I was really shocked when news agencies confirmed the passing of Michael Jackson. For a majority of people 25 years or older, his death is seen as a very big loss. After all, many of us grew up listening to his infectious tunes and wittnessed his sharp dancing moves.

Without a shadow of a doubt, at least for a short period of time, Michael Jackson was truly the “King of Pop”. He will always be remembered as a performer who peaked during the mid-1980’s thanks to his highly popular “Thriller” album. Unfortunately, as musical tastes change, Michael was never able to repeat his earlier successes with later albums.

Michael Jackson was no longer the King of Pop at the time of his passing. In fact, his glorious throne was already slipping away as the 1990’s approached. During the past 20 years, a decline in record sales, a lower demand for concert tickets and numerous cancelled dates was more than enough to prove his fading appeal.

Think about it. Most of his songs played in clubs these days are from the 1980’s; his glory years. If you really want to define a true King of Pop (a person who can change with the times), Madonna has become a definitive benchmark. In addition, Michael Jackson’s lifestyle was seen as a game of smoke and mirrors. A bizzare series of events that led to his downfall.

Whether he’s innocent or not, the world lost a pop culture icon. An eclectic superstar who’s adored by millions. A rare talent that was trapped by his very own fame, only to experience a sad ending at the twilight of his career. He was a musical icon that left us asking for more, while scratching our heads at the same time.

I’ve also posted a series of BBC documentaries (via YouTube) about Jackson. From his “Jackson 5″ beginings to the infamous child molesation trial(s), this was the very last documentary made before his death. Truth or Fiction? We’ll never really know.