The King

 

I was reluctant at first to write about the death of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, simply because the fact that it has been topping the list of trending topics on Twitter, radio stations worldwide have been playing his hit songs, media has been covering his death non stop and suddenly we see all this Jacko experts start popping out of obscurity.

But the reason why I did was simply because I can clearly remember where I was when I heard the news.

For the record: I was at home, fresh from the bed, hadn’t bathe, hadn’t checked my emails yet or my twitter or my facebook, hadn’t even watched the television, when suddenly I got a call from a friend, whom I promised to be a guest lecturer at his class but didn’t because I overslept. He told me, how his class started playing Jacko’s song because Michael Jackson just died. 

I said….what…?? Michael Jackson just died???

You don’t just remember where you were when somebody died, or some important or tragic event takes place unless that someone means a lot to you, you have some sort of a connection with the deceased or perhaps that someone was an icon. I don’t remember where I was when former Indonesian dictator Suharto died in 2008, but I do remember where I was or how shocked I was when Princess Diana died and that was eleven years before Suharto died.     

I’m not going to talk about his music and what he means to me or the music industry or some cheesy nostalgia like my favorite Jackson song…but the impact of his music, career, life, controversy and now death without a doubt had a profound impact to the so-called “MTV generation”. 

And unless your name is Akhteminugat from the Figtonesrimon tribe in the remote jungle of Amazon, you wouldn’t disagree that the man is about as influential as…hmmm let’s say…the discovery of electricity. Even when I was five, people have been trying to mimic him, dress like him, do his move….the moonwalk or that tilting dance move we see on “Smooth Criminal”, which is still the biggest mystery to me.

And now his death, less than a month ahead of his comeback tour, adds only another mystery to the already mysterious man. He seemed fired up announcing the tour, he seemed healthy enough, he was excited and has much to live for and suddenly he died, without any sign at all. 

Already there are speculations that the pressure was just too great for him, some reported that he might have overdosed, while some fans just refused to believe that he was dead. Indeed, nobody has a picture of his body yet, and even until we do and the coroners finish the autopsy and confirm that he is dead, some of us will undoubtedly just still refuse to let the fact sink in.

It had happened before with the previous king, the King, Elvis Presley. There are people who still believe and would solemnly swear that “Elvis is not dead, I’m Elvis.”

Elvis was as much of an icon as Jacko…his everlasting music, his iconic costume, his power to command screaming fans, his bizarre lifestyle, his fall to Vegas obscurity and his mysterious death.

We will see Michael Jacksons running the streets of L.A. much like we see Elvises running the streets of Vegas. Even before Jackson died, people have been imitating him, dressing like him, do the same kind of plastic surger(ies), doing his move and claiming that they were the King of Pop in person.

Tourist running the streets of LA will have their pictures taken with these Jacksons. I also predict that some of these Jacksons will likely to pose as the King in his early days, before the skin got freakishly whiter.  

Neverland will become the new Graceland. Jackson memorabilia will go through the roof and forgeries rampant. Sadly, those who Jackson survived will fight over who owns the copyright to the “Jacko” brand, even quite possibly the dispute will involve Lisa Marie Presley.

People with bejeweled gloves on just their right hands, sporting top hats and bright red shirt will visit his grave, singing “Billy Jean” and do the Moonwalk, particularly on June 25, his death anniversary.

Many years from now, there will be shocking news that during autopsy, scientists have saved his brain and preserve it. Attempts will be made to hook the brain to a clone or cyborg or even the cyberspace. 

In Indiana, Jakson will have a street named after him while others will forward some bizarre and unverifiable conspiracy theories behind his death, possibly some documentaries and full length feature docudrama on the subject.

At least on of the three Jackson kids will try their luck on the entertainment industry. They will say to movie and music execs: “You remember that baby, Jackson dangled over a balcony one day while the kid have a blanket wrapped around its head and struggling for dear life…??? That kid was me!!!”

But one thing’s for sure…the title…that’s reserved to the true King of Pop. But that doesn’t mean others can’t improvise like “the King of Pop Corn” or “the King of Pop Art.” 

When you’re the King of anything…unless you’re a self-proclaimed king…it is likely people will tell tales about your life…even in a bar room to random strangers. However, if you happen to be the King of Pop, then people will talk about you for a long time…at least another generation comes along.

Christmas 2040: “Come along kids…grandma wants to tell you about the King of Pop…!”