How Do You Forget Michael Jackson?

Two days ago, the music world lost an icon. “The World’s Oldest Teenager”, and American Bandstand host, Dick Clark passed away of a heart attack. He was 82 years old.

The last couple of days, I’ve been watching different tributes and listening to different celebrities chatting about him. Most of which had been nice.

So this morning, before I’ve even shoved breakfast in my mouth, I was looking at one program--one of those moldy, 30 minute gossip rags--and they were mentioning Dick. They were talking about American Bandstand and about it’s last decade. The show ended in 1989, if I’m right.

What really, REALLY got on my nerves was that they mentioned how stars Prince and Madonna both appeared on that show.

It really, REALLY, REALLY pissed me off that they glossed over and missed Michael Jackson.



If they really were capturing the ten year span of the last decade of the show, it would have included everyone that performed in 1979.

In 1979 THE JACKSONS performed on American Bandstand. I know this because I have video of them performing two songs and being interviewed by Dick Clark in the middle of it. Prince performed in 1980, Madonna, I think in 82, Morris Day and The Time in 1983 and Apollonia in 1988. Everyone I like I know when they played.

But really, how in the hell could you forget Michael Jackson. I’ve seen every performance Michael did on the show, spanning from 1972 when he was a little skinny thing with an afro until ‘79 when he was a tall skinny thing with an afro and cute smile.

Quite literally, if it wasn’t for Michael Jackson, I wouldn’t know who Dick Clark was. I was familiar with the Black version of Bandstand, which is Soul Train and Don Cornelius--who committed suicide earlier this year--but not really who Dick Clark was.

It wasn’t until I saw a documentary on Michael Jackson, that I learned who Dick was and started to like him because he seemed so fond of Michael Jackson. The first time I saw him he was talking of how big Michael’s Thriller album had been back in the 1980s. And then through different venues I learned different things about Dick and really did like him as a host and such. I started watching his New Years program “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” until a stroke caused him to retire.

I mean I even lived through the AB 50^th Anniversary show where Michael appeared and was a little chubby. (I know so MANY MJ fans are gonna kill me for that, but Michael Jackson for one brief patch of time, was a little chubby, Bless His Heart.) He slimmed down after the performance, all was good.

That’s beside the point. My chief complaint is why of all people, forget Michael?

I mean why? Cause I guarantee you, when Dick strolled through the gates of Heaven, Michael was the first one there, with open arms to greet him.

It just seems wrong to overlook one legend when referring to the other.

Damn.

And I mean, I really do miss Dick Clark. He’s a part of my childhood. I have some happy memories attached to him. Hell my favorite show is “American Dreams” based around “American Bandstand” in the 1960s. I mean Dick Clark has always been a part of my life. And I miss him dearly.

I hate that all the good ones seem to keep getting called on Home.



Rest in Peace, Dick Clark. And Rock On.

Art Imitating Life…

Hey Y’all!

So, as you’ve gathered from my last couple of posts, I’m pretty much living and revolving around the Jacksons reunion concert tour. And I’m starting to see the tour is getting ink in several publications. On Twitter, I checked out Halima Rashid’s (Jermaine Jackson’s wife) twitter page and she tweeted about how the LA Times carried a story about the tour. Word is getting out and I like it. Even though I don’t think the buzz will be anything near the Victory Tour of 1984, it’s still pretty cool.



So, today I was watching one of my favorite shows on DVD The Facts of Life. In the third season there’s an episode where Tootie (Kim Fields) is just crazy for Jermaine Jackson and goes into New York to see him in concert. And in watching it, the way Tootie was so wild about Jermaine, I kind of had to take a step back because Tootie was pretty much behaving the way I was about Marlon (And Michael Jackson in a general day.) It kinda wasn’t pretty.

Boy you really can find anything on Google!

Though I’m not to the point of making a papier-mâché bust of Marlon’s head--would he really want a gigantic wad of paper and plaster anyway?--I realized that yeah, I am coming on kind of strong.

Between having already decided pretty much what I’m going wear, down to the accessories, and having a check list of every single damn detail already tacked to my fridge, I found myself now test driving different ways of applying make up to achieve the perfect look. (I had to stop after three tries because my eyes had gotten sensitive--and my look is all about my eyes. )

I realize now I should mellow. And I am mellowing out now…turning my attention back to the things that matter, like my writing for my novel and the MJ (Michael, that is) fan pages and blogging about things that DON’T have to do with the tour.

Life for me happened before any mention of a tour and it will continue after a 2 hour show with four 50-somethings dancing onstage. No need to give myself a migraine over the most minute details.

Funny it took Tootie and Jermaine of all people to make me realize that and reach that conclusion.

But I’m glad anyway. I don’t feel so frantic anymore.



Yeah…I’m calm.

But one word of caution. If Marlon does the “Body Roll” (see the Torture video) or the “Knee Drop” (see the Jacksons MSG segment), somebody will have to pick my ass up off the ground. I’m just saying--that’s some sexy stuff.

　

My Main Concerns for the Jacksons Concert

There are 89 days until the Jacksons play their concert in a town near me.

I know it’s 89 days because I sat and counted off the days on my Michael Jackson Bad 25^th Anniversary calendar. And created a little chart where I can knock off days and countdown to the big event. Yes. I’m that excited.

And I intend to have my ass there, screaming my lungs out cheering the band on. This will be my very first concert ever and I am so excited…I don’t think I’ve ever been this over the moon, wild, ecstatic as I am now. Its just amazing that for a couple of hours I get to share a room with Marlon, Jermaine, Tito and Jackie Jackson, watching them perform their hits. I just can’t comprehend it. I can’t fathom it. Good things like this happen to other people. Not to me. I am constantly thanking God about this and praying that everything for me stays just hunky-dory.

Now as the title states, I do have a few concerns about the concert. And they go beyond my going on a strict diet to look good in skinny jeans or fainting the minute the light hits Marlon. (All my enthusiasm for Michael passed over onto him after Michael went to Heaven as Marlon is my favorite with Michael.)

One oft-repeated thing I heard when I began going on about the concert was “Why Go If Michael’s Not There?” I wanna put that shit to rest right quick.

Michael is not The Jacksons. He is A Jackson. And if you squinted hard enough through the light bouncing off one of Michael’s forty-pound bespangled jackets, you’d notice that there were four other men standing behind him and dancing alongside him.



Now if the show was billed as a Michael Jackson Solo Event, then it would be ridiculous to go. How would Michael perform an event from Heaven?

This is billed as a Jacksons Group Event. Which means that yes, the other

Jacksons will get onstage, because surprise, surprise, they ARE able to function and move and perform even if Michael is not there to join them. I know Michael is in their hearts and they carry him with them each day because they love and miss him.

And I am excited to go. Because I love all the Jacksons--even Jermaine--and want to go and show support for them and enjoy them. They are all talented men, with good voices and I’m sure they’d make for a memorable evening.

The Jacksons are Michael’s blood, his kin, his family. Of course I support them as I support Michael. (I not only have MJ albums, I have J5, albums, Janet albums, Marlon albums, 3T albums…I love them all) I don’t want people to try to throw Michael at me or make me feel bad for going to see his brothers with out him. And really that does make me feel bad when people do remind me of the fact that Michael is dead, and that he can’t climb on that stage and dance with his brothers. That really is a mean thing, even if the people saying it didn’t mean to be malicious. It does still hurt me. Call me a wimp, it hurts, damn it.

My other concern about the show is one of the brothers. And no it’s not Marlon or the wish to get a hug from him, LOL. It’s actually Jermaine.



A part of me kind of wonders if Jermaine will kind of take over the vocals on Michael’s songs and it will become a Jermaine Jackson concert instead of a Jacksons concert. I’ve seen Jermaine. He can be kind of a ham. He’s a great performer, yes, but I’d like to see one of the other three get to lead a number too. They all have great voices. The one that really surprised me as being a good singer was actually Tito. I had never really heard Tito sing until maybe 2 years ago. I’d always heard him in the background of records, but never singing the lead. And really, I was blown away by how beautiful his voice is. He sounds like Michael, but a deeper, more baritone sound, where Michael is more of a tenor. Just take turns Jermaine. I don’t wanna hear “Let’s Get Serious” for two hours, Baby. No, pass the mike…

All in all I’m just looking forward to this concert and I hope maybe I get to shake Marlon’s hand. That would be a dream come true. Gosh…

And that maybe Marlon can squeeze himself into some spandex pants. For me. LMAO!!!!

I Can't Wait!!

Hey Y'all.

So last week, I heard some of the best possible news of my life. No I didn't get a kidney, but this is so much more exciting:

THE JACKSONS ARE GOING ON TOUR THIS SUMMER!

When I heard about this through the grapevine of a Marlon Jackson fanclub--yes, I am in a Marlon club--I was floating around the house on a pink cloud.
I am definitely going and have already set aside my money for the concert ticket. If I don't eat at the end of the month, I don't care. I need to lose the weight anyway.
It's exciting to me. I've always wanted to see the Jacksons live, and now I totally plan to. And three months ahead of the curve, I am starting to plan my outfit. It's a Jacksons show. I want to try to shake Marlon's hand or at least touch him. He's my favorite and I hope I can meet him in some way.

My only regret is that Michael won't be there. I already told my friends, if Michael were there, I'd be camped outside the box office right now. If the dialysis people wanted me, they'd have to come find me and drag me away.

It's just something that doesn't happen every day and I'm already making preparations for the show. Deciding on my outfit, my hair my make up. Everything. I want show out and look good as a fan of music royalty. They're Michael's brothers. His blood. His kin and I love them all. Even Jermaine.