Hindustan Times
The way he makes me feel
I saw This is it last week. And my belief, that Michael Jackson is and will always be the greatest entertainer of all time, was reinforced. But sitting in that almost empty theatre, I was angry. Angry that not enough people in Bombay were watching this movie. Angry that not every single person in the city was dying to witness this man’s final feat. Angry that they would never be able to fully appreciate how spectacular his art really was. Angry with everyone who made humiliating jokes at his expense. Angry that his life was a made a mockery of.
Angry that not everyone can comprehend the magic that is Michael Jackson.
Yes, I’m gushing. Excessively. But MJ deserves no less than supreme idolization. Thing is, I’m not a music person. I like my songs, my bands and my commercial hits, but music isn’t the be all and end all of my life. Having said that, I don’t perceive MJ as a mere musician. He’s a phenomenon, an idea of greatness that surpasses general categorization, a movement that transcends music itself.
He can never simply be the pioneer of pop music. He’s not merely the singer with highest-selling album, not just the weird dude who conceived the moonwalk. He’s more - an inexplicable force who was made of something else, and I don’t mean plaster of Paris all you MJ put-downers.
Fanatics will understand where I’m coming from. Those who don’t, I have an earnest request – please watch ‘This is it.’ If you still don’t get it, please watch his all concerts online, download his songs, see his videos, whatever. Just watch. Listen. Feel. And if you still don’t get it then, well, you’re just strange.
Personally, I have always given more importance to lyrics in a song, rather than music. Till date however, I haven’t understood most of what MJ sings, besides the choruses and the trademark “OWWWs!” Usually, I just Google a song’s lyrics when I’m unsure of them. I haven’t ever Googled any of MJ’s lyrics.
You know why? Because it just doesn’t matter. The moment his music plays, I’m happy. Ecstatic, actually. I don’t understand composition, rhythm and beats. But I understand emotions. And MJ’s music evokes emotions. His songs release serotonin. Screw chocolate, try Jackson.
And then his music videos. Every video was a thematic, engaging, visual treat. The sheer vibrancy and cultural explosion of ‘Black and white’, the mysterious and alluring tale in ‘Remember the time’, the funky, fast-paced ‘Jam’, the adrenaline-pumping energy of ‘Beat it’, the spookily kooky ‘Thriller’, the edgy drama in ‘Smooth Criminal’, the heart-wrenching poignancy of ‘Heal the world’, the thumping, head-banging power of ‘They don’t really care about us.’
Even the cheesy boy-chases-girl angle in ‘The way you make me feel’ was supremely cool. I’ve watched his videos since I was a kid but I still view them with absolute child-like relish. Only now, can I truly marvel at the creative mastery of his videos.
It’s an ironic tragedy that he died days before his final concert. Watching the movie, I was awestruck by the magnitude of what it could have been. It was a masterpiece in the making. I would have given my life’s savings to be part of it. A part of history. But in some ways, I’m glad it didn’t happen. I don’t think we were deserving of what he had to offer, especially after all the crap he was made to endure.
And whatever has been said of him, there’s one thing even his worst critics cant deny – his originality. His music, his lyrics, his moves, his wardrobe, his voice – it’s all MJ. Ingenious. Inimitable. Utterly incomparable. Michael Jackson is his own genre. Now, beat it!
(14 votes, average: 3.29 out of 5)
Loading ...Posted by Tasneem Nashrulla on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Filed under Mumbai · Tagged Michael Jackson, MJ, musician, this is it
Wel u seem to be imposing ur thoughts……..i don think its fair 2 b angry on the mumbai crowd who perhaps had better n more fruitful things to do than watch this…… i aint anti-mj or stuff but this article was a bit of a disappointment cumin 4m u……
[Reply]
Tasneem Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 5:33 am
dude, chill. im not angry enough to flog people for not watching the movie. im just a hardcore MJ fan and thats what i expressed….honestly and explicitly. im glad u had more fruitful things to do with your time!
[Reply]
man friday Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 5:51 am
Things that are more fruitful than watching ‘This is it’ -
1. Practicing the moonwalk at home
2. Telling your Father to shutup because he’s not letting you listen to ‘Black or White’
3. Hugging your friends and crying while singing ‘Will you be there’ (preferably one of the friends will be a killer whale)
4. Wondering why you haven’t been for ‘This is it’
5. Reading blogs about ‘This is it’
[Reply]
Vk Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
stfu……….
Reading your article was overwhelming… I confess tht i was one of those MJ put-downers, making fun of his surgeries, court trials etc etc. i was driving to office when they announced his death on radio, and i was genuinely shocked, perhaps because this was the first time tht there was a 100% genuine news item abt him coming from the media. tht day i read relentlessly abt him, and i realized tht the more significant aspects of MJ were never highlighted. I m not going to do any media-bashing here. Just want to say tht though i was not a fan while he was alive, he taught me an important lesson after he was gone. Of not unnecessarily judging ppl, of valuing them for wat they r, no matter wat. Its sad tht it took a man’s death for me to learn this, but it has made me a happier and better person today. Thanks for writing this article and reminding me of him again
[Reply]
He was a genius artist but imperfect humans. He made many bad choices and paid for it.
I think media was very brutal with him and when I saw everyone encashing his death, I felt sad for that man for the first time. No one has spared him in his death including his own family. Everyone wants to make money out of him.
May his soul rest in peace.
[Reply]
supriya Reply:
November 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
you are right rajeev.. i also felt the same way.. it is dissapointing to see that people who claim to be close to him are encashing on his fame after his death.. he was a marvellous performer.. an artist beyond the people of this world..
[Reply]
MJ was great art. Only great art penetrates culture, language, prejudice and beliefs - and MJ’s music did that with utmost ease. As a kid, I still remember playing cricket on the streets - and in every break - we used make the local rickshaw wala play his casette. And we would instantly break into capers and dance to his beat. Once his music began - MJ owned you. Now thats great art.
In a way I am happy - he is at peace now. Not having to live with a world that wasn’t willing to accept the simple fact that some people are different - and just roll with it.
Peace out girl! MJ will remain whether Mumbai watches his movies or not!
[Reply]
Hey,
Is it by watching the documentory that you can end up paying respect to Michael Jackson? Is it more important to watch the film or listen to his music? Cant we just have a silent respect for him in our heart?
I feel you are going overboard.
[Reply]
Hey, I can so relate to you.. love his music.. it was most original & the concepts / stories he brought in with each piece.. Amazing! There can be no one like him. He was indeed the ultimate star - the indisputable King-of-Pop!! My thoughts watching the movie were - its a tragedy that the concert never happened…
[Reply]
Geetika Reply:
November 6th, 2009 at 4:25 am
I highly recommend you to google the lyrics.. you will enjoy the songs even more
[Reply]
completely completely agree with u! I am a great MJ fan! since my childhood i have recorded all his concerts on VCRs and made cassettes of them..all his music videos..his songs..and have a book of lyrics of all MJ songs..blv me..even his lyrics mean a lot..i wud jst say that he was sheer magic..and there is no way that i can express what he means to me through words..
the day he died i actually felt so empty..!!maybe ppl dint feel the need to c this movie..n anyways bollywood rules on the box office majorly..anyways its their loss!
[Reply]
Till 1/11/09 i hav never heard michael jackson’s songs or saw his videos. But i watched THIS IS IT on sunday and frm sunday i hav become one of his fans really. i totally agree with u tasneem and all thoughts are totally appreciated by me. He has left a gr8 impact on me! he makes me feel nice:D
[Reply]
“And if you still don’t get it then, well, you’re just strange” that is being too agressive. you like it, fine, others dont like it, that should be fine to you.
MJ was allright, I liked his song “Black or White” & “they dont really care about us”.
Having said that, I like eminem more than MJ, does that make me strange ? if you say so, sure.
after the initial high though, fact is MJ was just confused. confused about his sexual orientation as well his racial identity. he went from a bright young black boy to an old wrinkly white woman. not to mention he changed his religion too a couple of time.
sexual orientation -check
race - check
religion - check
there is not much u can change, not the greatest role model.
good music howeve, but please dont belittle other people.
you come across as immature Tasneem.
[Reply]
Tasneem Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 5:29 am
hey i think u should reconsider ur definition of immature. judging people by their sexual orientation (or lack of it), or confusion of their personal choices in race and religion and not by their art sounds like being too judgmental. and u like eminem? fair enough. i suppose u prefer sissy white rappers dissing their wife, girlfriend, mother etc! cheers
[Reply]
Saurav Ganguly Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
LoL, I think you just contradicted yourself. Asking me to judje MJ by his music and not his life while judging Eminem by his life and not his music. I said I liked Eminem’s music, least interested in what he does behind closed doors.
[Reply]
Saurav Ganguly Reply:
November 12th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
any retort Tasneem ? or should I stick to the “immature” comment.
[Reply]
man friday Reply:
November 8th, 2009 at 5:57 am
“lLke the old Indian proverb says do not judge a man until you’ve walked 2 moons in his moccasins.
Most people don’t know me, that is why they write such things in wich (sic) most is not true
I cry very very often because it hurts and I worry about the children all my children all over the world, I live for them.
If a man could say nothing against a character but what he can prove (sic), history could not be written.
Animals strike, not from malice, but because they want to live, it is the same with those who criticize, they desire our blood, not our pain. But still I must achieve I must seek truth in all things. I must endure for the power I was sent forth, for the world for the children.
But have mercy, for I’ve been bleeding a long time now.”
M.J. (circa 1995)
[Reply]
what Vir Sanghvi thinks about MJ:
http://www.virsanghvi.com/CounterPoint-ArticleDetail.aspx?ID=316&S=A
[Reply]