How I Remember Michael Jackson
1. He performed for the Super Bowl halftime show in 1993. I remember my parents telling us he used to be black, which we kids couldn’t wrap our little brains around. “No way! No way!” The show was cool though.
2. That year, Free Willy came out in theaters and then on VHS (crazy–I first typed DVD and then was like “Whoa, wait…”). I watched the movie at my grandfather’s house on Christmas Day. There was a big party going on, but I was by myself in the guest room watching the movie (with the occasional break to refill my plate with some of the best chicken wings that I ever recall eating). Of course, the experience of Free Willy wouldn’t be complete without watching the music video at the end of the credits. What an inspiring song–”Will You Be There?”–and video–you can’t get much more thrilling (for a 7-year-old) than Jacko serenading as Willy jumps (and drips water) over Jesse to FREEDOM.
3. In 11th grade, I acquired a concussion while skiing. I wiped out. Big Time. I was taken to the hospital where I had to wait a little while in the emergency room. And who do you think is on TV being interviewed? The King of Pop of course! But I don’t think this particular interview had anything to do with music….I believe some of his alleged child molestation issues were surfacing. I was currently in an unstable mental condition, so watching him and trying to analyze what was being said was nigh impossible. Somewhere in the concussed part of my brain, the image of MJ on the TV screen has been forever implanted.
4. My junior year of college, a nice girl joined my society. She was from CA. And everytime she saw me she’d break out in an interesting rendition of “Billie Jean” for all around us to be privileged to hear. She even included her own little dance to the song. But it didn’t involve the Moonwalk unfortunately.
