Where is Bubbles?

A Year Later, Mourning in Many Ways
Friday, June 25, 2010
By Vetalle Fusilier

Billboard has documented how much money MJ made for the living after his death. It’s a large a amount. Remembering the times  apparently meant that many of us wanted one more minute of Michael, or something that made us think of him  - and we were willing to pay for it.  The old songs sold, the dance parties raged and the silver gloves showed up all over the world.  Everyone felt his loss, and yes, some profited trying to replay his swagger.

Yeah, the money.  Millions.  But rather than dwell on who did what got paid what, or the value or insult of Jason Malachi , we wonder what happened to all the fans?  Who do they follow now?  Are they stuck in a time warp? 

Maybe they have found some new mover/shaker/icon to cling to.  Jonelle Monae, perhaps?  Still many of us can do the Thriller dance on cue, still moon walk after too many Belvederes.  Thank God for video and recorded music.  We can still dose as required.  Some of us settled back into our communities, accepted home even after MJ zealotry.   Some one us go on, older, just like he never went away.

Dang, we miss the magic. Great stars like Larry Graham are  still roughin’ it up on tour.  But there is no longer the MJ concert as an excuse to go completely bonkers.  Except there is – well sort of. Bad tribute bands don’t hang around long.  Good ones become their own experience.  Ask the Dark Star Orkestra.

We are sorry -  most of us really sorry - that he’s gone.  It must have been tough being him.  A lot of pain, a lot of pressure.  Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems.  The beauty of a legacy is that the positive traits can get stronger and the negative can fade.  And though you can find somewhere on the web that  video game of him dropping babies off the balcony, for the most part, it is the singer, the dancer, the brother that we recall most, and most fondly.  Different skin, different lifestyle, the genius of his movement. And his unmatched ability to spark emotion  - even from the other side of the grave.  Remember the time that we fell in love.  Rest in peace. No one or nothing to make you scream anymore.