Adil Najam
Like so much of Michael Jackson’s life, Michael Jackson’s death has come as a shock to so many. Including many Pakistanis who grew up to the shadows of his soundtracks.
Do you have ‘Pakistani’ memories of Michael Jackson? Do share.
I must say I have been surprised by how many ATP readers have written to me saying that we should do a post on Michael Jackson’s death. I was not, at first, sure what the ‘Pakistan connection’ was. But one was made to reconsider as one heard of the MJ memorial set up in Karachi (photos below)and it was apparent how so many were so influenced by the personage of the ‘King of Pop.’
Indeed, there was a time when - irrespective of your economic and social class - the was to be ‘tich’ was to be like Michael Jackson. From Saab ji’s son to Saab Ji’s driver’s son, if you were ‘in’ you had to be MJ: the hair, the walk, the white socks, the tight pants, the persona at large. And no stage show from Peshawar to Karachi would ever be complete without the ‘performance’ of a Michael Jackson clone.
To me, the immediate memory of the Michael Jackson influence on Pakistan is embodied in the famous Fifty-Fifty skit above. Elsewhere on this blog, I have argued that this may be the funniest comedy skit ever in the best Pakistani comedy program ever. But the point I wish to make today is different. It is a point about Michael Jackson and the deep and varied impacts he has left all over the world in so many different ways!
I must confess, I was never a Michael Jackson fan, never owned a single track of his. But there is no one who has lived in the times I have lived in who could be unaware of or uninterested in the phenomenon that was Michael Jackson. I think he led a sad life, but a life that is worth celebrating becuase it gave the joy of music to so many.
May he rest in in peace.
Dear Adil Najam sb.
Its so sad & disappointing that you preferred to discuss about the “Influence” of MJ in Pakistani Society, but you totally ignored the sad demise of ex Amier Jammat-e-Islami Pakistan Mian Tufail Mohammad.
Political or ideological difference doesn’t mean that you ignored the contribution of an important leader of Pakistani society & history which have a significant influence in a section of society either you liked or disliked.
MJ is not more than a singer or dance which earn million of dollars & always lived along with depression & loneliness. If Taliban is one side of extremism then your this attitude is reflecting other side of extremism i.e. Liberal extremism.
The fifty-fifty video is terrific.
Yes MJ was very popular in Pakistan once, but then his kartoot really made his popularity vanish
Not a good day today, I read that Sindh assembly had a moment of silence for 1 minute for MJ and now there is a post on Pakistaniat.
I dont see any connection betweem MJ and Pakistaniat.
I would have been rather much pleased to read about Mian Tufail Muhammad of JI.
Please do not get into the habit of stretching the “Pakistan connection” to fit current events beyond what may be natural, even if it is “public kay behad israar par” (on great public demand). As I am sure you know, anything stretched beyond a certain point becomes permanently deformed.
Better we must move on now!
Rest in peace MJ.
We were lucky to have lived in the era of Michael Jackson- the true King of Pop and truly the artist of the millenium.
May he rest in peace. Inanilahi wa inna ilahay rajioun.
Michael Jackson will remain a universal icon, regardless of geography people will remember him as someone who has left us his music and dance moves, his out of this world videos and the story of his incredible yet sad life. I don’t know anybody who hasn’t heard his songs or doesn’t know him. May he rock the world he’s in now.