Michael Jackson - old school

With all the hoopla over the death of Michael

Jackson, I guess it’s my turn to chime in. I grew

up old school with Michael and the Jackson 5,

back when they were tearing up the Motown

charts and giving us numbers like ABC, I Want

You Back, The Love You Save, I’ll Be There, etc.

I remember listening to the greatest hits album

until the vinyl became scratched and worn from

overplaying. I even remember pretending that I was part of the group and singing along with the

album. Michael was only about three years older than me so kids my age could identify with him

back in the 70s and dream about becoming stars at the age of 10. Of course, I had the Osmond

greatest hits album, too, but that one didn’t get nearly as much play as the Jackson 5 - it just

didn’t quite have the same soul. When “Ben” came along, I was really into that, too. I never

looked at rats quite the same way. I followed Michael through his career and up until the 80s

with “Thriller” and “Bad.” I couldn’t get enough of the moonwalk and the creepy Thriller video -

it was the coolest thing I had ever seen - plus I love Vincent Price. But then Michael started

getting a little strange with Bubbles the Chimp and the Elephant Man and the surgery and all

that. He just became bigger than his music and it was a distraction for me. I still remember the

little fresh-faced kid with the big afro singing “Oh, baby, give me one more chance…” I guess

that’s just the way I’ll always remember him. Yeah, I’m old school.