There can be no denying Michael Jacksonâs musical genius. For those who need a primer: Blessed with an amazingly expressive voice, Michael Jackson is one of the all-time great American singers. He was also an amazingly accomplished dancerâboth physically and musically, his understanding of rhythm was supernatural. (He grew up studying James Brown, with his own eyes.) As a songwriter he composed classics: âDonât Stop âTil You Get Enough,â âBillie Jean,â âBeat It,â âSmooth Criminal,â âBlack or White.â
There can also be no denying Michael Jacksonâs high-octane freakery, from the kinda cute (dating a chimp) to the possibly criminal (dating children). So how do you memorialize a one-of-a-kind musical genius who went crazy, morphed his race and gender, slept with kids, was repeatedly acquitted of child-molestation charges, and then died, alone and $400 million in debt? Youâll find our answers to this question in the collection of pieces to the right. (Much like the manâs life, it gets fucked up toward the end.)