'Out of Our Lives'

From reader William Thomas Brown:

Out of Our Lives

by William Thomas Brown

Yes MJ, you're out of our lives.
Yes MJ, you're out of our lives.
You made us happy when we felt sad.
It's as if you were our ceremonial dad.
But just with a flick of death's switch
Your presence no longer exists.
So in our hearts a candle is lit
To burn eternally and forever in our midst.
To remind us that you're not completely
Out of our lives.

Michael Jackson tribute

DC Carter pays tribute to Michael Jackson in dance and song at Center City Park in Greensboro on July 3.

Michael Jackson tribute, Greensboro from Jordan Green on Vimeo.

Not a fan

I've been collecting stories about how people feel about Michael Jackson for an admiring piece about the pop star. Not everybody is ready to join the celebration. This appraisal comes from Brian Heagney of Greensboro:

Superficially, when I was a young kid in Kindergarten and first grade, I thought Michael Jackson was awesome, and he inspired me to want to learn the moonwalk, and wear those awful parachute pants.

I never learned the moonwalk, and after one year realized that jeans were so much better than parachute pants.

I listened to the song "Thriller" because it was scary, and finally, when I got around to listening to the rest of the album realized it was just mediocre.

That's pretty much how I feel about MJ: Mediocre.

I know he was completely world famous, and I guess he could dance and sing... but I just don't get why he was considered so great. If I never hear a MJ song again I think that would be fine.