Notes from the Pianobabbler's New York residency
June 28 2009
Harlem
Michael Jackson died suddenly last Thursday. Sad. Tragic.
Michael Jackson was an artist of great talent. Genius, even. He could sing. He could dance. He could perform.
A confession, however: the Pianobbabler, pop culture dodo that he is, knew little of MJ's music. Like Mahler for many, I was aware of and respected what MJ did. I just knew little or nothing about it.
We are walking on West 125th near Frederick Douglass Blvd. Sunday. Normally a busy time. This was different. The streets and sidewalks were jammed. Everywhere, everywhere Michael Jackson is blaring through speakers. Hundreds- hundreds! -of street vendors are lined up selling memorial T-shirts, stickers, posters you name it. Within three days, they have mobilized and created a whole posthumous merchandise industry. Wondrous.
We reach the Apollo Theatre. The crowd is thickest here. Hundreds of people are gathered. Someone is playing MJ from a small CD player. Spontaneously, the crowd sings along. And dances in a big Michael Jackson dancing circle. They dance together. Sing together. Happy and sad. Fully expressed. The many as one, each one as many.
A huge community has come together, united in Michael Jackson's death. He connected everyone.He informed the cultural conscience. He meant.
The goal of every artist.
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