By Wang Wei, Li Xiao and Chen Boyuan

Michael Jackson dies at 50 in LA hospital

"I'm shocked by Michael Jackson's death. It's a tragedy," said Vince Phillips, a US student at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

News of the tragedy, reached Beijing almost as soon as the story broke in the US. Special coverage on morning radio shows played his most popular and familiar songs such as Beat It, You are not alone and Heal the World to rush-hour commuters.

Achievements beyond challenge

Huang Shan, a 22-year-old second year student at the Central Conservatory of Music, could scarcely believe the news. "I saw it on the Internet this morning," Huang said. "At first I thought ‘they can't be serious', but finally it sunk in that it was true. It's really tragic."

Huang Shan

Huang became a Jackson fan when he was a small child. "My father loves pop music and we always had Michael Jackson albums at home. I love them all, but Dangerous is my favorite."

Huang said Jackson's achievements are beyond challenge. "All modern American music either originated from, or was influenced by, his songs. His dancing style was not pure hip hop, but at the same time it represented the peak of modern dance and hip hop on stage," Huang said. "He went way beyond the ordinary. There will never be another Michael Jackson."

Huang turns a blind eye to negative stories about Jackson. "I don't pay attention to any of that. Anyone who achieved so much must be lonely inside. People judge his personal life, but I just want to say, ‘be tolerant and understanding.' He was only human after all, and we should judge him by his songs and his dancing."

Huang said entertainers can't be judged like ordinary people. "Some people, especially the older generation, were repelled by Jackson's appearance. My grandma used to say ‘Look at his strange nose. How can it be like that?' But she always loved his concerts."

"If anyone organizes a memorial service in China I will do my best to attend," said Huang. "I admired him so much."

Unique music

Wang Xiaoling

Wang Xiaoling, a 23-year-old postgraduate student at the Central Conservatory of Music, thinks that Michael Jackson is a powerful, individual musician.

Wang began listening to Michael Jackson when she was a middle school student. "I was actually looking for songs that would help me improve my English when I came across Michael Jackson," she said. "I was immediately captivated by his music. His songs and videos were so different from those of other singers."

Wang says it is the content that makes Michael Jackson's songs unique. "Other pop stars sing about love and their private emotions, but Michael Jackson's songs cover a much wider range, including his opinions about the world and society," she told china.org.cn. One of her favorites, Black or White, is a call for racial harmony and Heal the World is about world peace.

"My school mates didn't know much about Michael Jackson because he dropped out of the public eye after he was accused of child abuse, but I continued to listen to his music," said Wang. "As a music student, I paid more attention to his songs than the gossip. In my opinion, he was a great singer who produced great records and entertained his audience."

A better dancer than Elvis

Some people saw Michael Jackson as yesterday's man, a has-been who hadn't performed for almost a decade. Add to that the scandals of his personal life, the short-lived marriages and the accusations of molesting young boys, and it was understandable that a section of the public averted their eyes.

Vince Phillips

Though not a huge fan, Vince said he was fond of the albums Thriller and Billie Jean and agreed that Michael Jackson stood for an era. "We used to listen to him on weekends. There were always people back home who were fascinated by him."

Comparing Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, Vince said, "Both Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson were excellent dancers. Elvis kind of opened the door for Jackson since Elvis' dancing wasn't fully accepted at the time, and by the time Jackson came along, the world was more prepared to accept that genre of dance. But Michael Jackson was definitely the better of the two."

Interest in Jackson never faded and he was always capable of becoming the center of public attention. His planned comeback concerts became instant worldwide news.

And today he was once again, perhaps for the last time, front page news.

(China.org.cn June 26, 2009)