Michael Jackson gone but not forgotten
There was always gonna be a spike in sales of Michael Jackson albums when he died, but who would have thought it would be quite so big?
The Beeb reports that in the Old Dart:
A total of 11 Michael Jackson or Jackson Five albums featured in the top 200.
In the singles chart, 43 out of the top 200 singles feature the singer, with Jackson hits accounting for all but one of the new entries in the top 40.
Crikey!
And here's another example of the sheer magnitude of his fame and the joy his music gave to people:
I was shuffling through Newtown on Sunday just gone, and I came to the intersection of Enmore Road and King Street. There's an open space just there, directly opposite the train station, which is a popular communal gathering spot. The homeless often congregate there for a free feed, and some weekends it hosts art, craft and second hand clothing stalls.
But this time a large video screen had been set up and it was playing Michael Jackson hits. There must have been at least a hundred people there, most of whom were bopping about like crazy.
This was Newtown, remember. Its denizens aren't renowned for their organizational skills, motivation or general energy levels. It takes the average Newtowner a good three days to disengage himself from his bong and wander down to the local Centrelink.
So the fact that locals had managed to actually set this thing up and so many had lobbed - presumably at very short notice - on such a bloody freezing midwinter evening was undeniably significant. The sight of them boogeying up a storm to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was truly memorable, and - dare I say it - quite touching considering the circumstances.
He was certainly hugely talented, and he gave countless people a lot of joy (and continues to do so). They will remember him fondly their entire lives.
His kids will always remember him too - but in a very different way, I suspect.
Michael Jackson gave everything to his art and his fans - ultimately including his own life. And yet he left those most dependent upon him utterly emotionally adrift. How sad is that?
