The Best MJ of them All

The fight for great music lost a powerful ally Wednesday afternoon as Michael Jackson was confirmed dead in Los Angeles. Each person will have to deal with their grief in their own way, and while there were certainly aspects of MJ's life that are better left forgotten, I prefer to remember him for what he gave to the world. All MJ's appear to have a larger than life impact on the world (Michael Jordan in basketball, Michael J. in Back to the Future) but Michael Jackson superseded them all. His Thriller album went platinum 28 times (N.Y. Times), he went from child star to the greatest singer/songwriter/producer the world has ever known. Some people will refuse to acknowledge the impact that MJ's work had on music and the world, but there is a reason why his songs are instantly recognizable to the very young and the very old, he truly was the king of pop, rock and soul, and he was a wise and benevolent king while the reign lasted.

The New York times said this morning that "As with Elvis Presley or the Beatles, it is impossible to calculate the full effect Mr. Jackson had on the world of music." I have devised a simple formula to calculate just that, you add the effect that both Elvis and the Beatles had together, then you double it, and then you times it by infinity, his impact is immeasurable and will continue to influence people for years to come. Whether you loved Michael, hated him, or were ambivalent let us all take a moment of silence to don a single glove and remember him for what he did best, make the world better through music.