My American Idol: Why I chose Michael Jackson
In spite of his personal life and all the terrible things that came about in the mainstream media, I never changed my opinion of Michael Jackson. I was inspired by him and continue to be inspired by him.
I recall one humorous point where my mom would take me to the video rental store and I’d rent one new release in addition to Michael Jackson’s “Moonwalker”. It didn’t matter who disliked my choice, I just had to have Moonwalker. That movie was practically on loop in my mom’s VCR. I simply loved it more upon each viewing, while my friends gradually grew sick of it.
In hindsight I believe I felt a kindred spirit and sympathized with some aspects of his life. Believe it or not, I was an incredibly quiet child and so, so, so very shy. In the eighties to early nineties Michael was my childhood musical idol along with other “cool” things in my life (Transformers, The Incredible Hulk, Hulk Hogan, Johnny 5 of Short Circuit, Care Bears and Teddy Ruxpin). Prior to my only brother’s birth in 1991, I was an only child, fatherless and all around, strange. So Michael Jackson caught my attention an incredibly vulnerable and impressionable point in my life.
Like all things, however, I grew out of it while still holding true to my admiration and inspiration from him: his style, his dance, his image, and above all his music and what he had to say. At the time, I felt he cared about how children felt and really understood what we go through, me being a child during the height of his musical career, further strengthening his appeal in my eyes.
To this day there hasn’t been anyone in the music industry that has eclipsed my view of Michael Jackson. There are runner-ups so to speak, but not matches–thankfully! 
Furthermore, we have the show American Idol where the that same title is attributed to the winner. We also hear the word superstar applied to so many mainstream musicians, but it’s all spoken so haphazardly. Michael, on the other hand, has truly earned the title of superstar and the American Idol. But my favorite title above all for him is and will always be, The King of Pop.
Rest in peace MJ. You and your music touched my life forever! You are missed.
-David
If you care to share your thoughts on Michael Jackson, one way or the other. You are warmly welcomed to do so in the comments thread.
