For many, there was never a time where Michael Jackson was not at the forefront of pop culture. Bursting on the scene in the late 60s with his brothers as a part of the teen heartthrob group The Jackson 5, Michael has been recognizable almost his entire life. After his solo career took off with 1979's album Off The Wall and the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, Jackson entered the top of the pop stratosphere where he stayed for the remainder of his career.
Jackson created a different kind of fame. His music transcended every barrier imaginable and in many ways, he set the standard for entertainment. The level of perfectionism within his craft running concurrent with his increasingly eccentric lifestyle made him seem slightly superhuman. When he moonwalked across the stage, he defied the laws of psychics. When he shredded his t-shirt, grabbed his crotch and howled, he let the inner beast in him come alive. Michael was able to tap into a purely emotional place that touched people across the world. Once you saw or heard Michael Jackson, you didn't forget him. Which was why his premature death on June 25, 2009 last year was so shocking.
After almost a decade of life away from the spotlight, he was staging a comeback. He was in the throws of rehearsing a string of concerts called "This Is It" set to open at the O2 Arena. Unfortunately, he never performed again. Jackson died three weeks before the first show leaving fans stunned. A year later, the feeling of loss is still fresh.
Life-long fan Candice Jones credits Jackson for instilling a love of music in her.
"Michael Jackson is really the person that made me love music and entertainment in general because he was so good at it. I cant remember liking music before Michael Jackson," she said. "Every piece of music and art I like, I always compare it to him."
Going beyond Michael's obvious musical influences, Jones also credits Jackson with teaching her some important humanitarian lessons on how to treat others.
"He made me become a better person. One day I was listening to 'Man in the Mirror' and it just hit me. I was letting the words marinate in my head and it jut kind of dumbfounded me when I thought about the line 'If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make a change.' That was an a-ha moment. It resonated and spoke to my life," Jones said on the verge of tears.
Like many others, when she heard the news that Michael Jackson had died, Jones entered into a state of shock.
"My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. That was always my greatest fear. I really, really loved MJ," Jones said. "My fear was always that he would die early because I thought that he was a depressed person and that he lived a somewhat unhappy life. He had to deal with so much. He kind of lived this dual life of being a superstar yet he was extremely sad and lonely. But the whole world loved him."
Danyelle of TheCubicleChick.com said, "I am still at a loss of words when it comes to MJ. It was so sudden. I get sad when I listen to his music."
The loss was devastating for some. Last year, reports of fans committing suicide even began to surface.
For Michael's most hardcore group of fans, he was more than just a pop star or an entertainer and on the anniversary of his death, some fans have never left the mourning stage. Michael was a friend who listened to their woes. A family member who made them laugh and enjoy life a little more. In their minds, Michael was not a stranger but a familiar, friendly face. And he won't ever be replaced.
