Shock and Sadness

Yesterday was a rough day in the entertainment field.

Farrah Fawcett - February 2, 1947 - June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson - August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009


First, we lost Farrah Fawcett, at age 62, at the hands of cancer. Then, came the shock of Michael Jackson's death at age 50 from "cardiac arrest" (actual cause of death still pending, as far as I know.)

Unfortunately, I started with something icky yesterday and was running a fever last night, so I didn't post anything. I also didn't really know what to post. I remember, as a kid, watching re-runs of Charlie's Angels, and me and my friends used to play it - but I'll confess, I never wanted to be Farrah's character. I always wanted to be Sabrina, for some stupid reason. Don't know why, I just related to her. Weird.

But Michael Jackson... I don't even know where to start. Thriller is the only MJ album I own and my copy is the one I bought when it first came out in the early 1980s. I love the title track, but that's about as far as my MJ fandom went. But I was almost tearing up when I heard that he'd died. It was such a shock - that he was gone poof! Just like that.

I have to admit, I've always felt sorry for him. His life was such a mess, and his childhood was a horror show, and everything he ever did was done under the microscope of public scrutiny. That can't be easy under the best of circumstances, never mind when you are Michael Jackson.

But, there is no denying his impact on the music world. Back when the M in MTV actually stood for music (anyone else remember when MTV played videos - you know, back before the absolute crap they air now. Last night was the first time I've watched MTV in years because it's sucked so bad) Michael Jackson was the breakthrough for black recording artists. He was involved in all kinds of charity work. His influence on an entire generation cannot be ignored or swept aside because of the path his life took.

Two icons in one day.

May they both rest in peace.