My Michael Jackson Moment - Luxury Cult

My Michael Jackson Moment

Radha Chadha - Saturday, June 27, 2009 4:48 PM

Do you remember the time when we fell in love?
We were young and innocent then

I can still see the moves in my mind’s eye, his slim frame moving in that special Jackson way – tightly controlled, economic, intense – and I’d sit mesmerized, watching the video over and over again.  I’d pop that video in at dinner times, and my two little kids – naughty, troublesome eaters – would be in a trance while I shoveled food quickly into their mouths.  What about us, girl, he’d sing, pointing his finger into the camera.  So when the chance came to actually see Jackson in person, I grabbed it.  

It was the early 90s.  We were young and innocent then.  My husband looked after Pepsi marketing, and the Jackson-Pepsi association was at its height.  The job at hand was to check out the Michael Jackson show – he was doing a series of concerts in London then – and understand what it would take to get the show to India.  So off he flew with me in tow – after all, watching a Jackson concert is the sort of job where an extra pair of ears and eyes could only help.

Michael Jackson Ticket 1992 Concert at Wembley, Lonodn 


Magical. That’s the word that comes to my mind.  Even after almost two decades gone, I can summon up the feeling of being at Wembley, the raw excitement in the air, the jam-packed stadium, and the whole extravaganza that unfolded in front of my eyes.  This was showbiz like I had never seen before – Jackson’s oh-wow performance on the one hand, and the whole impact of cutting-edge production technology on the other – it was sheer magic.  (My husband later learned that he’d have to fly in planeload after planeload of equipment for the show into India.)

My enduring memory is Jackson taking off like a rocket at the end of the show.  He was there one moment and then the next he was in this space-suit-like thingy and before my eyes he just flew out of the stadium.

Did Jackson agree to come to India?  Yes, he did.  But the show was cancelled at the last minute, Jackson wasn’t well, dehydration I think.  And then all the weird things started, and perhaps he wasn’t all that young and innocent any more…

As I look back on his life – the good, the bad, the downright weird – I wonder what it was about him that made him such a hit, that gave him that Pied-Piper like ability to connect with millions?  He was different for sure – his music, as also his pop-dancing style, was way different from anything we had seen before.  Enormous talent. Unbounded creativity. Young and innocent. A complete original. Hat ke. Unique. Whacko.

There is a thin line between being different-original-unique and being whacko.  In his case – as indeed in the case of umpteen other creative geniuses – the line blurred over time with tragic consequences. Do you remember how it all began, It just seemed like heaven so why did it end, he sang.  It may have ended, Michael, but there's no taking away from the huge contribution you made to music and our lives.

Note: Do you have a Michael Jackson Moment? Please share it with us!
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15 Comment

From matt

June 27, 2009 7:01 PM
well written

From no needy

June 28, 2009 10:43 AM
owe it is to much difficult to belive,owe it is to much difficult ,I cant still belive ............owe what can i say, i have no word to express my feeling .

From Kim

June 28, 2009 6:04 PM
he is one of the best....truly original

From Sunil

June 28, 2009 7:11 PM
This is inspired. I remember the debates about whether Michael Jackson was a great singer or was it just the dancing. I couldn't believe the moonwalk when I saw it. And who can forget Thriller - the video that launched MTv. Trust someone to still keep the Wembley ticket despite relocating across continents. I liked him. And why should an entertainer's personal life be important (Clinton? Woody Allen?).

From gk kannan

June 28, 2009 8:38 PM
Indeed..., MJ's news is a walk down memory lane.Reminds of all things those decades stood for. The athleticism, timing and creativity . no other entertainer even came close to.Take a look at " captain EO" a 3D film he mad for Disnelyland produced by George Lucas and directed by coppola.Such great past success , even more potential, extinguished early.

From Pani

June 28, 2009 8:47 PM
Yup, very nicely written. Took out my old 33 1/3 RPM albums of Thriller and Bad from the basement and dusted them out, put on my old record player (yeah, i have one which still works), closed my eyes as MJ magic began to fill the space around me...

From Radha Chadha

June 28, 2009 9:49 PM
@Pani. Wow, I can imagine the thrill of playing those 33 1/3 albums again! We have been listening to MJ today too. Makes me feel young again:)

From Theresa

June 29, 2009 1:03 AM
I read somewhere that MJ was the Elvis of our generation. I never connected with Elvis but I'll never forget listening the J-5 in study hall. He was the cutest, most talented, little kid in the world. I never saw him live and am envious of your experience and agree 100%, your thoughts are very well written. Now, I can't get his music off my mind and my heart breaks for his brokenness(sp) and loneliness. His energy, timing, smoothness, pitch, etc., etc. will never be forgotten nor will their influences ever end. This is the first comment I've left anywhere since his passing. I am touched by the kindness of the above postings. Just in case you're interested, check out Bill Bailey's moonwalk on YouTube. I was surprised to find out this is not an MJ original but an old, tap dance move called the back slide.

From Bobby

June 29, 2009 11:03 AM
Hey Radha, That was beautifully written! I agree with Sunil - the fact that you kept the ticket for almost 17 years is a tribute in itself, but what truly amazed me is that you found it in time to write this lovely memoir! That's some organized life! Thriller was one of the best pieces of entertainment that I have ever seen and heard - ever! We'll all miss him, controversies and all. bobby

From Mandir Tendolkar

June 29, 2009 4:41 PM
Hi Radha, Well said and moving. We used to catch the MJ videos during the Grammy's screening...on good old Doordarshan in the early 80's. MJ in India cut across all age bands and socio-economic classes as his music was clear, easy to comprehend and entertaining. You could not club him with the other stalwarts like Rolling Stones, Dire Straits , Rainbow etc, associated with the more elite and intellectual Indian followers, but his distinct style, dance moves and ability to entertain set him apart from the rest amd made him so popular in India. Everybody wanted to learn his dance steps and I remember on school Annual days there was always a stage performance by school kids, inspired from his songs and dance moves. We will miss him and his music........ Mandir

From Vijaya

June 30, 2009 5:45 PM
Hey Radha you are so lucky to have seen the best performer on earth in action! Wow! That must have been some experience. Your tribute is well written and brings back memories of a huge giant-sized MJ poster my daughter had up in her room...one night I walked into her room and nearly died of fright! His music & dances will be remembered...always. Vijaya

From Matt Damon

July 1, 2009 10:22 AM
What more can I say that hasn't already been said about Michael Jackson. He was a singer to behold, a dancer par excellence, and a performer with no rivals. Though not researched upon, he could very well probably be the sole exception to the medical condition of amnesia. He hypnotized us with moves that weren't humanly possible and sang with enough energy to shake people out of whatever they were doing or out of their slumber. He was THE pinnacle of stardom, the gold standard, the king, too high to get over and too low to get under. Michael, in reply to your question, YES, we will remember. We will remember.

From Niraj Davar

July 1, 2009 5:24 PM
Radha, well written! yes MJ was one of a kind, world will miss him, but he will be there, through his music!

From Nazia Khan

July 14, 2009 3:53 PM
well its a real loss to all of us. everyone watched his downs bt nobody realised his guds ven he ws alive bt it ws tragic to loose such a pop star, a legend. though he is nt among us bt we ll alwaz remain alive in our hearts... salute to the KING OF POP

From NANDAN NANDI

July 30, 2009 10:59 AM
I just can't believe that Michael Jackson is no more and that he had such a pathetic life. No single word or group of words is enough for him. He was mesmerizing, he was magic, his voice unique and touching. We spent most of our prime school days with Michael Jackson. It was during those days BAD was released. We only had very limited option to see him dance in some half an hour music programme on TV or catch him in between some news. But those few minutes were enough to spin our head, made us crazy. We played the BAD cassette so many times that I had to buy the same thrice. I still have the last cassette of BAD. We visited Kolkata and bought a book on Michael Jackson. I searched all over the places and could get most of the cassttes of MJ. I still remember the songs of "OFF THE WALL". Sidhartha my bench mate in school was equally mad. He took up the moonwalk well, I also tried but failed to do like him. I still go wild when I see MJ in a moonwalk. After the school we had our own ways in life. But then whenever we talk we talk of MJ, MJ and MJ. He had personal problems and kept away from everything during the last over one year, didnot pick up my calls. But then on the morning I heard the bad news I called him up, he picked up the phone and we both were shocked to hear that our Hero is no more. We always had a dream to see MJ in a live concert, but then we were not so lucky, but then we still cherish the moments we spent with him, with his posters all over our study room, his music all through the day and trying moonwalk. My daughter who is seven now, love him as well, and loves to listen to the song from the movie - Free Willy - "WILL YOU BE THERE".

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