Michael Jackson. You have and will continue to mean so much to generations of people. You defined what it meant to be a music icon. You taught us the full potential of a music video. You showed us that dancing can be cool. You made one of the finest examples of a Popular World Music.

Yeah, there was a time when the crotch grabbing during dances got out of hand (although it gave us an excuse to intersperse spazzy dance routines with our own crotch grabs amongst parents and elders!). We were bummed that you couldn't see that you were a naturally handsome dude the way that we all did. The fascination with Peter Pan and animals was a little weird, but we didn't care... because you were Michael FREAKIN' Jackson.

More than anything we all wished you could understand that we loved you for your music, performance, and humanity.

Thanks for the music. Thanks for the entertainment. Thanks for that awesome glove and swagger. You will be remembered as more than a talented human being. You will be remembered as a superhero. :-)

Here are a few of my favorite Michael Jackson bits:

SMOOTH CRIMINAL

REMEMBER THE TIME

THRILLER

MJ, PRINCE & JAMES BROWN

I was bored on YouTube and discovered a handful of beautiful acoustic covers to Pop Music hits. I love the purity that a good acoustic performance can convey. And, in capable hands, an acoustic cover brings new perspective to a Pop Hit.Here's Outkast's "Hey Ya" as performed by Mat Weddle and Rihanna's "Umbrella" by Marie Rigby:

Saul Williams "The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust" Album not only has a kick ass name, it's a kick ass album. The pairing of Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails) as Producer and Saul Williams seems strange but works wonders.Much like Radiohead's newest album, "Niggy Tardust" is an online only album. For $5 you can download a high quality version (CD sound quality). If you're tight on the funds or aren't sure this album's for you, you can also download a lower quality version for free (Ipod sound quality).Saul changes form from poet to emcee to singer freely. I prefer the rawness of the spoken word and emcee bits...but it all holds together nicely as Saul's voice and the beat take turns at the driver's seat of the musical composition.All in all a great album that more than deserves your $5.Niggy Tardust:: Tr(n)iggerNiggy Tardust:: Raw

I'm mostly a hip-hop guy, but occasionally there's a rock band that'll blow me a way. I'll be the first to admit that my sense of rock culture is pitiful (remember: I am a child of the 80's!). Jerry's always trying to sway me to the ways of Punk with his plethora of punk "classics"...which I can appreciate, but they never leave me frantically looking for my next "hit" of punk sonic goodness.Once in a while, I'll be exposed to a bit of Rock that I instantly "get". Cake was one of those bands. In college, I heard their smash single "The Distance" and LOVED it's perfect take on the Rock/Rap mix. When my roommate picked up the second album, "Fashion Nugget", I was pleasantly surprised that the whole album was as good if not better than that first single.Unfortunately, none of Cake's subsequent albums live up to the brilliance of "Fashion Nugget". Their first album "Motorcade of Generosity" comes close, but is hindered by some shoddy production.Here are two of the better known songs off of Fashion Nugget: "The Distance" and "Friend Is A Four Letter Word". The whole album is amazing and will always be a gem in my limited Rock collection!The DistanceFriend Is A Four Letter Word

Great video for a great band, FALSE ALARM by THE BRONX. I heard about that band a while ago. Some people were talking about them because they were doing their press release in Morse code. I though that was an amazing idea. . -. .--- --- -.--!

After the RAMONES' cover, here's the original, I DON'T WANNA GROW UP by Tom Waits.