I BOUGHT a few Baby Genius CDs for my kids when they were younger, in the hopes that their brains would become pumping synaptic powerhouses of unparalleled intellectual potency.

Unfortunately, the genius thing didn't pan out, so I gave up and bought them The Essential Michael Jackson, a greatest hits compilation CD from the King Of Pop.

I couldn't tell you why I chose that particular CD for my boys.

I've never been an especially big fan of Jackson; the last album of his that I bought was Thriller, when it was first released way back in 1982. Even then I thought his best days were behind him.

All of us have our own favourite version of Michael Jackson - with his ever-changing musical styles, not to mention his ever changing facial features - there are a lot of different MJs to choose from.

My personal favourite Michael Jackson is the late 70's Michael Jackson.

His album, Off The Wall, released in 1979, was pure pop deliciousness, an intoxicating mixture of disco and R&B that will be forever linked in my mind with a family trip to California.

To me, Off The Wall is sunshine and beaches and summer breezes.

Also, bikinis. California was awesome.

Hits off that album include Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Off The Wall, She's Out Of My Life, and one of my favourite songs of all time, Rock With You.

Watching the videos of that era now, it is almost painful to see how joyous Jackson seemed.

He was about 20 years old when Off The Wall came out, and he had yet to begin his bizarre transformation into whatever it is, exactly, that he became.

Watching him sing and dance in the Rock With You video, laser lights sparkling conspicuously and ridiculously in his disco fabulous duds, he is the very image of electric youth.

The smile on his face. His evident confidence. His smooth moves. His afro. His HANDSOMENESS.

Beautiful youth

Yes, children, there was a time when Michael Jackson was a beautiful young man, and not a scandal-wracked, mask-wearing, monkey-befriending, Lisa Marie Presley-marrying, kid-touching weirdo.

Michael Jackson was one of the greatest performers of our time - but when I say 'was', I'm not talking about yesterday, or last week, or last year, or even 10 years ago.

Michael Jackson was one of the greatest performers of our time a long time ago.

Certainly I mourn the death of Jackson the man, but Jackson the performer has been dead to me for decades.

I resent the fact that the beautiful music he made in his youth has been tainted by his subsequent shenanigans.

I resent the fact that as my own boys grow older, they will inevitably hear about Jackson's bizarre behaviour - particularly his dubious relationship with other young boys - and that their own childhood love for his music will also be tainted.

Even so, for now, it's unbelievably fun to watch them enjoy to his music.

My older boy particularly likes Heal The World.

During his live performance at Bill Clinton's inaugural gala way back in 1992, Jackson dedicated the song to 'all the children in the world'.

The Jackson I'll remember is the Jackson of my childhood. The Jackson who was a child. The Jackson my children love.

Though he died at 50, Jackson died young.

It's a shame he never had a chance to grow up.