Although I wasn't a fan, I still mourn the passing of Michael Jackson. In my opinion, this man virtually defined the '80s, both musically and visually, for many of us that grew up in that decade (and who weren't influenced by other musical styles of the generation).

My brother and I knew his Thriller album from front to back, even the Vincent Price voiceover at the end of the song "Thriller." In fact, my 7-year-old brother Moonwalked and did a whole Michael Jackson dance during the party for his Communion back in 1984.

He was influential in shaping a huge part of what made pop music so popular back then.

Jackson also changed the way we watched music, with videos that focused on special effects and multi-million dollar budgets to dazzle and amaze.

"Thriller" became a mini-movie in itself, with fantastic costuming and makeup. "Billie Jean" featured those totally cool light-up sidewalk blocks -- and who among us hasn't imitated walking down a checkerboard tile floor and wished they lit up? "Black and White" had those beautiful synchronized dance moves and the birth of the morphing visual effect. And "Beat It" is simply a classic, hands down.

Whatever controversies attributed to Jackson in recent years should not eclipse his greatness. He was kinda weird, true, and was deluged by scandals, but that's not uncommon for any child who grew up in the public eye. I think he had a rather sad life, to be honest.

The impact of his death makes me wistful for the '80s, when all I really had to worry about was cartoons, learning to breakdance, and coming home in time for supper.

I feel a true sense of loss at his passing.