Our childhood rests in peace: Brian’s earliest Michael Jackson memory

Posted: July 9th, 2009 | Author: Brian | Filed under: michael jackson, pop | Tags: , , , , , , , | No Comments »

My mom recently reminded me that when I was little I approached an African-American gentleman after a session of YMCA Gym & Swim and innocently asked him, “Do You Know Michael Jackson?”

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he probably looked a lot more like Michael Jackson than any other person I’d seen. Growing up at that time I also remember moonwalking across the wooden dining room floor in socks with my older sister. Unfortunately, neither of these are my most vivid memory of MJ – as that is reserved for a more unsettling recollection: that “Thriller” scared the shit out of me.

It was a great video, but all I knew at that age was that “Thriller” scared the shit out of me. Like when a fanged Jackson screams “get away!” and you watch him turn into a werewolf!? That shit was scary. Or when Michael goes green and his zombie dance crew surrounds his hapless date. That shit was scary.

But the most frightening bit by far, and what came to me immediately when I thought about my first impressions of Michael Jackson, was the inimitable voice of Vincent Price. I remember hearing “Thriller” tons of times in my youth because everybody owned that album. I remember anticipating when Price’s part comes in; when MJ stops singing, the bass and funk guitar keep grooving, a funeral organ comes in, and then the creepiest voice in history begins, “Darkness falls across the land…” I remember excusing myself from wherever I was – a playroom, a backyard, a birthday party – so I could get out of earshot from that terrifying laugh of his.

Despite all this, my enthusiasm for Jackson didn’t dissipate much over the years. Apparently my Thillerphobia didn’t even prevent me from accosting strangers about their affiliation to The King of Pop.

Our childhood rests in peace: Lille’s earliest Michael Jackson memory

Posted: June 26th, 2009 | Author: Lilledeshan Bose | Filed under: michael jackson, pop | Tags: , , , | 1 Comment »

For my great-grandmother’s 90th birthday, my gigantic family rented the ballroom of Manila Hotel and planned a program that involved singing (of course), dancing (of course), and lots of shoulder pads. I was maybe six or seven, and my older sister (Di was about 10 or 11, I think) was tasked with choreographing a dance number with me and my little sister. I think JB and Jan were part of it too, but I don’t really remember. I just remember dancing around cars in our driveway to “PYT (Pretty Young Thing),” trying to copy Diwata’s every move. She was my idol (still is), and even though I don’t copy her every move any more, I still think of those after-school afternoons as one of the best times of my life.

Our childhood rests in peace: Araceli’s best Michael Jackson memory

Posted: June 26th, 2009 | Author: Araceli Cruz | Filed under: michael jackson, pop | Tags: , , | 2 Comments »
It was either the fall or winter of 1983 or 1984. I was about four years old and I was holed up in a San Diego hospital intensive care unit for about six months. Without getting too much into the back story, I was crossing the street and was struck by a drunk driver. My recollection from this time is obviously very fuzzy and consist of mashed-up stories from my dad, mom, brothers and sisters.To this day all I’ve gathered of what really happened is tidbits of words like “near death,” “unrecognizable,” and “blood transfusions.” I can, however, vaguely remember being in a hospital bed, having faces looking down at me, people trying to make laugh, and never once wondering why I couldn’t move or how I had gotten there.

As it was, at four years old I was in a complete body cast, left leg held up by metal rods, the whole shebang. The only actual pain or suffering I can recall is the frustrating urge of not being able scratch every itch.

My family and hospital staff went above and beyond trying to please me. Getting me whatever meal I wanted, keeping me company, making me laugh (I often blame them now for my selfishness and spoiled behavior).

There was only one thing that really brought me back to life, they say. And so the story goes: As soon as anyone  played “Billie Jean,” I’d try to shake around in the bed, but I couldn’t move! So I’d just wiggle my toes!

My family became fascinated by how this one song constantly put a smile on my face and made me utterly happy. They’d play it over and over again so visitors could see me in good spirits. My father even joked that perhaps during my blood transfusion, the doctors must have given me some of Michael’s DNA. Being completely gullible and always believing whatever my father said, I thought this notion was true. For years afterward, if anyone made racist jokes about African Americans, I would remind them that I was partially black.

Time passed, yet anytime I’d hear negative news about Michael Jackson I’d brush it off as hearsay. Instead, I’d recall the time when he made me want to move again.

Is Michael Jackson really dead?

Posted: June 25th, 2009 | Author: Lilledeshan Bose | Filed under: pop | Tags: , , , | No Comments »

I hate TMZ, that site lies all the time. But ferchrisssakes I hope Michael Jackson isn’t dead.

I haven’t even learned to moonwalk!



UPDATE: The LA Times confirmed that the King of Pop is indeed gone.