June 25, 2018

Today marks the ninth anniversary since the death of one of the biggest icons in music history.  Michael Jackson didn’t just change the way an artist performed on stage.  He revolutionized it.  His signature moves, stage choreography, slick wardrobes and energy raised the bar for any artist that wanted to become a pop superstar.  Here’s one of my favorite live videos of MJ at the 1995 MTV VMA’s:

But let’s not forget those videos.  Every kid in the 80’s could imagine walking on the hallway tiles at school pretending they would light up for them they way they did for MJ in the ‘Billie Jean’ video.

While preparing for his comeback concert series, ‘This Is It’, Jackson died of acute propfol and benzodiazepine intoxication on June 25, 2009.  This concert series started as a ten show residency at the O2 Arena in London but after huge demand 40 more dates were added, totaling 50 sold out shows.  I often think of how great it would’ve been if the series expanded to other countries including the United States.  We’ll never know how massive the entire tour would have been but I’m sure it would have been second to none.

It’s been nine years since his passing but he is still revered among millions of fans.  Forbes ranked Jackson as the top-earning deceased celebrity for the fifth consecutive year in 2017.  His estate earned $825 million in 2016, the highest yearly amount ever recorded by the publication.

While we no loner have the artist to create new music, we have his musical legacy.  A legacy that places MJ in the big three on the Mt. Rushmore of best selling artists worldwide.  The Beatles, Elvis Presley  and Michael Jackson.  Not bad company to be in.

Stayed tuned for a Top Ten List of our favorite Michael Jackson songs.

In the meantime, let’s just enjoy his music.  Here’s the posthumous release of ‘Love Never Felt So Good’ w/ Justin Timberlake