There are a few things I have witnessed in my life that I will try to explain to my kids. Michael Jackson is one of those things and when I try, I will fail. How can you explain something that is bigger than life, art and talent? I will tell them that their popstar idols are pathetic, that the words ‘popstar’ and ‘idol’ shouldn’t even be used ever again because Michael is what it means to be those things and he is no more. I will tell them that Michael had a dance move that made people think he was either floating on air or using optical illusions like a magician would. I’ll tell them that Thriller sold almost 3 times more copies than the second place album of all time. That he is what it means to be an artist and not just a singer or musician. I’ll describe his work ethic, play the Motown 25th Anniversary performance of Billie Jean and tell them that Michael cried afterwards because he thought he could’ve done better. I’ll play them Wanna Be Startin Somethin, The Girl is Mine, Beat It, Human Nature, Billie Jean, Thriller, P.Y.T., The Lady in my Life and when they say “Dad, we get it! He had good songs.” I’ll take Thriller out and put in another one of his 8 solo albums.

They won’t understand what Michael Jackson was all about and it will be because he is indescribable. Words were not meant to describe something that great.