Michael Jackson dies at 50

Last night Michael Jackson died from a heart attack at his rented Los Angeles mansion. A sad end to a tragic life.

Jackson had an incredible career selling over 750 million records, more than any other artist in history. Not since the Beatles has a music act been so successful on the world stage.

For many people in their twenties and thirties, Michael Jackson has been a constant, always in the news and often for the wrong reasons. The allegations of child abuse were particularly damaging to the star, although he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Flawed genius

Another fascination was Jackson's changing face. Over the years Jackson changed from a good-looking black boy to a frail white husk. His apparent wish to change himself so drastically proved that fame and wealth do not always bring happiness.

What ever you think about Michael Jackson, he changed the world of pop music. You only have to listen to any music in the charts today to hear his enduring influence. Jackson was truly a genius, but as with many geniuses he was flawed.

When he annaounced his comeback at London's O2 arena, many people were unsure if at fifty he would still be able to be the Michael Jackson people loved, but no one could have predicted his premature death last night.

One step too far

Jackson had faced endless lawsuits over recent years and looked an exhausted man. The aim of the comeback looked like an attempt to get some of the fortune he lost back, and what his performances would have been like we will never know.

Not surprisingly the Paparazzi were obsessed with Michael Jackson, and even at his moment of death they huddled around the ambulance trying to see the star's dead body.

The coverage of Jackson's corpse being wheeled from a helicopter was in my opinion a step too far and it is a shame that news editors did not resist showing this.

Fickle media

News agencies are now waxing lyrical about Michael Jackson's many virtues but it was not long ago that many of them were condemning him for baseless charges. The media have always been fickle, but this does appear a bit rich.

Michael Jackson should be remembered for what he was, a musical genius who's music will outlast all of us. Through music he brought people together across the world, and whatever you think of him he was certainly one of a kind.