Hey I Like your Afro

The King of Pop in his signature pose

The world was shocked today as the news of Michael Jackson’s death made its way around the globe. The self-proclaimed King of Pop suffered from cardiac arrest this afternoon and passed away at the age of 50, as the number one selling musical artist in history and just a few short weeks before his highly anticipated sold-out concert scheduled in London this July. Today will be remembered in history as the day the world lost an icon.

It’s hard to properly summarize the contribution he’s made to popular culture and the music industry at large. To say he was a music video pioneer or an incomparable performer or even the best dancer the stage has ever seen, would hardly give his creative vision any justice. With superstar cameos in his music videos including Eddie Murphy, supermodel Iman, Macaulay Culkin, and Chris Tucker, Jackson extended a full 180 degree vision to his music that morphed his videos into mini-movies complete with pyro technics, full out costumes and complete movie sets. Not to mention blockbuster directors like Martin Scorsese who worked with Jackson on the video to his 1987 hit, “Bad.”

Jackson became the complete artist, an entertainer who defines the term “Pop Star” to this day. Thousands of aspiring performers including some of today’s biggest pop superstars such as Beyonce, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Usher (to name a few) have taken point from Jackson’s lead and his historical performances. As an entertainer, Jackson had the impossible ability to captivate millions around the world with a signature single spotlight, one sequined glove and his characteristic impeccable dance moves; pelvis thrust and moon walk included.

But maybe the best testament to the influence he made on music would be through the words of the countless musical protégées he has indirectly developed through his music, style and performances. Jackson, an icon who will forever be immortalized  in the entertainment business by some of the industry’s best and most talented artists and someone who will live on through the music of today and tomorrow, as the reigning musical genius that inspired generations to rock, jive and moon walk.

See quotes after the jump.

Continue reading →