Michael Jackson

Late in the evening of June 25, my son and I were driving to Birmingham from North Yorkshire, to a university open day. We had the radio on. The 23:00 news came on and during it a report came in that Michael Jackson had been rushed to hospital, following a suspected heart attack and the final words were that the patient was thought not to be breathing when the ambulance men arrived.

OK, I admit it, I’m guilty. For years I have considered Michael Jackson to be a sad weirdo, eccentric to the enth degree and with some questionable traits to his character. However, I was seriously challenged last night to reconsdier him in a different light, after taking my two kids to see “This is it”, the film of the rehersals for his proposed concerts at the O2 back in July.

I found the whole film engrossingly entertaining, occasionaly schmaltzy (well, with American showbiz types what else could you expect), a real window into the commitment of professional performers and, at times, very emotional.

From the moment MJ appears on screen, you are dominated by his stage presence. Here was a 50 year old man surrounded by a group of the top dancers from around the world, mostly in their 20s, who still commanded awe and respect from them, not by demand, but by his total supremecy on stage. Many of these young dancers were in tears when talking about having been picked to dance with him and this was at the beginning of the film and rehearsals!

You come away with respect for a man whose consumate professionalism shines through every number, every dance sequence, every interaction with the music director and musicians and the rest of the team. Even when things aren’t going right, he was gracious in the way he dealt with them. His knowledge of music, music technology, stage craft and choreography were impressive. He knew exactly what he wanted and what was needed to achieve it. The respect of all his team was very evident. They were, as he said, “a family”. I sat and wondered what support they are needing and receiving, having to cope with his untimely death so close to this spectacular show being completed. They had lived and breathed MJ, the man and his music for several months. They must be as devastated as someone losing the love of their live in a tragic accident.

So who was Michael Jackson? For me, the real MJ has to be the one I saw on stage. This is surely what he lived for? Here, he was King. This was his domain, his place in the world. The little boy who grew up entertaining generations of people around the world with his voice, his songs, his incredible dance movements and his stage presence. On stage MJ was “normal”. Off stage was someone who didn’t appear to cope very easily with the real world. It’s almost like he tried to recreate being onstage in the rest of his life but ended up being lampooned by many of us for it.

I was surprised at what made me most emotional. It was a short sequence where MJ and the team recreated the Jackson Five. Suddenly, I saw glimpses of MJ the child performer, not in the archive films clips, but in the man performing those old songs: the movements, the smiling face, the obvious joy. It was like you could see through the hideous plastic surgery face and there was the real Michael Jackson shining through.

Ironically, if he had lived, this show would only have been seen by a few hundred thousand people, but because of his death and the subsequent release of the film, millions will see it now, albeit in rehearsal form, and for generations to come.

For me the film also comfirmed the suspicions that his death was not natural and that the police are right to be investigating this further. He may have been 50, but he was fit. He showed the 20 something dancers a thing or two. It was not evident that he was ill or displaying symptoms of severe stress.

Go and see This is it. It’s a real testimony to Michael Jackson’s legacy of a lifetime of entertainment at the highest level. You’ll be inspired, entertained and uplifted. Your kids will enjoy it alongside you, as mine (aged 12 & 17) did.

RIP Michael, King of Pop.