Thirteen years. One hundred and fifty six months. By many standards that is a long time to be without a phone call from someone you love; a long time without his laughter; a long time not to feel his hugs; a long time to grieve. So I celebrate his exceptional talent.

Thirteen years is a long time for someone to be inactive in the music industry. Most singer/songwriters would find themselves all but forgotten by the public if they had not been heard from for that amount of time.

But Michael was not like others; he was special, we all know that. Michael had an undeniable talent. It was impossible to ignore Michael no matter if he was performing or not. His presence lit up a room. You simply could not be in the same room, be it a private living room or the Sydney Entertainment Centre, or Madison Square Garden, or Wembley Stadium; you could not ignore him. He did have an extraordinary voice, a very special way of getting his music across to the audience, a way of looking at you, and talking with you, of being interested in everyone he met.

We were drawn to him because he had that special quality that made us all feel special in our own way. It is hard to deny that this was not something he worked on, not something he was trained in. Once in a while someone like Michael comes along and becomes indelible in our minds. Which brings me to something that I noticed recently before I left Australia.

Someone pointed out an article in the newspaper on the upcoming ARIA music awards. It was a full page on what to expect on the live show. The five remaining members of INXS were appearing with a guest vocalist it said, but they didn’t show a visual of the band members or even mention them by name. What the newspaper did, was of course feature a visual of the person who would catch your eye as you turned the page, they had a picture of Michael.

I was among close family members and one of them said to the effect, ‘that would be a miracle’. I have to agree. But what it said to all of us was that it was proof that Michael was special and continues to be special. In many ways this is comfort to me. I am so proud of my brother I just wish he were still here. He would not be producing the same music, in fact I am sure of that – he would have moved on; but I am certain he would still be contributing and active in the industry.

He always said he did not want to be up there on stage singing the same old songs. He wanted to grow and evolve with his audience and it is too bad that we didn’t get to experience that change and growth. I miss him terribly, we all do. This is why we come here to express our thoughts with like minds. This is why Ricky continues to work on this site and keep it alive in respect for a man we all loved. Thank you all for you loving wishes for a man we all loved. Thank you all for being the most special of fans and for encouraging us to give more; we will continue to keep Michael in the forefront of the most unforgettable.

Tina Hutchence
November 22, 2010