CO said:
Pre-1993 is one of the most influential people to music ever. I equate his impact to Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Elvis, they all have stood the test of time, and didn't cater to one market of fans.

Certainly can't disagree with this. But I do believe a lot of people try to make it out that he was completely normal in his pre-mid-nineties state, and somehow became very stange after that.

You've got to admit, the fellow was always a wee bit odd... I mean, there is the crazy crotch grabbing bit for starters... and you have to admit, as cool as it was back in the day, thriller is pretty fucked up!

I think the guy was always a bit off, it just wasn't until his cool/odd balance began tipping heavier on the odd side than the cool side that people began taking a few steps back, judging, and mercilessly cracking jokes at his expense.

He has certainly earned a dedicated chapter all to himself in America's pop culture history. "He was big in the eighties and nineties" will hardly even begin to explain the half of it to the next generation of kids who grow up and ask, "Who was Michael Jackson?" He was frighteningly beyond big, I don't think a word even exists to justly describe how big he was. I cannot think of a single celebrity before or since who has made an impact and been obsessed over as much as he was.