Like many of you, I've done a lot of thinking and talking about Michael Jackson these last few days, and the question I keep returning to is, what will his legacy be? Of course, it's too early to know for sure, but it's never too early to start speculating, if speculating on the legacy of dead pop stars is the kind of thing you're into. It's certainly the kind of thing I think and talk about anyway.
So I'm tossing it out to you guys, and I hope some of you will answer: How will Michael Jackson be remembered, as a great artist or as a freak? Will future generations enjoy or even remember the man's amazing artwork -- the groundbreaking "Thriller" video, the wedding-reception staple "Billie Jean" (my vote for the best bass line of the '80s, if not all time) and, of course, the Moonwalk -- or focus instead on the man's bizarre personal life -- the changes in appearance, the financial problems, and, of course, the Peter Pan syndrome/sleepovers with kids/child-molestation allegations?
Now, in his time of dying, most of the fan and media attention seems to be on his artwork, as perhaps it should be, out of respect for his passing. But in the 18 years (!!!) between, let's be honest, his last relevant single, "Black or White," and his surprising death, the overwhelming majority of that attention was on everything BUT his music and performances, perhaps as it should have been, considering his incredible shrinking nose and his, ahem, suspicious behavior around other people's children, even if nothing criminal was ever proven.
Face it: The man spent the last THIRD of his life not as a thrilling entertainer, but as a tabloid journalist's wet dream. And what a dream he was! As big as he was as a pop star, I would argue he was even bigger as a supermarket headline. The biggest in the world, I would argue. Would anyone dare disagree?
Rhetorical questions (which I'm going to answer): If he were still alive, would we be buying or even listening to his music so voraciously? (Of course not.) If he were still alive, would we still be calling him "Wacko Jacko"? (Well...)
So, what will Michael Jackson's legacy be? In writing this, I guess I've found my answer. My prediction is this: Sadly (or not, depending on how strongly you believe in his innocence), what people will remember is the freakshow. After all, it's what we've done for that other deposed king, Elvis Presley. I never sat down and listened to Elvis' (surprisingly timeless) music till my late '20s, beyond a handful of hits, yet I thought I knew everything about it, or at least him: Skinny Elvis, Fat Elvis, bad beach movies, the comeback special, peanut-butter-and-banana sandwiches, shooting TVs, and dying on a toilet. The artwork didn't remain -- unless you're talking the black velvet variety -- but the trivia sure did. And Michael's is even weirder.
At the moment, we're playing "The Man in the Mirror." But will we still, in 18 years? Will our children play it? Hmm...
Surely, only time will tell. But until that time, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Seriously. Comment away!
Thanks for reading!
