This past weekend, I purchased the new Michael Jackson CD, ‘This Is It.’ I have no idea what came over me, don’t ask.
I’ve never been a huge Michael Jackson fan, but like many people my age, I can tell you exactly where I was the night he 
first did that Moonwalk, and how we all talked about it the following day at school. I was in the ninth grade, and the white glove and that glide were all the rage. I had World History first period with my friend Brianand I am sure Mrs. Lovelady was totally irritated at the fact that we could have cared less at the moment about Mother Russia. All we talked about was that dance.
Say what you want about that man, he could sing. There are a few new songs, ‘This Is It,’ of course being the most popular right now. Initially the song is recorded with little background music and when I first heard it, I was struck at his solo voice, and how truly talented he was. Strange? Absolutely. But, amazingly talented. And, it’s eerie that of all the things he could have recorded prior to dying, that was it.
I can barely remember what I had for breakfast on Saturday, but I can tell you what I did the day after the Grammy Awards in 1983 as a freshman in high school.
Billie Jean? My brother and I would clean the house spotless the summer that song came out, just so we could turn on the radio to hear that song; we absolutely loved it.
Thriller? How many times did I watch that video with those zombies doing that strange side to side hand movement, and then squish my eyes shut when Michael turned into the monster at the end.
He was a trendsetter, like it or not, and I suppose because of my age youth, he has many songs that stick with me at various points of my childhood.
At most points in my life, I can remember a song that really stuck with me at the moment, even going back to when I was a small child. I’ve always loved music, been absolutely drawn to it. I was extremely shy as a child (no, seriously, I’m not even kidding, someone vouch for my shyness please!) but I loved, loved, loved any and all music.
When I was about four, my absolute favorite song, which I clearly remember walking around singing, was (don’t laugh!) ‘Delta Dawn’ by Tanya Tucker.
‘Delta Dawn, what’s that flower you have on, could it be a faded rose from days gone byyyyyyyyyy?’
I love it! Count your blessings I didn’t include audio! Just let me know, I’ll be glad to do a vocal for anyone…
My dad had this big reel to reel set and he loved country music. Every weekend morning, my brother and I awoke to random country songs, nearly always Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash, or John Denver.
He liked the ladies, too. He still does actually, but that’s a whole other blog that I ain’t about to touch.
(It’s okay Dad, if you choke on your coffee right about now, Tyler knows CPR.)
He loved, lovedAnne Murray and Helen Reddy……….
“I am woman, hear me roar. In numbers too big to ignore. And I know too much to go back an’ pretend ’cause I’ve heard it all beforeeeeeeeeee”
Hmmmm, maybe that one had more of an impression on me than he intended?
I think I started roaring and never stopped? Thanks for that one, Dad! At least I didn’t follow some of the other country songs you listened to, or I might have ended up in a bar, being left by someone who didn’t listen to their mama and grew up to be a cowboy.
I suppose in the end, hearing the older Michael Jackson songs on the CD reminded me of being a kid, and of all the other songs that to this very day bring me back a certain time and place.
What songs remind you of your childhood? Or of a certain moment?
And who sang “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan….Throw it in the skillet, go out and do my shopping…be back..before it melts in the pan. ‘Cause I’m a woman..W-O-M-A-N?”
‘Cause that shall certainly be my song of my 40′s!
If you enjoyed this post, get the e-mail version, follow my Working Mom series, or become an Examiner yourself!
Follow me for the next 4 weeks as I take part in the Gotta Love Chevy, Mom Needs A Time Out blogging project! There will be daily give aways and prizes! Come on over to our Facebook Group!
Or visit my friends over at Munday Chevrolet, here in Houston! Tell them Shannon sent you!
![IMG00596-20091224-1150[1]](http://www.showmethemom.com/wp-content/themes/canvas/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2009/12/IMG00596-20091224-11501-671x1024.jpg&w=35&h=35&zc=1&q=90){kind=small}
![IMG00363-20090822-1313[1]_thumb](http://www.showmethemom.com/wp-content/themes/canvas/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2009/08/IMG00363-20090822-13131_thumb.jpg&w=35&h=35&zc=1&q=90){kind=small}
Those are all such great songs!! I grew up with show tunes!! Or was that looney toons??
Hey, I loved looney toons also. That was my favorite Saturday morning cartoon!
Great songs. I agree, MJ songs really take me back to childhood moments too ~ all great ones! I guess the songs that take me back the most are “If You Leave” by OMD from the Pretty in Pink Soundtrack. I was in Middle School and had my first crush. Then, in high school Alphaville’s “Forever Young” was played at every school dance. “I’m a Woman” is a 1963 song and album by Peggy Lee and was used in Enjoli pefume commercials of the 1970s. I loved that song! I totally forgot about Enjoli perfume, but will never forget that catchy tune!
Jenn @ rookno17.blogspot.com
Jenn Erickson/Rook No. 17´s last blog ..JON & KATE ~ THIS COSTUME’S GREAT!
Twitter: cutelittleshop
AHHHH I LOVE the Pretty In Pink Sound Track! TOTAL fave and in face I have some of their songs on my Ipod. So you must be closer to age in me than I think.
By the way, my husband and I are seriously considering dressing up for Halloween as Jon and Kate! We barely need costumes!
Every Sunday morning growing up my mom would have the reel to reel playing Gospel music sung by Tennesse Ernie Ford…I can still hear his rich base voice telling me to “Go Tell it on the mountain”…and I can still smell the fried ham cooking…God I miss her.
Thanks for a great reminder of a wonderful memory.
Oh, my dad loved Tennessee Ernie Ford as well. Bob Wills? Roger Moore? I think he ran into Roger Moore at a hotel once. I loved all of that music. For years I even had his Jim Reeves records which is pretty far back but he had a beautiful voice.
I guess I didn’t get enough of the MJ train wreck this summer, because I am interested in seeing “This Is It!”
I was never a big MJ fan either, though I certainly liked some of the music and followed some of the pop-culture phenomenon that he created over the years. But, since his demise, I have grown to appreciate his talent more than I had before.
His freakishness creeped me out at times and I was skeptical of his behavior and disgusted by the prospects of him abusing children. At the same time, he was a an emotionally tortured person. I think giving him some benefit of the doubt, as an acquitted person, is certainly fair.
You can’t deny MJ’s musical and performance talent. I downloaded some of his music this summer. Listening to it inspired me to listen to a lot of old music that I had not listened to in years.
Music certainly has an impact on our experiences, as you note. Nice post.
After he died, I heard a song of this that I had never heard of called “Have you seen my childhood.” Wow. It’s so sad, I guess it’s from the Free Willie soundtrack. I agree, he was freakish, I never decided what I thought about this behavior with those kids, although I think it was inappropriate for sure, I never knew what to think on if he did it or not. I still am in limbo on that one…
I was never a MJ fan, however I love hearing his songs and his dancing was really cool! I can see why he has so many fans
Love this post. Makes me think about the songs that I love. I was never a big MJ fan…although somewhere at my parents house is a record of Thriller.
I remember the bacon song from the perfume commercials!
I love the song “These Boots are Made for Walking.”
Holly
Holly L´s last blog ..A Perfect Fall Cookie
Um so I read this and the FIRST thing I thought you said in the last sentence was “This BOOBS are made for walking!” OOPS!
Now I’ll be singing Nancy Sinatra all night!