Video: Remembering Michael Jackson One Year Later

By Zach Dionne Posted Jun 24th 2010 02:45PM

Tomorrow (Friday, June 25) marks the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson's death, and perspective is a funny thing. For some, his eccentricities and scandals have fallen behind louder, happier memories of his music and flair. For others, not so much.

"After all those years of tabloid ugliness and oddity, I think a lot people forgot how it all began, and it's sad that he had to die to remind them," Entertainment Weekly music critic Leah Greenblatt tells PopEater. "I think there will always be a group of people who can't forgive Michael for what he did, or what they believed him to have done, in terms of the molestation charges. But by and large I feel like there was a pretty massive sea change in the public's perception of him almost immediately after he died."

RadarOnline.com creator and executive vice president David Perel tells PopEater he believes in death, Jackson "achieved something he could not in life" -- namely, focus on his talent, his legacy, his music. "There is a much greater recognition of his role as a family man and devoted father. Much of his music has been rediscovered and a new appreciation for the artist and his immense talent has emerged."

We took to the streets of New York City to find out how the public remembers the King of Pop a year after he left us. See the video after the jump!

"It's a shame that he's gone. He was a real, incredible talent," one interviewee told us. Another person's first thought? Oddly enough, Jackson's pet monkey, Bubbles.

"I really enjoy hearing him now," a German woman visiting New York said. Another added, "His music lives on after him --he's still on my iPod."

EW's Greenblatt remembers the week after Jackson's death, when it was impossible to walk a single New York City block without hearing the star's tunes emanating from delis and stoops. "It was just this great collective moment of celebrating and remembering -- we still have the music and the dancing and this indelible, incredible persona that he created from the time he was seven years old. I really do wish he could see that now."

"While we're all still interested in his kids, his eccentricities, and his dysfunctional family, the one thing that binds everyone globally are the songs. In any club in the world, a DJ just has to put on 'Billie Jean' or 'Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough' to get people dancing -- the whole room is charged with electricity," Roger Friedman, the columnist behind ShowBiz411, tells PopEater. "The bad stuff has fallen away, and Michael's music has become the lasting legacy."

"Suddenly we weren't thinking of the plastic surgeries or the court cases or the vitiligo," Greenblatt says. "We were just immersed again in these amazing songs, and these memories so many of us have from childhood-this pure joy and nostalgia for when he was literally the greatest pop star on the planet, and all we wanted to do was figure out how he did the moonwalk, and how to get our parents to buy us a pleather knockoff of that crazy red jacket."

Michael Jackson

Not all the less savory Michael memories are fully forgotten, though -- particularly the bizarre and unexpected nature of his passing. "Sadly, Michael was the architect of his own demise. He played Russian Roulette with his life," Friedman says. "The victims are his children, who have been left to navigate a very choppy sea. I can only hope they will survive."

RadarOnline's Perel expounds: "Remembering Michael now is a bittersweet experience for many people. His talent and his devotion to his children have become even more starkly apparent, but the factors that led to his death and knowing they were avoidable continues to haunt many. The shock, surprise, pain and anger are still remarkably raw for his fans and others who loved him. The passing of a year seems to have done very little to diminish those emotions everyone felt when first hearing the news."

As long as people are grooving to 'Smooth Criminal' and prisons are collaboratively reenacting the 'Thriller' dance, it seems the anniversary of Jackson's passing will be marked for years to come.

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Comments

(27)

Thursday 24 June

By Lori

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RIP troubled soul

By Lisa

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If you really want to forget don't bother getting out of bed tomorrow morning....if you do don't turn on your TV or your radio. RIP MJ

By casper07mj

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Michael was a phenomenal being his talents were extraordinary. The media made his daily life a living hell. He had family issues just like the rest of us its just that ours aren't publicized. For those that want to remember him, never forget him, and celebrate his life please do so; but for those that choose to do otherwise just do what he asked u to do back in 88' and just LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!
I love u more Michael always and forever!!!!

By Marsha

After listening to his music and watching all the many wonderful things for the past year, I can truly say I have a new found appreciation for all things Michael. Not that I didn't like him, I just wasn't hardcore. I'm just sad that it had to take something as tragic as his death to make me realize what a truly magnificent person he was. I miss him very much and I wish his family well.

By diamondjewellisa

Well said, Marsha. I feel the same way.

By jolly

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Although i was a fan of him growing up in the 80's, tomorrow on the day of the anniversary of his death, we have to be put up with a WHOLE DAY of hearing about it! Uck!
On that same day, Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahan died also, why can't they do something about them also. Just because Michael was an icon, they pushed aside the others like chopped liver!
Also, I wish the cable channels would stop showing the Jackson's movie of how they got started! I had enough of seeing that movie. Yes, Michael and the other kids were "abused" and Michael is gone now....ENOUGH IS ENOUGH OF THAT DAMN MOVIE!
Also, as i saw the movie, I really do think that Katherine should be held accountable also for what happened with the kids being abused since when Joe was beating them.......SHE DID NOTHING!! Just stood there and watched, WHAT KIND OF MOTHER IS SHE??????

By leah

If you're tired of seeing it, then stop watching and turn the channel. Its simple, really.

Also, if you don't want to hear about anything MJ related tomorrow, I think its best that you don't turn on your television or your radio.

By Jennifer Malone

I think Jolly is out of her damn mind!!! She needs to be checked

Gee Jolly, Michael Jackson was only probably the Best Entertainer that we will ever see in our lifetime or anyone's lifetime. Why would you have a problem with dedicating one 'WHOLE DAY' to a super nice, super sweet guy who dedicated practically his 'WHOLE LIFE' to making people like you (as you stated in the 80's) and millions of others all across the world feel love, joy and peace through his music? And another thing, just don't watch the damn movie.

By katgirl

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Enough is enough! Yes he was a good singer but the media has gone overboard about him. And it was too bad that the city got stuck with paying for his funeral, who is paying for this now? Too much.

By janilee

Actually, his estate just paid for the Staples Memorial. His family paid for his private funeral. Please get informed!

By Tell It Like It Is

iddiottaw has returned. We've even got a katgirl, who will continue to hear about the world's GREATEST artist, until all her lives are up. Perhaps she will hear ESTATE PAID for funeral in her third life. As for jolly, well, we'll just have a grand ole' time with that one. Throw you, and your TV out window on June 25th. And every single day thereafter.

Friday 25 June

I totally agree with you katgirl, enough is enough. Of course, he was a good singer but after hearing about his death a whole day last year, i was sick of hearing it again this year.died on that same day, why can't they do something for Farrah Fawcett, and Ed McMahon. They are people too.

jolly- McMahon and Fawcett ARE remembered. Does not change FACT that Michael Jackson's appeal differs greatly from theirs. Fame, recognition by the world is simply greater. Doesn't mean others are forgotten, overlooked. Study conducted revealed next to Jesus, most recognizable entity on Earth. Even by a silhouette....

Saturday 26 June

Well said Tell It Like It Is, however I don't think Jolly knows what a silhouette is...

By sandy

Funny how everyone think his death was avoidable. Fate was already written for him as it is for us all. May he rest in peace.

By waslittle4

I forgot about his death as an owner of a travel agency I am far more concerned with the BP oil spill. I mean this is affecting local peoples' businesses, hotel rates are up and what about travel and tourism in the gulf region, not only that what about the people who has lost value in their portfolios. What about the enviroment, this oil could travel up to further to the east coast like the Virgina Beach area into parts of the Washington, DC area.

Care about enviornment. However, King Of Pop is SIGNIFICANT to MANY. Lots going on in world of interest, concern. However, Michael Jackson is LOVED. Missed. Greatest ever. 1st anniversary, he will be remembered. Honored. Doesn't delay clean up. Nor interfere with fixing anything else. Gov't needs to stay in BP's azz. NEVER forget King. Fans were "Born To Love You", Jackson Five.

By UK

REST IN PEACE MICHAEL, Thanks for all the beautiful music you made, I truly appreciate all you did for the many charities.
I will be listening to the music and the reports on the telly however, if i do get tired of it, im fortunate enough unlike some tossers, i do now how to turn of the telly. LOVE YOU BACK MICHAEL.

By SexyPhatGirl

wow MJ is real a great singer that I will neva forget..

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