Rhymin' & Stealin'

This post isn’t celebrating Michael Jackson’s personal life or gross indiscretions, whatever they may be. The things he’s been accused of are inexcusable and unforgivable, and unfortunately tarnish his musical legacy, whether or not they’re true. I have no idea if they’re true and whatever my opinions are of him as a person, it’s the people directly involved who have to deal with the consequences. If it’s all true, then yeah, it’s terrible.

The point of this post though, is that MJ was an incredible musician and his music and its legacy deserves to be remembered with the respect, adulation and awe that it deserves. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad are three of the greatest albums ever recorded. In any genre. Ever. And that’s not even mentioning hit after awesome hit with the Jackson 5.

Yeah, the irony is that MJ probably would have been a much more normal, well-adjusted, happy person if he hadn’t been pushed by strict and overzealous parents into a musical career. We would all have been deprived of some of the greatest music ever and one of history’s most innovative, ground-and-barrier breaking musicians. But maybe Mike would have lived a long and happy, scandal-free existence.

Say what you want about Michael Jackson the person, today the music world lost a total legend. It’s a sad day for music and music fans everywhere.

the internet: gives every idiot with a keyboard a soapbox inside of an ivory tower.

celebrate the music, not the man.