Sad, disfigured Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson - JUST a pop-star - SAD but true

He hasn't had a hit in decades.
He was a phenom in his time.
I followed his career and still have his 45rpms from I'll Be There to Ben ... I videotaped from TV Thriller and Beat It on MTV. I taped Madonna and Billy Idol, too.
I knew and remember him when he was black.
Before he wanted to be Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor.
I remember him before he was white.
Before he had his lips and nose fixed.
He made headlines when he had the "tatoo" - permanent ink eyeliner placed on his eye.
I still have those clippings.
That does not diminish him as a gifted performer.
It is just a fact.
MTV was new. And Michael Jackson become "newer" and whiter and plastic surgery ridden as he released every music video.
MTV was also a phenomenon. It helped create stars. The truly talented survived.
They re-invented themselves.
Michael Jackson was a half century old.
No recent releases. No current tunes on the radio.
His record/CD sales were very low.
Now, he passed away and is at peace.
His life was troubled.
He was accused on being a pedophile, a child molester. He settled out of Court and paid millions for one accusation.
The others - he was acquitted.
He had his time and place.
He will be remembered as many a pop star will be.
He was NOT the 2nd coming of Christ.
He did NOT solve world-hunger nor peace.
He unsuccessfully tried to re-invent himself.
He was past the middle-aged mark.
Like anyone, his best could have been ... yet to be ... tomorrow - we will never know.
His accolades cannot and should not be erased.
Nor should they be embellished.
Sad to see him go.
In reality - for those of us who were witness to his rising star - it simply reminds us of our own mortality.
Life is precious. Not to be wasted or squandered.
Toward the end or perhaps starting in his mid-30s, Jackson started to believe his own hype.
HE PROCLAIMED HIMSELF the "King of Pop" - not the press, not his peers.
He was NOT We Are The World, I am the World -
he was a talented man on stage.
Off stage - only God truly knows.
Maybe he was a child abuser - maybe he was a gay closet case ...
but he had talent. In his time and place - he had talent.
Like the VERY stars HE himself professed to idolizing ... from Fred Astaire to Elizabeth Taylor and the list goes on - they ALL will be remembered ...
for in their time and place - thanks to video, film, records ...
they will always have a place in entertainment history.
THAT IS FACT.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The cycle and circle of life -
times marches on.
And unless you keep up with the beat, you will be left behind.
I think the last decade - Jackson was left behind. Like Norman Desmond in "Sunset Blvd." ....