Michael Through the Years

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[size=+1]History Era[/size]


Making of Ghost Cortado

This is a video on the making of Ghosts - it is scary and funny
Again, fascinating to see creative genius at work!

 

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[size=+1]Invincible Era[/size]



August 2001 Michael Opens NASDAQ

At first he's explained how it all works by officials, fans are yelling, people are clapping and then ( oh I just love him so much!) his own music is playing louder and at 2:25 he starts bobbing his head and grooving to his own song. Later he received a poster of Shirley Temple for his birthday and he speaks words of thanks.... :heart:

 

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[size=+1]Invincible Era[/size]


Just Having Fun (MJ Private Home Videos) Michael Jackson

Playfulness and playing games keeps you young!
Just look at Michael enjoying himself at Neverland. You've probably seen it millions of times already, but it puts a big smile on my face everytime I see this!

 

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[size=+1]Post-Invincible Era[/size]


Michael Jackson visits Guinness World Records in London

On 14th October 2006 while in London to perform at the World Music Awards, Michael Jackson popped into Guinness World Records' London HQ to collect several record certificates including Biggest Selling Album of All Times - 'Thriller'.
- GuinnessWorldRecords

 

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[size=+1]Post-Invincible Era[/size]


Michael Jackson Experience
In London 14th – 16th of November 2006!

"As from being a fan for over 17 years and attended over 7 different Michael Jackson event, this was the very first time I saw Michael Jackson, not the first time of being in London since it would be my 4th time in total, but experience the magic with friends and fans I got to know from my last MJ events this was something we would do together, see Michael together and experience it together.

There were probably 300-400 fans outside his hotel chanting Michael, I didn’t do that because I wanted to show respect since his children was asleep and his guards came out and asked us to leave since he told everyone that Michael was asleep, but I didn’t leave because I knew that he was lying, there were probably 40-50 fans left around 1.30-5.00am in the morning. At one point we got to learn that Michael was thinking of taking up some few fans up to his hotel meeting him, but that didn’t happen and the reason why I won’t write about it because it’s confidential, instead Michael had sent down his guards to get all of us pizza. And these are the words the bodyguards told us: “This is from Michael”, that was such an amazing gesture of Michael thinking about us. We will be forever grateful because of that, and Michael if you read this we would like to express our happiness and thankfulness because of that, thank you so much! When the van came back we all rushed to the car and got ourselves a box, knowing that not everyone would get a box, but I managed to get myself a box and I will never ever forget this trip.

It was my first time ever and I will never forget seeing Michael so close, he was smiling to me, he was waving to me, he was telling me he loved me and I got a pizza from him. Thank you so much!! See you next time Michael!
All my love
Cindy – a PROUD Swedish MJ fan!

The Source:
http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/fans/wma06fanexperience.html

 

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[size=+1]Post-Invincible Era[/size]


Premium V.I.P. Party with Michael Jackson - 3

This video was at the Premium VIP party in Japan in 2007.
I simply adore the part where he asks permission from someone unseen to take his glasses off again "cause I look like Mr. Magoo"
Michael, you looked great with your reading glasses and we all love you anyway!!

 

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[size=+1]Performances Through the Years[/size]

When trying to choose videos of Michael's performances throughout the years, it is a next to impossible task to limit oneself. It is all so great, so magical, so outstanding, with a vision and a devotion to his craftmanship.
These videos show true genius and a one-in-a-million artist. Enjoy!

Off the Wall-Michael Jackson



Michael Jackson-Man in the Mirror (Moonwalker Version)





Michael Jackson - Rock with You Triumph Tour (1981)


[/QUOTE]

 

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[size=+1]Performances Through the Years[/size]

More performances to enjoy. Some of the video's have nearly 6 miliion hits. Some have more than 22 million hits.


Michael Jackson - Billie Jean Live - Motown 25 HD




Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Starting Something




Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana

 

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[size=+1]Performances Through the Years[/size]


Madness and Michaelmania has always surrounded his concerts and performances....


Michael Jackson Award Winning Performance





Dangerous Tour - Michael Jackson Jam Live (High Quality)




Michael Jackson - Black or White Live (Best Performance)

 

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[size=+1]Performances Through the Years[/size]


Michael Jackson Live in Munich - Scream TDCAU In The Closet





Michael Jackson Live in Munich - Smooth Criminal




Michael Jackson Live in Munich - Beat It

 

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[size=+1]Performances Through the Years[/size]

Michael Jackson - This Is It - Drill Extended - by DJ_OXyGeNe_8






Earth Song HD - Michael Jackson - This Is It





Michael Jackson - This Is It *Favorite Moments* HQ

 

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Michael Jackson in his own words about animals

His Animals:



"God created animals. And they’re loving; they’re beautiful. I feel the way (anthropologist) Jane Goodall does or any of those naturalists. I don’t find my interest in animals weird or strange at all."

On animal hunting and his animals:



"I hate it. I hate taxidermy shops and all that crap."



"I have two baby deer, one’s a boy and one’s a girl. They’re so sweet. They’re gorgeous. I have a llama. I have a sheep – he looks just like a ram with the horns. Louie is from the circus. He’s the llama. The ram is called Mr. Tibbs and the fawns are Prince and Princess."

Nature and Animals:



"...I enjoy nature too much.... I know the tree feels it when the wind blows through it. It probably goes, "Ohhhh, this is wonderful." And that’s how I feel when I’m singing some songs. It’s wonderful."



"Plus, I’m crazy for birds and animals and puppies. And I love exotic things. I’ve had llamas, peacocks, a rhea, which is the second largest bird in the world, a macaw, which is the largest parrot from South America, pheasants, racoons, chickens….everything. Now, I’m gonna get a faun. And a flamingo.... I want a chimpanzee – they’re so sweet. Oh, I have such a good time with the animals. I have a wonderful relationship with animals, they really understand me.... I’d like to get into the whole veterinarian thing and learn the behaviour of animals. Dogs may see in black and white. Dogs might even see the wind. And what about the king cobra – what makes him come up when they play that pipe?"



"And the whales. From the top of my brother’s beach house, we look out and see them spouting."


Source: http://www.reflectionsonthedance.com/Michael-In-Writing.html

 

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[size=+1]Michael and his sunglasses[/size]

With an armload of Grammy's at the 1984 Grammy Awards he needed Quincy Jones to re-adjust his shades for him.

A compilation of MJ's shades throughout the years. The Ray-Ban aviators were made popular by him in the 80's.

What to do if you're kinda shy and in need of some privacy every now and then ? "I just put on these shades so I gotta look nobody in the eye.Plus there's the added bonus of checking out the chicks,unnoticed, hee hee"

I love you most, really, I do!From the bottom of my heart and my soul

The King of Pop Michael Jackson sported large Ray-Ban 3025 Aviator sunglasses during his announcement in March 2009 of his last shows in London. The glasses were black with mirror lenses, a style he used to wear quite often in the last few years of his life.

In the 1980s Michael Jackson sported more Carrera style large sunglasses, and sometimes he could be seen with the classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers, for example during his suprise appearence in the Arsenio Hall talkshow.

Source: http://www.sunglassesid.com/ray-ban-3025-large-aviator-michael-jackson.html

 

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[size=+1]Michael Jackson "Extremely Well Read" Had 10,000 Books[/size]


The King of Pop a dweeby book lovin’ geek?

Apparently so, and hooray. He was an avid reader who had an appropriately majestic library at Neverland that held 10,000 volumes on its shelves, according to two recent Los Angeles newspaper articles.

In the midst of a lengthy interview in the L.A. Weekly, Jackson attorney Bob Sanger revealed the following as his last of three golden attributes that defined the Gloved One.

“Michael was extremely well-read…I knew Michael, but I got to know him a lot better at the trial. The judge was doing jury selection, and it was time for break. Judge Melville said, 'Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know that jury service is very, very important.' He's trying to convince people not to have stupid excuses to get out of jury service. All judges do this. He says, 'The jury system is a very time-honored system. It's been around for 200 years. We're going to take a break and come back in 15 minutes.’

“We stand up and the judge leaves, and Michael turns to me and says, ‘Bob, the jury system is much older than 200 years, isn't it?’ I said, 'Well, yeah, it goes back to the Greeks.' He says, 'Oh yeah, Socrates had a jury trial, didn't he?' I said, 'Yeah, well, you know how it turned out for him.' Michael says, 'Yeah, he had to drink the hemlock.' That's just one little tidbit. We talked about psychology, Freud and Jung, Hawthorne, sociology, black history and sociology dealing with race issues. But he was very well read in the classics of psychology and history and literature.

“He loved to read. He had over 10,000 books at his house. And I know that because - and I hate to keep referring to the case, because I don't want the case - the case should not define him. But one of the things that we learned - the DA went through his entire library and found, for instance, a German art book from 1930-something. And it turned out that the guy who was the artist behind the book had been prosecuted by the Nazis. Nobody knew that, but then the cops get up there and say, 'We found this book with pictures of nude people in it.' But it was art, with a lot of text. It was art. And they found some other things, a briefcase that didn't belong to him that had some Playboys in it or something. But they went through the guy's entire house, 10,000 books. And it caused us to do the same thing, and look at it.”

“And there were places that he liked to sit, and you could see the books with his bookmarks in it, with notes and everything in it where he liked to sit and read. And I can tell you from talking to him that he had a very - especially for someone who was self-taught, as it were, and had his own reading list - he was very well-read. And I don't want to say that I'm well-read, but I've certainly read a lot, let's put it that way, and I enjoy philosophy and history and everything myself, and it was very nice to talk to him, because he was very intellectual, and he liked to talk about those things. But he didn't flaunt it, and it was very seldom that he would initiate the conversation like that, but if you got into a conversation like that with him, he was there.”

I’ll Be There
As reported in the L.A. Times. Doug Dutton, proprietor of the legendary and now, alas, defunct, Dutton's Books in Brentwood, was at a dinner with people from Book Soup, Skylight and other L.A. bookstores.

"Someone mentioned that Michael Jackson had been in their store," Dutton recalled. “Everybody said he'd shopped in their store too."

Doug first met Jackson in the early 1980s when the icon came in his shop wearing "very large sunglasses" and a suit of bodyguards. MJ was solitary and quiet. "There was no display of 'I'm Michael Jackson,'” he recalled. "I don't remember him actually saying anything." Jackson bought four-five books during visits.

Doug’s brother, Dave, remembers getting a call in the late '80s - early '90s from an MJ minion, who requested that the shop be closed early so Jackson could privately shop. "We did close early," Dave said. Then, "about a quarter to nine he showed up in a big van. Once you got over the initial caution because of those burly guys with him, he was very nice. He loved the poetry section," Dave’s son Dirk asserts that Ralph Waldo Emerson was Jackson's favorite author. "I think you would find a great deal of the transcendental, all-accepting philosophy in his lyrics."

I would have bet the farm that, considering his obsession, Michael Jackson would have been a compulsive collector of all things Peter Pan, the collecting completist’s completist, acquiring every single edition of the book, every scrap of paper associated with it, and everything from the story’s subsequent incarnations.

"He was a longtime and valued customer," a spokesperson for Hennessey + Ingalls, the renowned art and architecture bookstore in Santa Monica, said in the L.A. Times piece.

It turns out that Michael Jackson was a sort of Johnny Appleseed of reading, spreading books to all children. Former Los Angeles resident Cynde Moya remembers that "back when I worked at the Bookstar in Culver City, his people would have us keep the store open after hours, and he'd come in with a vanload of kids, who could buy whatever books they wanted."

Source: http://www.bookpatrol.net/2009/07/michael-jackson-extremely-well-read-had.html

 

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[size=+1]Michael Jackson Letters of Love tribute[/size]
Created by MJBunny


It's all for L.O.V.E. ♥ Michael Jackson's beautiful love letters to fans written from the early 90's up through the TII website announcement in Spring of 2009. Thank you, Michael, from the millions of us who have and will always love you.

Music is a COVER of "In Flowers" (hence the roses - red and white, like Michael liked), sung here as a tribute to Michael (I haven't sung in years, so please be kind, lolol ;-) with guitar by my friend and fellow MJ fan, Mundy. I love this song and the first time I heard it I thought of Michael, the butterfly in my heart. It's about wishing joy to the one you love, with whom you share an amazing and spiritual bond, and how much you want to be in that joy with them. It's how I've felt about Michael for over 26 years ... wanting him "in flowers"... surrounded by love and glowing with happiness. I believe that's where he is now, hopefully feeling our love too.

NOTE: I do not own any of these letters myself. I found them in photos or scans across the internet, posted by lovely fans who wanted to show the rest of us some of Michael's love that only those able to get close enough at hotels, by cars, etc to experience. THANK YOU FOR SHARING! My intention with this video is simply to show other fans, as a tribute to MJ, us and all the L.O.V.E. we've shared over the years. Thanks again.
- MJBunny

 

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http://www.majorloveprayer.org/2010...PbZOpoHXS1-1VLPoWgUVE5px#c1293435571858165280

A Spiritual Messenger in Plain Sight

Posted: Monday, March 29, 2010 convey_source = "English";

Michael Jackson: Spiritual Messenger Hiding in Plain Sight
- (c) B. Kaufmann One Wordsmith / Inner Michael

There are those rare visionaries who come along, maybe a few every millennia: the Bodhisattvas of the world. They are usually empaths who begin in childhood to literally feel the pain of the world and make vows to the cosmos early in life to change or improve it. They go about spreading awareness and mobilizing forces for change in order to make the world a better place. Counted among them are: Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, John Lennon, Lady Diana Spencer, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mattie Stepanek, Nelson Mandela and a little Moonwalker.

The most famous man on earth literally stopped the world and the internet when he became immortal on June 25, 2009. Michael Jackson was such a one— a cheerleader for humanity and a force for coalescing compassion and mobilizing global forces for change, philanthropy and social reform. A global messenger, Michael’s rise to stardom afforded him visibility and a worldwide platform from which to broadcast his message. His boldness and artistry garnered attention and Michael knew how to get attention. When he pulled enough people in and had everybody’s attention—he emphatically delivered the message. It was cloaked in a form that everyone could understand—the universal language of music.

As a child, he acutely felt the pain of the world and especially the world’s children. Michael’s words in his book Dancing the Dream reveal a thread of spirituality and mysticism rare for one so young. His body of work is filled with myth, metaphor and musical and visual story that encodes a stunning spiritual message for the human race. One has to look closely and deeper for the real message: his Ghost short film holds a jaw dropping message about humanity, mirror and shadow.

His Man in the Mirror song written by Siedah Garrett, became a Gandhi-esque anthem for a generation. He donated 100% of the proceeds of that song to charity as he did with many of his concerts including the Victory Tour with his brothers. Man in the Mirror encourages self reflection and mastery and being the change you wish to see in the world: “I’m starting with the man in the mirror; I’m asking him to change his ways; no message could have been any clearer; if you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change.”

Michael also produced They Don’t Care about Us and other songs to address police brutality and mistreatment by authority. His song and video Black or White changed minds and advanced racial equality and multicultural diversity. His We are the World composition with Lionel Richie and accompanying video gathered 39 of the most visible faces on earth to raise millions to save lives in Africa. Heal the World was sung by children around the globe and at the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show where the whole stadium became a collage of earth’s children of all races and ethnic origins. Michael was the impetus behind Live Aid, Band Aid and he is responsible for starting the trend for musicians and celebrities to engage in fundraising and philanthropy.

His environmental anthem and epic music video Earth Song, was a prominent feature of his planned comeback concert This Is It. Earth Song carries the message that we must become not only custodians but stewards of the planet or risk destroying or losing it. His spiritual messages in the form of self-reflection, commitment and action boldly took on: racism, inequality, war, poverty, gangs, illicit drugs, apathy, the misuse of power, evil, at risk youth, education, family bonds and a host of contemporary social issues. Videos of Earth Song Live can be found on You Tube stunningly raw in their emotion and stark in their message.

Michael’s Don’t Stop till You get Enough is about the Force featured in Star Wars by George Lucas; he was a fan of both Lucas and Spielberg and he understood the concept of The Force, an intuitive conscious energy that permeates creation. He often said it was that intuitive energy, Force, or God who wrote his lyrics, performed and worked through him. He denied his own genius saying that his creativity and power didn’t come from him but through him. He writes about it Dancing the Dream. The last album Michael produced, Invincible included Cry, a song about us—meaning humanity the collective, being the chosen one and needing some kind of sign that we are: ‘on it’… the mission to change the world and create a better version of the human.

Michael’s international concerts featured a military tank screaming onto stage and a soldier who lays down his weapon for a child who extends an offering of peace. He organized concerts at the world’s troubled spots like the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea asking his promoters to send him where he was needed. He teamed up with Pavarotti in benefits for the Warchild organization to help children in Kosovo and Guatemala. He organized a series of benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. He recruited Slash, The Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Shobana Chandrakumar, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti for the Michael Jackson and Friends concerts. The proceeds were donated to the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, the Red Cross and UNESCO.

After the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York City, Michael Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., which aired on October 21, 2001 and included dozens of major artists. His song What More Can I Give was written for the benefit and he donated it to the 9/11 families. He founded the Michael Jackson Burn Center at Culver City Memorial Hospital in California. Attending President Clinton’s inauguration, he asked for more funding for AIDS research after Ryan White, another child he had befriended, died from the disease. Michael Jackson is listed in the Guinness World Book of Records as supporting the most charities of any entertainer—thirty nine of them. He met with heads of state and marched with armies round the world. The arm band he wore every day on his sleeve was homage to children and he vowed to wear it until there were no more wars on the planet and no more hungry children. His taped fingers were to remind him and us that there were still injured and suffering children in the world.

Michael, while on tour, would visit orphanages and hospitals in the countries where he played to concert audiences. He often met with leaders and if he found deplorable conditions during his visits, he would threaten to cancel a concert unless the conditions improved within 24 hours. No one ever ignored his demands for it would likely have caused citizen revolts. There are also hundreds of stories from people who were personally contacted by Michael Jackson. After a sniper opened fire at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California, Michael called the local sheriff to request an escort from the airport to the school to visit the children; Dave Dave was a child who was badly burned when his father doused him with kerosene and lit him on fire and Michael, upon hearing the story, insisted on meeting and befriending him; Bela Farcas needed a liver transplant when Michael met him at Bethesda Hospital in Budapest so Michael paid for his new liver; he funded burials for children whose families couldn’t afford them and in one case, he sent his sequined jacket and a glove for the child to be buried in; he donated clothing and belongings for fundraisers and was the recipient of humanitarian awards too many to mention during his life and more since the recognition of his contributions since his death.

For decades, his Neverland Valley Ranch hosted monthly guest vacations, whether he was there or traveling, for children who were: gravely ill, inner city, handicapped, poor, at risk youth, gang affiliated, disenfranchised and disillusioned. The video for his famous Beat It featured real gang members Michael recruited—the Crips and the Bloods who collaborated to film it; the two groups had never before cooperated on anything except violence. His work with children was legion and very dear to his heart. Twice during his career, his celebrity, wealth and deep pockets brought accusers and accusations into his life—of improprieties with children. The accusations hurt him deeply and were later proven false and attempts to extort money from him. Although found innocent, the ordeal of his 2005 trial had harmed his reputation and was deeply wounding causing him to never host children at his fantasy ranch, nor live there again. He left his home feeling it had been sullied irreversibly by unscrupulous accusers and underhanded law enforcement personnel. He would never again sleep in his bedroom, in fact sleeping at all became rare; his sleep problems escalated and eventually led to his untimely and eerie death.

Most of Jackson’s work asks us to be emissaries of change and the evolution of human consciousness. The man leaves in his wake, an unparalleled humanitarian legacy, planetary midwifery and the alchemical power of the Bodhisattva used to enhance humanity and the planet. Using voice, magic, majesty, artistry, dance, mystery, sensuality, musical genius, enchantment and colossal talent to get their attention, pull people in, and marshal forces to deliver his message Michael trumpeted the message: Heal the world, make it a better place; make that change and change the world.”

If one digs underneath the hype, sensationalism and medialoid portrayal of Jackson, one finds a visionary and true humanitarian. If one looks beyond the label of “crazed” attributed to his fans, one finds mostly intelligent, thoughtful people who quite possibly are the greatest legacy he left this world. As the world’s most famous and visible global humanitarian and cheerleader, he leaves behind a worldwide family of 250 million admirers who are taking his teachings seriously. Michael always said his fans were his legacy. Many in the media have given them a cursory dismissal because of the “fan” label. But they got the message and they mean to be the change they want to see in the world and make it a better place. They are an army of humanitarians who are being the change. They mobilize themselves and resources for causes like the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile and others. They got Michael’s message and are weaving it into their lives.

Perhaps it’s time Michael Jackson is recognized for who he really was and not for the media frenzied and tabloid portrayal that pandered to a sophomoric public drunk and fixated on the cult of celebrity. His genius is there for anyone who wants to take a closer look, who wants the truth and not the tabloid caricature version. If he were recognized for his real accomplishments we would see an unappreciated visionary and genius, a spiritual teacher among us who was hiding in plain sight and masquerading as a Moonwalking Maker of Magic. If you feel impelled at all to take a closer look you may find your mouth agape and your surprise staggering. And you might even come to understand the Force that was Michael Jackson; then the real legend continues.

Reprinted with permission (c) B. Kaufmann One Wordsmith / Voices Education.org

Also visit: www.innermichael.com

 

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[SIZE=+1]Remembering: Michael Jackson: dancers and choreographers who knew and loved him, and those who've simply been inspired by him, pay tribute[/size]

Wade Robson, choreographer

Michael's movement was this amazing amalgamation of all his influences, filtered through this beast of a dancer. His lines were so dynamic. He understood the strength of simple movement delivered with incredible precision and energy. An invert of the legs and an extension of the arm were so much more powerful than 15 pirouettes. His energy shot up from the earth. God danced through him.

I remember the first time he taught me the moonwalk at the dance studio at Neverland. I was 7, I think. I remember standing at the ballet barre and him teaching me to push back one foot at a time, teaching me the weight distribution on the balls of the feet. "Now just go, push off, and fly!" he said. That night I couldn't sleep. I had to get up every 15 minutes and do it again.

I learned altruism from him. In the entertainment industry, it's easy to get jaded. Despite all of the madness he went through, he had such an innocence. He trusted people, and in his heart, believed in them.

Brian Friedman, choreographer

Even in his most subtre moves, he forced you to watch him. No one hit as hard as he did. He's one of the only people who could stand still for 30 seconds, a minute, and not let you look away.

Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Ghost, and Captain EO molded me as a creator. Without projects like these, I would be afraid to take the risks I do. If Michael had just described the plot of Thriller, who would've ever believed him? But he made it anyway and it is the most iconic video ever.

He was the first person to have technical dancers from contemporary and ballet backgrounds dancing with Pop N' Taco. It was incredible to see him bringing the worlds together. He gave every audience member something to connect with.

At 14, I booked a job with him. At the end of the live show, I happened to be standing next to him. He put his head close to mine, pointed to the signs in the audience, and said, "I don't understand why all these people love me." Especially to a kid, it was so honest. He was saying "I'm normal." It put me in a position to always stay grounded.

Brian Thomas, teacher/choreographer

The first day of rehearsals for Michael's 30th-anniversary celebration everyone was terrified. When he came in to watch the choreography I had made for him, I said, "OK, you can sit over here." I looked over, and my son had put some candy and a picture he drew of Michael on his chair. I apologized, "My son must have done that." Michael fell on the floor laughing--he was literally rolling. He said, "Show me some dance moves" to my son. It broke the ice, so the dancers weren't so afraid. He could've been a diva but he was nice to everyone. That's what I remember most--his childlike spirit.

Buddha Stretch, teacher/Remember the Time music video choreographer

Michael's a combination of so many different styles and influences. I think his biggest influence was James Brown, with some Bob Fosse, some Fred Astaire, some Don Campbell and the Lockers, some Nicholas brothers, and later on, some hip hop. We were working on the video for "Remember the Time," and Michael wanted to learn everything that we did--any little movement, even if we were just playing around. He was so interested in what made us dancers, what made us do hip hop. He wanted to experience going to a club and dancing in a circle. We were going to dress him up in a hoodie, hat, jeans, and sneakers, but the last day, his security and his management talked him out of it.

Randy Allaire, co-founder of the Edge Performing Arts Center/MJ backup dancer for eight years

How many stars can brand a step like he did? He affected generations of dancers. He pulled guys into the studio and made it OK for us to move. A lot of Michael's movement was dance, but he always tried to go for the pedestrian feel. As dancers, we were very careful to not look like dancers. We had to be more accessible.

Michael was very generous, a very good soul. There were definitely the two sides: the ultimate showman and the regular guy--however regular you could be as a superstar. But he controlled it all. He collaborated with many choreographers, but it was always MJ's vision and direction.


Chloe Arnold, tap dancer/teacher

He was 100 percent unique and heartfelt. To take our art seriously and realize how many people we can affect--that's something we can take from him. There are so few artists genuinely creating their style. With Michael, you could see a silhouette and immediately know it was him.

Jared Grimes, tap dancer

Michael Jackson was a human phenomenon. To me, he is up there with the seven wonders of the world--a god of dance. I remember when he popped out of the floor and stood still for five minutes at the Bucharest concert--I had never seen an aura that strong before.

Akram Khan, choreographer

When Michael Jackson came along with Thriller, my world changed. I thought, There's hope. He's closer to my color. I was in love with the fact that he had the power to draw people in, not only white people but people in general.

To read more tributes, click on the link below....

Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1083/is_9_83/ai_n35632262/

 

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Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Miko Brando, son of actor Marlon Brando, has been friends with Michael Jackson for over 25 years...

Michael was my idol. He’s been my father figure since my father died. It’s strange living without him. I will never be the same, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get over this loss. It’s like losing your companion, someone you always thought would be there. It’s just not right. He meant a lot to me. I feel like a different person than I was before Thursday. I feel numb — lost. He was a good friend for so many years. I treasure the time I spent with Michael. We’d go shopping together, go to Disneyland, take trips, spend time at Dad’s house. He’d just come over and set up camp at my dad’s house for a while. I enjoyed talking about music, eating together and having fun with Michael. We were just good friends, that’s the best way I can put it. He was always there for me when I needed him, and I’d like to think I was always there for him. I don’t really have a single memory of Michael that sticks out. It’s hard to do when you’ve been friends as long as we have. My best memories are of the time we spent talking, him hugging me, having good conversations, and making him laugh — I really enjoyed making him laugh. I could say some things — just a few words in his ear, and I could get a laugh out of him. And boy, did he have an infectious laugh. Above all, Michael was a very caring person. He had a lot of love in his heart. He cared about everybody, especially the people on the street. He wasn’t stuck up — he had no ego, and he tried to make time for everybody because he didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. If he thought he did something wrong, it would really bother him. He had more love than anyone I know. The Michael I saw everyday was one that loved his kids. They were his main focus. He was a very busy man, but he always made sure the kids were being looked after. What a lot of people may not realize about Michael, is how good a businessman he was. The tour he was planning is a perfect example. He was a perfectionist, and he knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it. Everything regarding the tour had to be approved by Michael. Just because he hasn’t been on TV or out in public a lot recently, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t busy and active. A lot of people have speculated he was really stressed over the tour, but I don’t think he was. He went through the same routines he did for past tours. I’ve thought about whether there were any similarities between Michael and my dad, and I cannot think of a single one. You’ve heard opposites attract? I think that explains their friendship. They had absolutely nothing in common, but when you got them together, you couldn’t tear them apart. He loved my dad, and they spent many days together at Dad’s house and at Neverland. They were very close. Michael was instrumental helping my father through the last few years of his life. For that I will always be indebted to him. Dad had a hard time breathing in his final days, and he was on oxygen much of the time. He loved the outdoors, so Michael would invite him over to Neverland. Dad could name all the trees there, and the flowers, but being on oxygen it was hard for him to get around and see them all, it’s such a big place. So Michael got Dad a golf cart with a portable oxygen tank so he could go around and enjoy Neverland. They’d just drive around — Michael Jackson, Marlon Brando, with an oxygen tank in a golf cart. Some of the best times I spent with Michael were just sitting on a bench at Disneyland’s “Main Street.” We would just sit there and people watch. Sometimes Michael would be in a getup so people wouldn’t recognize him — but they always did. When he was in a bad mood or a little down, I’d just say “Michael, the bench,” and that would bring him out of it. If I knew he wanted to have fun, or just get away, I’d say “let’s go to the bench,” and we were gone. Of course, Michael Jackson in a public place like Disneyland was bound to draw crowds, and sometimes we would have park security with us. But they weren’t there to protect Michael, they were there to protect the crowds. He was never really concerned about himself, but that someone would get hurt in the crush of people that wanted to see him. People would just go crazy when they saw Michael Jackson. Michael rarely cried, but I think he’d be in tears over the reaction to his death. He’d be overwhelmed and happy that so much of the love he gave was returned by the people he loved. I think he’d take a deep breath and just say thank you. The family is still planning the funeral, but I think Michael would want it to be a celebration. He would want everybody there. He loved his fans. I’ve been around plenty of big movie stars, but Michael’s fans are beyond fans. He knew the fans were what made him, and he wouldn’t want to leave anyone out. Everywhere he went, fans would be there. He’d tell me the fans always knew what he was doing. I don’t think anyone has ever had fans like that. So Michael would want a funeral that included his fans and made them happy. He would want it to say: “I’m still with you and we’ll always be together.” He was happy, and he wanted to make everybody around him happy. Finally, he would want love. Above all, Michael was about love.



Source:
http://mjthekingofpop.wordpress.com...-brando’s-son-on-the-michael-jackson-he-knew/

 

[MJJLaugh]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Michael Jackson - Bad Tour

If you want to enlarge the articles you can do so in two ways; click on the photo to enlarge it and press down on CTRL while at the same time turning the mouse-wheel at the top to minimize or maximixe, OR alternatively, if you see the percentage shown in the lower right hand corner, click on the arrow to enlarge.

There are MANY more articles on this website but many of them also refer to MJ as W**** J****, but there are more great articles there, I promise!


Source: http://www.the-michael-jackson-archives.com/baduktour1.html

 

[MJJLaugh]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Love Story Michael Jackson

Just seeing Michael smile that irresistible smile, that happy grin, makes you love him even more! :heart:

 

[MJJLaugh]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Michael Jackson - Epitome of Artistry


Let the King of Pop explain what true artistry is all about....
"Great music is immortal" - Michael Jackson

Michael, you will live on in our hearts, for much more than your great music!
Thank you for the music, thank you for everything!
We love you most! :heart:





If you want to see more vids and articles like these, visit the LP forum here:
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=223

 

[Graf]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Thank you very much MJJLaugh

 

[Bee]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Really love this! Must read! unk: Thanks for all the hard work!

 

[Fluffy_Oz]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

What a beautiful, beautiful tribute... This is wonderful. I'm so glad to be here, with you all, on this horrible day. Thanks, thanks very much everyone! Love ya.

 

[Julia]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

This thread is beautiful thank you all so much for all your hard work. Thank you so much for creating this special forum for us I am so glad I came here today where there are only fond memories of Michael filled with love.

Thank you Gaz and everyone at MJJC, I Love You!!

 

[mjbunny]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Wow, what a wonderful thread :heart: Thanks for all your hard work on it, too. :hug: Can't quite finish it all at the moment, but will tomorrow night when we get home from tributes. :heart:

 

[Maria MJ]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Thank you MJJLaugh for this beautiful thread.
This is a letter written exactly a year ago with Michael's title songs paving the way through his life. It always makes me cry.

This​ is​ my​ TRIBUTE​ LETTER​ to​ Michael​ Jackson​ and​ his​ family.
drcraig7 created this thread 12 months ago

I​ hope​ this​ acts​ as​ a​ balm​ in​ their​ time​ of​ mourning.​ This​ is​ my​ original​ work​ I​ composed​ today.​ I​ tried​ to​ use​ each​ of​ his​ song​ titles.

Michae​l,

When​ I​ heard​ about​ your​ death,​ I​ was​ “Speechless”​ and​ began​ to​ “Cry”.​ I​ thought​ about​ you​ and​ your​ music​ and​ “The​ Way​ You​ Make​ Me​ Feel”.​ What​ you​ have​ done​ with​ your​ musical​ talent​ is​ almost​ enough​ to​ “Heal the World”.​ I’ve​ been​ “Working​ Day​ And​ Night”​ and​ up​ until​ the​ “Break of Dawn”​ trying​ to​ express​ what​ you​ mean​ to​ me.​ Every​ time​ I​ hear​ one​ of​ your​ songs,​ I​ yell,​ “That​ is​ my​ “Jam”!​ I​ still​ want​ to​ “Get On The Floor”​ and​ “Rock With You”.​ You​ are​ truly​ a​ “Thriller” and “You​ Rock​ My​ World”!



It’s​ only​ “Human Nature”​ that​ I​ am​ saddened​ by​ your​ death.​ There​ are​ so​ many​ memories.​ I​ “Remember The Time”​ I​ saw​ your​ video​ when​ you​ leaned​ forward​ without​ falling.​ How​ did​ you​ do​ that?​ It​ was​ “Off The Wall”!​ We​ all​ witnessed​ your​ creativity,​ your​ moves,​ and​ your​ awesomeness.​ You​ truly​ left​ your​ “Blood​ On​ The​ Dance​ Floor”​ at​ every​ concert,​ in​ every​ video,​ and​ during​ every​ performance.​ So​ many​ artists​ attempt​ to​ recreate​ those​ moves​ because​ you​ are​ so​ “Bad”!​



As​ a​ young​ girl,​ I​ wished​ I​ would​ one​ day​ meet​ you​ and​ have​ you​ tell​ me​ that​ I​ was​ a​ “P.Y.T.​ (Pretty​ Young​ Thing)”.​ My​ fantasies​ didn’t​ stop​ there.​ I​ also​ hoped​ I​ would​ one​ day​ hear​ you​ ask,​ “Will​ you​ be​ “The Lady In My Life” or “Baby Be Mine”?​ We​ would​ walk​ into​ a​ room​ arm​ in​ arm,​ and​ you​ would​ proclaim​ “The Girl Is Mine”.​ You​ would​ whisper​ to​ your​ friends,​ “She Drives Me Wild”​ and​ I​ “Can't​ Let​ Her​ Get​ Away”. “It's​ The​ Falling​ In​ Love”​ that​ gives​ me​ the​ “Butterflies”.​ I​ know.​ I​ know.​ I​ had​ big​ dreams….Me?​ Michael​ Jackson’s​ “Girlfriend”!!!!​ You​ couldn’t​ possibly​ be​ a​ “Heartbreaker”​ and​ spending​ time​ with​ “Billie Jean”, the “Liberian Girl”​ or​ “Dirty​ Diana”.​ Could​ you?



That​ young​ girl​ grew​ up​ to​ be​ a​ woman.​ You​ became​ more​ to​ me​ than​ a​ crush.​ You​ became​ a​ beacon​ of​ light​ and​ an​ agent​ of​ change.​ Not​ only​ did​ you​ captivate​ me,​ but​ you​ captivated​ the​ world.​ If​ only​ for​ a​ moment,​ because​ of​ you,​ people​ felt​ that​ “We​ Are​ The​ World”.​ The​ world​ started​ to​ consider​ that​ we​ should​ “Come Together”​ to​ make​ things​ better​ for​ mankind.​ We​ also​ took​ time​ to​ look​ at​ “The​ Man​ In​ The​ Mirror”​ to​ contemplate​ if​ it​ really​ mattered​ if​ we​ were​ “Black Or White”.​ For​ this,​ “I​ Just​ Can't​ Stop​ Loving​ You”.​ Now​ that​ you​ are​ gone,​ I​ wonder​ if​ “This Time Around”​ we​ will​ get​ it​ right.​ “Whatever Happens”​ now​ will​ be​ up​ to​ those​ you​ left​ behind.



“I​ Can't​ Help​ It”,​ I​ just​ want​ to​ “Scream”.​ What​ is​ upsetting​ me​ is​ that​ the​ media​ always​ “Wanna​ Be​ Startin'​ Somethin'”…even​ after​ your​ death.​ They​ need​ to​ “Beat It”.​ This​ is​ a​ time​ to​ celebrate​ your​ life,​ but​ they​ continue​ to​ try​ to​ portray​ you​ as​ a​ “Smooth Criminal”.​ I​ believe​ you​ were​ just​ a​ man​ in​ search​ of​ your​ “Childhood”.​ I​ hope​ you​ knew​ that​ “You Are Not Alone”​ in​ believing​ in​ your​ innocence.​ You​ and​ “The Lost Children”​ you​ tried​ to​ help​ and​ love​ were​ “Just Good Friends”.​ For​ those​ of​ you​ who​ may​ be​ a​ “Tabloid Junkie”,​ you​ may​ want​ to​ consider​ this​ truth​ for​ a​ change.​ It​ was​ simply​ a​ case​ of​ people​ attempting​ to​ get​ Michael’s​ “Money”.



During​ the​ maelstrom​ of​ negative​ publicity,​ I​ am​ sure​ you​ wanted​ to​ yell​ “Why​ You​ Wanna​ Trip​ On​ Me”, just "Leave​ Me​ Alone”!​ You​ were​ under​ attack​ and​ your​ reputation​ was​ “Threatened”.​ The​ media​ can​ be​ “Dangerous”​ when​ they​ decide​ to​ destroy​ someone’s​ career.​ “They​ Don't​ Care​ About​ Us”,​ but​ only​ want​ to​ control​ our​ mind​ and​ our​ perception.​ What​ they​ failed​ to​ realize​ is​ you​ were​ “Unbreakable”​ and​ nearly​ “Invincible”.​ I’m​ glad​ you​ were​ able​ to​ “Ease​ On​ Down​ The​ Road”​ and​ get​ some​ much​ needed​ “Privacy”​ and​ rest.​



You​ will​ go​ down​ in​ “HIStory”​ as​ the​ best​ musical​ artist​ that​ ever​ lived​ and​ graced​ the​ earth​ with​ your​ talent.​ You​ can​ rest​ in​ peace​ knowing​ your​ legacy​ will​ burn​ brighter​ than​ a​ light​ bulb​ with​ “2000 Watts”.​ If​ there​ is​ someone​ that​ cannot​ appreciate​ your​ contribution,​ that​ is​ “2 Bad” for them.



Yesterday,​ before​ I​ received​ confirmation​ of​ your​ passing,​ I​ prayed​ and​ hoped​ “Heaven Can Wait”.​ Unfortunately,​ you​ really​ are​ “Gone Too Soon”​ and​ will​ definitely​ be​ sorely​ missed.​ I​ feel​ “Another Part Of Me”​ has​ been​ taken​ away.​ When​ I​ get​ to​ heaven,​ “Will You Be There”?​ Of​ course.​ Until​ then,​ I​ will​ continue​ to​ “Keep The Faith”​ that​ you​ are​ in​ a​ better​ place.​ We​ can​ all​ “Smile”​ knowing​ this.​



Danetria​ Rene​ Craig

http://community.mtv.com/Discussion...-and-his-family/0D3FCFFFF01BFEF51000900C15F67

 

[Limonali]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

MJJLaugh, thanks for all your hard work on this thread.

 

[Rockin.]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

Thank you MJJLaugh.

There is a lot of good stuff to get through here.

 

[MsMo]

Re: MJJC Legacy Project: Michael Through the Years

:flowers: Great job as always!