R.I.P. Jacko

Michael Jackson's ability to electrify an audience and captivate the world were positively Elvis-like, and, tragically, so was his tragic, prescription-fueled, years-in-the-making death.


Though the self-proclaimed King of Pop lived eight years longer than the King of Rock & Roll (50 vs. 42), his musical relevance died somewhere around age 35. Thereafter came a tragic and, quite frankly, horrific decline; a cautionary tale in the pitfalls of child stardom and overwhelming celebrity, which included marrying Elvis's daughter. Even Elvis didn't hit it big until his 20s; Jacko was an icon when most kids would be in 5th grade. Like Elvis, but unlike The Beatles, Jackson had to face the pressures of mega-stardom alone.

For all his extremely dubious personal traits, Jacko was an immensely talented singer, dancer and songwriter, full of god-given joy and inspiration, the likes of which we see once every few decades, and his brilliant music is how Rock Turtleneck shall choose to remember him. Herewith, some of his greatest moments, courtesy of YouTube.





Some say that for Elvis, it was all downhill after he got drafted; for MJ, it was probably downhill from his performance on this Motown special. R.I.P. and TCB MJ.