The World Mourns
a Pop Icon

 
Posted June 28, 2009                                         

This weekend at Mr. Biggs Bar & Grill on 43^rd street in Manhattan, a karaoke tribute to Michael Jackson was underway. In the Berkshires at Laches Lounge in Massachusetts there was no KJ present but the karaoke jukebox streamed only MJ songs in tribute to the King of Pop who died an untimely death on June 25, 2009. There were some cyclists in Portland Oregon who turned their weekend “pedalpalooza” into a Jackson tribute. They pedaled to his music and stopped from time to time for karaoke and moonwalk breaks. They even took the time to eulogize Jackson, explaining that while some may think that Jackson’s music has nothing to do with cycling, they insist, its all about “good rhythm,” and Jackson’s music was if nothing else, loaded with foot stomping rhythm. Then there was the hastily organized Michael Memorial Moonwalk in Norfolk, Virginia, where hundreds gathered outside and then joined for karaoke Michael Jackson style.

The whole world is serenading Michael Jackson. Perhaps the most moving event took place in London of all places as an enormous throng of humanity spontaneously flooded Liverpool Station, flash mob style and peacefully sang “Thriller .“  Many of the revelers went on to continue their mass tribute by singing even more at a karaoke spot in North London. In San Francisco, another mob spent hours singing, dancing, and recreating his video choreography outside the city's Ferry building. And while there was no singing echoing through the walls of the Capitol in Washington, DC., the U.S. House of Representatives did honor Jackson with a moment of silence.

It seems everywhere in the world, people are breaking out into song, using karaoke to pay homage to the master of the music video, the potentate of pop, the king of dance.

The world will never be the same. One need not be an ardent fan or supporter of Michael Jackson to understand that the world is a little different now. For those of us who karaoke the passing of MJ is perhaps a little more surreal. You see, his vast library of chartbusting songs are not necessarily a karaoke mainstay. In fact, many people do not perform his songs at karaoke precisely because they are too difficult for the average person to sing. Even talented singers shy away from his songs for fear that they cannot live up to the original- remember Anoop Desai’s “Beat It” cover on American Idol?

His essence so woven into the fabric of our culture, for better or for worse, for posterity or infamy, MJ is the paradigm within which all modern pop music is defined.  So I went to karaoke last night, and when I stepped up to the mic, I asked the KJ to slide my standard Zeppelin tune to the side. And while I’ve never ever sung a MJ tune before, I gave my all to “Billie Jean.” I wonder how many of us in karaoke bars all over channeled Michael this weekend? Judging by the throngs of public tributes I can only imagine that there were hundreds of thousands of people like me; spinning and moonwalking the very best we can, celebrating a pop icon.

Michael Jackson MoonWalk Flashmob in London	Michael Jackson MoonWalk Flashmob in San Francisco

 

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