Daily Independent (Lagos)
Ayo Oyoze Baje
30 June 2009
analysis
Lagos — He was variously described as the King of Pop; a consummate entertainer, music legend, a tragic hero and a rare gem. These superlatives were the fitting acronyms for the late phenomenon, Michael Joseph Jackson, MJJ, who passed on supposedly of cardiac attack at the age of 50 at his Beverly Hills residence on Thursday, June 25, 2009.
With the news of his sudden demise sending shock-waves across the globe, from California to Calcutta, Sydney to Seoul, the Netherlands to New Zealand, the attendant massive and spontaneous reactions rocked the Internet with a deluge of messages like no other mortal before him had ever elicited. Even Cable News Network, CNN had five times more responses than it used to, within a few hours, while twitters, radio and television stations witnessed an unprecedented global interaction. Personally, as his diehard fan since 1970, his death caught me speechless.
That simply underscores the awesome, pervasive power of popular music as a potent unifying force amongst all races, as symbolized by the inimitable persona of the late music icon. The ace producer, Quincy Jones, said Jackson had it all. He was the one who former American president, George Bush, Snr, decorated as "the artiste of the decade" for the eighties and described as 'the shining light of the world". That was in 1992.
Indeed, Jackson it was who distilled the essence of modern music as a medium for full self-expression and an art capable of evoking the deep emotions of nostalgia, pain and passion; to titillate and to thrill, to enthrall and to engage the human mind beyond measures. Through his prodigious musical talents he crossed and shattered the borders and barriers of race and religion, colour and creed, age and gender. Epitomising the intricate web between talent and tragedy, there are a lot of moral lessons for all to glean from his chequered and variegated life.
Born to the working class family of Joseph Walter and Katherine Esther Jackson (nee Scruse), in Gary Indiana, U.S.A. on August 29, 1958 he was the seventh of nine children.
It was his increasing popularity amongst the Jacksons' teeming fans that informed his decision to go solo in 1971, which eventually paid off handsomely, with early hits that included "Ben", "Rocking Robin" and "Got To Be There".
And he did get there - right to the musical heights spanning the eighties and nineties. "Off the Wall" sold eight million copies, a sales figure unheard of before then. Yet, more was to come. "Thriller", the monster hit produced by Quincy Jones, remains till today the greatest selling music album of all time, with 50 million copies sold world-wide and still counting. The subsequent albums such as "Bad", "Dangerous", "History" and "Invincible" generated monumental cross-continental hits and world tours that drove millions of Jackson fanatics into sheer ecstasy through colourful sold-out concerts. Inevitably, his creative ingenuity exhibited in award-winning, soul-stirring, melodious songs and dazzling dancing skills has changed the face of the global entertainment industry forever.
Such was the moving magic of Michael's music that he sold over 750 million albums world-wide, went away with 37 gold and platinum albums, 13 Grammy awards, the much-coveted artiste of the millennium award and became the first black man to have his video played on Music Television, MTV Channel. The video of "Scream", shot with sister Janet Jackson, still remains the costliest ever at seven million dollars. And the ticket sales for his planned come-back concert at 02 Theatre, London became the fastest ever, selling at 11 per second!
But Michael was more than music. He inspired a generation of youths, irresistibly drawn to his trademark fashion statement, complete with big afro hairdo, later changing to jerry curls. Or, was it the shimmering jackets, gleaming white socks, the king's white glove or the bowler hat he threw once in a while to the mammoth crowd at his unforgettable shows?
Of the great side to Jackson, he had a rare staying power, to remain famous for over four decades. Like most great achievers, he went the extra mile to perfect his skills. He was passionate and pragmatic, concentrating his energy on music. Going by his autobiography, Moonwalk, he was always up dancing long after his brothers had gone to bed. As a perfectionist, he rejected the first studio copy of "Thriller", claiming it was below his musical standard. As a creative artist, he designed the stage and lightings for his shows.
Jackson was on a different plane as a caring and compassionate character to the less privileged, as President Obama rightly described. For instance, in the eighties he co-wrote the global hit: "We Are The World" with Lionel Ritche and performed with a galaxy of music stars. The proceeds went to charity, to mitigate the deprivation and hunger in drought-riddled Somalia. So also did the proceeds of one of his world tours go to charitable causes when accused of high ticket price. Truly, Michael epitomized love as sacrifice.
For his epochal videos, "Beat it" and "Bad". he drew real gangsters from the violent streets, fed and paid them and turned some into professional dancers. Using evocative and tear-jerking songs such as the unforgettable "Heal The World" and "Earth Song", Michael pricked the conscience of humanity: to remember those caught in the trap of preventable deprivation and the need to protect our earth from environmental degradation. How many of us show such concern?
Like all mortals however, Michael Jackson had his flipside, which unfortunately became a tragedy. In the bold bid to live out his fantasies and fashion the way back to his lost childhood. he spent millions of dollars on inconsequentials. He did cosmetic surgery on his ever-changing face, kept weird pets and turned Neverland Valley estate into a fantasy land to satisfy underage children, some of whose antics and accusations, as well as his lavish lifestyle, left him, at death, with a whopping debt profile of four hundred million dollars!
The real lesson for us here in Nigeria is that America produced a Michael Jackson because it provides the enabling environment for talents to thrive. As parents we must not deny our children the fun of childhood all in the name of realizing our dreams for them.
Beyond that is the truism that the nation's entertainment industry is a latent goldmine. We are currently only scratching the surface. If the likes of our home-grown stars as P-Square, 2-Face, D-Banj and ace comedians now ride on the crest of fame and fortune to smile to the banks, and Nollywood is ranked second to Bollywood in quantity in a near-distressed economy, what would happen if we get our act together?
Obviously, the need for government to provide essential infrastructure, micro-credit facilities at one digit interest rate and to fight the monster of piracy to a standstill has become an imperative.
As one's heart goes to the grief-stricken Jackson family and fans, we should pause and take a closer look at the "Man in the Mirror". Is he true to himself and to his God? With rampant corruption in the corridors of power and the tell-tale signs of the woes of wars, now is the time to "Heal the World", as Michael Jackson, of blessed memory, rightly enthused.
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