The minute Michael Jackson took his last breath, albums started flying
off the shelves, an army of "faithful" fans took to the streets
professing their undying love for "The King of Pop," and everyone from
celebrities to musicians hailed him as their storybook hero.
Where were they when Michael Jackson was alive? Throwing stones to hide their hands.
Suddenly, the lynch-mob media are nowhere to be seen. Gone are the "Wacko Jacko" days. The pedophile days. The freak days.
Because everybody loves him now.
On every street corner, people are donning MJ gear, rediscovering his
music. His movie, which opens nationally October 28, is selling out
fast. People can't get enough of his posthumously released
single This Is It, which hit the airwaves
this week. Before his death, DJs refused to play his songs. But now,
Michael's on heavy rotation at radio stations spanning the globe.
The same media that exploited Michael Jackson when he was alive are now exploiting him in death.
I saw through it then, and I definitely see through it now.
I've listened to Michael Jackson's music and danced to his songs since I was
in diapers. I never joined the ridiculing mobs.
The sudden MJ mania gives me mixed feelings.
On one hand, I'm thankful new fans are finally getting his message of
peace and love. On the other, I wish these same people didn't take his
incredible talent for granted when he was still here. All this love
could have spared his life, a life cut short just weeks before his big
return to the stage -- 50 sold out shows in London's O2 Arena. Now all
I'm left with is a refunded ticket -- and questions.
What could have been?
There are rumors that hundreds -- maybe even thousands -- of unreleased
MJ tracks are out there, which excites, yet saddens me. Michael will
live on in the hearts of adoring fans through his music, while big shot
execs who failed miserably at promoting his last two studio albums,
HIStory and Invincible, cash in.
After years of fruitless effort and countless request calls to get
radio stations to play his music, they finally have. All Michael had to
do was die. His new single is receiving praise from critics, while
being played on every mainstream radio station in the country.
Rightfully so. It's a message of love from the
voice of an angel.
Michael still wanted to heal the world, even when
the world kicked him when he was down. We lost a one-of-a-kind musical
genius, magical entertainer, giving humanitarian, and most importantly,
a father, a brother, a son... a human being.
Well, Michael, the world didn't realize what they had until you were
gone.
