From the heart. Through the tears.

soooo. Michael Jackson is dead. Those might be the hardest words I've ever typed. He touched my life for as long as I can remember. Every paper I've ever written about music has had something to do with Michael Jackson. My favorite song....ever...and i mean of EVER is "I can't help it". On that long flight to Mexico the song was on repeat. In between layovers, and during the taxi rides to the airport. I loved Mike. I never listened to what people said, it never mattered. The music transcended the man, and anything he could have done. His music is influential to everyone you listen to, and watch today. Yea, Chris Brown can dance his behind off, but he learned from Mike...who learned from James Brown, but in addition to learning from a great he made it original. Mike will remain in my heart forever. His music is what made me start singing, and dancing. He has influenced my childhood, and my life in such a huge way that I feel as if my uncle has died. He was there, silently, influencing my life, working his way into the very fabric of me in something so innocent, yet profound. With his music. Music touches everyone...no matter nationality, religion, whatever. It is one of those powerful things that brings people together. Michael was rare. He was a proponent of good, clean, enjoyable music that brought people all over the world together. He was and will always be the King of Pop simply because he is iconic in everyway. From his eccentricity to his unmistakable voice. And although a huge part of music left us today, we should not feel sad. His legacy of music will hold us. He is not dead, because he lives on in a new generation touched, and influenced by him. He simply is on a permanent hiatus. And should you ever feel upset...remember his beautiful song, "You are not alone" and believe that he soul and spirit lives on in his performances, his energy, his videos, his dancing, his moonwalk, his glove, his shoes, his smile, his laugh, and most importantly in his music and his fans.