I don’t really do the cross-promotion thing between GameSpite and 1UP so much these days, but I’m unexpectedly satisfied with this piece I wrote about Michael Jackson for Retronauts and figure it’s worth linking to. It’s not really about Jackson, though; what it’s really about is the bygone days of arcades and the fact that his death is a reminder of things forever lost. I guess ultimately it’s about me, to be honest. Man, now I’m kind of ashamed of it. “Some guy died, please listen to me whine about missing my childhood.” Sorry ’bout that, everyone.
The post did come from a sincere place, though. I don’t know anyone who didn’t think Jackson was amazing back when I was in elementary school. Thriller was so, so huge, and we all used to listen to it over and over. I haven’t heard the album in decades, but I could still recite the stupid byplay between Jackson and Paul McCartney from “The Girl is Mine” if you really pressed me. And that was the lousiest song on the album! That cover made white suits and baby tigers were the coolest thing ever. We all figured we’d dress like that an have exotic pets when we grew up. And we all made fun of Jackson’s flaky personality and effeminate mannerisms, but damn if we didn’t try to moonwalk in our ragged size 4 Pumas.
Anyway, I have a follow-up post to that entry in mind, but it will have to wait for when I’m not wearing a monkey suit and listening to a din of Vietnamese at my future cousin-in-law’s engagement party. The further joys of adulthood!
Yeah, I read that last night. Honestly, it’s one of the more moving things I’ve read (tangently) related to MJ’s death.
Good article. I often just discount the nostalgia my peers and I have for the 80’s by assuming it’s wholly associated with that buzz of childhood, but man, pop-culture was one HELL of a lot more vibrant back then, and MJ was a big part of that. Along with Madonna, Prince, and Cyndi Lauper, he made pop music colorful and imaginative in a way you don’t see anymore. I mean, what do we have nowadays? Pop music seems to be the exclusive domain of ‘tweens. Jackson had an appeal that crossed racial boundaries and all, but looking back it’s sorta more remarkable that he crossed AGE boundaries. When Thriller was hype, your older brother and your Mom thought it was cool too. I dunno what people who were born at the tail-end of the 90’s will get nostalgic when they’re in their 30’s, but I don’t think it’ll be today’s music.
Already said it was excellent on Twitter = )