Let’s get it out of the way: Michael Jackson was strange, troubled, and had way too many things done to his face. But you can’t deny that he was an icon of our generation - several generations at that. Farrah Fawcett also died today, but she’s less of an icon for my generation than she is for, say, my co-workers who are in their 50s. When we were younger, Na, Dorc, Sam and I acted out “Thriller” while passing afternoons at church. I also remember watching the video and being a little freaked out when people turned into zombies. And when I got older, I remember being entertained by the “Black and White” video, and how Footworks performed to the song “Will You Be There.”

I also remember the things that Michael Jackson probably didn’t want people to remember - accusations of what he did with kids at Neverland, the criticism about how he no longer looks a normal human being. He was a talented man who was in the limelight his whole life, and he’s left us with great songs but also some weird memories of his more recent years.

Nonetheless, I wanted to pay tribute by sharing a video of one of my favorite songs of his. It’s not a classic, and it’s one of the more cheesy, touchy-feely ones, but those of you who know me will know that it fits with where my heart is. So everyone, raise a gloved hand and wave farewell to the King of Pop as you enjoy this video… “Heal the World.”