You will be missed, Michael...

I received the news with a numbness that spread throughout my body…. Michael Jackson had passed away last night.... tears welled in my eyes and I quickly blinked them away… never thought that I would be writing about his death… truly The King of Pop, he knew how to awe people at his live performances with all the special effects that could only be linked to an MJ show!

One of my dreams was to watch him perform live and watch him dance… his breakdancing inspired me to learn this dance form and made me more determined to watch him perform live. I thought this would never happen… then I heard that MJ was coming to Bombay to perform – I had just entered college and with only pocket money to survive started entering all the possible contests to win a ticket for the show – and win it I did!! But (yes there is a BIG but) since the concert was in Andheri and I didn’t know anyone else who had got a ticket I was not allowed to go for it! So I did the next best thing, the morning after the concert I went to Marine Drive outside the Oberoi (the Trident now) where he was staying and as he left to go to the airport he had the window of his car down and was half way out waving to everyone there! Yes I saw him nearer than I would have at the concert, I waved to him and he waved back and the feeling of elation was one that has not been overtaken as yet!!!

Bursting out on the scene with his Thriller and Beat It he moved on from a gawky teenager to a suave dancer in Smooth Criminal and The Way You Make Me Feel. He gave meaning to his songs and reached out to millions through Heal the World. He involved movie stars to be part of his videos in Remember the Time and Black & White. His dance styles varied from one form to another and kept all his fans enthralled and wanting for more – including me! For all his quirks that he had and for all the many weird things he was accused of I truly believed that he was a fighter and won against all odds – a person to admire!

My heart is heavy today… and I would like to end this post with a few words from MJ himself:

“There's A Place In Your Heart
And I Know That It Is Love
And This Place Could Be Much
Brighter Than Tomorrow
And If You Really Try
You'll Find There's No Need To Cry
In This Place You'll Feel
There's No Hurt Or Sorrow”

R.I.P. Michael Jackson