Accents
Alive in his music
Everybody—well almost everybody—has something to say about Michael Jackson, and this writer is no exception. For over a week now, all of TV land is flooded with news on the undisputed King of Pop. Eulogies from his peers, memories friends have of him, high praises from all quarters — voices he won’t get to hear.
Today, Wednesday, July 7, lunch is over. I shed tears as I resume writing. The Memorial at Staples Center in Los Angeles now dominates the blogosphere, hour by hour, minute by minute. “9:50 am: Michael Jackson's golden casket has arrived at Staples Center.” (Please bear with me. I cry, still soaked up in my sorrow over the passing away of my brother Ronnie, eight days before Michael Jackson died.) I quote further: “The stage is set for Michael Jackson's final act in what could be the biggest celebrity send-off of all time… If you weren't one of the lucky 8,750 fans to score a pair of tickets to Jackson's memorial service, have no fear… The memorial will be televised live on all major networks and in 85 theaters across the U.S.”
Many have been mesmerized by his Moonwalk and the robotic gyrations. How youngsters tried to ape the dance moves — almost there but not quite, so to speak. Nobody but nobody can measure up to the original. His pop songs roused all ages around the world. For us seventy-agers, listening is youth medicine. Feeling youthful, feeling seventeen again! I say, we cannot thank you enough, Michael Jackson. The world cannot thank you enough for your legacy of music.
I lack words. I cry in silence. I shed invisible tears. Gosh, allow me to wax sentimental. My mind courses through the lines of four of his songs, my heart suffused with the beauty of the lyrics and the melodies that haunt: Ben, One Day in Your Life, I’ll Be There,and We Are the World. A hit song written by Don Black and Walter Scharf and recorded by the teenaged Michael Jackson, Ben won a Golden Globe for Best Song and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He sang it at the Academy Awards night in 1973 at age 14. As I listen to, or sing some lines in duet with the musical icon, I think of myself as the rat in the movie Willard. Then I get to feel the full impact of the song:
Ben, the two of us need look no more/We both found what we were looking for/With a friend to call my own/I'll never be alone/And you, my friend, will see/You've got a friend in me/(you've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there. You feel you're not wanted anywhere/If you ever look behind/And don't like what you find/There's something you should know/You've got a place to go/(you've got a place to go)
I used to say "I" and "me"/Now it's "us", now it's "we"/I used to say "I" and "me"/Now it's "us", now it's "we"/Ben, most people would turn you away/I don't listen to a word they say/They don't see you as I do/I wish they would try to/I'm sure they'd think again/If they had a friend like Ben/(a friend) Like Ben/(like Ben) Like Ben.
One of the most touching songs I’ve come across, whether by Jackson or by any other songster, is One Day in Your Life. At the end of every copy of this song is the name of Andre Velloso of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I searched and googled the name and found nothing. What part did Velloso play in the song, I do not know. Somebody may know. I just want to absorb the significance of the lyrics as I listen or sing:
One day in your life/You'll remember a place/Someone touching your face/You'll come back and you'll look around, you'll . . .
One day in your life/You'll remember the love you found here/You'll remember me somehow/Though you don't need me now/I will stay in your heart/And when things fall apart/You'll remember one day . . .
One day in your life/When you find that you're always waiting/For a love we used to share/Just call my name, and I'll be there/You'll remember me somehow/Though you don't need me now/I will stay in your heart/And when things fall apart/You'll remember one day . . .
One day in your life/When you find that you're always lonely/For a love we used to share/Just call my name, and I'll be there. André Velloso- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
I find Jackson’s great comforting voice in I’ll Be There, so will anyone who wants to savor the mellowness of his voice away from his more popular, jerky pop songs. Play a record and sing with him:
You and I must make a pact,/ we must bring salvation back/Where there is love, Ill be there/I’ll reach out my hand to you, Ill have faith in all you do/Just call my name and Ill be there
Ill be there to comfort you,/Build my world of dreams around you, I’m so glad that I found you/Ill be there with a love that’s strong/I’ll be your strength, Ill keep holding on
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter/Togetherness, well that’s all I’m after/Whenever you need me, I’ll be there/I’ll be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you/Just call my name and I’ll be there
If you should ever find someone new, I know he’d better be good to you/’cause if he doesn’t, I’ll be there/Don’t you know, baby, yeah yeah/I’ll be there, I’ll be there, just call my name, I’ll be there.
Jackson co-wrote the charity single We Are the World with Lionel Richie. It was released worldwide to aid the poor. Performed by 39 music celebrities, the single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief in Africa. In that World could be you and me and everybody else with a heart for humanity. To give due credit, I retain the soloists in parentheses:
There comes a time when we heed a certain call (Lionel Richie)
When the world must come together as one (Lionel Richie & Stevie Wonder)
There are people dying (Stevie Wonder)
Oh, and it's time to lend a hand to life (Paul Simon)
The greatest gift of all (Paul Simon/Kenny Rogers)
We can't go on pretending day by day (Kenny Rogers)
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change (James Ingram)
We're all a part of God's great big family (Tina Turner)
And the truth (Billy Joel)
You know love is all we need (Tina Turner/Billy Joel)
(CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Michael Jackson)
There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Diana Ross)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Michael Jackson/Diana Ross)
We’ll, send 'em you your heart so they know that someone cares (Dionne Warwick)
And their lives will be stronger and free (Dionne Warwick/Willie Nelson)
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread (Willie Nelson)
And so we all must lend a helping hand (Al Jarreau)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
We are the world, we are the children (Bruce Springsteen)
We are the ones who make a brighter day so let's start giving (Kenny Loggins)
Oh There's a choice we're making we're saving our own lives (Steve Perry)
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me (Daryl Hall)
When you're down and out there seems no hope at all (Michael Jackson)
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall (Huey Lewis)
Well, well, well, let's realize that a change can only come (Cyndi Lauper)
When we (Kim Carnes)
stand together as one (Kim Carnes/Cyndi Lauper/Huey Lewis)
For as long as technology continues with its wonders, Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) will always be alive in his music.
(Email: lagoc@hargray.com)