Michael at his peak...

by Myche

Excellent post Wayne - very appropriate.

I was just about to post something myself. What the hell, this is worthy of double coverage. In fact, I know that Mark is probably the biggest Michael fan of all of us, so maybe he will come up with his own as well...

I must admit, all of the extra-curricular activities surrounding MJ in the last 15 or so years have made it very hard to embrace how much I loved him at one time. It's complicated to say the least. I don't think anyone can imagine what kind of life he was thrown into or how that affects a person. Similar things happened to Elvis, and while each of them would have to take responsibility for themselves, I think the pressures are endless when you reach that level of superstardom.

But before the controversies, man, I was into Thriller big time. I also picked up Off The Wall because I wanted MORE (and that album is a JAM). I remember opening my bedroom window, placing one of my JCPenney speakers in it and cranking my stereo to 10. Then I rode my bike down the street to see how far I could still hear it (about a block). Personally, I settled into "P.Y.T." as my favorite off of Thriller. There are two parts of that song that I used to pump out a completely exaggerated pelvic thrust to like I MEANT it (if you know the song, you know what I'm talking about).

So for my video remembrance of Michael, I'm going for a pretty obvious pick. In my opinion, it is Michael at his peak. He looks great - it's kind of hard for me to remember when he looked this "normal." This performance is just downright fierce, and is probably up there with Elvis and the Beatles on Sullivan as far as music moments of TV go (I love the screams you hear when he introduces his signature move). Just a huge performance. He looks young, hungry and healthy. This is how I would like to remember the man...

Hook of the Day - Michael Jackson & Freddie Mercury "State of Shock"

Everyone of a certain age has a positive, non-controversial early Michael Jackson memory, and mine was seeing Michael and his brothers on the 1984 Victory Tour at Knoxville's Neyland Stadium. It was my second concert ever (1st was Air Supply), and it blew my mind. The opening act was a juggler who got good-natured jeers when he did a routine with "Purple Rain" as his background music. (My first exposure to artistic rivalries, years upon years before Vince Neil v. Axl Rose or Tupac v. Biggie) The Jacksons also did a pretty sweet-ass King Arthur scene onstage.

MJ wrote our Hook of the Day with Queen's Freddie Mercury. Ultimately, the version that went on the Jacksons' Victory album had MJ and Mick Jagger on lead vox, but here you have that rare demo version. You can listen to the Jagger version here. (Sorry, couldn't find an embeddable clip)

RIP MJ...thanks for the tunes