Level 2: The Occasional Cheerleaders
The Occasional Cheerleaders once found a burned “Best of Michael Jackson” CD in the glove compartment of a used Toyota they bought 20 years ago. They gave it a listen on the way to Blockbuster and concluded that the hype had some merit.
They sympathetically tweeted “RIP” to their 381 followers on June 25, 2009, and respectfully turned up the volume every time the car radio played a song in memory of the King that day. When prompted about their favorite MJ song, they give a bulletproof answer, like Billie Jean or Smooth Criminal, although they secretly have no preference. They think the lyrics of Man In The Mirror are “deep”, but can’t quote anything beyond the chorus.
Level 2 fans won’t let news and gossip fill them with anxious feelings of ambivalence about an artist best known for pretending to walk in one direction while actually moving in the other. They won’t dig into rumors. They won’t dig into Jackson’s catalog either. They hate digging. That’s why they won’t build a sandbox in the backyard for their 3-year-old, but will put up a swing.
They appreciate “good” pop music, but are slightly intimidated by the music of Prince (the artist, not Jackson’s son). Since they just invested in a vinyl player because their daughter needed it for her Taylor Swift records, they thought they might as well get a set of “classic” albums to look sophisticated. That’s how Thriller ended up in their collection, neatly displayed in their tastefully decorated living room.
If you asked these fascinating beings to list the props needed for an MJ Halloween costume, they’d say, “Easy! Three things: a single sequined glove, a black and white fedora hat, and… a third thing.” That’s why they never dress up as Michael for Halloween. Although they do find it impressive when a Level 8 fan does.
The Occasional Cheerleaders lead harmonious lives. If the conversation at a Sunday barbecue turns to pets, they will delight their audience with mind-boggling trivia like “Michael Jackson once had a chimp named Bubbles.” A fact they stumbled upon after reading a People magazine article titled “What happened to Michael Jackson’s chimp?”, which they quickly researched, only to learn that Bubbles even has his own Wikipedia page. In a procrastination spiral due to an upcoming finance meeting, they read the entire Wikipedia entry with awe.
One anecdote in particular caught their attention. During rumors that Bubbles had died, Jackson’s publicist commented, “When Bubbles heard about his demise he went bananas.” That really stuck with everyone at the barbecue. Despite success stories like these, the Occasional Cheerleaders are unable to name all of Michael’s siblings, which they regret because family is one of their greatest values, along with life, laughter and love.
They wouldn’t call themselves fans, but they’re always happy to be part of a community and notorious people-pleasers, so they’ll accept the invitation.