_This post is an entry in the challenge posted by @slobberchops about sharing the earliest memory of the first song you've ever loved. If you'd like to participate, you have until Sunday 6th May at 20:00 GMT. Please read [@slobberchops post](https://steemit.com/contest/@slobberchops/music-challenge-what-was-your-first-bonding-song-10-sbd-contest) to see additional rules._

![thrillerartwork-cover-zombies-optimised.png](https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmPwhWkMWRwpgfCcZ7TpLELWG6u4wbxZsSG98FBfxChhMn) _{[source](https://www.designmynight.com/london/bars/shoreditch/xoyo/michael-jacksons-thriller-an-audio-visual-experience-1)} I did not have to think too hard about what musician or band made the biggest impression on me, back when I was a little kid: the **King of Pop** himself, **Michael Jackson**. What I have more trouble remembering is how old I was, definitely between 7 and 11. Not more than 11 years old, because it was before the _Dangerous_ album, and more than 7 because it was around _Bad_'s release. - 📺 - Now, even if I don't remember my exact age, I know for certain it happened on a Wednesday.

What? How can I know that? Because in France, there (still) is no school on Wednesdays until you reach middle school. If I close my eyes, I have flashes of me watching _M6_, a TV station that was in its infancy, being born in march 1987. Back then, the "M" in M6 was basically for "Music" because the channel was playing music videos all day. Fast-forward 31 years later, like MTV (does it still exist?) there is no music anymore on this channel, but it has become the 3rd most watched one in the French-speaking world. Sorry for digressing a bit, but all these little details make me wander my childhood memories... - 📺 - Back then, I was not into music at all, and had no radio or any music playing device in my room. So, I'm sitting on the couch, the TV on, set to this new channel, reading a picture book... When suddenly a movie starts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA _{With a duration of more than 13 minutes, it's a quite long music video!} Or, at least, I thought it was a movie: the full version of _Thriller_! It was spooky, I was a bit afraid of the these zombies because they are definitely scary for children, but I fell in the love with the music. And then, it was followed by _Billie Jean_, _Beat It_, and other number ones of these two releases. It turned out to be a video retrospective of Michael Jackson's work. Was it on purpose, before the release of _Bad_, or after, to celebrate? I cannot say. I begged for my parents to buy me _Thriller_ and I must have listened to it a thousand times at least.. It made me love Michael Jackson's songs from the get-go. As I grew up, like everyone, my musical tastes evolved beyond the spectrum of pop. But the _Thriller_, _Bad_, _Dangerous_ and later _HIStory_ albums could always be found in my cassette player, Sony discman, and so forth until the advent of MP3 and then smartphones. - 🕺🏿 - I believe Michael's catchy beats and singing (ah I love the voice) make his songs instantly recognizable, and also timeless. I think you could squeeze any of his most remarkable songs between recent releases, and no one would mind. I have no shame, scratch that! I am *proud* of having loved and still loving Michael's musical legacy. https://media.giphy.com/media/v4rnPiL9Xiwfu/giphy.gif Long live the King of Pop! 🙇‍♂️ 📝 Thanks @slobberchops for the trip back to the memory lane (and sorry for the length, it just had to be written!)