Soundtrack of a Generation

When I heard about the passing of Michael Jackson, I thought, "I don't know a world without him in it." He was already a legend when I was born. I remember watching "Moonwalker" on the weekends and trying to recreate that lean in "Smooth Criminal" and landing on my face every time. I remember falling in love with "Rock With You" because it was my junior high crush's favorite Michael Jackson song. I remember really loving "Will You Be There" when it was in "Free Willy". I remember the "Black Or White" video with it's banned version and Macaulay Culkin. I remember being in high school when Michael and Janet got together and recorded "Scream" - the TV didn't seem large enough for both icons. I remember when he dubbed himself the King Of Pop and I remember him being right. His voice has permeated every phase of my life.

Someone described Michael Jackson's music as "the soundtrack of a generation". That is nothing short of the truth. I don't think that there is a person on Earth who has not heard of him or his music. His music and dance moves have influenced almost every pop artist in the industry. Strains of "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"are heard in R&B chart toppers and Fall Out Boy covers "Beat It" on their most recent album. Usher and Chris Brown put their own spin on dance moves that Michael Jackson created. "Thriller" transformed music videos from simply an accompaniment to a song into an art form all their own.

He has shaped pop music and culture with his own hand. The white socks, fedora, and silver glove are iconic. The Moonwalk is a signature. Michael Jackson was a genius whose talent will surely be missed.