What will Michael Jackson look like in the year 2000? That’s what’s Ebony Magazine wanted to know back in 1985.

Rather than wait to find out, they decided to commission an artist, Nathan Wright, to render a futuristic portrait of the King of Pop.

Click on the picture to enlarge the image and read more about Jackson’s “handsome, more mature look.”

In the coming days there will be a lot of discussion about Michael Jackson’s legacy. While everyone will have a different opinion of the man and his music, clearly all of us are indebted to Jackson. Even if you weren’t a fan, it’s important to keep in mind that without Michael Jackson the world would have never known the greatest artist in the history of mankind: Weird AL Yankovic. Just as John the Baptist heralded the coming of Christ, so to did Michael Jackson prepare the way for Weird Al.

In honor of Jackson’s greatest contribution to music history, here are two of his videos along side their far superior Weird AL parodies. Enjoy.

Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”

Weird Al’s “Eat It”

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