Love him or hate him, there is one undeniable fact: Michael Jackson changed the face of pop music forever.  Jackson was the perfect mix of The Beatles and Elvis Presley blending catchy pop hooks with feverish dance beats and dance moves.  People either loved it and emulated him or hated it and created something different.  I am aware of all the problems that he fell into during the 90s, and do not plan on discussing them, I feel his music will leave a much larger footprint on the world than anything else.

You cannot underestimate the influence Jackson had on pop culture.  His songs have been covered, imitated and mocked in every way possible.  I’m old enough to remember the Moonwalker movie and the video game for Sega Genesis.  To think that the game and movie were based off of his signature dance move tells you how much influence he had.  In reality, the film is just a series of short films based around songs from his career and the album Bad.

One of my favorite moments was watching him perform during the halftime of Super Bowl 27. I was ten, it was incredible to see all the people on the field scream and cheer for him as he began to perform.  When he sang “Heal the World” I will admit that it was a moving moment, he seemed to be reaching out to all the people of the world and asking for global change.

Despite record sales and a place in pop culture history, his wrong-doings will overshadow his amazing career.  There can only be one Michael Jackson, and there will never be another.  For any fan of music there is a place in your heart for him, and I try not to let it be too tainted by the events that surround him.

For a different point of view, read this article at Couch Tuber.

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