Perhaps I am a more avid Michael Jackson fan than I ever realized. Because I just downloaded the whole memorial and plan to burn it on DVD. Because now, I want to buy some of his CDs like “Thriller” and “HIStory”.

When I was a kid, I used to listen to Michael Jackson songs. It was in the late 80s and I think his album “Bad” just came out. I recall watching the video for that and I enjoyed it, the dancing, the story, and the singing. I remember clutching my Walkman, listening to his “HIStory” cassette tapes. My favourite tracks off of that album were “Childhood”, “Smile”, and “Stranger in Moscow.” It was only upon watching the memorial that I discovered that “Smile” was his favourite song.

John Mayer was saying on Larry King that when he was young, he didn’t really control or choose what music he was listening to. He and I had a similar experience. My affinity for music was borne out of listening to the radio, MTV, and the different cassettes and CDs that my parents bought. I realized how fortunate we are that what streamed into our lives were songs of Michael’s. Because, as Rich said (http://fourfour.typepad.com/), his best songs are pop culture islands. “They’re able to exist alone and free of context. They’re Scotchguarded with perfection, utmost examples of art that demands to be separated from its artist.”

If you asked me if I cared for Michael Jackson in the past five years, I would say no, I didn’t. All the scandals, the weird plastic surgery stories, and his tabloid mishaps muddled his image to me. When the child molestation charges came out, I shrugged my shoulders and told myself that this is another weird thing that Michael does. I didn’t care anymore.

Afterwards, he held a press conference for his “This Is It” series of concerts. Shrug, No Cares, Repeat. Then out of nowhere, I read that he died.

When I watched the memorial in bits and pieces on YouTube, I thought we were also saying goodbye to a man who could have achieved more greatness. Madonna was able to do it, she also had immense popularity in the 80s, but she was able to sustain her career and personal life. Michael, had he made the right decisions in life, he could’ve been on the same path. He could have been kicking it with Madonna. That’s what I thought when I saw Madonna’s touching tribute to Michael a few days back.

Perhaps this was his most-awaited comeback. Perhaps this was the best comeback that he could ever wish for.

Leonard Pitts, Jr. wrote a great article over at Pop Matters (http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/107346-thriller-was-greatest-triumph-greatest-tragedy/) explaining why “Thriller” was Jackson’s greatest triumph and tragedy:

“Because the truest statement of the success of “Thriller” is simply this: It made the man historic. It opened a whole new stratosphere of success. This was his great triumph. And his great tragedy.

Because the very magnitude of the achievement isolated him from the ordinary human contact he claimed to crave, made him prey for the leeches and hangers-on who troubled the last years of his life.

Worse, his success made him a man no one could say no to. Not when he altered his very visage with a series of plastic surgeries. Not when he made his home into an amusement park complete with a train and a zoo and a tree he climbed in order to be alone. Not when he spent a fortune on garish baubles and tchotchkes and drove his finances to the ground. Not when a series of scandals and public oddities ruined his image, and left one of music’s greatest showmen an object of pitiable scorn.

“Thriller” consumed Michael Jackson. It raised the stakes on everything he did, and until his last day he was always competing with it, always looking to top what he had done. He never did. And yet, you wouldn’t have been surprised if he had. That’s how good he was.”

WilWhat a coincidence that Gladys Knight said that Michael was so much better when he wasn’t being “the” Michael Jackson, solo artist extreme.

It may be odd to some people I know that I’m writing about this, but listen -- I feel like his death left an impression on me because his music was a part of my childhood. In a sense, it felt like a part of my childhood already passed. And that time moves us along, moves what we love in our lives.

And so, as the whole world moves on, this weekend, I will be at the record store… celebrating a piece of my childhood.

I've read the book and I would like to see how they've interpreted it. A good tearjerker is nice, once in a while.


I love Ryan Reynolds. I love Sandra Bullock. By that equation, I think that this movie is worth the bucks to go to the theater for.


My John Krasinki and Maya Rudolph team together in this Sam Mendes-helmed movie. Looks GOOOOOOOD. No, looks better than good, looks pretty frickin' special.

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Super jetlagged.

Just a playlist I made for rainy days. It's suddenly raining here in the midst of summer.

TRACKS

1. Zero 7 - When It Falls

2. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - If You Want Me

3. Travis - Sing

4. Norah Jones - The Long Day Is Over

5. Jamie Cullum - High and Dry

6. Elisa - Eppure Sentire (Un Senso Di Te)

7. The Cardigans - Erase-Rewind

8. Madonna - Drowned World/Substitute for Love

9. Vienna Teng - Nothing Without You

10. Keane - Love Is The End

Have you ever watched Inside The Actors' Studio? The one with James Lipton? I do like that part in the end where he asks this set of questions to his guest. And I remember watching Meryl Streep answering his questions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVaYT0if-2g) and I thought that her answers were also most likely my answers as well. Here are my answers:

QUESTIONS:

1. What is your favorite word?
I do not really have a favorite word per se, but I think I usually use the the word "interesting" when I describe something that I like or intrigues me. That makes it one of my favorite words. Meryl did not have any as well, she just asked her daughter what her favorite word is. It's "coconut milk", heh.

2. What is your least favorite word?

Probably something denigrating to a woman, a curse word like "cunt". That is an ugly, ugly word. I somehow agree with Meryl. She said her least favorite word is "edgy." She didn't explain why but I'll try to go out on a limb here and try to explain why she said that. When people critique a movie or a piece of art and say that it is not "edgy" enough, I think, what is edgy? I think it takes aside the heart and the goodness that art contributes. This explanation reflects my preference in movies, music, and life in general. Example: that is why I love Kelly Clarkson. Some people may say that Kelly's new album is not the most groundbreaking pop album. It may not be but I do sincerely believe that she sung and wrote those songs with honesty and a no-bags-off-bullshit mentality in her mind and that translated directly to what she created. That is why legions of fans love her, because there's an honesty -- a relatable factor about her that is so refreshing to see. Also, this preference is one of the reasons why I cried at the end of "It's A Wonderful Life." Heh.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Meryl said music. I agree but I would add humor to that. So music and humor.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Meryl said cynicism and yes, I agree that that could be a turn off when you're a creative person. I guess mine would be stupidity.

5. What sound or noise do you love?

I remember that when I went to Europe, there were a lot of times that I waited around for, example, some of my relatives to finish up at the restaurant. And then I would just sit outside and feel the cold gust of wind and the sound of rustling leaves of trees. I guess that's the noise that I love. The sound of the piano is of course, one of the sounds that I love as well.

6. What sound or noise to do you hate?

I would have to agree with Meryl when she said that she hated the sound of pain.

7. What is your favorite curse word?

I don't normally curse. Most of my friends who know me who've heard me curse says that it doesn't suit me. I'm usually more comfortable writing curse words than saying it. What I've used often here in my journal is "fuck." It just conveys so much, that word, heh.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I would like to be a professional musician. Like, composing, playing the piano, or singing.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

I would not like selling something that I don't believe in to other people.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

I would like to hear him laugh and say, "You are NOT going to hell."