"[B]ecause of his music, we danced, and we sang." -Roger Ebert [h/t to dj x 3]
The news, a three-word text message sent from my sister, chimed at me while I was crossing college ave, walking to my house with RG, who was in town to co-lead a workshop with me on the history of rhetoric.
It was appropriate for me to receive the news from my sister, because together she and I played, and played, and played our album Thriller, smearing our fingerprints all over its vast cover, the one with the angelic image--the back-lit, white-suited, jheri-curled, side-lying Michael on the front. RG's phone went off not long after that.
All weekend, then, I have been talking with workshop participants about the challenges of doing historical work in rhetoric with the insistent, dramatic lyrics of "Billie Jean" rolling through my head. That's the song of his that took hold of me. Images of ancient archeological sites competed with vastly more kinetic memories of sock-footed, locker-room moonwalks, the secret to which was taking all the weight off your sliding foot for that split-moment. The thrill of getting to fill in during my sister's practice of a dance routine to "Thriller" when one of the other cheerleaders couldn't make it. The fourteenth co birthday with hs bf A, which we celebrated by giving each other the same present: Jacksons' Victory Tour (the cassette version). Had I known on Friday night that one of our houseguests was in bed watching muted videos of Jackson, which sounded perfectly ghastly to me, I no doubt would have joined her.
Oh yeah, I remember you filling in for the cheerleaders. I think you also filled in for the football players when they couldn't make it. (Remember, we did the Thriller dance with them)
You were always such a sport at pep rallies too. Whenever we had some crazy activity like a competition to see how fast you could slurp jello through a straw, you would always volunteer! Such a supportive sister!
Posted by: dawn | 29 June 2009 at 06:13 PM
The last time I heard Billie Jean, it was on a double-decker bus in London, just a month ago. It was the second time I'd heard a MJ song on the radio since being there. I remember thinking, "How cool that Londoners love our MJ so much!"
Posted by: parrhesia | 29 June 2009 at 09:09 PM
yeah, p, he is a huge hit overseas. i've been watching youtube videos for the past few hours, and nearly all of them have wishes from other countries--mongolia to indonesia.
and dawn! yes, i forgot about the football players! i'm sure i liked subbing for them a whole lot. i have no recollection about the jello slurping, but jello sounds really good right now.
Posted by: dhawhee | 29 June 2009 at 09:19 PM
Mom located the aforementioned,
"Thriller", the other day.
Would you like to have it back?
Pop
Posted by: Ed Hawhee | 30 June 2009 at 05:52 AM
I just might! If Dawn has a record player, then definitely give it to them--Sarah has taken a new interest.
Posted by: dhawhee | 30 June 2009 at 09:19 AM
I can't believe mom and dad still have the Thriller album!!!!!!!That is too funny. We don't have a turn table, so you are welcome to it. I have the CD, and Sarah has downloaded it plus any other MJ song she could find on iTunes. She is obsessed! BTW-She pointed out to me that I have been singing the wrong lyrics to Smooth Criminal for years. Thought it was "Eddie are you ok", instead she tells me it's "Annie are you ok". Am I the only one that sings about poor Eddie?? Oh well, it's just another "wrong" thing that my 15 year old can put on her "Dumb things that mom does" list. That list seems to be growing quickly. . .
Posted by: dawn | 30 June 2009 at 07:12 PM
Also- I believe there is a pic in the yearbook of you slurping the jello through the straw. I'll look it up, and send it to you if I can find it.
Posted by: dawn | 30 June 2009 at 07:14 PM