The Night the Music Died
You all know how much I love country music. But I have to take just one blog today to say thank you to Michael Jackson for making me love music to begin with. It was his songs that made me rethink the way I even listened to music: on a clock radio in my bedroom. I was 14 when I rode my bike to the record store to buy Jackson's Off the Wall album and then moved my listening experience to the console stereo cabinet in our living room. That way, me and my friends could eventually dance along with "Beat It," "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and ultimately, the dance of all dances, "Thriller." So really, it was Jackson who taught me that as much as the music can fill you, it's even better when it fills a room. May he rest in peace.
Photo credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Redmaz says:
Actually, I don’t think you love Country Music all that much.
lioness says:
I am very sad to hear of Michael Jackson’s death! I loved his earlier music a lot! He was a great entertainer. My thoughts are with his children and family!
mere says:
redmaz u could just be a little supportive to this we did lose the “king of pop” last night and it will affect all genres of music. so r.i.p michael jackson
D says:
I didnt care for him or his music, but he was a human being
hotelmotel says:
Michael Jackson’s death is such sad news. He was a great entertainer and one of the greatest pop acts of all time. A lot of performers could learn a thing or two or three from him.
ash says:
Such sad news! RIP MJ!
Gladys says:
I am have always loved MJ and yes he has had a lot of trouble in his life, but there is no doubt that he contributed significantly to music. He was a good entertainer. I am sorry I never got to see him live in concert.
Mt thoughts and prayers are with his children and family.
Elizabeth says:
God love Michael Jackson and his family. Rest in peace.
trink says:
There will never be another entertainer as talented as he was.Thanks for all your music and videos Michael you started it all. Rest in peace you’ll be missed.
gayle says:
Michael Jackson did set the bar for music videos. Love and support for his children and family.
Just Me says:
I remember being dragged to a big dance club long, long ago. You couldn’t hear yourself think for all the noise. You had to shout to be heard. Everyone was trying to out-trend the next in clothing, hair, shoes, etc.
Clubs like that are one of the reasons I rarely listen to pop now.
Suddenly, in the midst of all that fakeness, the “Thriller” video started playing on the big screens. It was the first time I had seen it. And it must have been a first for many others, too.
Everyone stopped dancing, and most of the automatrons even shut up. We all stared at the screens, and watched in amazement.
Music videos for me peaked that night, even though I never bought a single Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson album.
Jackson’s personal life is too twisted and distorted to make sense of.
But there’s no question the man was gifted.
CJ5 says:
I pray for his children and family. I am so sorry he had to go so young. I do not understand why he is so perfect now and before not so much. I think it is not right to idolize a human being.
Linda says:
Red, I agree with you. She seems to like fluffy pop-country but seems totally unaware of anything that happened pre-Garth. While she was listening to Jacko, some of us were listening to Cash, Waylon, Willie, Hank Sr., Hank Jr., Jones, Hag, and all those other people she never writes about.
Jasper says:
God bless his soul. IMO we lost one of the worlds last living legends. RIP sweet King.
merlefan49 says:
George Jones a despicable human being??? You have to be kidding me.
Holly says:
What sets George and Michael apart is that from what is shared with us, George seems to have gotten his life straighten out. He isn’t the way that he used to be. How were things going for Michael before his leaving yesterday?
God bless you and his family and friends and fans always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
MiaT says:
Thanks Alison for mentioning Michael Jackson. I too remember those teen years. He was a great entertainer.
God Bless him & his family…….
Linda says:
Things obviously weren’t going so well for Michael if it’s true he was addicted to prescription painkillers like Oxycontin and Demerol. I have a feeling the tox reports will show more different meds in his body than they found in Elvis.
ynotdebo says:
I will always be a “Country Fan”. Growing up Music was a part of my life. All music from classical and jazz to old time rock and roll. Good Music including Michael Jackson. My prayers are with his family and fans.
Sarah says:
I was at the Lady Antebellum/Miranda Lambert/Kenny Chesney concert last night when the news started to break of Michael Jackson’s death. Between Lady A & Miranda’s sets, they played ‘ABC’ & ‘Beat It’ (maybe some other songs, I’m not sure) & then, during Miranda’s set, she was like “It really sucks about Michael Jackson. He was such a legend. Even though he was much more than famous in a small town, I want to dedicate this song to him!” or something like that, & then she sang ‘Famous in a Small Town.’
While I’m not really a Michael fan, I realized that I like more of his songs than I thought I did. He really was talented, before he went crazy. I’m praying for his family, friends, & fans!
merlefan49 says:
My sympathy goes out to his family, friends and fans. However I think the media/television coverage is over the top.
Jerrie M. says:
Country or not , Michael Jackson was a great Entertainer, and he will be sorely missed. My condolences to the Family
of this Genius performer. a sas, sad, day for the World!
He was the King of Pop , no doubt!
merlefan49 says:
He wasn’t the only star to die this week Ed McMahon and Farrah Fawcett in fact Farrah died the same day.
Steven says:
FYI, country star Neal McCoy said that Michael Jackson was his one of his major influences growing up. I’m sure he is devastated.
Twangtown7 says:
I don’t care what genre of music one liked. EVERYBODY loved MJ in the 80’s.
RIP to one of the best entertainers EVER. Period.
Big Al says:
First off I agree with redmaz Alison doesn’t like country music. She likes Pop. There is no shame in licking pop so why pretend to be country?
As for MJ. He was one of the great entertainers of our time.
But lets not forget his freakish behavior. His thing for little boys. He should have gone to Jail but his money bought him out of trouble. Lets not forget that he leaves behind 3 children that MJ bought for is own selfish reasons. Children that don’t know there mothers, children that have no family except the ones on MJ’s payroll.
This obsession with MJ and celebrities is morbid.
Big Al says:
Ok my bad. ther post should read there is no shame in liking pop music not licking.
Redmaz says:
To clarify, Big Al…when I said she doesn’t love Country music, I was basically refering to Americana/Roots Music(including Country). You see…Pop Music is not an individual genre of music, it is an industry consisting of many genres of music(including Country). I believe she likes Pop Country. She actually bases her whole summer around Chesney concerts and Taylor Swift. So when you said she doesn’t like country music, she likes Pop, doesn’t make any sense. I’m sure she likes Pop Country, but Pop Country only makes up about 10% of all of today’s Country Music scene. So in the overall picture, that’s not very much.
barb b says:
there is no need to mention
taylor and chesney in this time
of sorrow.the king of pop is
gone but in our hearts he will
live on may god watch over his
family and his beloved children.
Big Al says:
his beloved children was the problem
Lisa says:
I am with the blogger. I was in 9th grade when Thriller rose to the top. He brought me to love music. He influenced all music–look at the music videos–none of that had been done before. And, look at the dancing!!
Let’s remember him for his greatness–and he was acquitted of any charges. I mean, what parent let’s their child go to any celebrities home unattended!
I am now a country fan since the early 1990s.
But MJ you will missed. You led such a tragic life–never had a regular childhood–may you rest in peace in the presence of the Good Lord!
Lisa says:
Dan–it was never proven that he molested. He was charged–but acquitted.
dan says:
Lisa you are right about that and a guess you are right about juries can’t be brought and or threaten, and about OJ being innonct. Last time their was a jury member came out a said she and some others was threated then she disappered.
Lisa says:
Dan–and people are trained to lie for money. I remember hearing that the kids were coached by their parents in this case.
I wasn’t there–didn’t know the parties involved–so I can’t say either way. In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty–guess I just have to go with the verdict.
Regardless, if you consider him a freak (and he did get that way, IMHO), he was truly talented and he set the stage. He was truly amazing and deserves respect.
countryiscool says:
I loved alot of MJ’s music/dancing/videos, etc. I place no judgment on his personal life, guilty or innocent. Only he and God knows for sure. He contributed to the world of music, I could care less about tabloid fodder.
Andrea says:
It’s not the night the music died. Maybe his music is more alive than ever. He’s all over the charts, the radio station and tv stations.
And he has no oppurtunity to ruin his good reputation as an entertain with 50 pathetic appearances in London. This last concert series would have shown that he wasn’t able to sing or dance anymore.
It’s sad for the human being Michael Jackson and for his family and children. But it’s the best that could happen for the “legend” Michael Jackson.
musicaljustice says:
I am ashamed to be lumped in with country music fans because of people like Big AL and Redmaz. Alison thank you for being a voice for country fans who are also fans of all music and believe as with the death of Elvis, and John Lennon…The music died with passing of Michael Jackson.
Redmaz says:
Nothing to be ashamed of musicaljustice. I have a feeling you’re not lumped into anything that concerns me, but I could be wrong. I’m a fan of Americana Music. Are you familar with it?
Lisa says:
Geesh–lose the hate–he truly redefined music in a good way. I didn’t know him personally–but I loved and enjoyed his music.
Big Al says:
I guess you can’t mention MJ’s relations with children.
Connie says:
I guess you can’t mention MJ’s odd behavior. Oh well. I just can’t feel sad for a person who was self destructive One thing about country artist they don’t feel the need for a entourage to cater to their every whim, Perhaps if MJ had some one to tell it to him strait about the path he was going down Instead of saying yes to his every whim. I feel more sadness over the loss of Farah Fawcet who put up a big battle with cancer,
Holly says:
I was told that it was said on one of the news stations that Michael may be the very last superstar that there ever is. I don’t know who said that, and no disrespect intended towards the memory of Michael of course, but obviously that news person has never heard of Garth Brooks and Shania Twain.
God bless you and them and Michael’s family, friends, and fans always, may he rest in peace!
Holly in East Tennessee
musicaljustice says:
All music would include Americana.
merlefan49 says:
I’ll be glad when the hype over his death is over. The media coverage on TV is out of line. They seem more concerned over it then our service men and women who are killed daily.
merlefan49 says:
Hmm from the news reports Micheal is not the biological father of his children. Instead his long time dermatologist is.
nsanja john paul says:
heal the world is the song that is best for now he sung it MJ but it does not feel like the gap his left behind will ever be filled. i do not think my passion for him wiil ever be for anothe. res in peace MJ.
Dr BLT says:
It’s good to see a country blog recognizing the pervasive influence of Michael Jackson’s music, even on country, as illustrated by this country remake by Dr BLT:
Here’s a sample:
Billie Jean (unedited rough version)
Dr BLT
country arrangement by Dr BLT
http://www.drblt.net/music/billieDemom.mp3
Valerie says:
I say boycott the tabloids in his honor, showing pictures on his death bed arent necessary.
Briceida Santiago says:
We live our lives so fast, looking at this world like it
will always last, born here with the greatness of the image of Who has created us, suddenly we change it all, not realizing, that the beginning may have been better than the end. The story of this world will stay in the rocks, in nature…in the constialiation, in what would
have been and it wasn’t. Every thing will pass away.
One thing doesn’t, the real reason of existence, FIND OUT!
Briceida Santiago says:
I love you Michael Jackson. In my own race, never I crossed
your way…But I LOVED YOU!