This Is It

A year ago today the world lost arguably the greatest pop music artist of all time. And this is the way I found to pay a little tribute to Michael Jackson: In Michael Jackson-style I take a short break from the special World Cup series to make way for the king of pop.

Michael Jackson died before he got to present his last tour, aptly titled “This Is It”. During the announcement he made on March 5, 2009 for the concerts that never happened, he stated:

These will be my final show performances in London.

This will be it. This is it. And when I say this is it,

it really means this is it. Because uhm...

I will be performing the songs my fans want to hear.

This is it. I mean, this is really it.

This is the final curtain call.

Michael Jackson was calling it the final moment in his career – the final curtain call. “This is it” he says, in a reference to the name of his upcoming tour.

The expression This is it, as you can tell by now, is used to refer to a crucial or climatic event or action. Here are more examples:

• (A TV sports commentator talking about the World Cup final on July 11): "This is it, folks! This is the historic day when archrivals Brazil and Argentina are face to face for the first time ever at a World Cup final match!"
• When the judges told me to get on stage and perform to them I thought, “This is it.”

These are other related meanings of this expression.

1. An important or relevant moment or place has arrived:

• "This is it. This is my stop. I have to get off the bus."
• “This is it,” the guide said, pointing to a house. “This is exactly where Michael Jackson was born.”
• A: Wow, this place looks so weird. Are you sure this is it? B: Yes, they said the restaurant does look weird but that the food is great.
• “Well, I guess this is it,” he said. I hugged him and said, “Goodbye, Al. See you one day.”

2. Used to refer to a perfect or final situation, thing or person:

• "This is it, man. Take it or leave it!"
• If there is a right time and a right place to discuss this issue, this is it!
• When I finished reading her script, I thought, “This is it! This is the script I’ve been looking for!”

This is it for now, folks! See y’all next time!