Track: One Day In Your Life
Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Forever, Michael (1975)
Tags: motown, r&b, pop, ballad, my gang rotw
Video: Click the pic...

YouTube tribute video

June 2009 was a month that brought unimaginable loss on a global scale, from martyrs being created in Iran to a Charlie's Angel, ending with the sudden loss of the King of Pop himself. I don't think I have ever known so much sadness in so short a time. I think our month of angels deserves to be acknowledged, although if you can't handle it, fair enough, that's ok too.



Michael Jackson - oh my goodness! I wasn't expecting to be close to tears again! - This is the most surprising thing of Michael Jackson's passing last Thursday: how much he meant to us without us realising. Regardless of whether we were fans or not, and most likely the majority of us moved on back in the 80s, he was an intrinsic part of our culture and our lives. He was our Elvis.

Michael Jackson was fortunate enough to have made it big when the music industry had it's strongest hold and was at its most effective, making him an almighty superstar. It probably wouldn't happen today, with the music industry in tatters and everything scattered and hard to find.

He had a genius for breaking down barriers and genres in a gentle, sensitive way. My impression of his career was he was always ready to experiment, try new things and push boundaries, whilst keeping things interesting for us as well as satisfying his own curiosity. Whether I liked the results or not, I was always willing to check out his latest release. I can't say this for everybody.



He went from child star to global superstar with issues. We were as aware of his life as we were of his music.

Something similar can be said for Farrah Fawcett, who sadly passed on the same day as Michael Jackson. She went from being a beauty queen and a much loved character in 'Charlies Angels' to chronicling her experience with cancer to the end, raising awareness and bravely submitting herself to a new perception. We saw how her beauty faded and how the illness ravaged and destroyed her. It was heartbreaking to witness. When she passed, my first thought was: she's at peace now.



I don't know if Michael Jackson thought One Day In Your Life might be his goodbye song. I held it together all night when I heard the news. I saw how many people were listening to him here in Last.fm and was deeply moved. But what threw me over the edge and got the tears rolling was when this song came on. I'm not a lyrics person, it's the tone of the song that got to me. When I looked up the lyrics, I realised I wasn't far wrong.

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

When he originally sang this, he was just sixteen years old. The video I have chosen is a tribute, but there is a video of him from 1975 in YouTube which is worth a look, if you're interested. It's a sad thing to watch, knowing what we know of his life. I thought my parents were strict, but I was free to finish school and sit my exams, waste an entire evening perfecting a manicure if I wanted to, hang out with my friends if I felt like it. If I got into trouble, it was usually well-deserved. My 'strict' childhood was nothing compared to his. How hard did he have to work to sound this mature and confident? What did he have to suffer?

I know I have written two reco of the week journals on Iran already (here and here) but it's difficult for me to let go. It isn't about religion, it's about civil rights. People are dying fighting for their rights. When they leave their homes, they know they might not return. I am not sure I would be so brave. To the courageous people of Iran, I salute you. And to those who passed, I remember you. This article is worth reading, if you want to understand the situation better: Iran: Myths and Realities - What do the people want?



June seems to have been a weird month of major change, deep shifts and colossal loss. As the month closes, let's think of those who have moved on.


Babs _{My Gang}

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