Ever since Michael Jackson's shocking death last month, the tributes to the King of Pop have been pouring in from every corner of the globe. They've come in the form of tearful reminiscences at his official memorial service, amazingly coordinated flashmob performances of his most famous moves and, of course, sand sculptures. But one tribute actually came in just a few weeks before Jackson's death, and in some ways, it is the most touching one of all.
You might have caught me waxing rhapsodic earlier this year about how Peter Bjorn and John's mind-warpingly awesome clip for "Nothing To Worry About" (featuring the infamous Tokyo Rockabilly Club) was just the shot of positive gamma go juice we all needed to get us out of recession depression.
Well, the enigmatic trio have done it again, with the clip for "It Don't Move Me," which, like "Nothing," has little to do with them and everything to do with capturing a totally unique, bizarre cultural moment. In this case, the clip for the track chronicles the strange inner life of a skinny white dancer obsessed with perfecting Jackson's iconic dance moves as his somewhat portly friend videotapes every high kick, finger shake, foot shuffle and hair flip.
Why does a strange dude show up midway through wearing a green wrestling mask and shaking gold chains at the faux MJ? Why does the chubby pal hit golf balls at his dancing friend as he executes the "Thriller" dance in front of a gigantic stuffed dog amid a shower of fireworks? Who the hell knows? Suffice it to say that the dancer has clearly studied Jackson like a PhD student.
I can tell you this: Every time I watch the three minutes of brain teasing bliss, I'm reminded again of how deeply Jackson's music affected all of us. But seriously: What's with the dude in the wrestling mask?