Michael Jackson, as a child, left very cool images in my head and great sounds in my ears. He was a couple years older than I, so I suppose I was watching reruns, but I remember being a kid and watching those old videos of  The Jackson 5.  They always had great tunes. My personal fav’: “I Want You Back.”  I had the 45.

Those performances were golden moments, the kind that could never be done again (or manufactured like so many pop acts today).  The Jackson 5 was the real deal, baby.  Armed with day-glow jumpsuits, high healed shoes, and really cool instruments of the late 60’s and early 70’s, they were psychedelic before the average middle-American household even knew what psychedelic was. And then of course, there was this little kid who could belt out lines and dance around on stage like he did.

I think most average Americans were intrigued, excited, maybe a little shocked at what was on their TV on the nights those videos were first aired. I know I was and I was only watching reruns.

Everyone is talking about all the mystery he left behind. But I think the charisma and charm with which he sang those great old hits like “ABC,” gave us Wonder Year kids something really hip. And the cool style of the Jackson 5 gave us a really far out way to groove and dress.  After all, what kid in the 60’s wouldn’t want to be as cool as Michael Jackson?

I feel sorry for him and any suffering that was caused by the lack of a regular childhood.  It isn’t the norm for a child to have a life like his and undoubtedly that that had an effect on him as it would for any person.  But then again, you can’t hold back that kind of child talent no matter how hard you try.  I don’t know why his appearance changed over the years.  I don’t know why he wore surgical masks.  That stuff doesn’t interest me.  What interested me were those cool videos and 45’s with little Michael and his brothers, decked out with their groovy gear and attitude. I’ll still watch a clip.