Yes I Did Say That About Michael Jackson
I am not going to be happy with this blog. I can't find the right words. The mix of emotions I'm feeling right now make it impossible for me to write what's in my heart. The best way I can put it for now is that its equal parts sorrow and confusion.
Like nearly everyone born before 1990, I have my own personal "Michael Jackson moments". Fleeting periods in my life that at least for "a moment" were profoundly defined by the whirlwind created by a musical genius. I could go through those moments of my life where MJ was prominent in my life for one reason or another, but I think I'm going to save that for the radio. For now, I'm going to talk about the dilemma that all in media are faced with today.
USA Today says this morning that "no celebrity has been as revered and reviled over the past 40 years as Michael Jackson." For sure, I have revered Michael Jackson...for me, going all the way back to 3rd grade. But I have also reviled him, feared him, suspected him, and condemned him...and I have done so not just privately but in my public persona as well.
To revile is to criticize in an angry or abusive manner. Looking back, I have definitely said things that fit this description. To deny that now (or even gloss over it) on the day after his unexpected death would be hypocritical.
No doubt that Michael Jackson was the single most influential musical artist of my life, even though he hasn't made a significant contribution to his legacy for fifteen years---but also no doubt that he was eccentric, and led a bizarre existence. When his behavior led many (including the Los Angeles District Attorney) to believe that he had committed crimes against children, he became this dual persona to me. On one side, a musical juggernaut who transcended all before him in pop music.On the other side, a mentally unstable suspected pedophile who lost many admirers, despite his escape of conviction.
Now that he's gone, I'm inclined to gloss over that part of his story...we all are...to repackage him as simply a tortured artist that no one understood, so we tortured him more with the most scurrilous and damaging rumors and accusations that can be levied at a fellow human being. I want it known that I am neither denying nor apologizing for things I've said about Michael in the past. To do that, would be duplicitous. By the same token, they are things I wouldn't say at his funeral and I won't repeat them now, the day after his untimely death.
In a way, he reminds me of the baseball hero that shamed his accomplishments with steroids, or the football star that's unstoppable on the field but can't stay out of jail in the off-season. The age-old battle of talent versus character.
Regardless, if you can strip away everything from MJ's life but those "on field" accomplishments, Michael Jackson was AMAZING. One of the five most influential people of our entire generation. That's what I will focus on today on the radio. But please know that while I may sound reverential, I'm talking about solely his career, not Michael Jackson as a person. I didn't know him as a person. I can only base my feelings and opinions on what I know to be true: That yesterday we lost an artist and performer that had a profound impact on my life, and re-defined the word "phenomenon". The loss of his talent and his potential future contributions to his genre, will be felt for years.
Like nearly everyone born before 1990, I have my own personal "Michael Jackson moments". Fleeting periods in my life that at least for "a moment" were profoundly defined by the whirlwind created by a musical genius. I could go through those moments of my life where MJ was prominent in my life for one reason or another, but I think I'm going to save that for the radio. For now, I'm going to talk about the dilemma that all in media are faced with today.
USA Today says this morning that "no celebrity has been as revered and reviled over the past 40 years as Michael Jackson." For sure, I have revered Michael Jackson...for me, going all the way back to 3rd grade. But I have also reviled him, feared him, suspected him, and condemned him...and I have done so not just privately but in my public persona as well.
To revile is to criticize in an angry or abusive manner. Looking back, I have definitely said things that fit this description. To deny that now (or even gloss over it) on the day after his unexpected death would be hypocritical.
No doubt that Michael Jackson was the single most influential musical artist of my life, even though he hasn't made a significant contribution to his legacy for fifteen years---but also no doubt that he was eccentric, and led a bizarre existence. When his behavior led many (including the Los Angeles District Attorney) to believe that he had committed crimes against children, he became this dual persona to me. On one side, a musical juggernaut who transcended all before him in pop music.On the other side, a mentally unstable suspected pedophile who lost many admirers, despite his escape of conviction.
Now that he's gone, I'm inclined to gloss over that part of his story...we all are...to repackage him as simply a tortured artist that no one understood, so we tortured him more with the most scurrilous and damaging rumors and accusations that can be levied at a fellow human being. I want it known that I am neither denying nor apologizing for things I've said about Michael in the past. To do that, would be duplicitous. By the same token, they are things I wouldn't say at his funeral and I won't repeat them now, the day after his untimely death.
In a way, he reminds me of the baseball hero that shamed his accomplishments with steroids, or the football star that's unstoppable on the field but can't stay out of jail in the off-season. The age-old battle of talent versus character.
Regardless, if you can strip away everything from MJ's life but those "on field" accomplishments, Michael Jackson was AMAZING. One of the five most influential people of our entire generation. That's what I will focus on today on the radio. But please know that while I may sound reverential, I'm talking about solely his career, not Michael Jackson as a person. I didn't know him as a person. I can only base my feelings and opinions on what I know to be true: That yesterday we lost an artist and performer that had a profound impact on my life, and re-defined the word "phenomenon". The loss of his talent and his potential future contributions to his genre, will be felt for years.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Pamela Chretien Matthew on June 29, 2009 at 9:52pm -
The world will miss Michael and his innocent genius. It amazes me how easily we (human beings) form opinions that become reality based in rumor about people who we fail to understand. My heart weeps for the loss of this very talented individual - a man whose innocence cloaked him in frailty and exposed him to the demons our world created.
Rest In Peace Michael and may your legacy reveal the truth and truly free your spirit to soar to touch the world!
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Comment by SusieQ on June 29, 2009 at 6:53pm -
Good job Kidd. Well said.
Michael was a mad genius and no one will ever be able to deny what he was to ther music business. Especially those of us who live for music in thier life.
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Comment by Tiffany K on June 29, 2009 at 1:08pm - *note for link posted above* go 4 minutes and 30 seconds in to get to the point of posting the clip. =\
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Comment by Tiffany K on June 29, 2009 at 12:52pm
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i've listened to your show since i was a child and have thoroughly enjoyed it through the years. i'll keep this simple . . . today on your show you discussed one of the reasons you changed your mind about michael jackson and the possibility of him being a pedophile. you said that it stemmed somewhat from martin bashir's statement on dateline. here's an eight minute clip that should have given bashir the credibility equivalent expected of such gossip magazines as the national enquirer.
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Comment by Kay King on June 29, 2009 at 9:31am -
Michael Jackson will be remembered forever for his musical contributions to society. I have been a fan for many,many years. I had no idea that his death would affect me and my family as it did. We are all still in total shock, pain and disbelief. The pain hit us and totally engulfed every member of my family. With the pain that we and all of his fans are feeling, there is also utter ANGER. Anger at how the media and people portrayed this gentle and caring man. Anger at how he was completely misunderstood and misrepresented. Michael's heart was broken into a million pieces when he was accused of those fake child abuse allegations. All of the talk of his face and appearance was nothhing compared to being accused of harming a child.
This morning I was in the car when you began your discussion about how you don't believe that Michael abused those children and how Bashir is NOW saying that he didn't believe that Michael had molested any child. This is the kind of thing that has Michael's fans in so much pain and anger. Where was Bashir during the trial? Why didn't he say this then? You are so correct when you say that Bashir was complicit in the Michael being accused of the last scam. He was the one who added his commentary to the LWMJ documentary and made Michael seem like an abuser.He completely changed the words that Michael said and the media went along with his manipulation. I am so angry at Kellie for her saying that Michael "admitted" these horrible things in the documentary. Kellie, I challenge you to find me ANY documentary where Michael said that he slept with "little boys". What Michael said was that many CHILDREN-girls and boys-shared his bed. During that same interview the accuser said that he was the one who asked if he could sleep in Michael's room. Michael said that it was alright only if his parents said that it was alright. I guess Kellie didn't hear that. The accuser also said that he and his brother slept in Michael's bed; however, Michael slept on the floor. Where was Kellie when that was said? It is all on the interview. People, like Kellie, just chose to ignore what was really said.
I appreciate you taking a new look at Michael and what really happened. Keep up the good work and the open mind about Michael. Again, my family and I are saddened beyond words at Michael's death. We can only hope that people learn and report the truth about this wonderful human being., . We were/are fans of Michael, the MAN. as well as his wonderful and lasting music.
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Comment by kalzach@aol.com on June 29, 2009 at 8:35am - This man is dead he is never coming back. Micheal had BULLSEYE on his back and people took shots at it all the time. I was not there and no one elses was there either to really know the truth. I hope it was not ture. I can say that M.J. did things that were flat out wrong with kids. I will all so say that he gave so much to kids sick kids poor kids ect. I want to look at the good that he did in life since we will never have the full truth on bad. I have to say this to Kelly you hare very heartless right now!!!!!!
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Comment by Jacob Waller on June 29, 2009 at 12:08am -
I am only 21-years-old, born in the great year of 1987, so I am not able to remember Michael Jackson in his prime. For my life all I can only remember the “bazro” Michael, and I feel that is nothing more than second rate than the respect Michael should get (as an entertainer.) I realized Thursday evening that I have never really listened too much of Michael Jackson’s music; I decided that day that it was time I did. From 1 o’clock Friday afternoon till Sunday evening I listen to no other music other than Michael Jackson. I realized over the weekend that Michael wanted to do two things and two things only through his music, to give people an escape from daily life into a world of music (the basis of any entertainer) & to make the world a better place for the next generation.
If anyone would have asked me what my favorite Michael Jackson song was before this weekend I would have said, Billie Jean or Smooth Criminal … now, I am positive on what my answer would be – Man in the Mirror. Michael Jackson saw that this world was going in a direction that it should never think of going (i.e. world hunger, AIDS, war, diseases, etc.) and he as a human not an entertainer wanted to change that, in doing so he used his mega-star image to do something about it. How can we change our home, home school, home town, home state, or even our home land? Michael said it best, “start with the man in the mirror!”
Kidd Kraddick had a great idea (though it never really came through) called My Turn Day. My turn to make the world a little bit better and it was by starting with the man in the mirror. I may remember where I was when that plan landed when he was going to the hearings in 2005 but, I believe I will always remember where I was when I first heard Man in the Mirror … because the message of the song spoke to my soul and I personally want to thank the memory and the legend that was Michael Jackson for inspiring me to be a better person not just for me or the people around me but for the world and the generations to come!
When we look at the man that was Michael Jackson – let’s not gaze at the trails, physical appearance, or even the myths and legends that surround his name, but let us focus on him the humanitarian – USA for Africa, charities, etc. Let us do this by starting with the “man in the mirror!”
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Comment by Melanie on June 28, 2009 at 7:49pm - Definitely well said Kidd!!!!!
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Comment by Cafeaulaitskinnyandsweet on June 28, 2009 at 1:31pm - Thanks for sharing your thoughts Kidd. It saddens me to think that Michael may have left this world a tortured soul. Where I feel Farrah passed away at peace with herself, I don't know that Michael had the opportunity to come to peace with everything that happened in his pubic and private life. I pray that his soul does indeed Rest In Peace.
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Comment by Faith on June 26, 2009 at 10:52pm - I cannot judge a person unless they have been proven guilty. I do not have that right. I choose not to judge. He apparently had a screwed up childhood that made him the way he was. If he was in pain emotionally and or physically that would justify the bizare behavior. Behavior that many would never understand or would never have the ability to understand unless they too have experienced such abusiveness or emotional abandonment as a child. Nothing to condone but to understand where he was coming from puts his actions in a place where it's not so shameful. He was a wonderful entertainer and will be missed. I will hold tight to my Thriller album..I will hold tight to my Saturday morning memories of watching their cartoon..and I will always have respect for him.
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