It’s been a week since the passing of The King of Pop (I’d say “self-proclaimed” but since it goes without saying, I won’t) and he has and will continue to maintain a strong presence in the media. He has long been under the watchful eye of journalists everywhere, and in death that holds true just as much, if not more so. Looks like he’ll never get his wish of being left alone.
That may be the only thing that never eventually happens when it comes to this cultural icon. You see, everything about him was eventual in some form or another. Whether it was his music, lifestyle or change in skin pigmentation – he did things in his own way and in his own time. As a budding Eventualist, you have to admire that. As an expert Eventualist, I praise it. Let’s take a look at some of the most eventual things The Man In The Mirror did during his half-century of life:
1. The Music
Starting at the ripe old age of 9, Michael took his sweet time sharing his talent with the world. If only his father had pushed him harder; we may have been privy to him when we was a toddler – or perhaps in the womb. Nevertheless, once he got started he still wanted to be starting something. In fact, the lyrics in that very song indicate his propensity to start things constantly. I cannot think of a song where he sang “I said you wanna be end’ somethin’, you got to be endin’ somethin’.” Mind you, I stopped watching him after the crotch-grab sequence in “Black or White” so I may have missed out.
With his breakout album, “Thriller” (which sold quite a few copies), he had every song that he could have released as a single. The video for the title cut lasted as long as the helicopter sequence that was filmed for Twilight Zone: The Movie (which, coincidentally, was also directed by John Landis) – or at least the fallout from it. No matter how you look at it from my point of view, this is the second most eventual album of the modern era starting in the 1970’s. Only The Wall is more so…and maybe one of the Uriah Heep albums. I’m not saying which one.
The music of this legend will never go away – it is already considered revolutionary so much so that MJ bought the rights to The Beatles’ “Revolution” to celebrate his own music (since it was a package deal, he ended up with all of The Beatles’ catalog and the wrath of Paul McCartney as a bonus). He will go down in HIStory as one of the very few musical icons who lived beyond their music, much like Beethoven, Mozart, Elvis Presley, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain and Biz Markie.
2. The Man
Some would say he was a man among boys in the music industry, but I would never say that. As for MJ the “man” – he wasn’t above fighting for a girl (“The Girl Is Mine” with his nemesis Paul McCartney), being naughty (“Bad”, “Smooth Criminal” or “Free The World”) or shocking people with a statement (“State Of Shock”). He was a family man, having been married (at least twice), having kids and generously sharing the spotlight with his brothers (for which Tito is forever grateful). He loved playing dress-up, even encouraging his kids to join in. While he enjoyed the occasional thrill (which he sang about), he also was enthralled when children enjoyed his theme park or simply were dangled off of balconies. He was an animal-lover, having been one (“Thriller” again), owning a couple (Bubbles the primate s a primate example) and studying them (having some elephant’s bones for a spell).
MJ liked his privacy as well, as illustrated by his low-key nature. His undoing in this regard may have been his attempt at disguising himself in the same manner that the Wayans’ brothers attempted in “White Chicks,” in that believing that past commercial successes would hide later disappointments.
But most importantly, he made the long and eventual career of Al Yankovic what it is today. As a result, virtually every popular song in the world will eventually be parodied.
Incidentally, as I write this I realize another thing that isn’t eventual about Michael Jackson. He won’t eventually be missed; he already is.
