Frank Yan of Sacramento on Remembering Michael Jackson

Frank never thought he would be remembering about this news, at least not for a long time. For any of us that grew up in the 80′s and 90′s, Michael Jackson meant a lot us. He was the man that, every boy wanted to be like and all the girls loved him. When Frank Yan thinks back of his childhood days, before Frank moved from London to Sacramento some of his fondest memories was watching his music videos on BBC, MTV and VH1, which were so groundbreaking and innovative. It was like watching true art in motion.

Frank remembers when Thriller when it first came out, the whole neighborhood was watching it and talking about it. It was an event. Same with Smooth Criminal, when Michael did the Moonwalk. At school the next day all the kids were talking about how it was a trick done with mirrors and such. Everything Michael Jackson did was pure finesse. That’s the Michael Jackson Frank Yan remembers today.


We are all aware of Michael Jackson’s troubles over his past years, but Frank hopes that people will see his legacy by his work and not his antics off the stage. Michael Jackson touched the entire world. Frank recalls a few years ago being at a talent show at his church in Sacramento, the kids were dancing to Billie Jean, and Frank was thinking, “Wow there is truly no other person that is so universally recognized as Michael Jackson.” Frank thinks that’s the legacy that Michael Jackson should be remembered for, all the lives that he touched and all the kids that he made believe in magic.


Frank doesn’t have many heroes, or people that I look up to, besides to his mother. It’s difficult to find heroes in today’s world. Frank idolized Michael Jackson because he strived to be the absolute best at what he did. He utilized his God given gifts to the best of his abilities to bring music and the entertainment of his dancing. For that, Frank has so much respect for what Michael brought into this world. A bonafide musical genius. A global icon of the world. Whatever you want to call him, he is undoubtedly a legend that people will speak of for years. Frank undoubtedly knows that Michael was ahead of his time in many ways and probably highly misunderstood.


Frank chooses to celebrate Michael’s greatness. The negative aspects have been focused on too much over the past years. No need for that now. No more. When Frank heard about Michael’s passing, Frank was driving from Reno on Interstate 80 back to his home in Sacramento. Frank shed a tear as soon as he found out as Frank grew up listening to one to the worlds best Pop singer. It’s strange because along with the sadness of knowing that Frank’s childhood idol is dead, Frank sort of feels like celebrating his music and feeling a sense of relief. He can rest in peace now.