than their own families and themselves. About the people who these days forgot their jobs, their families and their friends for a pop singer who was unapproachable and who never knew who they are.

Other people died the last few years, and we did not spend so much time on them. And I am sure there were some who were more important to this world than Michael Jackson. Again, I am not questioning his contribution in pop music. That is not under dispute.

It is the way people dealt with his death that is even more troubling. It is one thing to admire someone, it is one thing to appreciate one’s talent, and another to be a hysterical person crying in the street for someone who lived his life his own way to the end.

Rest in peace Michael. Your music will live for ever and will grow mature – become a classic.