To all ages, Michael Jackson is considered a legend of music.
And despite being dubbed Wacko Jacko in the late 1980s, and leading an at times scandalous lifestyle, the American superstar has left a legacy that generation after generation continues to enjoy.
After first hearing about his death I seemed to share the same reaction as many of my friends which varied along the lines of: "what? He can't die, the man is immortal!" A strange view it may seem to some, however, to people of my own age and older, Jackson has been an idol since before we were born and has therefore been a distant, yet great figure of music that we have all grown up with.
Admiration of the artist from young people can be seen from the thousands of texts flying across the country to check if his death is really true and on sites such as Facebook where by 3pm the day after Jackson died, the Michael Jackson Appreciation Group had already been founded with 83 members and more joining globally. The group was created for the sole purpose of sending "your condolences and support for the greatest entertainer in the world."
Within a few hours ITV was already running tributes of hours of solid Jackson music videos which my friend Harrie Sly (not to embarrass her, well it is actually) had been watching since the early hours accompanied by her sobbing mother (a true Jackson fan), who was coincidentally also on eBay attempting to grab as much Michael Jackson merchandise as possible before the prices became astronomical.
Radio shows have announced that Glastonbury has also been hit hard by the news with fans now wishing they were afforded the chance to see the legendary moonwalk one last time.
But why was this man so important to people like me who were born after he had stopped being a star of the time? The answer is simple. Regardless of this man's age and questionable social life, Jackson is still an icon to both fanatics or otherwise due to unforgettable and unbeatable hits such as Smooth Criminal, Beat It and, of course, Thriller ? the video for which is still considered as a phenomenon.
Jackson changed the face of pop music to create a form of pop soul disco groove that will never lose its appeal, even to future generations. His talent as a singer and dancer is also unquestionable which has led him to be a considered as a pop god in the industry.
Whatever went on in the past, The King of Pop's songs will always remain as a perfect way to survive a four-hour road trip once eye spy has been thrown out of the window.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
Tue 21st July 2026 Free entry, retiring collection for ABO. Pete Ellis escaped office life in 2000 to take up a life in the outdoors. Soon becoming an International Mountain Leader, he led trekking holidays in the UK, Europe and further afield for the next 20 years. During this time, he also indulged his passion for climbing mountains, which included, in 2012, Mount Everest. This completed the Seven Continental Summits (the highest points of all seven continents), an achievement accomplished by a select group of about 400 people.
This talk is about the final, Everest, stage of The Seven Summits. The climb was from the north, through Tibet, the route originally visited by Mallory and Irvine in the 1920s. It will be a personal tale of the trip, illustrated with many photographs.
, Island Hall, 19:00
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 