Five years after his death on
June 25, 2009, the King of Pop refuses to die in our hearts and minds. We look at five reasons Michael Jackson still makes for water cooler chat as much as international headlines.
His controversies Unfortunately,
Michael's controversies, be it his suspicious death from drug overdose to allegations of child abuse to estate disputes, continue to make him and his family grab headlines ever so often. Even a holographic projection (see picture) of the superstar at the Billboard Music Awards this year had sparked off a legal battle between its creators and the organizers.
His music
Right from 1964, when he made his musical debut as part of Jackson 5, Michael was creating memorable melodies that have stood the test of time. His range was wide, his ballads winning him as many fans as his dancehall numbers. The accompanying music videos were also groundbreaking for the medium and they played out like mini movies - a style that's been imitated and is still being imitated by artistes to date.
His style
From that signature sparkly glove to those iconic loafers to the embellished military jackets, Michael Jackson never left any stone unturned to dress like a King Of Pop should.
His Dancing
We'd be lying if we said that we hadn't attempted to moonwalk like Michael at least once in our long lives. Jackson's smooth dance moves have inspired millions the world over and his dance routines continue to set the bar for performers everywhere.
His aura
Michael Jackson was a man of many personalities. In his public life, he was the soft-spoken recluse and on stage, a yodelling dance demon.
His videos (Scream, for example) showcased a man struggling to cope with the price of fame, and yet we never saw him buckle when he was on the job - his personal life, being another matter entirely. Whatever the case, Michael Jackson refuses to fade away because he was a superstar like none other, enjoying fanatical followings and grudging acknowledgement from even the most hardened cynics out there. His music, stage presence and aura remain uncontested by all the boy bands, Biebers and Gagas that've have followed in the wake of his reign in the 80s and 90s. He was, is and will always remain a legend and for this reason alone, will forever live on.
