RIP MJ

The first cassette I ever bought with my own money was Michael Jackson's "Bad". I remember that I knew who he was at the time, but it wasn't like I was dying to own that album at the time. I with with my mom and we were walking around Best Buy. I had some money from something- I'm not sure if it was Christmas or my birthday or what. Anyway, I wanted to get a tape. I looked all around and when I passed by the top sellers area, there it was. A friend of mine had played "Beat It" once while I was over and so I pretty much knew who Michael was, but I was more familiar with him from commercials at that point. My parents didn't listen to popular music- we listened to oldies and classical in our house, and without an older sibling, I didn't really get exposed to new music when I was younger. I brought that tape home and opened it up and put it in my little cassette player and I listened to it from the first to the last track. I was in love. Now, I never remember being in love with Michael the man, but I was in love with the music. Dirty Diana, Smooth Criminal, Bad, Man in the Mirror- I played that tape so much that I'm shocked it didn't wear out. It was my introduction to the world of pop music. These days, there is no doubt that a Michael Jackson song will see me singing along if it's on the radio, or jumping up to dance if it's being played at a wedding or some other event. While he may have had some very unsavory parts of his personal life, there is no denying the man was a musical genius. He truly was the King of Pop and I thank him for so many fabulous songs and the fact that those songs run as part of the soundtrack of my life. Rest in Peace, Michael, we will never forget you.