Through the Ages

By Lizbeth Gutierrez

A pop star that has always and I think he always will fascinate me is Michael Jackson. His songs always make me feel good I don’t know if is the beat of the music, the lyrics, or his voice. His songs not only are fun and catchy, but they also talk about problems in the world, for example the Earth song which talks about global warming and how humans are destroying the world with our actions. To this day, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t blown away by his performances. He was not only a pop star but a humanitarian, he supported many causes like United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Social Change, UNICEF, American Cancer Society, and more. In my opinion he is one of the most amazing artist that has existed I started listen to his music in a really young age I was like 6.

Later, I started listening to more and more until I would only listen to him. My parents were always weirded out of how much I would listen to him and learn every single word. I started to research him and find so many things out that I still have them memorized. He started in Jackson 5 a group that his father Joseph Jackson organized with Michael’s brothers; Jackie, Tito and Jermaine with younger brothers Marlon and himself. They accomplished many hits like ABC, I Want You Back and many more. Jackson 5 lasted almost all of Michael’s childhood and adolescence, which help him launch his solo carrier. He wrote a couple songs on his one like Blame It on The Boogie, but his father didn’t let him get away from the group and he included his brothers in the music video. Later, he got tired and did his own thing he did movies and other things to get out of his father’s grip. Then Rock with you came along a catchy and very sparkly song where he was his own dancer, backup vocals and main singer; his fame started to rise and we got the classic Halloween Thriller, which was one of the hardest songs for him due to religion, his mother a Jehovah’s witness gave him a hard time about the famous video since it showed “demons and satanic images and characters”. He almost didn’t release the video but his producer had an idea to put at the beginning of the song a disclaimer that said “Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult. Michael Jackson”. He released a whole album called Thriller which included songs like Billie Jean, Thriller, Human Nature, etc. In the celebration of Motown Records' twenty-fifth anniversary, Michael performed the first ever moonwalk which we all know thanks to him, he not only showed that dance move but many more that got us impressed. He recorded more and more song and did many albums, he in total has 306 songs, 42 singles, 8 solo albums, and 392 awards plus the many more he kept winning after his death. As we know many conflicts came along, but he always stood strong and never gave up. He had a troubled relationship with his father Joe, confessed that he regularly whipped him as a boy, he was also said to have verbally abused him saying that he had a "fat nose” Michael stated that he was physically and emotionally abused during incessant rehearsals, though he credited his father's strict discipline with playing a large role in his success. All that abuse and body shaming of his father lead him to have multiple surgeries, he also changed his skin color not for fame or because he didn’t like his color; he had a disease called vitiligo that made him have spots and he decided that was better for him. He also had this horrible accident when he was filming for a Pepsi commercial that left him with burns in his head and extreme pain which got him addicted to pain killers, and eventually used them to “relieve” mental and emotional pain. He was planning his last tour that was going to start out in London called This Is It, but unfortunately, he died on June 25, 2009 from a propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. What I have personally seen is that his music comes through generations, like I know people that not only the listen to him but their parents, their grandparents and more. In my family I am the one who listens to him, but I have seen my baby sister getting interested in his music too which I don’t mind. Even though he had a hard life he always wanted to make his fans happy, not only music made him the King of Pop but the amazing things that he did like charity and inspire people.

However, a new documentary directed by Dan Reed came out talking about the allegations of him sexually abusing children. These allegations were made in 1993 He denied the claims, and settled the civil case out of court for an undisclosed amount. No criminal charges were filed. In 2005 more allegations were made. Now with this documentary “Leaving Neverland” two men came out and said that they were molested by the singer. Leaving Neverland describes how Jackson allegedly began relationships with two young fans, then aged 7 and 10, and their families. After this more people are starting to come ou saying that they were also molested by the singer. The documentary not only attracted mad fans, but also family members who defend the singer.