Hi guys!
Okay I know I have been a MAJOR SLACKER, but I'm back baby! As pathetic as it sounds (prior to MJ’s Death) I have been suffering from a severe case of writers block! - Actually No that was a lie, I just got a life! Yet, after much consideration, I have decided to dedicate my blog to the late (eeeekk just saying that makes me shudder) legend that was Michael Joseph Jackson. Now I don’t want this to come across as a morbid blog, because in actual fact my objection is quite the opposite! So guys, I advise that you close all other distracting windows, maximise this page and make a coffee or a cup of tea and sit back and have a read.
Well what can I say I mean WOW... ahh I am ...YES and document this people, I Abir Moustafa am actually at a loss for words. I clearly remember it, on the doomed day of June 25th (technically the 26th in Aus) 2009, I had slept at 3am and awoke at approximately 6:30am, made my to the kitchen, pulled out my bottle of water- had a few sips and returned to my bed to check the time. I checked the time and as you do, I pulled out my Iphone to check my twitter account (I know twitter obsessed!). Now I doubted too much would change in the past three and a half hours, unless Miley Cyrus uploaded a new picture or a few new articles were tweeted by the New York Times. But to my surprise (yes I know we had expected the terrible news) but still to my surprise I read RIP Farah Fawcett! Okay so I’m not her number one groupie but it still hit me, so I tucked my phone back under my pillow and sunk into my bed a little further and said a lil ole’ prayer for her. I can’t really recall where my mind had pondered after that, I guess I had dosed off.
8:30!!!
As I recall that unfortunate morning, I am seriously feeling sick in the stomach. Ahh but that could be the payback after all the chocolate I’ve been consuming! Anyhow, I had been awoken by my dear mother and my brother screaming, "Abiiiiiiiiiiii... WAKE UP MICHAEL JACKSON'S DEAD!"
***SILENCE***
Okay I totally understand they were stressed out and they too were surprised, thus their reaction was irrational and they felt the need to scream, BUT for God's sake could they not have been a little more sensitive?? Ahh, So I wake up and RUN (YES I RAN, HORRAY... I think I may have spotted a few pigs flying outside my window) to the lounge room to find out the latest on what was happening, praying this was just a nightmare, but no clearly channel nines Today show were playing along with this cruel prank, so I fiddled with the remote (hands shaking and all) and eventually changed the channel until it landed onto the Seven Networks Sunrise with Mel, Kochie and the whole crew discussing the critical condition Michael was in. At this stage I was standing there afro hair in my face, in my sexy flanno pj's and an absolutely devastated look upon my face. Somehow, the look of devastation soon changed to a scrunched up, angry bulldog-like stare whilst I tried to fight back the tears (B.T.W I was unsuccessful). First of all I thought, “Well okay… MUM! Get the facts right. He isn’t officially dead!” Well guys I guess I spoke to soon, unfortunately only moments later Michael Joseph Jackson was declared dead.
As I sit here tonight and try to find the words to describe such a brilliant artist, I realise that maybe... for once in my life I cannot find a single word in the English language to describe who MJ was to me. We are told he was a great father...in fact his eldest daughter Paris recently described her father as "'The Best Father You Can Ever Imagine," followed by a few flowing tears and the declaration of her love for her late father. As most of you would know (unless of course you have been living under a rock for the past two weeks) Paris Jackson shared these beautiful words with the world at her father’s public memorial service beside her aunties, uncles and fellow family members. This particular speech left me heartbroken, I immediately thought "Oh my God! She has so much courage… (gasping for air) to get up there and speak in such a genuine and personal manner."
Honestly though, I felt that memorial service was filled with countless heart wrenching moments. But my favorites would have to be broken down in to two categories, both the speeches and the performances. The greatest speech of the day would be proudly given to one of Jackson's greatest friends Brooke Shields. No offence I know, at such occasions I should not be bitching or judging but I assumed Brooke Shields would be a bit fake, but by the time she was finished I found my self losing breathe to the point where (thank God for Foxtel IQ) I had to actually pause the live streaming. Of course I don’t want to dismiss the other heartfelt speeches such as those made by Martin Luther King Jnr and his sister, Magic Johnson who was a little more humorous and Marlon Jacksons touching speech reminiscing on the simple moments he shared with his brother. Now the performances were all great and not to be bias but Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz's (who opened the ceremony) rendition of “I'll Be There" was amazing! As was Usher Raymond's version of “Gone Too Soon," whereby the artist closed the song in a devastated and highly emotional fashion.
But back to my definition of Michael...hmmm… I don’t believe I can define him. Yes, as a person he seemed vulnerable and sensitive yet in some bizarre sense he was a strong character. I think that as an artist, maybe his title as the 'King of Pop' is not enough... maybe his estranged manger was right in declaring Michael label himself as The King of Pop, Rock and Soul! Although he was constantly challenged by the media and even by the law, it seems Michael stayed true to himself and the good old "innocent until proven guilty" theory was obviously a gold key of which MJ held to help him exit the allegations made against him for years.
Finally, it just wouldn’t be a complete blog without a bit more bitching or what I like to call “crucial judgment,” so given that Michael’s family rarely speak of him and rarely seen with him, after much observation I have come to two conclusions. One is that I noticed Michael’s father did not seem to be mourning, but in fact smiling throughout the whole ceremony. I understand I am not one to declare how people should mourn, because obviously everyone mourns in a different way but Joe Jackson was without a doubt looking for the camera throughout the whole ceremony with his smug looks and over exaggerated greetings to the many performers and speech givers. And my second conclusion is Latoya is a an evil mole! Look… I understand Latoya Jackson was his sister, but I felt sick every time her big hat showed up on screen. I know a little harsh but only two days ago I watched one of those "the truth behind Michael Jackson" documentaries, and Latoya was featured in it commenting that she had told her brother "that was enough," regarding her brothers friendship with children. Now to see her stand beside his children, sobbing uncontrollably was just inappropriate. Who knows... maybe she was crying out of guilt.
I have one last thing to say, I want to share with you some of the greatest lyrics ever written:
There comes a time when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one. There are people dying and it's time to lend a hand
to life - the greatest gift of all. We can't go on pretending day by day, that someone somewhere will soon make a change. We are all a part of God's great big family and the truth you know LOVE is all we need… WE ARE THE WORLD, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving. There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives. It's true; well make a better day just you and me. Well, send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares and their lives will be stronger and free.
Abi xxx
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