Hunter Burgan

June 25th, 2009 was a sad day for millions, if not billions of people around the world. When we lost Michael Jackson, we lost a piece of ourselves. Michael was more than just a singer and a dancer, more than just an international pop star, he was a god. I remember back in 1983, when I was six years old, watching the videos for Billie Jean and Beat It on MTV. Michael was like nothing I had ever seen before. Like every other kid in the world in 1983, I wanted to be as cool as Michael. I wanted to be able to dance like him, sing like him, and dress like him. I loved his cool confidence. I pushed the sleeves up on my red and black jacket and practiced moonwalking in the kitchen every day. I loved this man, as did the world.

Michael changed the face of music forever and redefined what it meant to be a star. He became more than just a star; he became an icon, a living legend. The king of pop. To a generation of kids like me, he was easily the most famous man in the world. Maybe it was too much for Michael. Still, he put his heart, soul and entire being into entertaining the world. We poked fun and ridiculed what we, the world, turned him into, but he continued to entertain us. He never failed to entertain us. It's hard to believe that he's gone. It doesn't seem real. His achievements granted him an immortal status; I don't think anyone realized he could actually die. For this special memorial edition of Analyze This, I'm going to look at a few pictures of the Michael Jackson that will forever live on in our hearts.

Grizzly Ghouls From Every Tomb:

I love how confident MJ is in this picture. I mean, come on! He's surrounded by zombies! The funk of 40,000 years! Even if he realizes that these are dancers in makeup, they're still pretty scary! I think it's amazing that MJ wrote a song about cuddling with a girl during a horror movie marathon. It's genius. This is why MJ is the one and only Thriller.

They Told Him Don't You Ever Come Around Here...

Look at this pose. MJ is somehow simultaneously macho and sassy. That's not easy to pull off. How does he do it? Confidence. Beat It is a song about showing how strong you are by walking away from a fight. Hello?! Can we not learn something from this song?? It's genius. Once again, I'm amazed by MJ.

Mother Always Told Me Be Careful Of Who You Love

As usual, MJ is confident and cool. He doesn't seem at all shocked by the fact that he can light up the sidewalk. I would be freaking out. Maybe his mind is elsewhere. He does have a pending paternity suit in this song. Like I said before, MJ songs are about the strangest things, and yet he nails it every time. (Genius!) Billie Jean was not his lover. She was a crazy delusional fan. Let me remind you: the kid is not his son. Trust me.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009 RIP

Check back next week for a hopefull less tragic edition of Analyze This. If you have suggestions of photos you would like me to analyze, please "private message me" with links to your suggestions. If you didn't read last week's Analyze This, please do not miss out. As always, commentary is accepted and expected, but please- be respectful.