Positive websites and videos that celebrate MJ

Status
Not open for further replies.
Those who worked with the icon share their memories of Michael
By // Miki Turner


MJ-Darlene.jpg



DARLENE DONLOE, HIStory Tour Publicist

Q/ Can you describe what it was like meeting Mike for the first time?

A/ When I got the position as publicist for the HIStory Tour, I was told not to speak to Mr. Jackson until he first spoke to me. I had been on the tour for two weeks before I met him. I thought it was a bit strange considering I had to accompany him whenever he made personal appearances. Finally, I decided to step up and introduce myself to MJ. I figured the only thing they could do is send me home. So, one day, while we were in a record store, I walked up to Michael and introduced myself. I said, 'hi, I'm Darlene. I'm your publicist." He said, "hi. are you going to do the whole tour?" I said, 'yes, unless you know something I don't know.' We both chuckled. He became comfortable with me rather quickly. He soon started telling his fans he would sign their autographs only if it was OK with me. I found that amusing. I found out later that before I introduced myself he knew exactly who I was. He had asked several people, "who is the black girl?"

Q/ What do you think people would be most surprised to know about him?

A/ That he was pretty normal. He also has an incredible memory.

Q/ It's been a year since his death, is it still so surreal to you? Why?

A/ It's totally surreal. I still find it very hard to believe he's gone. It just doesn't feel right. There is an emptiness. It's hard to believe because he was such a big, vibrant talent and personality. Sometimes when I hear his music on the radio, I get sad. But, then I remember that he left us all an incredible amount of music that we can listen to for the rest of our lives. The world has lost someone very special.

Q/ Do you really think this would have been his last tour?

A/ No, I don't think 'This is It' would have been his last tour. Michael loved to perform. His fans would have persuaded him to do more tours and he would have obliged them.

Q/ What impact has his death had on you and the way you live your own lives?

A/ It may sound like a cliche, but his death is a reminder that we're all here but for a moment. Live life to the fullest. Dance like no one is watching. It's a reminder for us to do what we love and to live each day like it's our last.

Q/ What's your funniest memory of Mike?

A/ Michael was making an appearance outside of the Opera House in Sydney, Australia. We were standing backstage waiting for him to go on when I noticed his pants were unzipped. I looked at him and pretended to zip my own pants. He looked down, turned around, zipped up his pants and then turned back and looked at me. He then looked at my pants as if to say my zipper was also down. I looked down. My pants weren't unzipped. I looked at him. We both laughed. He liked to joke. He loved to laugh.

Q/ How do you think he'd like to be remembered?

A/ As the King of Pop. No one did it better.

Q/ How will you commemorate this anniversary?

A/ By remembering the man and his music.

My favorite memory: Standing in the wings night after night watching Michael Jackson perform. He was something to watch. He was magical. He was brilliant!
 
Michael Jackson - Best personal moments on stage (live in Helsinki)


"I love you more. I love you most!" - MJ
No Michael, we love you more. We love you most! Forever in our hearts, etched into our souls, chiseled in our spirit.
And by loving you, we cannot help but love all of those that you loved.
Our Family of Love! :heart:


 
Remembering the times
Those who worked with the icon share their memories of Michael
By // Miki Turner

MJ-Dorian.jpg



DORIAN HOLLEY, vocal director and backup singer

Q/ Can you describe what it was like meeting Mike for the first time?

A/ Meeting MJ for the first time was funny. I had been working all day, (not singing) and was told on the phone he wanted to meet the band, like, right now. No time to clean up. No time to dress up. I was across town, all the way on one end of L.A. He was on the other. So, I was pretty raggedy. I didn’t have no kind of vibe. Total goober. Not at all prepared to meet the King of Pop for the first time. Most of the band didn’t have good paying jobs so we looked like regular nerds. So, we meet him. Michael looks us up and down and you could see this look of worry. He had that "I don’t know" look in his eyes. In retrospect it was hilarious. Presentation is everything. First impressions and all that. But back then, I didn’t have a clue.

Q/ What do you think people would be most surprised to know about him?

A/ That he was all the way in charge. As sweet as he was, as gentle and kind as he was, Michael Jackson knew what he wanted. And, he knew how to get it.

Q/ It's been a year since his death, is it still so surreal to you? Why?

A/ It is still beyond belief. Some days I have to remind myself that he is gone. Not only do I not believe it. I don’t want to believe it. It's very difficult to accept. And some days it still hits hard.

Q/ You were with him the night before he died. What were your thoughts as he left the building?

A/ I was thinking we only had a few days left in Los Angeles before moving to London for three months.

Q/ Do you really think this would have been his last tour?

A/ Just as this tour would have been a tour like no other, I believe Michael would have figured out another way to bring people to him rather than the other way around. When you boil it down, we're entertainers. We've got to entertain folks. Ten years from now MJ wouldn’t be able to perform in the same way he has in the past. So, he would have figured something else out. He would have created something entirely new for his audience.

Q/ What impact has his death had on you and the way you live your own life?

A/ It is as if an earthquake hit me in the heart. I am devastated and it still hurts. People walk up to me and say they saw me in the film 'This is It,' and they are excited and happy for me. But, it makes me feel sad. It just reminds me that MJ is really gone. So, it kind of cuts. It's rough.

Q/ What's your funniest memory of Mike?

A/ During the show some nights, after a song ended I would walk by Michael, headed towards my spot on stage. I'd lean over and whisper to him his zipper was down — just a stupid, childish prank. He'd gasp and look down at his pants. He fell for it every time.

Q/ How do you think he'd like to be remembered?

A/ No two ways about it. Michael Jackson will be remembered as one of the greatest entertainers in the history of music.

Q/ How will you commemorate this anniversary?

A/ I will be in concert in Paris at the Zenith. It is an homage to MJ and his musical legacy. My friend, Jennifer Batten, guitarist from the Bad tour, will join me and we'll perform together for the first time in 20 years. My wife, Shawn Chapman Holley and youngest daughter Olivia will come along, and we'll remember Michael and all he left us. We'll celebrate his music.


Source:
http://myjet247.com/JETInsider/Music/Content.aspx?topic=Remember_the_Time&page=4
 
Dorian Holley talks about the This Is It rehearsals

Dorian Holley, the vocal director from This Is It talks about his memories of Michael Jackson and the rehearsals for his tour.


 
Last edited:
Michael Jackson Jehovah's Witness on Childhood, Sabbath and Freedom



In one of our conversations together, my friend Rabbi Shmuley told me that he had asked some of his colleagues–-writers, thinkers, and artists-–to pen their reflections on the Sabbath. He then suggested that I write down my own thoughts on the subject, a project I found intriguing and timely due to the recent death of Rose Fine, a Jewish woman who was my beloved childhood tutor and who traveled with me and my brothers when we were all in the Jackson Five.

"What I wanted more than anything was to be ordinary. The Sabbath was when I could be."

Childhood "Have you seen my childhood? I’m searching for that wonder in my youth Like pirates in adventurous dreams, Of conquest and kings on the throne…"

Last Friday night I joined Rabbi Shmuley, his family, and their guests for the Sabbath dinner at their home. What I found especially moving was when Shmuley and his wife placed their hands on the heads of their young children, and blessed them to grow to be like Abraham and Sarah, which I understand is an ancient Jewish tradition. This led me to reminisce about my own childhood, and what the Sabbath meant to me growing up.


There was one day a week, however, that I was able to escape the stages of Hollywood and the crowds of the concert hall. That day was the Sabbath. In all religions, the Sabbath is a day that allows and requires the faithful to step away from the everyday and focus on the exceptional. I learned something about the Jewish Sabbath in particular early on from Rose, and my friend Shmuley further clarified for me how, on the Jewish Sabbath, the everyday life tasks of cooking dinner, grocery shopping, and mowing the lawn are forbidden so that humanity may make the ordinary extraordinary and the natural miraculous. Even things like shopping or turning on lights are forbidden. On this day, the Sabbath, everyone in the world gets to stop being ordinary.

But what I wanted more than anything was to be ordinary. So, in my world, the Sabbath was the day I was able to step away from my unique life and glimpse the everyday.

michael-jackson3.jpg


Sundays were my day for "Pioneering," the term used for the missionary work that Jehovah’s Witnesses do. We would spend the day in the suburbs of Southern California, going door to door or making the rounds of a shopping mall, distributing our Watchtower magazine. I continued my pioneering work for years and years after my career had been launched.

Up to 1991, the time of my Dangerous tour, I would don my disguise of fat suit, wig, beard, and glasses and head off to live in the land of everyday America, visiting shopping plazas and tract homes in the suburbs. I loved to set foot in all those houses and catch sight of the shag rugs and La-Z-Boy armchairs with kids playing Monopoly and grandmas baby-sitting and all those wonderfully ordinary and, to me, magical scenes of life. Many, I know, would argue that these things seem like no big deal. But to me they were positively fascinating.

The funny thing is, no adults ever suspected who this strange bearded man was. But the children, with their extra intuition, knew right away. Like the Pied Piper of Hamlin, I would find myself trailed by eight or nine children by my second round of the shopping mall. They would follow and whisper and giggle, but they wouldn't reveal my secret to their parents. They were my little aides.


Hey, maybe you bought a magazine from me. Now you’re wondering, right?


Sundays were sacred for two other reasons as I was growing up. They were both the day that I attended church and the day that I spent rehearsing my hardest. This may seem against the idea of "rest on the Sabbath," but it was the most sacred way I could spend my time: developing the talents that God gave me. The best way I can imagine to show my thanks is to make the very most of the gift that God gave me.


Church was a treat in its own right. It was again a chance for me to be "normal." The church elders treated me the same as they treated everyone else. And they never became annoyed on the days that the back of the church filled with reporters who had discovered my whereabouts. They tried to welcome them in. After all, even reporters are the children of God.


When I was young, my whole family attended church together in Indiana. As we grew older, this became difficult, and my remarkable and truly saintly mother would sometimes end up there on her own. When circumstances made it increasingly complex for me to attend, I was comforted by the belief that God exists in my heart, and in music and in beauty, not only in a building. But I still miss the sense of community that I felt there--I miss the friends and the people who treated me like I was simply one of them. Simply human. Sharing a day with God.


When I became a father, my whole sense of God and the Sabbath was redefined. When I look into the eyes of my son, Prince, and daughter, Paris, I see miracles and I see beauty. Every single day becomes the Sabbath. Having children allows me to enter this magical and holy world every moment of every day. I see God through my children. I speak to God through my children. I am humbled for the blessings He has given me.

There have been times in my life when I, like everyone, has had to wonder about God’s existence. When Prince smiles, when Paris giggles, I have no doubts. Children are God's gift to us. No--they are more than that--they are the very form of God's energy and creativity and love. He is to be found in their innocence, experienced in their playfulness.

My most precious days as a child were those Sundays when I was able to be free. That is what the Sabbath has always been for me. A day of freedom. Now I find this freedom and magic every day in my role as a father. The amazing thing is, we all have the ability to make every day the precious day that is the Sabbath. And we do this by rededicating ourselves to the wonders of childhood. We do this by giving over our entire heart and mind to the little people we call son and daughter. The time we spend with them is the Sabbath. The place we spend it is called Paradise.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


This story first ran on Beliefnet in December, 2000.




Source: http://www.freeminds.org/sociology/...witness-on-childhood-sabbath-and-freedom.html
 
Magical Child (Written by Michael Jackson)





Once there was a child and he was free
Deep inside, he felt the laughter
The mirth and play of nature's glee
He was not troubled by thoughts of hereafter
Beauty, love was all he'd see

He knew his power was the power of God
He was so sure, they considered him odd
This power of innocence, of compassion, of light
Threatened the priests and created a fright
In endless ways they sought to dismantle
This mysterious force which they could not handle

In endless ways they tried to destroy
His simple trust, his boundless joy
His invincible armor was a shield of bliss
Nothing could touch it, no venom, no hiss

The child remained in a state of grace
He wasn't confined in time or place
In Technicolor dreams, he frolicked and played
While acting his part, in Eternity he stayed

Soothsayers came and fortunes were told
Some were vehement, others were bold
In denouncing this child, this perplexing creature
With the rest of the world he shared no feature
Is he real? He is so strange
His unpredictable nature knows no range
He puzzles us so, is he straight?
What's his destiny? What's his fate?

And while they whispered and conspired
Through endless rumors to get him tired
To kill his wonder, trample him near
Burn his courage, fuel his fear
The child remained just simple, sincere

All he wanted was the mountain high
Color the clouds, paint the sky
Beyond these boundaries, he wanted to fly
In nature's scheme, never to die
Don't stop this child, he's the father of man
Don't cross his way, he's part of the plan
I am that Child, but so are you
You've just forgotten, just lost the clue

Inside your heart sits a Seer
Between his thoughts, he can hear
A melody simple but wondrously clear
The music of life, so precious, so dear

If you could for one moment know
This spark of creation, this exquisite glow
You would come and dance with me
Kindle this fire so we could see
All the children of the Earth
Weave their magic and give new birth
To a world of freedom with no pain
A world of joy, much more sane

Deep inside, you know it's true
Just find that child, it's hiding in you.

(part 2)
Magical child once felt a twinge
A faint recollection, a memory unhinged
In the colors, the forms, the hue
There seemed a mystery with a subtle clue
Behind the wind, the storm, the gale
Within the shroud, beyond the veil
Hidden from view in a wondrous pattern
There seemed a force that he could not fathom
Its music and cadence were playful and sweet
He danced in bliss to its throbbing beat
He did not mind either cold or heat
On the mountain high was his royal seat

Strangers came and scorned his joy
With ridicule and banter they tried to destroy
What in their minds was a skillful play
With cruel darts they tried to plunder
To suffocate and strangle his innocent wonder
Fighting hard, despite their blunder
Again and again to steal his thunder
Despite their attacks, they could not break
With all their barbs they could not take
God's gift of love, which they could not fake
Not knowing his strength or what he sought to seek
They complained aloud and called him a freak

But the mysterious force just kept its hold
Magical child grew brave and bold
Diving deep into his soul
In exquisite ecstasy he discovered his role
In his Self was infinite scope
This mysterious force was mankind's hope
Piercing through that mask of Being
In that silence beyond all seeing
Was a field with a different story
A field of power, of awesome glory
With other children, if unfurled
Its tidal wave would change the world
Magical child was ready to bow
Sow the seed, pick up the plough
With effortless ease, without a sigh
Without a tear, without a cry
With silent perfection
Under God's direction
To sing together as one race
Stem the tide, transform this place

Magical children, don't worry how
Don't delay, this moment's now

from the book
**DANCING THE DREAM by Michael Jackson**
(published 1992)
 
Elmira et al, you are all posting such wonderful things here. I love it. I just watched Michael's best moments, which I so enjoyed. Thank you for these precious Michael videos and stories. Much L.O.V.E. :better::wub::angel:
 
This excellent article highlights Michael's business genius. I wonder if a positive reaction on our part is due here.

3 Lessons In Brand Management From Michael Jackson

July 13, 2010 by Larissa
Just 3 weeks prior, on the 25th of June, many around the world gathered to mark the one year death anniversary of the legendary singer who was the self-styled “King of Pop”. Whatever mud his name may have been dragged through in recent years because of his personal and very public eccentricities, what is undeniable is this: Michael Jackson was and continues to be a highly successful brand that has revolutionized the music industry in ways that no one has come close to doing in recent years.

Michael Jackson, the brand, also remains highly lucrative after his death. Billboard magazine estimates that Michael Jackson’s estate raised approximately $1 billion (£670 million) since his death one year ago.

So what’s all this talk about Michael Jackson again? Well, his succcessful singing career can teach us valuable lessons on brand management. Here are 3 key lessons that we oursevles have learnt.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) Build A Global Brand

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To build a global brand, in entrepreneur speak, would mean to build a product/service that is replicable and scalable such that it can gain market traction rapidly. Think Michael Jackson’s worldwide phenomenon was a fluke? Wrong.

Before releasing his first solo album “Off the Wall”, record studio executives were already planning for it to be released on the global stage. “Our whole mind-set was that we were making music for the masses, and part of the big picture was to get the record company to turn around and market and promote to a mass market,” says Ron Weisner, who was co-managing Jackson with Freddy DeMann at the time. “Our attitude was, ‘Let the public decide — don’t just present it to a black market only.’”

Black artists were being sidelined during the 1970’s as a result of the Album Oriented Rock (AOR) format that radio stations across America adopted. AOR meant that program directors of radio stations discarded the wide range of musical genres embraced in earlier periods and focused almost entirely on a rock – centric sound. As such, folk, jazz and blues selections became rarer and program directors also blocked out black artists from having airtime.

This is why Michael Jackson elbowing himself into global consciousness is so phenomenal in itself because he was the first ever black artist to break down the racial and musical barriers and carve a place for himself as the “King Of Pop”.


How Michael Jackson and his team achieved that was to simultaneously release his singles across different platforms instead of carrying out promotion in a stepwise manner. After Epic Record’s (Michael Jackson’s recording label at that time) pop and R&B promotion teams heard “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” they knew that the record was going to be worldwide hit and the team therefore took the unprecedented step of promoting singles to R&B and pop radio at the same time. “It wasn’t the usual ‘Build up the artist at urban radio first and then go to pop,’” said Maurice Warfield (former West Coast regional urban promotion manager).

Moreover, when “Thriller” was released 1982, Epic’s head of promotion, Frank Dielo, decided to release two singles concurrently in order to broaden the album’s audience. Eventually, 7 of the album’s 9 tracks hit Billboard’s Top 10 and his hit song “Thriller” stayed at No. 1 for 37 nonconsecutive weeks.

More than tactical strategizing, Michael Jackson made music which would appeal to a global audience. Who wouldn’t groove along to “Thriller” or be mesmerized by the magic of his James Brown inspired moonwalk? National, racial, age and gender boundaries ceased to exists with his music. And in 1985, We Are the World”, written by Jackson and Lionel Ritchie in 1985, cemented his global appeal.


I guess the message embedded here is to find a product or service that fulfils a fundamental human need – be it whether it is a human desire for connection (as social networks have taken care of) or whether it is a need for zippers (as zipper brand YKK has seen to). In coming up with a new product, the foremost concern shouldn’t be how “sexy” the technology is but more importantly, is this product relevant to people and how does it fit into their everyday lives?

Remember: it is always people before technology.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(2) Take Risks and Be Visible

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael Jackson was not only a talented singer but he innately understood the visual dynamics that would lend dimensions to his performance. As with brands, it is important to have certain visual hallmarks that are easily recognizable, distinct and resonate with the language of your brand. Michael Jackson as a performer understood this well.


Visual hallmarks of Michael Jackson includes his iconic crystal studded gloves, his eye catching costumes like the red ensemble worn in “Thriller” and of course, who could forget the white socks worn as Jackson moonwalked his way to history in “Billie Jean”? The white socks against his black loafers were arguably a calculated visual ploy on his part as they eyes would have been drawn to the stark contrast of white and black thereby concentrating the viewer on his now legendary dance moves. No, this combination was not new as even as early as 1951 Gene Kelly, wearing white socks and loafers, danced and charmed the world in “American in Paris.” But Michael Jackson borrowed well and achieved his objectives.


Michael Jackson performing the moonwalk

Aside from his visual extravaganza as a performer, Michael Jackson one of the forerunners of the MTV generation and one of the very few who executed it well. As what Weisner says, Jackson’s vision for “Thriller” was to “take it to the next giant level… It was about how we were going to marry the album with the visual extension.”

Videos enabled Michael Jackson to create a whole new way of experiencing his music. The audience could now experience music combined with sleek dance moves and visual effects. His videos were “not so much promotional vehicles for his songs as they were mini-movies, big-budget showcases for Michael Jackson: The Icon”.

MTV wasn’t the only TV exposure that changed the course of Jackson’s career. On May 16, 1983, NBC broadcast “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,” and Jackson performed an instantly iconic rendition of “Billie Jean” and unveiled his sequined glove and the James Brown-inspired moonwalk. The next day, Fred Astaire called Jackson to congratulate him.

Fundamentally, the way Michael Jackson managed to control the media to amplify his brand is what’s noteworthy here. He was the part 24/7 be it on stage or off. This lesson is important as we arrive at a time where it is no longer possible for CEO’s and company bigwigs to direct consumers from within their gilded cages. We have moved past the stage where companies could find success organizing expensive advertising campaigns which essentially shout at the consumer in order to get their attention. With social networking, companies are moving forward with consumer engagement whereby spreading the brand’s message is now about tapping into the conversations that one’s customers are having about one’s brand.

As such, companies have now begun to put a human face to their brands with CEO’s and other executives blogging, tweeting and even starring in their company’s videos as they find new ways to communicate with their customers. In this respect, we can take a leaf from Michael Jackson’s book – by creating iconic visual hallmarks and engaging people through mediums which he could command, Michael Jackson ensured that the reach of his music extended as far as it could and in the process, cemented his place in pop history.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(3) Talk Is Free, Ideas Are Cheap. Building A Brand Is HARD WORK

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of who are sitting at your office desks, daydreaming about one day becoming your own boss so that you can point some middle fingers at your current employer? Wake up from your reverie – this lesson is for you.

Building an enduring brand goes beyond just having a good idea. What it takes is many years of hard work and perseverance before one can even get a crack of success. Michael Jackson began performing by the age of 4, as the lead singer of Jackson’s 5 which formed in 1964. 8 years later, at the tender age of 12, launched his solo career by releasing his first No. 1 solo single “Ben”, an ode to his pet rat.


Michael Jackson as part of the Jackson 5 in 1968

The point is this: Michael Jackson had undeniable talent but the success he attained was not because of his talent alone or through mere “luck”. Michael Jackson worked hard to build his brand, slaving away during his childhood years in recording studios, hauling himself across the state to play at unknown venues with the Jackson 5 such that by the time he was 19, he was already on the top of his game and ready to take on the world stage with his music.

The fact is that building a brand means a lot of sacrifice but no one wants to acknowledge the dirty work.

http://sgentrepreneurs.com/commentary/2010/07/13/3-lessons-in-brand-management-from-michael-jackson/
 
WEEP NOT FOR ME

mj_2009.jpg



Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell
among the wonders of the earth; for my larger
self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other
side of pain...on the other side of darkness.

Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine
that touches your skin, a tropical breeze
upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart
and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your
hour of need, I will be there to comfort you.
I will share your tears, your joys, your fears,
your disappointments and your triumphs.

Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels,
and hear the music beyond the stars.

Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses
the flowers. I am the calm that follows a
raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats
among the garden of God, and I am pure
white snow that softly falls upon your hand.

Do not weep for me, for I shall never die,
as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.

Credits to: Joe Fazio

Source: http://its-all-for-love.blogspot.com/2010/06/weep-not-for-me.html
 
Weep not for me... Poem for Michael Jackson

The instrumental piano piece is called "The Last Man" by Clint Mansell.
While the subject of this poem is about the physical separation called death, which causes us sadness and grief, I find the words of the poem very comforting. It's as if the clouds obscure the moon from our sight, yet even while we cannot see it, it is still there!
May you find comfort too!


 
WEEP NOT FOR ME

mj_2009.jpg



Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell
among the wonders of the earth; for my larger
self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other
side of pain...on the other side of darkness.

Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine
that touches your skin, a tropical breeze
upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart
and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your
hour of need, I will be there to comfort you.
I will share your tears, your joys, your fears,
your disappointments and your triumphs.

Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels,
and hear the music beyond the stars.

Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses
the flowers. I am the calm that follows a
raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats
among the garden of God, and I am pure
white snow that softly falls upon your hand.

Do not weep for me, for I shall never die,
as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.

Credits to: Joe Fazio

Source: http://its-all-for-love.blogspot.com/2010/06/weep-not-for-me.html

:cry:
 
[size=+1]It's a MJ Thing[/size]

maninthemirror.jpg



* Making my heart melt to “Human Nature” or '’Butterflies”

* Sings like an angel and moves like a gazelle

* Inspiring other artists to contribute to the L.O.V.E. by singing Jackson 5 songs, or your solo work in your honor

* Rocking the gold pants like nobody’s business

* Giving the music industry the BLUEPRINT of how to handle business

* Putting prayers into his lyrics

* Wearing your favorite worn black loafers whether your relaxing around the house or performing in front of thousands of fans

* Touches the soul of millions

* Uniting people of all races, cultures, and nationalities to help ~heal the world~

* People crying an ocean with their tears after his passing



skynews_534916327%5B1%5D.jpg




* Saying "Shamone" multiple times in your conversations

* Yep I love everybody here u know? =)

* Makin' ya grandpa scream with his "I Heart MJ" shirt on and then making him faint

* I’m proud to say I’m a MJ junkie!!

* Losing friends because they don't support my feelings for Michael

* Having to move because your MJ stuff doesn't fit your apartment anymore!!!

* Having a huge Internet family that loves you :)

* Fans who will always be there no matter what


mjpic.jpg


Source: http://its-all-for-love.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-mj-thing.html
 
Michael Jackson Fan Video -Fall Again

Michael at Disney, December 1st, 2002
Sweet, Shy, Sexy, Sincere
:heart:

 
Music is only Love looking for words


MJJ.jpg


"Music is only love looking for words"- Lawrence Dunnell


You had the voice that kept me in awe,


You danced with such magic and poise, the best I ever saw.


You were the chosen one, sending the gift of L.O.V.E.,


No doubt in my mind, you were blessed by Our Father above.


Words are hard to find, to express my gratitude-


Thank you for the message in your music Michael...I love you.



Source: //its-all-for-love.blogspot.com/2010/01/music-is-only-love-looking-for-words.html
 
Child Of Innocence (written by Michael Jackson)





Child of innocence, I miss your sunny days
We joyously frolicked in extended plays
Ever since youve left the scene
The streets are lonely, dark, and mean

Child of innocence, return to me now
With your simple smile show them how
This world once again can respond to your glance
And heartbeats flutter to the rhythm of your dance

Child of innocence, your elegance, your beauty
Beckons me now beyond the call of duty
Come fly with me far and above
Over the mountains in the land of love

Child of innocence, messenger of joy
You've touched my heart without a ploy
My soul is ablaze with a flagrant fire
To change this world is my deepest desire.

**DANCING THE DREAM by Michael Jackson** (published 1992)
 
Michael Jackson Fan Video -Fall Again

Michael at Disney, December 1st, 2002
Sweet, Shy, Sexy, Sincere


Omigahhhd. Yes. You described him (especially in this video) perfectly. :wub: Not a hint of make-up and he looked more gorgeous than ever. So so heart-melting.
 
[size=+1]Letter to Michael[/size]


blogtitle_raindrops_bg_final2.jpg



Sunday, January 24, 2010

Dearest Michael,

I'm thinking of you, how sweet you look in the This Is It rehearsals. You're so animated, dynamic, delicate, fierce, pure, commanding, shy, dazzling, humble, flawless, beautiful, unpretentious, agile, soft, quick, gentle. You are the dance, you are the music, you are the message.

When I see you singing Earth Song in the cherry-picker ~ forests burning behind you, wars waging, Earth crying ~ I see in that moment the culmination of all your work, and I feel I've seen onstage the complete fulfillment of your prophetic calling. Could that last night be the crescendo, when your work here was finally finished in God's eyes?

Soon after your death I learned, from fans who'd seen you return home, that the clothes you wore during that rehearsal were those you wore the night before you died. Had we witnessed the very night your mission here was complete?

Selfishly, we wanted you to stay ... the world needs you. But you were taken from us. With your passing we sense an elegant and vast energy has been sucked out of Earth's atmosphere. It feels colder, darker, harsher now. Yet we have to live in this void you've left behind and then begin to refill it.

I pray you speak to God on our behalf. Help us know the truth yet be strengthened to go on and complete our mission, keep your legacy alive and pure, and do our part to make this a better place.

God bless you forever ...



Source: http://its-all-for-love.blogspot.com/2010/01/letter-to-michael.html
 
Love letters from Michael Jackson to his Fans


"....Love letters straight from your heart
Keep us so near, while apart..."

 
Michael Jackson And Johnny Depp…A Cosmic Connection?

JUSTTOOOSEXY-228x300.jpg

Johnny_Depp___Benny_and_Joon.jpg



This falls under the heading of things that just plain make you wonder. But when a comparison just keeps cropping up over and over again (and you start to realize you’re not the only person who has noticed it) you really do have to ponder if you just might be onto something. I’ll just say that when I heard about Michael’s kids seeing Alice in Wonderland this past weekend, I couldn’t help but wonder if they didn’t see a little bit of Daddy in The Mad Hatter, as well.

Or let me just put it to you the way my boyfriend put it to me: Somewhere, somehow, Michael Jackson and Johnny Depp crossed on an astral plane.

Recently, I started thinking about this. I wondered…it has to be something more than just that they bore a slight physical resemblance to each other when they both donned their goofy hats. It’s something in their overall personae-that same sort of Chaplin-esque vibe; the pathos; the quirkiness and eccentricities. For starters, I don’t find it a bit odd that shortly after Michael’s death, when some fans were discussing who might be the best actor to ever play him in a biopic, the name Johnny Depp came up more than once. In fact, too many times to count.

02-3.jpg


johnnydepp3-150x150.jpg


Well, okay, let’s just put aside for a minute the argument of political correctness. Obviously, Johnny Depp is a white man. Michael was a black man with vitiligo, which made him look white, but…well, you get the idea. The fact is, Michael belongs by right to the African-American community. He’s a black American. But if you put aside race for a moment…really, could there be any actor better qualified to capture Michael’s eccentric and childlike charm?

At least according to this article, Johnny Depp and Jamie Foxx have been the top Hollywood contenders to play Michael SHOULD a biopic ever come to pass. However, Depp (at least so far) has been very reluctant to consider it, for the reasons he gives here:

http://www.ifc.com/blogs/indie-ear/2009/07/the-king-of-pop-johnny-depp-hu.php

The fact is, not only do they seem to have a cosmic connection, but I would go so far as to say that Johnny Depp just may owe his success to Michael Jackson. Why? Well, remember a little movie called Edward Scissorhands? The movie that proved to be Johnny Depp’s breakthrough as well as his initial introduction to Tim Burton? (And for the record, it has largely been Depp’s connection to Tim Burton that has been responsible for, I’d say, 95% of his success in film).

Well, here’s a little-known fact. Tim Burton originally wanted Michael for the role of Edward! And Michael reportedly was very excited about the project. This Wikipedia entry tells a little bit about Michael’s proposed involvement with Edward Scissorhands:

Michael Jackson was actually Burton’s first choice for the role of Edward, but in some way it did not happen. Why it didn’t happen remains a mystery, since Jackson himself allegedly was interested in the part.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands

Actually, as I recall reading elsewhere, it may have been due to the simple fact that Michael was still on his Bad tour at the time. In some ways, it’s a shame it did not pan out. Michael would have been perfect as the whimsical, childlike and misunderstood Edward, who is forced to retreat from a world that views him as a freak. (And if you still just “don’t see it”, well, look at some of those old stills from Edward Scissorhands, and then look at Michael in his Bad costume!).

edward-241x300.jpg

The Role of Edward Scissorhands Went to Johnny Depp...But Michael Was Tim Burton's Original Choice

bad-200x300.png


Apparently, Michael’s love affair with Edward didn’t end when he lost out on the role, since he later purchased the scissorhand props that Johnny Depp wore, and displayed them at Neverland for years. The hands, along with several other items Michael owned, were sold at auction last year:

http://www.artfagcity.com/2009/02/23/many-crowns-of-michael-jackson-to-be-auctioned-this-april/

Edward Scissorhands, of course, turned out to be just the break that Johnny Depp needed to kickstart his career in motion pictures. Before that, his main claim to fame had been as a teen heartthrob in the TV series 21 Jumpstreet. But here’s another thought to ponder. Did Johnny Depp base his interpretation and performance of the character on Michael Jackson?

michael-jacksons-scissorhands-300x245.jpg

Michael Owned Edward's Scissorhands

There has been a lot of speculation about that through the years. In fact, it’s been pointed out by many observant fans and critics alike that many of Depp’s most well-known performances seem to bear more than an uncanny comparison to The King of Pop. Certainly his Willy Wonka in 2005′s Charlie and The Chocolate Factory had a lot of tongues wagging and pundits wondering. Although Depp has continued to staunchly deny having based the character on Michael, there are still enough similarities to make you wonder. For example, the whole concept of the magical but lonely chocolate factory, this wonderland that Wonka has created that in turn has made him a prisoner, did seem oddly symbolic of Michael’s Neverland. In the movie, Willy Wonka proposes a worldwide contest to give five children the opportunity for a golden ticket to get inside the chocolate factory. It seems he is doing the kids a favor. But as it turns out, Willy Wonka is just a very lonely man who is estranged from his own family and looking for friends (other than Oompa-loompas). The storyline with the estranged father was also eerily similar to Michael’s relationship with Joseph.

However much one could argue that this was all just part of the script or the original story, it may be just as revealing to look at how Depp interprets the character. He has said that he based the character on the childrens’ TV show hosts he remembered. This is probably true, BUT…

Ghost.jpg

Michael As "The Maestro" in Ghosts...Did This Very Tim Burton-Like Character Influence Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka?

Take a good look at Michael Jackson’s Maestro character from Ghosts. Although The Meastro is certainly a bit more likeable than Depp’s Willy Wonka, he still has that same sort of creepy/funny/sarcastic vibe. The first time I really noticed the similarity was the scene where the parents start to get scared and nervous and are saying they should really go. It’s that moment when The Maestro snaps his fingers and goes, “Helloooo? Are we having fun yet?” (There’s also a wonderful Kathy Bates ala’ Misery touch to that scene as well).

I don’t think it was any accident that Ghosts bore a more than passing resemblance to a Tim Burton production. Michael was a fan of Tim Burton, and I’m willing to bet that Johnny Depp, at some point, not only watched Ghosts but was taking some very careful notes.

Compare:

Michael in this clip from Ghosts (By the way, that is also Michael playing The Mayor…in a toupee, a fat suit and a ton of makeup!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXdPQMxU6-U

And this clip of Johnny from Charlie and The Chocolate Factory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBig2JKkGTc&feature=related

Unfortunately, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory had the misfortune of bad timing. It came out in July of 2005-a mere month after Michael’s circus of a trial which had ended in a verdict of “Not Guilty” on 14 counts. However, thanks to the media’s brainwashing, most people still thought he was guilty. So it was not surprising that critics and the public alike immediately jumped on the “creepier” aspects of Willy Wonka’s likeness to Michael, rather than the charming, magical or whimsical elements. In fact, though this is mere speculation on my part, I’ve often wondered if this wasn’t why Depp downplayed the comparison. Given the political climate at the time in regards to all things MJ, it does make you wonder. I also have a very vivid memory of Roger Ebert saying that the character Willy Wonka bears “a resemblance to a certain creepy pop star”-a remark I’ve never quite forgiven, despite his glowing review of This Is It).

michael-willywonka-300x224.jpg


johnny-depp-willywonka-228x300.jpg


But this isn’t the only evidence to show that Michael and Johnny had a cosmic connection through the years. In Benny and Joon, Depp played a dyslexic character named Sam who, like Edward Scissorhands, seemed to share the same sort of pathos and comic vulnerability as Michael. This was not entirely accidental, since Michael was a long-time admirer of Charlie Chaplin and other silent film stars. As I wrote a few days ago, Michael developed his Billie Jean personae in part based on Chaplin’s Little Tramp character. In Benny and Joon, Johnny Depp’s character Sam is a lonely, eccentric young man who imitates the silent film stars he idolizes-Chaplin, Buster Keaton, etc. I think this is largely why I see so much of Michael in Sam-in this case, not because Depp was copying Michael directly, but because of the shared influence of Chaplin and Keaton.

For example, watch this famous scene from Benny and Joon in which Sam uses his hat to create illusion and magic, a routine copied from Charlie Chaplin (the scene begins at 2:49):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zAS_el9lA

Now watch Michael doing a very similar (if albeit, shortened) routine here in Billie Jean (starts at 7:50):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w105XxxaRMQ

In 2004, Johnny Depp’s portrayal of the 17th Earl of Rochester, John Wilmot, also drew comparisons to Michael, though as with Willy Wonka, not in the most favorable sense (critics compared the scene where the syphillis-stricken Wilmot, wearing a bandage over his decaying nose, stands to address the court in King Charles’ favor). I have to say, though, that I see a deeper connection. In that scene, what so many were missing, is the crucial connection-that Wilmot, though a sick and dying man, finds within himself the strength to stand up for what he believes in. This film, ironically, came out the year before Michael’s trial, yet the parallels are amazing.

Perhaps, however, the crowning achievement of this weirdly “cosmic connection” came about when Johnny Depp portayed J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan, in the 2004 film Finding Neverland. It seems tragically fitting somehow that Johnny Depp should have won the role of the man who probably played one of the biggest roles in shaping Michael’s life. Not that I have ever bought wholeheartedly into the whole Peter Pan thing with Michael-I think that was largely an exaggerated myth-but for sure, it was a myth that played a big role in his life. (After all, he named his own home Neverland).

It also seemed a sad way to bring things full circle that year. In 1989, Michael Jackson, a world-renowned superstar was Tim Burton’s first choice for Edward Scissorhands, while Johnny Depp was merely a fledgling actor struggling to get a break. In 2004, Depp earned an Academy Award nomination for portraying J.M. Barrie-while meanwhile, the man who had built a career as the living embodiment of Barrie’s greatest creation, was facing indictment for molestation charges.

After his acquittal, Michael chose to leave the US for awhile to live abroad. He rightly felt in many ways that the US judicial system had failed him, but even moreso, the US media. Johnny Depp, likewise has spent the last few years living mostly abroad, and just as with Michael, has for the most part turned his back on the press. “All they do is twist your words,” he said, echoing almost exactly the same sentiment Michael had expressed years before.

l_1a72fbbad6824bc59f4d8a6e731b5eb8-217x300.jpg


johnnydepp2-300x229.jpg



So in all those years of having similar influences, of vying for the same roles, interacting in many of the same circles, knowing many of the same people, and no doubt studying each other and finding common ground in each others’ work, what did these two really think of each other?

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any quotes from Michael regarding Johnny Depp, so insofar as in his own words, I couldn’t tell you. But I do know that Johnny had this to say about Michael:

“Well, obviously hearing about the sad passing of Michael Jackson, for anyone – for all of us – it’s very, very tragic. Some children lost a father; some parents lost a child; some brothers and sisters lost a sibling; so that’s obviously very sad. I had great respect for what he’s done, his work over the years. He’s a real genius.”-Johnny Depp.

http://news.fan-sites.org/2009/07/05/a-real-genius-johnny-depp-eulogizes-michael-jackson/

In looking at the connection between Michael Jackson and Johnny Depp, however, I think one fact above all cannot be underestimated. While they may have had similarities insofar as their quirky childlike charm and pathos, these were all the qualities that Michael possessed naturally, whereas with Depp, one always gets the feeling that it’s a very clever and carefully calculated act. Could it be possible that, just as Michael (whether consciously or not) took on the personae of Chaplin and others, that Depp likewise took on the personae of Michael Jackson in the creation of many of his roles? I really don’t think it’s that far-fetched, when you consider that Depp, one of Hollywood’s greatest method actors of recent years, has admitted the debt he owes to Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, and other pop culture figures whom his performances have mimicked.

However, he just may owe his greatest debt to Michael Jackson, the man who not only paved the way for Depp’s stardom when he had to pass on Edward Scissorhands, but who also without doubt continued by providing inspiration for some of his most memorable and beloved characters.


Source: http://allforloveblog.com/?cat=7
 
Ice Dance - Michael Jackson

Music by Danny Elfman - Ice Dance (Edward Scissorhands OST)


 
[size=+1]The Gary, Indiana Tour[/size]

Michael Jackson and all of his siblings were born in the town of Gary, Indiana. Gary is about 30 miles southeast of Chicago. Many of the buildings that were there when Michael was born are still standing today and look much like they did throughout the 1960s, when Michael lived in Gary. You may see the photos below and not see much "beauty--but beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the beauty contained within these buildings is a beauty of history, a subject that was fond to Michael's heart, too. It is an amazing ability to essentially go back in time when Michael was a little boy and see the things he saw, walk where he once walked, and in some way feel what he once felt. These buildings will likely not stand for many more years though it would be one of my greatest hopes that the city of Gary save and revitalize these buildings and not tear them down, regardless of any type of association with Michael or not. They can be saved. They should be saved. It is always sad, at least to me, to see a part of important history erased.

Below is a tour guide for Gary that I put together as when I went to Gary in March of 2010 I was unable to find any guides. I do not believe someone should pay for a tour, either, though I was not able to locate any tours, either. I hope to add much more information over the years but I will include what I know thus far and share it with all of you so you can, in some way whether in person or through the internet, relive those youthful days with Michael in Gary today.

Map of Gary, Indiana

spyho.bmp


1.The Jackson Home--2300 W Jackson Street Gary, Indiana 46407
2300jacksonspyho.jpg

This is where it all began. Michael lived here the first decade of his life. It is a small, but lovely home. It sits on a corner lot, located on a one-way street. Directly behind the house is the track and football field for Roosevelt High School. You can see the stadium seats for the football games from the front and back yard.


2. Garnett Elementary School--2131 Jackson Street Gary, IN 46407
garnettspyho.jpg

Michael and some of his siblings attended Garnett Elementary School. It was closed, then reopened as an adult education center called Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy. It was closed again, but appeared to be reopened as of March, 2010 as Images of Hope, Inc. This is where Michael is said to have sang "Climb Ev'ry Moutain" with his mother, father and grandfather (Joseph's father) in attendance. It is said Michael's performance brought even his stoic grandfather to tears.

3. Little League Park--directly across the street from the former Garnett Elementary School
This is where some of Michael's siblings, including Jermaine and Tito, likely played baseball. The fields are still and used by the children in the neighborhood.


4. Roosevelt High School--730 W 25th Avenue Gary, IN 46407
rooseveltspyho_if0n.jpg

Michael's older siblings attended Roosevelt High School. It is still Roosevelt High School today. Michael did not attend Roosevelt High School but he did perform with his brothers in contests here--and won. Roosevelt High School also hosted church services for the Jackson family, too.


5. West Side High School--West 9th Street and Gerry Street, Gary, IN 46406
westsidespyho.jpg

westside2spyho.jpg

Michael and his brothers performed here in 1971, after relocating to California after signing with Motown.


6. Steeltown Records--West 10th Avenue and Taney Street (two-story residence, made of brick in colors ranging from reddish-to-sooty-brown)
Please note that this house is still a residence. Please respect the privacy of the occupants. To respect their privacy I will refrain from posting pictures of what I believe to be Steeltown Records. This is where some of the earliest, if not first "official" Jackson 5 recordings took place, including such songs as "Big Boy" and "We Don't Have to be Over 21", recorded in 1967.


7. Mr. Lucky's Lounge--1100 Grant Street, Gary, IN 46404
mrluckys2spyho.jpg

This is where Michael and his brother received their first paying gig as the Jackson 5.


8. Horace Mann High School--524 Garfield Street Gary, IN 46404
horacemann2psyho.jpg

horacemannspyho.jpg

Horace Mann High School is reported to have housed the only contest in which the Jackson 5 lost. The school appears to be vacant now.

9. (St. Mary's) Mercy Hospital--555 Polk Street, Gary, IN 46402 (original address 540 Tyler Street)
mercy2spyho.jpg

mercyspyho.jpg

mercy1921.jpg

This is where Michael and his siblings were born. The building is now vacant. It was built in 1907, originally with 20 beds. In 1993, it had 300 beds. The hospital was typically referred to "Mercy Hospital" though it was officially St. Mary's Mercy Hospital, with a subsequent name to St. Mary's Medical Center in 1974. Below are recent photos taken by me and a post card of the hospital and its appearance in 1921. The buildings look somewhat different but do share some similarities, too.


10. Palace Theater--791 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402
palacespyho.jpg

The Jackson 5 never performed at the Palace Theatre--the marquee simply honors them. The building is vacant with a fake ticket attendent in the window.


11. Sears--813 Broadway, Gary, IN 46402
searsspyho.jpg

sears1947spyho.jpg

Katherine, Michael's mother, worked at Sears in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The building appears to be vacant but looks exactly as it did when the story first opened. The old phone number to the Sears store was 886-3211. In the photo I took, focus on the right-hand side. You will see the same building in the picture (courtesy of Sears Archives). The photo provided by Sears Archives was taken when the store opened in 1947.


12. Gilroy Stadium-301 W 30th Avenue Gary, IN 46408
gilroy2spyho.jpg

gilroyspyho.jpg

The Jackson 5 performed and won an annual talent search contest here. The stadium is no longer in use but still remains for now.

Other Places to See but Not in Gary :
Regal Theater- 1641 East 79th Street in Chicago, IL 60619
regalspyho.jpg

Michael and his brothers performed at the Regal Theater located in South Chicago.

Places to Eventually Locate in Gary:
Salvation Army--address unknown, appears to have been 2427 Broadway or 1401 Madison Street
Katherine and the children would buy items, usually clothing, from this store.

San Remo's Restaurant--Industrial Highway near the Gary/Chicago Airport
It has been said the Jackson 5 performed here for a high school prom in 1968.

Corner Store--address unknown
Michael bought his sister Rebbie nail polish from this store.

Candy Store--address unknown
Michael enjoyed buying candy which then used to have his own make-shift candy store in the neighborhood.

Inland Steel--address unknown, likely 3210 Wyaling Street, East Chicago, IL
This was Michael's father, Joseph's, place of work.


A Special Thanks the Following Sources:
Sears Company

MapQuest
St. Mary Medical Center/St. Catherine Hospital System in Gary, IN
Gary Public Library located at 220 W 5th Ave., Gary, IN
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/article_37b2802a-3532-5caf-9138-bc7755df72bf.html
Katherine Jackson and her autobiography entitled "My Family"
Content copyright 2009-2010. All rights reserved.


Source: http://someoneputyourhandout.com/The_Gary__Indiana_Tour.html
 
EVEN THE MASCOTS PASSED OUT WHEN THEY SHOOK THE KING'S-- MICHAEL JACKSON'S HANDS!!

"...This is the soul of America
Gary, you will always have a special place in my heart."
- Michael Jackson

at 3:08 Michael shakes a lot of people's hands, including the mascot that passed out.
at 4:20 he speeches to the folks gathered at the football stadium in Gary, on June 11,2003.

 
Michael Jackson - In Our Small Way

Little did you know dear sweet child when you first sang this song that you would do great things, and you did change the world. You made it a better place,in a big way,in just the little time you were here. You cared enough. Thank You Michael.
- Cheryll100


 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top