Tell Them That It's Human Nature

I confess that I felt a sense of relief when I learned yesterday that Michael Jackson died. For anyone who was alive and listening to pop music during the 1970s and 1980s, watching Jackson self-destruct—and allegedly hurt several children and their families along the way—has been painful. I can only imagine how painful the past 15-or-so years have been for Jackson, his close friends and family, and the aforementioned children and their families. It's as though Michael Jackson had been terminally ill. While his suffering and death were tragic, now that the illness has passed, we are free to remember and celebrate Jackson as he was before he got sick. So do yourself a favor today and listen to "I Want You Back," "Blame It on the Boogie," "Say, Say, Say," "Billie Jean," "Human Nature," and/or Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me." (Stay away from the Bad album; I listened to "Bad" and "Smooth Criminal" this morning, and they don't really hold up.) Embrace this opportunity to enjoy the contributions of one of the great performers in pop music history.