My bank has just released the Flexi Debit Visa card, a Visa card that is directly connected to one’s debit account, meaning you can buy things wherever Visa is accepted with your own money as opposed to using actual credit. This is a god/dess-send for people like myself who wish to buy online (or overseas) but realise an actual credit card would land them in a black hole of debt! I can only spend what I actually have, and I no longer need to ask my parents if I can borrow their credit card to, for example, go on a shopping spree at Etsy.
Of course this doesn’t mean I can slack off on being responsible with my finances. If anything, I have to be more vigilant, otherwise I’m liable to sit at my computer merrily clicking ‘Add to cart’ and ‘Go to checkout’ until I start frothing at the mouth and my bank account is drained like the last delicious drop of Merlot.
But I digress, this post isn’t actually about that, I just wanted to explain the above to bring me to this: I finally have an iTunes account and the first three songs I’ve bought are all Michael Jackson ones. I’ve not posted about his death because, well, everyone else was, however after listening to these songs I feel compelled to say something. When I was little (very little) the Jackson family was pretty much my favourite bunch of musical people ever. I adored Michael’s solo music, loved The Jackson 5 and was obsessed with Janet from age 5-9. It was difficult to escape them, especially with older siblings who were also fans.
As I got older I discovered other music and, although my appreciation for the Jacksons was still there, I didn’t avidly follow any of them. I’m still like that, but have many fond memories of listening to Michael and Janet and being wonder-struck whenever I saw either them on television, especially for live performances. There is no doubt that Michael was an amazing performer who knew how to put on a show for people and make them feel amazing. I’m saddened that he died at 50; he should have had much longer than that.
Mainly, though, I feel bad for his children. I’m of the opinion that he was likely never inappropriate with children, but I don’t want to write about what he may or may not have done, or about anything “odd” he’s done. I just hope his own children will not be put through any more stress than what they will already be experiencing now that he is gone. At the end of the day, he was their father and it seems to me like they adored him as most children adore their fathers, and that is all that actually matters.
So, to Michael. Thanks making awesome music and for your contributions to the music industry. 
