Another King Is Gone

Michael Jackson's death last week brought to mind everything that changed when he exploded as a solo artist in the '80s. He integrated MTV and brought Hollywood directors to music video. The world premier of each of his videos were on major networks and was destination television. Everyone had to have his albums. "Thriller" is the highest-selling album in history and always will be. The title track still freaks me out today. Even when he wasn't on top of the charts he was still in the news, for better or worse. However, even after all that exposure we never really knew much about him. For many of us who grew up in the '80s and '90s, he was our King. We tried to sing like him, to dance like him. Every other solo pop artist had to follow his lead. There will never be another like him since the music and entertainment industry is so fragmented, no one can draw the crowds and get the album sales that he had. Let's enjoy his life and all the tributes to him that have been done and will be done. Maybe there will be a large concert like there was for Freddie Mercury. Even if we disagree about his actions and personal life let us agree that he was an interesting and unique person and we'll always remember him.