The Sound of Music

Those who know me know that I spend a good deal of time on the news - and the news this week has been filled with one story, one man, one legend - the late Michael Jackson.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I've loved and listened to Michael Jackson all my life - those who know me know what I listen to, perhaps "out of date" at best - but regardless whether or not you're a hardcore fan or casual listener, MJ has left a bit of his spirit with us.

I am a strong believer in the inspiring nature of the spirit of music, and that this spirit is in all of us - a truly international language. I say international language because of two reasons: it can touch so many hearts at an individual level, all over the world, regardless of race, culture, or age, and it can captivate audiences on a global level, bringing down barriers worldwide.

Michael Jackson has broken down many barriers, and his continual influence was clearly shown this week - quoting CNN, "How many people does it take to break the internet? One - Michael Jackson". Within an hour of the news, google had shut down its Michael Jackson searches, and twitter, Wikipedia, and many news sites were facing overload.

This just shows how many people his music has touched, and how much he has touched all of us. His art has dramatically influenced the industry and music itself, setting the stage for the artists around him, and that succeeded him. He has left a powerful legacy in the world, and he has earned his titles - King of Pop, and one of the Greatest Musicians of Our Time - and the hearts of those worldwide.

Oh, but in our passion in the Great Musicians, shows that their spirit has sparked us as well, and that the spirit of music beats with that lub-dub that governs our lives. Whether or not we claim that we "can't do music" or "can't sing", or you're that virtuoso soloist or karaoke singer - that music lives within us. And that music is waiting to get out.

I've got to disagree with Arthur Miller when he said that we needed to realize the pain in our discovery that all we've done is leave a thumbprint on a block of ice on a hot summer day. No. Michael Jackson clearly shows us that there is something just a little too tragic in that thought. Instead, we've got to take the spirit of these Great People, and realize the joys in our discovery that we've got a song to sing, to share with the wonderful world our spirit, our music, our passion. And why not? The birds do it :)

And so what. If we do leave a thumbprint on a block of ice - just because ice melts, never means your spirit is lost. If you've learned anything from high school chemistry - matter cannot be created nor destroyed - and who knows what might blossom from that melting ice block; the pure joy in the laughter of a toddler jumping into a puddle, the sprouting of a thirsty, determined flower seeking the light, or those tiny drops of evaporated water, glimmering in the air to produce one of the most conforting sights to mankind - the rainbow.

Let Music continually Sound through the Earth and through each and everyone one of us.


"Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever." - Michael Jackson