RIP MJ (and FF)
I never thought I’d be blogging about Michael Jackson on SIAJ. Celebrity culture isn’t really much what this blog is about. But I was surprised by how hard the death of Michael Jackson hit me today. I suppose the premature death of a pop star from my formative years forces me to face my own mortality in ways that Ed McMahon’s passing does not. So, fwiw, my favorite MJ memory would have to be being blown away by the Thriller video on MTV with my brothers and sisters in Knoxville. I remember excitedly running around out front of the South Monticello house afterwards. I also remember buying the Thriller cassette and then making my own bootleg copy, even photocopying the now classic cover. I have no idea why.
So we are drinking Pegus and playing our MJ tracks in memorium tonight. Dan reminds me that we also have a track in our iTunes that honors the passing of Farrah Fawcett today: (key segment starts at 2:50)
Bonus video from Janet J. from 11 yrs ago— even more poignant now:
Explore posts in the same categories: Music, NewsTags: Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Michael Jackson, Thriller
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Sunlight in a Jar 
June 26, 2009 at 5:05 am
Wow! Troy, your memories of listening to M.J. while we lived on S. Monticello is exactly my memories. The first thing I thought about was watching his “Thriller” on the TV in the family room (green carpet)with you kids. Do you also remember Brad’s shiny red jacket and white glove? Remember Joel doing the moonwalk while singing M.J.’s “Billy Jean” (I think) for the ward talent show? So many memories. And I also thought about how young he seems—and thought of you being 41. Amazing—-the flood of memories and feelings and “thoughts.” And for some reason I just never thought that M.J. would ever die. Kind of like rock and roll, I thought he’d go on forever. Last night the networks were filled with pictures, interviews, etc. of his life. Very interesting—and sad, sad he’s gone.
June 26, 2009 at 7:01 am
i never sang “billy jean” at a ward talent show.
(no comment on the moonwalking).
June 26, 2009 at 7:38 am
What song did you sing? Hmmmm. So you do remember the moonwalking? Anyone else remember?
June 26, 2009 at 9:06 am
[…] Troy: […]
June 26, 2009 at 10:51 am
With my MJ cred, i will clarify this for you all–joel did a breakdancing lip sync performance at a ward talent show to the hit song “ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride” by the immortal Matthew Wilder. And it was awesome.
June 26, 2009 at 11:14 am
Thank you mom, for helping immortalize those memories. It’s such a shame that the YouTube hadn’t been invented in time for that talent show. Feel free to share any other memories that might embarrass my brothers. Are you brining that glove back to Utah this fall with Brad’s other things?
June 26, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Thank you, Brad!!! I was sure there was moonwalking and singing, but yes, the lip sync makes sense, and as soon as I read your comment, I remembered! And I agree—it was great. Now, Dr. Barber, I wasn’t trying to embarrass your brothers. I was trying to add to the memories—all good as far as I’m concerned. I loved all of it!! Hmmmm. Haven’t seen the glove for a while. I’m not sure it’s among Brad’s other things from childhood. It may have been tossed out years ago. So we’ll see.
June 26, 2009 at 1:07 pm
actually, i wanted to do “billie jean” but they said they had enough out-of-wedlock-paternity-denying related acts in the lineup already.
:)
June 26, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Piping in from SF, we are all about the shaming out here. This story about Joel is hilarious and made my day, Mrs. Barber. Now I have that song in my head…anyway, please, feel welcome to post amusing stories from Troy’s childhood on here. Frequently.
June 26, 2009 at 3:39 pm
A strange thing about Micheal dying is it brought up all the death questions with Tanner, Connor, and Sydney. I guess b/c no one close to them has died…but this is the first time I can remember being hit with so many questions: “What exactly is a heart attack?” “Was he alone when he died, could he get to the phone?” “How long do you have to look at the grave marker when someone dies?” (I know that’s a weird one.) We were driving in the car as they were asking these questions, when I realized the radio station was playing Micheal Jackson songs. So I said, “listen kids, this is Micheal Jackson singing”. To which Tanner says after listening for a second “I didn’t know Micheal Jackson was a girl!”
June 26, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Mike, so glad you enjoyed the Barber bantering. I, along with Troy, wish we had had You Tube back in the day and caught Joel on stage. I’m still laughing from Lisa’s triplets’ reaction to “death.” How long do you have to look at the grave marker?
June 27, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I too first thought of watching the Thriller video and being blown away by it. Allen has bragging rights to going to his Knoxville concert-10th row and was this close to catching his thrown hat. My kids have only known MJ for a year or so but are still sad. Their questions were more along the line of plastic surgery: “why does he look funny now?” “why did he want to change his nose?” Carter was troubled by the kids covering their faces “why would anyone not want to be on tv?” and the best one “I didn’t know he use to be black”
June 28, 2009 at 11:38 am
My memory of the Thriller video is being in the family room when it first started everyone getting excited…then the phone rang. Lisa answered it and her end of the conversation was, “Hello? I know!! We’re watching it right now! Bye!” I don’t remember dancing out front though…