Michael Jackson’s “Final Curtain Call”

How did a little boy from Gary, Indiana become the pop king of our culture? During the 60’s, 70’s the climate in our culture was tumultuous. Lots of unrest, protests, death and struggle for equality within this country. Along with Michael Jackson, I grew up during that time. As a child I remember the Jackson 5, I loved their songs. I enjoyed seeing them on TV and I believe my mom took us to see them live. Years later when I became a teenager the Off the Wall album hit. Loved it! Michael Jackson hit pay dirt in his debut album without his brothers and a star was born again.

But how did he do it? Back in the 70’s he was the youngest member of the Jackson 5 and in the early 80’s he broke out with Off the Wall and than Thriller. From the outside looking in, I believe that the key to Michael Jackson’s successful career was due to:

1. His love and passion for his craft

2. His creativity

3. His talent

4. His willingness to invest his entire being into his vocation

Michael Jackson built a career that will transcend his life. His music will live on, his creativity will live on through the videos and passion for his craft will live on. Michael Jackson didn’t allow the times he lived in, to hinder his creativity. Thriller was produced and performed like nothing before or since its debut.

I am sure like any of us, Michael Jackson faced obstacles to his creativity and in his craft, but it was transparent to the rest of us. He made videos, he danced, and he performed like no other musician. He was eccentric and strange in my opinion. He didn’t manage his life with excellence. And that was unfortunate. I was definitely a fan early in his career, however I was not interested in him the more eccentric he became. That being said, it is a sad ending to his life.

In May, Michael Jackson foreshadowed his impending death. Go back and listen to the press conference when he declared his upcoming tour as his final curtain call. Those are powerful words. Though Micheal Jackson will not have the opportunity to take that final bow, his final curtain call, despite his super stardom, in the end he is gone. He lived an incredibly sad life in my opinion, but he left a legacy that will transcend this generation of people. Like Elvis, Michael Jackson will live on in the hearts of his family, friends and fans.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons