Fans in Asia Remember Jackson Fondly 

By Stephanie Ho

Beijing
26 June 2009


People in Asia woke Friday to news of the death of Michael Jackson, an
American pop icon who left behind fans throughout the region.  

The
music sounds like the 1983 Michael Jackson-Paul McCartney duet, "Say,
Say, Say." The singer though is China's top rocker Cui Jian, who
recorded this cover in the 1990s.

Throughout Asia, people were saddened by news of the death of the pop superstar.

In Taipei, Claire Chen said she at first did not believe it.

Chen
says her sister called her Friday morning and told her the news. She
says she thought Jackson was going back on tour soon, but after she
realized the singer was indeed dead, she went to watch all of his
videos on YouTube.

In Seoul, 49-year-old Jung Ji-Sun remembers
he was able to become wealthy, even though he was black, because he was
a brilliant singer.

Jung says she remembers songs like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It."  

She says she used to imitate his gestures and moves during aerobic dance sessions. Now, she says she feels grief and sorrow.

In China, 28-year-old musician Ray Wang says he heard his first Michael Jackson song, "Dangerous," when he was 14 years old.

He didn't like it at the time, but grew to like and appreciate Jackson' music more as he got older.

Wang
says there are many musicians in China who were influenced by him. He
says all Chinese musicians have at least heard the American singer's
songs.

At the same time, he says it has been hard for Chinese fans to separate the man from the music.

Wang
says many Chinese people don't like how the black singer lightened his
skin, in what they saw as an unnatural effort to become white.

Although
that is one of the strongest memories Chinese people have, Wang says
they also will remember Jackson's dancing and the unique way he sang. 
Wang says although another person may try to sing a Jackson song, he
will never be able to give it the same feeling.