10 years ago I was sat outside a local pub on a beautiful June Thursday evening enjoying a few drinks with work friends before heading into town for a few more drinks, I received a text from one of my close friends and a call from another telling me MJ was either seriously ill or he had sadly passed away. In the coming minutes many others in the pub were receiving news that something had happened, then the news became official, the man I idolised as a child and who’s music played a huge part in my upbringing had died.
I felt weird, even though I had never met him in person, I personally felt like someone who i had known my whole life was no longer here, the mood in the pub had a weird vibe too people talking to each other about it, as usual with Michael Jackson the odd one or two that didn’t understand him or believed the many fake stories the media had printed were giving there opinion but the majority were stunned and in shock at at the news. We carried on drinking then went into town and the impact suddenly hit me. Every club we visited was playing Michael Jackson, DJ’s shouting him out and paying respects, people dancing to his music like it was the current hits at the top of the charts, it was beyond surreal and something which i will remember for the rest of my life.
I woke up the following morning and turned on the news, it was wall to wall coverage about the death of a world superstar, UK newspapers had worked through the night changing front pages for the morning to put Michael’s face on the front page, for once the majority were actually respectful and in the following days while rumours circulated about his death and people carried on mourning his death it became increasingly clear that his music was been played all over the world to celebrate his life. MTV went in to 24/7 Michael Jackson mode playing the videos to all his songs, Radio stations were playing his songs non stop and the charts were taken over by MJ’s music. All of his main albums & singles surged up the charts worldwide, a fitting tribute to the man who influenced music more than any other artist & the biggest selling artist of all time was yet again on top.
The tribute at the staples center on July 7th, 12 days after he passed was shown world wide, the arena was sold out, thousands watched outside on screens that were placed in cities all over the word and it was estimated over 1 billion people such as myself watched the event on TV. We all remember the emotional tributes and songs which were played while the gold casket was sat there for all to see. Usher, Jermaine Jackson and the emotional speech by his young daughter Paris Jackson made even the strongest of people emotional, a fitting tribute to the man who just less than 2 weeks before had been preparing for his This Is It tour in that very arena before his scheduled travel to London to perform the shows at the 02 Arena. I myself was put through for one of the final ballots for the tickets for the latest added shows and was unfortunately denied due to his sudden death.
Afterwards came the This Is It movie, I went with my mum to watch it at the cinema as soon as it was released, I was mind blown at the genius of the man and we will never know what the final show would have looked like but the film gave us the best possible insight into what could have been. One thing is for sure the perfectionist he was he would have given everything to put on a show that only he had the calibre to do and the film showed the effort, effects and preparation that was being made to make sure the show would be a success.
Fast forward to the year 2019, Since This Is It we’ve had 2 new albums of posthumous/unreleased recordings, the controversial Michael and the widely appreciated Xscape, soundtracks and other projects released by the Jackson Estate to carry on his legacy and also introduce him to a new generation. We have this year though had a tough ride with the Leaving Neverland sham and the medias attempt to destroy a mans legacy with false accusations and lies. If anything all it has done is increase the demand for Michael Jackson, his music is played as more than ever, his fans, friends & family continue to spread facts about the person he actually was and not what the media would want you to believe.
10 years on since his death you can’t mute Michael Jackson, he will never be muted as his impact worldwide was deeper than music & on this anniversary I celebrate with his music and the genius projects he left us with and I send love to the Jackson family, fellow Moonwalkers & people who continue to show the world who Micheal Jackson WAS and still IS. A Parent, Son, Brother, Uncle, Influencer, Record Breaker, Humanitarian, Entertainer, Genius and The King Full Stop.
Rest In Peace MJ.