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.
I think we can safely say that no international artist has ever had as much impact on ordinary Pakistanis as MJ did. In fact the rich and poor alike tried to copy him and that was his magic everywhere. Your video clip from 50 50 shows that clearly. Nice post.
Love the video clip. Michael Jackson, Pakistani style!
He meant so much to so many people. I am black and I know that he had a lot of barriers to break down and overcame many trials. His whole family once lived in a tiny house the size of one room. I don’t worship him..I never even met him but there is such a connection and sadness now that he is gone. He was a musical genious and will be remembered as such. He was also so very giving when the people around him sucked him dry. I never believed those horrible allegations of molestation and honestly..I think the weight of all that killed him via cardiac arrest. I didn’t know the impact that he had globally but it is so touching to see that he was still loved. It is still so sad though because I feel like he had so much more that he wanted to do.
1) Michael Jackson: If he died as Muslim, May he rest in peace. And if he died as non-beleiver, I am concerned on one more person passed away without accepting the Haq. Especially in MJ’s case, since he could be a great source to change many people like Junaid Jamshed and Yousuf Islam did.
2) Mian Tufail and people like him (e.g. Molana Naeemi): Allah shower His mercy on them. We have known them practicing Muslims and had effective personalities in our society. They will for sure (according to a Hadith) be receiving the sawaab of their good deeds the made in this world.
Dear Kashif
Sorry for not understanding my point on Comparison…
MJ was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star”. It states that Michael Jackson has supported 39 charity organizations either with monetary donations through sponsorships of their projects or by participating in their silent auction. Michael Jackson also helped set up Heal The World Foundation, the charities this has supported have not been listed….
He was Chanda giver Not Begger…
And atleast the giving hand is better than begging hand