Requiem for Michael Jackson

Eulogy for the King of Pop from a grateful fan

I am incredibly sad as I write this. One of the greatest entertainers, one of the true shining musical geniuses, one of the most iconic American cultural figures of the past 100 years, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has departed from this world.

For decades I have been saying that Michael Jackson is one of only a handful of immortals on the contemporary music scene. His collaborations with Quincy Jones alone are amazing, inspired works that will be heard 100 years from now and beyond. He still has the best-selling album in history, Thriller, one of the last front-to-back friggin' great albums ever produced in my opinion. Even his later work, though not as widely distributed, was brilliant.

Another thing about Michael Jackson that most people may have overlooked is that he was a truly good-hearted person. I believe that he loved children and did not abuse them. Many of his songs certainly speak to leaving the world for a better tomorrow, to a love of innocence, purity, happiness, playfulness, and love -- the appreciation of all of which is amplified in children. He tried to construct a reality for himself and for children that was at odds with the world as it is, and this caused him pain. Earth Song is a testament to his understandable disillusionment with the world as it is. But he tried to make it better, and I happen to think that his work did make it better and will continue to do so for many generations.

His life was tragic in many ways, exemplary of the dark side of show business. His abusive father milked little Michael for every dime he was worth. That's probably why Michael loved kids so much -- his own childhood was stolen from him in a mad swirl of greed and violence. After he grew up, the glare of the spotlight shone on him brightly and constantly with good reason: His charisma was unmatched. He was, truly, if not the brightest star in the universe, certainly the brightest star on Earth, and it took its toll.

Michael Jackson will be missed by millions -- maybe billions -- around the world, including me. He left a wonderful legacy, though, and for that we can all be grateful.

May your long sleep bring you peace you never had in life, Michael Jackson, and thank you for being so great for so long and for taking the slings and arrows of fame with such flair.