Forgiving fans say Jackson will forever be King of Pop

Scores of curious passersby trickled into a sports bar in downtown Washington shocked to see news of Michael Jacksons death flash across the massive TV screens instead of Thursdays sports eventsThe reactions varied from wideeyed disbelief to sheer despair until the management started playing some of Jacksons greatest hits Suddenly the mood turned dramatically became almost celebratory as some people held hands and began singing Remember The Time from his hit album Dangerous It hasnt hit me yet My boyfriend texted me with the news and we switched channels said Hilary Tutman 21 a server at Bar Louie My ma called she was crying on the phone I loved him when I was little and can forgive him for all the scandals I only want to remember the best of Michael Outside the bar crowds gathered around two men in their 20s who were belting out Jackson hits like Thriller Smooth Criminal Bad and The Way You Make Me Feel I learned how to moon walk watching his videos He made me proud to be African American He healed the world one of them said referring to the song that led to the creation of a charity of the same name aimed at improving childrens lives all over the world On Thursday Jacksons fans chose to remember the iconic pop star who broke cultural barriers with his signature singing style moon walking and unique fashion sense he made militarystyle jackets and sequined gloves immensely popular They opted to forget his scandaltainted final years his genius obscured by multiple plastic surgeries child molestation charges and increasingly odd behaviour that earned him the nickname Wacko Jacko He invented pop the way it is now Justin Timberlake Usher all of them only try to emulate what he started said James Quander 36 an attorney from North Carolina My fouryearold daughter Lani bops to his music on road trips especially from his album Off The Wall Yoland Crumity 48 a bus driver for senior citizens said she grew up listening to Jackson and he gave her a sense of my place in this world Im so sad because I wanted him to make a comeback I was sure he would redeem himself and now well never have that chance to know him again she said With his death I feel that I have lost a very important part of myself and memories that I shared with my brothers An increasingly frail and financiallychallenged Jackson had been preparing for a 50concert run in London billed as his comeback tour As Crumity shouted out Ill always love you Michael people on the streets started cheering but a few girls couldnt hold back their tears One of them cried and said Hes gone to a better place where he will be understood This world did not get him He will finally be at peace In Los Angeles hundreds of fans gathered outside his home the hospital near his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame playing his music some of them dancing His music was such an inspiration to me u00c3u00a2u00c2u0080u00c2u0093 its such beautiful music His songs helped people heal who were troubled in the world one fan told local TV station KTTV Lets remember him for his beautiful music If I learnt anything from Michaels music and all his trials and tough times it was be true to yourself said Anthony Hailey 25 a security guard originally from Gary Indiana who now works in Washington Michael was born in Gary and even though he became world famous and forgot his roots he will always belong to us Hailey said My grandma who is 95 listens to his music although it is rarely played on radio but there will be a huge Jackson revival now Her favourite song is You Are Not Alone I wish Michael knew that he was not alone