For the past two weeks, the news about Michael Jackson’s death and the rumors and controversies surrounding it have dominated headlines around the nation and across the world. It’s interesting how swarms of people have expressed grief over the loss when it seemed like a good majority of them were the same people quick to criticize the King of Pop while he was still alive. I suppose it’s a lot easier to embrace a celebrity’s life and achievements once they have passed on, as can be seen with other controversial, troubled figures such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean.

I personally am not sure how I feel about Michael Jackson, even to this day. He was at the height of his success when I was still a baby, so all I remember while growing up was seeing the gradual fall from that glory. I was continually perplexed by the bizarre behavior characteristic of his downward spiral, and honestly just saw him as a former superstar who had lost his marbles. Still, there’s no denying the incredible influence he has had in music. I remember going to Disney World as an 8-year old and seeing the Thriller music video played on the big screen–it was probably the first music video I’d ever seen, and I remember it clearly to this day because everything about it was just so exciting and new. Just one year ago, Dan and I broke out into a surprise dance with The Way You Make Me Feel during the first dance at our wedding reception.

His songs are so legendary that they have become ubiquitous in our society; they are played at every dance and every wedding, and make frequent appearances in shows and movies, and nobody gives it a second thought because they’ve become so much a part of modern pop culture. Michael Jackson’s music was revolutionary and unprecedented, and there is no doubt that he will be remembered in history. However one feels about him as a person, they cannot deny the enormous legacy he has left behind in the world of music.

Seeing video clips from his funeral yesterday reinforced what a huge presence Michael Jackson was in so many people’s lives. Although the last two decades of his life were marked by what seemed like constant trouble and misunderstanding, hopefully he can finally rest in peace knowing that he is being remembered for his art and talent, which is really what MJ was all about.