I don’t think the kids today can really grasp Michael Jackson’s long lasting fame. Nowadays, it seems anyone can be a celebrity and then, in the blink of an eye, they’re gone (I’m patiently waiting for Spencer, Heidi, Jon, and Kate to go far far away right this minute). When I was growing up, Michael Jackson was king and I’ll admit I haven’t cared much in recent years but to know that he is gone forever saddens me.

Michael Jackson wrote the soundtrack to my childhood. “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “Thriller,” all remind me of being a kid. Growing up, no one was bigger than him.

I vividly remember the first time I saw the “Thriller” video. Honestly, my mother was slightly lax with her parenting skills that day when she let me watch it because, at only four-years-old, that video terrified me. I had nightmares for WEEKS! It wasn’t so much MJ turning into a werewolf that scared me. It was just those friggin zombies. *shiver*

Don’t even get me started on the nightmares I had after watching “The Wiz” for the first time.

Anyway, it seems to be a trend this morning to discuss your favorite Michael Jackson songs. Here’s mine (in order of how they came to my mind):

* “The Way You Make Me Feel”
* “Say Say Say” duet with Paul McCartney
* “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough”
* “Thriller”
* “Butterflies”