Michael Jackson Remembered
To mark the occasion of the public memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, ChordStrikers assembled thoughts and reminiscence about the man, the memories, and the music.
*********************
BE THERE
I try not to think too much about the bizarre behavior, indiscretions, and even outright crimes of the entertainers who create works I've enjoyed, but I'm not great at blocking those things out. The “Wall of Sound” isn't as resonant for me since Phil Spector was found guilty of murder. I find it difficult to clap along with "Rock & Roll Part 2" at a basketball game without thinking of Gary Glitter's illegal interest in minors. And Michael Jackson's fall from grace -- strange physical changes and ugly allegations, not to mention weak remixes and lesser songs -- gradually diminished his unique gifts. I quit listening to his music, and when I ran into it, it didn't make me happy anymore.
Now, though, I can't get "I'll Be There" out of my head, and I'm surprised at its comforting effect. I wonder ... of all the songs Michael Jackson sang, as a solo artist and as the shining center of the Jackson 5, why that one? Maybe because it's a plea for redemption. "You and I must make a pact / We must bring salvation back." He might have thought salvation would come in the form of his upcoming run of sold-out shows across the ocean and a "Thriller"-themed casino. Maybe that would have done it.
Now, though, the suddenness and tragedy of his death has burned away everything but the purity of his performances, from brotherly harmonies to the moonwalk of Motown 25 to the “Man in the Mirror.” As I drove home tonight, bopping along with my sons to "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," I realized I'd never be able to truly convey to them what MJ meant. So you think you can dance? Not like Michael. American Idol? Try world idol. It was my privilege to have come of pop-cultural age in a world that had him in it. My kids will know stars and see tabloids, but it will never be the same. -- Stephanie Reid-Simons
*
CAPITAL GAINS
I was 19 when Off The Wall was released. At the time Michael Jackson was a star, even a household name, but more as the most talented output of the Jackson 5/The Jacksons, certainly not as the King of Pop. The arc of his post-child-star career was by no means certain and the music of clubs and discos was still firmly in the grip of Motown.
Right at the time of the album's release in England, a classmate returned to the school town I grew up in with an Aston Martin and limitless cash.
"I'm doing rather well on the stock market. Do you want to go out to dinner?"
He had a minder with him who was a cop. A London club-scene bender of several days ensued that steered to the center of a world I'd never experienced. Everywhere we went there was music, and 90% of it was Off The Wall.
There was a lull when this album stood by itself. It seemed that until mainstream dance music listened to MJ's latest then, en masse, charged off in the same direction he had gone, you could not buy or hear an album that sounded like it. It was more funk, soul -- even smooth jazz -- than disco. Gone was this goofy, funky-chicken Motown sound, replaced with slick, tuxedoed sophistication.
A couple of the clubs, I remember, had sunken floors full of flailing elbows and knees. Watching from above, when "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" came on, girl and boy alike, everybody's body posture changed in an instant. The dance floor was trying to get it together in a vocabulary of movements that few had any hope of replicating.
After a day or two of "the scene," I wised up. Things didn't add up with my host. My probes were rebuffed in no uncertain terms by the minder, and so I made my way back to suburbia. Years later I found out he had come into a trust fund and was running through it as fast as he could. There was no stock market job, the car was leased and everything, apart from the music, fell apart not long after. -- Hugo Munday
*
ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER
I was in 5th grade the year that Off The Wall was released, and I was attached to that record in ways that only Kiss had elicited up to that point. I thought that “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” was possibly the greatest song every written, and I had the opportunity to prove it that year.
Every class had a dance once a year. Because my elementary school was on the lower-middle class end of the scale, a “dance” consisted of the entire grade meeting in the auditorium, with a table full of punch on one side, and a record player with two small speakers on the other end. We were all encouraged to bring our favorite record and play one song from it, so that everyone had the opportunity for a turn (I attempted to “buy” turns off people so that I could bring more than one record, but was asked to stop when the principal found out). My choice was, of course, Off the Wall and “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough.”
When my turn came up, I gingerly pulled the record out of the sleeve, put the vinyl on the turntable, and put the needle on the record. The song started, and I turned up the volume (an action that became a point of contention between my fifth-grade teacher and me). Then I set myself to the task of dancing to my pick.
In a moment pure free of inhibition, I let the music dictate the moves. What came out of me can only be described in retrospect as a cross between a spazzy white-boy dance and a mime trapped in a box. My feet worked in a square, mimicking the boundaries of the box, while my hips attempted to keep up with the rhythm of the song, and my hands pushed up against the invisible walls of the box. This was my entire dance, for the five-plus minutes of the song. I was in a trance, and I didn’t fully realize until near the end of the song that I had everyone’s attention -- their full, undivided attention. I had literally brought everyone else to a stand-still -- mouths gaping, eyes wide and all pointed in my direction.
It did not discourage me in the slightest. I danced until the end of the song and halfway through “Rock with You” before anyone realized I was getting two songs. I thought I was the coolest I had ever been -- so brilliant, in fact, that everyone was compelled to stop what they were doing and revel in my magnificence. No one has ever been able to convince me otherwise. And I can only thank Michael Jackson for that.
Thank you, Michael. -- Robert Arambel
*
EIGHT IS ENOUGH
Thriller was released when I was in 4th grade, and it was probably the first album I purchased and listened to over 50 times. It didn’t take too long for me to memorize the album, including the song titles. As it turned out, that proved to be a very good move for me in the 4th grade social scene, where my official nickname had been “Square” for some time. One day during recess there was some discussion started by the cool kids about Thriller and how good it was. I think I made some comment agreeing with them, which apparently did not please the cool kids, for they challenged me to name all the songs on Thriller in order. I immediately did so without difficulty. This feat impressed the leader of the cool kids, who responded with an offhand comment, something to the effect of, “Wow, I guess you’re not “Square,” you’re “Octagon.”
From that day forward, my nickname in grade school was “Octagon,” or the more colloquial version, “Octo.” -- Lucas Hilbert
*
BRING DOWN THE WALLS
I was 12 when the video for "Thriller" came out – and it was NOT cool to like Michael Jackson at that time. MTV was a baby and we were all obsessed with watching. The build-up to the video’s release was, for me, akin to the release of the last Harry Potter book. They showed little clips and had great teasers for it, and by the time it premiered, we were all hooked. It changed the face of videos. Everything before that now seemed so juvenile. I didn’t want to tell any of my friends how cool I thought it was, but over the years, we all found out that every one of us bought the album: every one of us knew the dance in the “Beat It” video, and we all still know the “Thriller” monster dance. For a little alternative punk kid like me, it was the epitome of great music breaking down the barriers of style. -- Shauna Furbush
*
WORLD MUSIC
I never considered myself a Michael Jackson fan until I moved to France after college. Michael Jackson is a huge star in Europe, and cultural references to him are literally everywhere. Then I started traveling more widely, and everywhere I went, from the Czech Republic to China, people knew about MJ. His presence -- and his music -- is truly global, more so, I would say, than almost any other pop artist. He will be missed. -- Bri Nguyen
*********************
What’s your MJ moment? Were you Bad? How do you remember the music? Drop comments, read comments. Don’t stop ‘til you get enough.
-- ChordStrike
Regina F on July 29, 2009 at 06:19 PM
I'm a fan from Brazil.Being the same age as Michael,I grew up listening and dancing to his music.Losing Michael feels like losing a friend and part of my life as well.He was not only a national treasure, he was an universal treasure.He was a beautiful person,inside and out and his music will live on forever.
Unfortunately I doubt that the perpetrators of the crime commited against him will ever be brought to justice.He was worth more dead than alive and the big corporations behind that scheme are smart enough to not leave a trail behind.I hope the American public watch this case closely and that they don't listen to the corrupt news media.
I'm sure he is in a much better place now,but I would rather have him around much longer gracing us with his genius and amazing smile.
I will always love you,Michael.RIP.
Yvonne on July 13, 2009 at 10:23 PM
Its three oclock in the evening and I just turned the tv station onto MSNBC. What did I see an Ambulance with Micheal Jackson inside. At the bottom of the screen, it reads: Micheal Jackson is being transported to a local hospital with a possible Cardiac Arrest. I called a friend and she says that she is watching in shock. She asked if he is living. I said the only thing that I was interested in knowing, was, how long was it before someone found him in Cardiac Arrest. From my knowledge of Cardiac Arrest, the first 3-5 minutes are crucuial. When I looked at the news for the next fifteen minutes, it was said that he was worked on for forty five minutes. Thats when I knew Michael Jackson had died and he was a DOA upon his arrival at the hospital. On this day, all memories came back instantly of his music. I grew up with Michael. Iam only three years older than he. I came up on his music and still have several of his albaums. I have a niece whose room wasa entirely of Michae Jackson. My friends and I would go out to the club and they played his music all night long. For me and my friends, we miss Michael for all of lifetime. His music will always be the music that we can recall from growing up. His music will never fade for us. To the Jackson family and his three lovely, beautiful children, may god continue to guide you and may the peace of the lord is always with you. For the media, stop talking about micheal in such a way as to say he was nothing. Michael was a man Humanatarian efforts.
Adrianne Carbuccia on July 13, 2009 at 12:09 AM
There are so many things I can say... so many memories with his music... it's still unbelievable to me. I grew up listening to his music. My mom used to play the Jackson 5 record non-stop when I was little.. my favorite song was "I'll be there" which in my later years turned to "Heal the World". I remember the first time I ever saw or remember seeing "Thriller" it was on Halloween when I was about 6 or 7 and I remember being mesmerized by what was on TV and telling my mom, "no trick or treating until the movie is over mommy" ;D wow... I remember my sister being terrified because she thought he was really a werewolf.. and that she couldn't understand that it was "pretend". hehe, every year after that we made it a ritual., Halloween wouldn't be the same unless we watched that video and attempted to learn the dance.. I was always a fan and a believer in him. No matter what people said, I always remained "faithful" to him. I even remember my parents telling my sister and I... "don't believe everything you hear at school girls.. we may not know him personally but he is a good man." And I did., throughout elementary school and then again when I was in college. I guess it's just having faith in people.. believing they are good regardless what anybody says. Since we went to private school secular music was considered "bad" but on our way to school we would listen to the "Bad" cassette and sing along in the car with mom. Great memories.. great.. :'(
I hadn't cried as bad as I did on Tuesday during the memorial since my grandfather had passed away... I felt like a part of my family had gone, a part of my "childhood" had simply been hit with the loss and I will forever remember that day as one of the saddest of the year. His legend will always remain. His music will forever be timeless. And I hope that one day everyone will realize that he was not who the tabloid had portrayed during recent years but he was who they portrayed, on the day he died. A humanitarian, a music genius, great entertainer and most of all a wonderful father. My heart goes out to his 3 young children. I only hope that the years MJ spent taking care of them and protecting them from the vial media won't go in vain.. that it won't diminish over time and it's respected by his family. Hopefully the media will respect those children and leave them alone... hopefully the media realizes what they can do to a human being over time.
Rest in Peace. Michael, you will always be the King of Pop... especially to me.
Cosmic Ovungal on July 12, 2009 at 10:30 PM
I was back home from college on vacation. They were going to show the Grammy nominated songs with video and the Grammy award shows for the first time in India. I video recorded both the shows. The first Grammy nominated song with video shown was Beat It by Michael Jackson. They also showed Every Breath You Take by The Police, All Night Long by Lionel Ritchie and What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner.
You can see by the list of accompanying videos/songs how classy each one turned out to be. Even among these songs, the Beat It song and video attracted my attention the most. Over the next few weeks I was watching the Beat It video 8-10 times a day and trying to dance like the King of Pop. Kids across India were trying to imitate the dance moves of the King of Pop. It was Michael Jackson fever time. I then listened to the Thriller album. I liked all the songs and then I saw the videos for Thriller and Billie Jean and watched them many times a day. Michael Jackson's Thriller sold in the millions in India alone. For a lot of people in India, it was their first exposure to Western music.
With the death of Michael Jackson we have lost a great artist (genius). God give peace to his soul and console his family in this time of bereavement.
Nicole Newman on July 11, 2009 at 08:48 PM
Sometime I dream that he is me,
you got to see that’s how I dream to be
I dream I move, I dream I groove like Mike
If I could be like Mike…
Michael Jackson
My Childhood and my dreams consisted of you
You were on my stereo, my rythym and my favorite
Video Rock (who remembers that??)
Everyday as I watched you Beat it,
you became Another part of me
As a chunky awkward 11 year old girl,
I thought it would be A B C easy as 1,2,3 to become
A Pretty Young Thing
And move Off the Wall.
I wanted to grow into a Liberian Girl
So I could Rock With You.
The way you made me feel,
I wanted to be Dirty Diana
Or even Billie Jean…
They don’t care about us!
Because that is Human Nature
If people understood that We are the world,
They would change starting with the Man in the mirror.
Racism would not exist
It would not matter if we’re Black or white.
When I Remember the Time,
I smile and Cry,
Smiling, as I Jam to your Bad music,
And crying from disbelief;
You were Gone too soon.
Thank you Michael,
Thank you Michael,
for letting me know
That I am not alone.
A Smooth Criminal
Wanna Be Starting Something
Trying to Rock my world.
But I know The love I save
Is my own!
Higher Powers have proven
Time and time again
That I’ll be there…
Please allow me
One More chance to
Say, say, say
You are loved and
I want you back
Luckily, you have left a lifetime of
Music and videos that
I can share with my children
We never can say goodbye,
You and I belong,
I am there for you
I’ll keep on and I won’t stop
Don’t stop til you get enough..
And whenever I need an extra lift of love,
I will just call your name, because you’ll be there….
In rememberance of the Love you brought to the world
REST IN PEACE!
Ninadenuk on July 10, 2009 at 08:38 AM
As a child i remember listening to the 80's music as something I liked and i felt i belonged to, though I was still very young. Me as a spanish speaker, I remember Dangerous to be the first album where i read and learned all the lyrics. I must have heard that album a zillion times, then back to his discography I started to discover all those 80's that was in the back of my mind. Today when Michael's gone these memories come to me and make me feel like a child again.
Luna on July 09, 2009 at 09:33 AM
Michael Jackson will forever remain the King of pop. I loved his music and will forever do so. He was kind and gave to the world generously. God brought him into this world for that purpose and I know God had his reasons for taken him now. Rest in peace Michael and you will forever remain in my heart. God bless you MJ!!!
Mystic Black-Musica Artist on July 08, 2009 at 11:37 PM
MJ was truly a dedicated artist in his craft--a well disciplined performer who gave it his all.
He was unique then and remains so today.
I've never seen or heard so much talent come out of one human being---his music and his visual artistic talents.
Rest in peace and thank you for giving us so much.
Mystic Black
renae phigura on July 08, 2009 at 11:23 PM
A positive correlation between two variables does not imply
causality. Does taking aspirin, or tylenol, make a headache
go away? Maybe it would have gone away if you had not taken
that medication? Does Christmas shopping cause Christmas?
Why do you believe you are not bullet-proof if you have never
been hit by a bullet? Why do you believe everybody ages?
If all things are possible with God, why did he allow Michael
to fall asleep? Or did he take him? God allowed the devil to
torment Job. God causes things to happen, or he allows them
to happen. Every True Believer will be tried. It is the Way.
My Feelings
I think the reason Michael Jackson fell asleep is because the
business interests (the creditors) wanted him to do projects
that he considered were anti-family, against his principles,
his values, and his belief system. But the alternative was to end
up with zero economic net worth, and with children to support -
that is a stressful situation. They wanted him to sign a contract,
or so rumor has it, to build a Thriller theme park. But if you have
ever watched the original Thriller music video, it begins with
a prologue where Michael Jackson says that the video is not to be
taken as an endorsement of the occult. And so he may have
distrusted the business people (the creditors) who wanted to
take advantage of his name, and goodwill he had with his fans,
to make money off of him. Again, when you are facing homelessness,
and you have children who want you there, who need you, how far
do you think you could go without compromising your values? All
the way?..."Well kids, the Griswalds may be homeless, but at least
we did not cave into Wally World's demands"...Could you do it without
skipping a heartbeat? Worrying about paying the rent, versus
putting on an awesome show and changing the world, that is
a stressful situation. What would you do? Ever see the movie,
School of Rock?
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none
of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning
of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that
speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 1 Corinthians 14: 10-11, KJV
Sally Jessy Michaelangelo on July 08, 2009 at 08:39 PM
I thought the editor Stephanie's comments were apropos.
The other editors, their writing was kind of "wishy-washy".
But the basic message is one of fear, paranoia, fleeting
innocence of childhood, and the need to filter, for it is a
fallen world, an imperfect world. You have to be mindful
of the good, the bad, and ugly rumors. Who can discern
between what is, what is not, between fact and fiction,
truth and lies.
Consider Evian bottled water: Evian is Naive spelled
backwards. How do they get that water so pure? Consider
the unlit end of a cigarette.
FILTER: REFUSE THE EVIL, AND CHOOSE THE GOOD.
It was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Truth is in Love, and Love is in Truth.
Information processing. Words. Sound. Images. Filter all
three. Think of a honeycomb pattern, with cells. Parallel
processing, and high bandwidth, that's how employees at
Microsoft have described Bill Gates' brain.
The lyrics of songs are as poetry. If all you can do to express
yourself is turn to art, poetry, songs, and dance, than you must
be really stupid, FUNCTIONALLY ILLITERATE.
Look at the publishing industry: Over 90% of the books in
print now seem to be targeted for a female audience only.
Males are being brought up with a "team sport" mentality,
and are therefore unable to separate behaviour from
audio-visual tangibles, such as skin colour, mode of dress,
or accents, names, and labels. Hence, "they" (team satan)
went out of their way to make this name "Michael Jackson"
synonymous with "Child Molestor". Maybe they should
have chosen "Club Monaco" instead, since at least the
initials would have fit. The psychological abuse perpetrated
by them in mass media against people of colour is very
real. Do not some coloured males wear team uniforms
in order to find acceptance? As if it were a "second skin"?
MJ wore a uniform: It was an Army of One kind of deal,
expressing individuality. Don't try to fit in, just be the best.
He did not wear those colours to "fit in", to "find acceptance",
but it was to say, life is too short to seek acceptance by others.
Gangs: losers...Neither a victim, nor a victimizer be.
Lyrics: Some day, I hope you'll join us, and the world will live
as one....Imagine, by John Lennon.
"The person you really want to admire, is yourself".
Charlie Munger, Berkshire Hathaway.
"If you mix raisins with turds, you still end up with turds".
Charlie Munger, "Dirty Old Man".
"Now you know why we don't let him write the annual reports".
Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway.
Michael Jackson is a well known public figure, but the boy
who made the alleged charges is not. And so, there are
two victims here, MJ who had a difficult childhood, and
this boy who may or may not (God knows) have been
telling the truth. I doubt it though. But that is how it is, it
is like that movie, And Justice For All, where Al Pacino's
character is walking around saying, "Why would she lie..."
In that movie, she was telling the truth, but how many
charges of "R_obert A_lpha P_epper E_dward" are false?
The majority? CEOs may be white and male, but most
office workers are female, and most coal miners are male.
Maybe this is just, maybe that is God's "plan". Does God
make plans? That word PLAN does NOT APPEAR in the
Bible (KJV), so why was it INVENTED? (Obtain an
"exhaustive", that is to say, complete, concordance, for
they are useful.) Do child molestors or Nazis like Hitler
get away with anything? No, they most assuredly do not.
But if people knew this already, would they not obey God
out of fear? God is Love. Does he want you to obey Him
out of fear? I think the fear of God is a blessing, like a
parent correcting a child. If people saw angels walking
around upon the earth "taking out the garbage", with
guns ("the Mozambique Drill" comes to mind), maybe they
would begin to understand which Dominion they ought to
be afraid of, mindful of obeying. On that note, Collateral
Damage, was an excellent movie, but the profanity was
completely unnecessary. Many Christian Pastors it seems
wish to convince a generation of males that "normal males"
use curse words. Profanity is about using "curse words",
whereas cursing is something else, like saying, "May you
burn in Hell". I like to call that an Irish Blessing myself.
A male who uses curse words is as a woman. Females
are to strive to be emotional, caring, whereas males are
to strive to be logical. For that is masculine and that is
feminine. Kirk was a woman, Spock was the man, on
Star Trek, the original TV series.
If you cannot filter, avoid, for it is poison unto you. See Charlie
Munger's comments above. You don't have to tell your child
about the rumors regarding Michael Jackson, or Elton John.
You just have to tell them, Hitler painted pictures. He was a
bad artist. He also did evil. Evil exists. Avoid evil. "Be as wise
as serpents" does not mean learn how to hack computers, but
it means "be wise as to what is good, and simple concerning evil",
as Jesus commanded, and the Apostle Paul advised the Church
in Rome: See, Matthew 10:16; Romans 16:19-20, kjv.
Desire good things. Never do evil. Refuse the evil, and choose
the good. And never call evil good, or good evil. Beware of labels.
Filter. You want a Perfect Score...Go..Speed Racer...Go.
Get the hell out of Dodge, because it is going to get worse,
much much worse. And remember, whatever you do in this
life, it has nothing to do with business. That's just a lie they
want you to believe...And one more thing: Madonna's the
Bank....As K-Pax would say: Bring it On.
President Teddy Roosevelt once said, or was it his favourite
poet (T.S.Elliot?), I can't remember that PBS special exactly:
The devil conquers you sooner or later, the trick is learning
to live afterwards...Catholics speak of remorse, sadness,
penance, repentance, that feeling of horror you carry with you
throughout your days on earth, knowing that there is something
deeply wrong with you...I think Jews know that feeling. Just
an observation. You have a HOPE of Salvation if you Keep
the Faith and Grow in Love. It is a hope, and not a certainty,
for forgiveness and repentance go together. Think in terms
of duality and contemplate the mystery of the third. Seems
to work. And by "the Faith" I don't mean "Do the hookey-pookey"
but Faith as in Hebrews 11:1, KJV...Substance refers to MATERIAL,
as in riches, but not necessarily of this earth. Job was a man of
great substance, he had children, and a great household, etc.:
See, Job 1:1-3, KJV...A dictionary will not tell you what this word
'substance' means, but the song, Material Girl, by Madonna,
might. "Cold, hard cash", a "diamond is a girl's best friend",
for he is all sparkly and trip the light fantastic like. It is written,
The bush burned WITH fire and was not consumed. Each and
every word you speak, matters. "The man WITH the cold, hard
cash, is always Mr. Right", or as my acting instructor, Robert
Osbourne (maybe not his real name) once said to me, If you don't
do your text work, it will show...He also said he once felt a moment
between him and Susan Sarandon, on a set, but I probably should
not have written that, since she is spoken for. Then again, it was a
long time ago, so "what the hell". Gossip,..hard to resist.
Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, KJV.
Desire good things. For in a sense, you are generating your own
reality. This is easier to see if you think in terms of duality: You
have self-will, and self-will is an illusion.
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself:
it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
See, Jeremiah 10:23, KJV.
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
Proverbs 16:9, KJV...
OK, so that's "theory", now for "practise":
The next time you go out for something consider why you
are turning right, instead of left, or why you went down this aisle
instead of another. For you are not conscious of each and every
step you take, are you? Or does your heart say, "I wanna moon
walk"? Like that famous music video by Twisted Sister. Did MJ
break down racial barriers? Sure, why not. Somebody had to.
But know this, a man who wears a woman's garment is abomination
to the LORD...That means to others upon the earth, they won't
really care, but to Him, they who do such things are abomination.
Boys should know that, don't you think? For the Church is the
Bride of Christ...When you fall in love with a woman, you don't
want her to be ashamed to be seen with you. This "Universe"
exists because of, and for, Him. A man's soul is female. It is why
the woman was created, is it not? So that the man might have an
idea how to please God. God is invisible. The woman is very
visible. King David, he wrote this, and it is the Word of God:
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD, the humble shall
hear thereof and be glad. Psalm 34:2, KJV.
So, to be male, to be loving and gentle, and to be attracted to a
female, how is that, effeminate? Nay, it is normal. The others,
are defiled. To be effeminate is to uncover yourself, displaying
your feminine side. You need two things: The Word of God,
and the correct interpretation thereof...SO means IN THIS
MANNER: See, John 3:16, kJV.
Jah'Meia Hill on July 08, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I'm Jah'Meia from Oakland, Ca. I saw Michael Jackson when I was a little girl the video that I saw was "We Are The World" and "Thriller". I had my very own Michael Jackson doll that my grandmother gave to me and I have always played with it. After listening to Michael Jackson that when I started to listen to more of him and his hit albums. From that day on Michael Jackson was my favorite R&B and pop music icon. When I heard that he passed, I was so shocked because I grew up listening to his music and I didn't get the chance to go see Michael Jackson in concert. I wanted to go to his memorial service but they only pick random people to get the tickets. Michael Jackson had a beautiful beautiful memorial service I cried all day for 2 hours listening. I will truly miss him allot. Music is not going to be the same without him. I love you Michael Jackson. I will miss you allot. Your music will live on forever!!! R.I.P. I can't..... say anything.... anymore. Keep dancing in Heaven (The moonwalk)
Da_Vinci Starbux IV Skywalker III on July 08, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Do you think he who invented baseball did so
to make money from his invention? Maybe. Or
maybe he thought, wow, my son and his friends
might now have something to keep their minds off all
the shootings and the lynchings and the booze. Not
to mention the gossip mongers.
SCHWING!!! Remember that word, from the movie, 'Wayne's World'.
When was the last time you grabbed that part of your pants between
your legs? When David Lee Roth sings, "...and I reached down,
between my legs.." who thinks, pervert, or child molester? Yet, do
not parents allow their children to listen to the music of Van Halen?
Words can be invasive, even violate, and so can hand gestures,
be misinterpreted, or correctly so. When is it more than a hug?
When is it merely, I though the package was going to detonate.
I thought Wayne's sexuality was suspect. Garth seemed traumatized,
in a state of shock, possibly because he felt "sodomized" by Wayne.
Garth asks Wayne a question, So, when Bugs Bunny dressed up as
a girl bunny, did you find him attractive? And Wayne laughs maniacally
for a while before answering, No. Possibly because he saw through
Garth's attempt to test him, to see if he was "normal" or not. But it took
Wayne a while before he could answer Garth...In Wayne's World 2,
Garth hints that people are beginning to say, or suspect, that Wayne
might be psychotic.
The point is, there are actions, there are words, and their are thoughts.
Now, most people it would seem are unable to read minds, so let us
ignore 'thoughts' as a subject of discussion, for now. That leaves
feelings. And feelings are closely associated with input, and output
signals, as in how you interpret what is "thrown at you" or how you
translate your feelings into words, and then transmit them, how you
express yourself.
Crucify the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof, and you might
see that grabbing that part of your pants in front of you, between your
legs, and saying, Schwing!, while moving your hips forward, does
not imply that you are in motions pertaining to sexual lust, though
you be in motion. When was the last time you grabbed your pants,
on the dance floor, going to the bathroom, or both? Some will go to
the bathroom in a parking lot. Now, some people it seems found Jackson's
antics on stage disgusting, but not so much Wayne going "Schwing!" on
Saturday Night Live, the TV show. Why? Racism? No, I think it is because
many are more or less wired to see dance as spiritual, removed from physical
sexuality, but not per chance eroticism. It is why "Dirty Dancing" that movie
makes you want to throw up, while Flash Dance makes you explode like
a Fourth of July, Roman Candle. But maybe Jackson was saying, Be a
zombie. The ugly parts are not going away anytime soon, though you
no longer feel thirst, or hunger: Though you be a zombie, just relax,
and go ahead and touch yourself. Just not as in the manner David
Lee Roth suggested in that song, Panama.
I think Michael Jackson's biggest mistake was holding sleepovers for
boys. He should have invited girls over instead. But then the tabloids
would begin to enquire, Is this an Elvis, Priscilla thing? And what about
these Christian Bible Camps? Where do the boys sleep? Where does
the boy scout leader (pastor) sleep? Did Jackson really sleep in the
same bed with the boys, or just watch TV in bed with them? Because
a futon doubles as a couch. I once knew this girl who told me that she once
saw an immigrant washing his face in a public toilet at an airport, because
presumably he had never seen one before. It seems, he thought the water
was remarkably clean to what he was used to. Steve Jobs, when he lived
in his first mansion, slept in a sleeping bag treating the mansion as one
giant tent. He was too busy to shop for furniture. Most females never
confuse a bed for a sofa, whereas some males will treat a bed like a
kitchen table, or office desk. The French Philosopher Rene Descartes
is said to have written his works in bed. I think he was the one who
said, "I think, therefore I am". I guess that means as you think, so are you.
MJ had some nice dance moves: 'Concentrate and Lean', and also, the
"Old things becoming new" walk, or what Michael called, the Moon Walk.
The Moon is a symbol of the Church, the Bride of Christ...The mistake that
Lot made was that he looked back...Crucify the flesh with the affections and
lusts thereof, be like a Zombie. Even though Zombies do not feel thirst or
hunger, they still might feel an insatiable desire for "Mind Candy". Remember,
the Thriller video? Right, or Left, which is Right, which is Left? Just because
everybody else uses a dictionary to help them decide, will you? Here is
wisdom: Avoid brain poison, for dirty minds need to be washed.
Remember 'The Monkees"? There are only 12 hours in a day. "We're too
busy singing, to be putting anybody down". Yes, but if somebody is going
"Rod Knee King" on you, what song would you sing? Fight the Power?
Or John Lennon's, "They're going to crucify me"? How much better if males
stopped singing, dancing, and started studying logic, and rhetoric so that
they might learn to express themselves in a clear manner. Clear, as in, sober.
Do you think the Bible is poetry? The Word of God is Truth.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. John 6:35, KJV.
Obaa Ankomah on July 08, 2009 at 03:38 PM
LOVE YOU ALWAYS...
Obaa.
Obaa Ankomah on July 08, 2009 at 03:35 PM
THE KING OF POP TODAY, TOMMORROW AND ALWAYS...I WILL NEVER LET YOU PART FOR YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY HEART.
renae phigura on July 08, 2009 at 01:39 PM
When did it become a crime for a man to give a boy a hug?
I guess instead of using words like "hug" the courts need to just talk
about actions instead. For example, it is abomination for a man to
lie down with mankind as with womankind. Some sins are worse than
other sins. You cannot point at a sin more evil than your own, and say
that what you did was OK, or what you do is OK. For man is to "refuse
the evil, and choose the good". See, Romans 12:9, KJV. You cannot
"let it be" when it, is evil. For example, how can a child who is being
abused "let it be",..."there will come an answer...let it be". Paul McCartney's
song, Let it Be, is bad code. Whereas, "Just beat it", is sound advice.
Sodomites say we don't abuse children, wherefore let us two who are of
the same gender adopt, and let us two consenting adults lie down together,
and let us teach our adopted children that the Bible does not apply to us,
or them. This is what they say, to legitimize evil. There are only 365 days
in a year. What might have you been protesting against in the last 3 days?
How easy it is for a false charge to be laid, and a person's reputation
destroyed. Hence, men avoid children now. And sodomites named
metalhead rejoice in the destruction of the Judaic concept of family.
And others call themselves "christians" and do not protest femi-nazism,
do not protest the sodomite culture, and certainly do not protest man
children sleeping together in tents, or boys in high school sports
showering together, or men in prison being coerced to shower together.
May the 'metalheads' and the "christian" burn in hell forever, for having
abandoned a generation of males yet to be born. Yea, they have embraced
antichrist, while worshipping false gods called "star spangled banner",
NFL, NASCAR, and a lion named ASLAN.
Yes, Michael Jackson was odd. Most victims of psychological abuse are.
Unless God has told you that Jackson comitted that which is rightly called
abomination, or worse, wherefore do ye accuse him of evil? To make
yourselves look, or feel better about yourselves?
"They", the press, accused MJ of "dangling" a baby, whose face was covered
with a blue blanket. Why did they use that word? "Dangled" rhymes with
"strangled"...Is it safer to hold a baby boy with one arm over a wooden floor,
where nobody might catch him should he slip and fall, or over a balcony
where concerned "fans" might catch him?
I know of no medical procedure whereby skin colour can be "bleached", but
I do know of a skin condition where the melanin (pigment) breaks down and
a coloured man's skin turns white, or in MJ's case, went albino. But if you
say such a medical procedure exists, where are the ads?
metal head on July 08, 2009 at 11:33 AM
child molester--- burn in hell
Deborah on July 08, 2009 at 07:55 AM
Gosh, so many years have passed by so quickly and we have lost so many. I remember seeing the Jackson 5 debut on Ed Sullivan, I think I was in 5th grade. Myself and my little girlfriends bought all of the J5 45's and learned every word and practiced singing and dancing like them. Little Michael was our Fave!I was 23 when Michael did the moonwalk on The Motown 25 special, and again myself and my adult friends were just blown away! How could any human just seem to float across the floor as if on invisible wings. Thriller arrived on MTV and again we were all impressed at the talent and dedication and creativity that this young man put into his work. Some of my older friends are a little put off to hear Michael's passing match that of The King of Rock, Elvis. Well, to our generation Michael IS our elvis. We watched him grow up and evolve to become the entertainer that he was. My heart goes out to his family and his children. May he rest in Peace and Moonwalk with the Angels!
ISmith on July 08, 2009 at 06:09 AM
Special, innovative, creative, driven, perfectionist. When my daughter was 6 yrs old we took her to see Michael. The BAD tour. There is no way to describe it! Each song was like a Broadway play. Michael would drop down a trap door and it felt like only 10 seconds til he was popped back up, changed and ready to do the next song. My brother and I just kept looking at each other,knowing we would never see anything quite like this again in our lives, my daughter was just out of her little 6 yr old mind. And last week, my brother's children spent the weekend with me, they are 10 and 5 yrs old. I tapped into cable and found all the videos. Except for going out twice, those children wanted to be in front of that TV, watching Michael's videos over & over again. I had to serve our dinners in the living room. When her little brother was tucked into bed, my niece and I watched more, and with a choking voice she asked me if we could pause it and say a prayer for Michael. The next day, back to the TV, and my little nephew was desperately trying to dance like Michael, he believes he has the spin down pat. When a person can transcend time and capture the hearts of children, when they, at their tender ages, can feel exactly what we felt 20, 30, years ago, that is someone who is really beyond any insulting termonlogy, even if it is "icon". When my brother was little, he said Elvis was corny, so I asked him to listen to the Golden Hits album and he went crazy, has been a lifelong fan. My niece and nephew experienced that this weekend with Michael and his musical gifts will be under the tree this Christmas for those two "new fans". Michael was Blessed with many creative gifts, he shared them with the world, and we thank him and promise our undying love and respect. Rest in peace and paradise, my friend.
Gayatri on July 08, 2009 at 04:04 AM
I'm Gayatri from India, I'm big fan of mich and I was felt lonely now............I have no words to type.
Thanks,
Gboga
Buhle on July 08, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Hi everyone,
I am in South Africa, and I do not have magical moments with MJ, at least not when he was still alive. I have never been obsessed about his dance moves or his pop music nor do I own any of his album. I have found myself deep with him though when I have found myself in contact with his "soulful songs like "heal the world" and "speacheless".
His voice never ceased to amaze me.
All that I do know is that ever since I was me MJ has been there, rocking his world one way or the other.
I was touched by his death but I still did not realise how much the world has lost until yesterday.
I sobbed endlessly on the couch.
The question I have for the world is this: Why is is that we see all the evil in humans as they live and all the goodness when they are gone!
To the media, why do you feed us all the bad things and not the good ones?
To the world: Where were we, ( i will include myself) when he needed us?
When his brother said, "Maybe now Michael, they will leave you alone" I just could not help it.
Let us HEAL THE WORLD, THIS IS MY APPEAL!
Let us all claim our places in this world, he has claimed his and he is gone. He has passed on the baton.
and to Aunty Janet and Letoya, take care of those kids!
James H on July 07, 2009 at 09:54 PM
Today is July 7 and I sat her watching the Memorial Service for Micheal Jackson on TV, I feel kind of sad it feel like a piece of me has died to. I Remember listening to the Jackson 5 at age 10years old on my cousin's 45 record player, wow what a group. Then the 1980 came and he released The Thriller Album, wow every song on album was great. Then came June 25 the day he died and a piece of my life died to.
Rest in Peace MJ. There will never be another like you
Michael on July 07, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Even though I didn't know Michael personally. I grew up loving his music like everyone else. Today, the world is sad.
Kimberly B. on July 07, 2009 at 08:17 PM
I was 3 when Thriller came out, but that didn't stop me from jumping on the Michael Jackson bandwagon as soon as possible. I owned my first Thriller album at 4 and couldn't get enough. I followed him through Bad and when he dropped Dangerous in the 90's the world was still watching his every move. I can remember all of his videos from Dangerous having a World Premiere on Sunday nights. We recorded Remember the Time and watched it over and over and over again. Michael was such an amazing talent. It's crazy how you can feel like you know someone you've never even met. But he did that, through his performances, his music, and his charity throughout the world, I feel like I've known MJ my whole life and I will miss him always.
Jan on July 07, 2009 at 08:02 PM
I remember Michael Jackson back many years. The main pop/rock station was WLS out of Chicago - *the* cool station of the area to listen to and Gary IN was nearby so the Jackson 5 were picked up early. I don't ever *not* remember an MJ song around. They consoled me after losses, celebrated the good times and even in the controversy I saw an unbelievable strength in taking all that was thrown at him without outward bitterness. So often we touch people in a ripple effect until our words and deeds reach people we never met and his reach there was certainly larger than most. Many forget the tens of thousands of kids who benefitted in the trip of a lifetime they wouldn't have had if not for MJ.
He's a legend. I'm blessed to have listened to his music for 40 years plus...he was one of a kind.
W on July 07, 2009 at 05:15 PM
He was not just an entertainer in his larger than life world - he was Michael, just human who touched so many people.
Megan on July 07, 2009 at 04:10 PM
I watched the memorial today and cried just like i had lost a family member. It feels like it. I loved MJ. I grew up listening to his music, with his posters all over my walls, his jacket on my back, his glove on my hand and his voice in my head and heart. I use to pretend I was married to him and dream of growing up and having that dream come true LOL! I know he had controversy, but I did not see that ugliness. I believe that he was just an innocent "Child" who never grew up emotionally. I believe he had all those young people around him because that is what he related to and that is what he was comfortable with. I mean the grown ups exploited him and never looked out for his best interests. Look at what has happened.. who was there for him?
His memorial touched me so much because even though he obviously did not know me I can definatley relate to how he felt. Alone, misunderstood, unloved. I guess for me it was like I lost an important part of my life when he died because he was there through his music for me when no one else was. And the part of his legacy that I hope is looked out for and treated kindly is his children. They loved him. His daughter broke my heart with her words and the love she has for him. We need to remember that he was a father and his children have lost a dad they loved unconditionally. They will forever be changed and scarred from this tragedy. SO I hope that out of respect for them people can keep their horrible comments to themselves because it really does not matter now. We may have lost the KING OF POP, but they lost their DADDY and that is the saddest part of all.
Julie on July 07, 2009 at 03:25 PM
All of our dance routines were always mimicked after ALL of Michael Jackson's moves. We couldn't wait for the next video to come out and mimick his moves. Who could believe that someone could dance like that, much less sing like that and just be a performer. That is the way i remember him, a performer. Right or wrong he was a talented individual that brought many people SMILES. I hope that his children & family will remember his smiles!! I haven't stopped crying all day. It was a great memorial, and i hope that his children will understand one day what an effect he had on everyone, black or white.
Bob on July 07, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Escribo desde Chile, south america. Crecí con la música de MJ, pero conforme me hice adulto, me enteré del lado oscuro que rodeaba a Michael. Ahora que ya partió, no puedo evitar pensar en su infancia con tanta foto que hemos visto de él de pequeño, y me pregunto: habría sido un genio MJ (como obviamente lo fue) de no haber sido un niño abusado por su padre y quien sabe quién más?. El abuso a que fue sometido el pequeño Michael le provocó una cuestión evidente: un desiquilibrio hacía su persona, una percepción equivoca de los niños y una habilidad para componer música notable. Pobre Michael. Me lo puedo imaginar a los 50, solo, a pesar de sus "hijos" obsesionado con su apariencia, atormentado por sus recuerdos de niñez, intentando retomar su vida de "éxitos".
De todas formas, gracias MJ por la música que nos dejas y por el talento que tuviste.
Traffic on July 07, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Funny how some names can create polarizing responses...Michael Jackson is one of those. If you've been around nearly as long as he has, it may be easier conjure up stuff that falls on the positive side, simply because time and emotion are on his side. Music is a highly emotional medium as we all know. And in MJ's case the overwhelming emotional response is probably something in the positive arena.
Can't condone, and many might never be able to forgive the Neverland allegations. But public courtroom dramas can produce something far from justice, as we all have seen over the past 20-30 years.
Even attempting to separate the music from alleged misdeeds can be seen as a copout by many...understandably so. But a retired attorney friend of mine once shared a piece of wisdom from her 40 years of her civil legal experience that I will always remember: "often, if not usually, both sides have merit and are 'right'", she told me.
So for the moment, I will indeed focus only on the music and say that we have lost someone that made many people feel good with his gift of music. Thank you for sharing it with us Michael.
Miss Go Lightly on July 07, 2009 at 01:08 PM
I'll keep this short and sweet...I just have to say that Michael Jackson will forever be emblazoned in my heart and mind. I'll always remember him for the musical memories he left in my life, he touched the hearts, and souls of EVERYONE. Michael, you will always be remembered and I will forever Rock With you!
Ron Washington on July 07, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Michael is 3 years older than me so we pretty much grew up together. I used to imitate him on my front porch, singing "ABC", "Stop The Love You Save" and my favorite "Little Michael" song, "I'll Be There". I remember trying to do the dance called the "robot" like Michael did in the middle section of "Dancing Machine" in his teen years. I remember buying my penny loafers and white socks when "Thriller" was released. I also remember feeling angry and disbelieving when he was accused of child molestation......both times!! Even with all of this, I have to admit that Michael isn't even my favorite artist (Stevie Wonder holds that title). Yet even so he affected my life just as much as anyone elses. So putting aside the supposed importance of his music, what makes him so important? Unlike Elvis who was huge during the dawn of rock and roll and known moreso only here in the US and The Beatles known on both sides of the ocean but still mainly in the US and Europe, because of TV, video and just the fact of the world becoming increasingly smaller with more and more air travel, Michael was known all over the planet! For about a 10 year period we tried to dress, dance and sing like him. Other artist tried to rival his video productions in vain. In other words, between the Beatles, Elvis and Michael, Michael was the most visual of them all. That is just part of his legacy and why we loved him so much. I loved the fact that this incredible entertainer was so incredibly quiet and shy of stage. You saw him in interviews and it was almost painful to watch. I didn't know how much he meant to me until the day he died. As I was driving home I was listening to the radio and it was announced that he had passed. The next song they played Human Nature. My eyes teared up and I started to cry. I had to pull over until the song finished. I still can't believe he's gone. Rest in peace Michael. We love you.
John on July 07, 2009 at 09:56 AM
Love him or hate him you can not deny Michael Jackson's unequivocal talent as a singer, songwriter, dancer and performer. I don't know if we will see anyone like him again in my lifetime or any.
clorge on July 07, 2009 at 09:52 AM
I exercised to Michael Jackson music, Thriller & Bad primarily, while I walked on the treadmill while pregnant with my first child -every day, at least an hour or so. When my daughter was 3 years old, there was a Michael Jackson special on MTV and she could not get enough of watching and listening to it. Now I wonder if she was rocking out to Michael Jackson even before she was born?
Doreen on July 07, 2009 at 09:29 AM
My memories of Michael are only great ones. He was the icon of my disco days and he will be my icon forever. My heart is broken and I am aching in pain that Michael is no longer with us here on earth. Music and dance is what I grew up with during the disco days and Michael was a very big part of my life during that spectacular dance period. Michael's music is an integral part of my dance life. His genius will never be replaced or duplicated. No one on this earth can dance like Michael, no one and no one ever will. His dance ability is natural. You can't teach his dance genius. He was born with this natural ability. When you watch Michael dance you can't take your eyes off of him. He is all you see on stage or on video. You become fixated to that unique ability of the fluidity of his movements. His talent is simply amazing! I love you Michael and all you stand for. My children (young adults) love and dance to your music also. Your talents will be sorely missed, but you will live on in my heart forever and I hope that Neverland becomes the place that we can all relive your memory forever, as your sudden and unexpected passing is so very hard to believe. You are the King of Pop but not that alone. You are the KING of the world! And your talents and abilities must be celebrated like that of a king forever, so that all of us around the WORLD that love you can put some closure to the emptiness and despair that we are feeling now.
Not sure how we can go on without you. We miss you so much. May you rest in peace and may the angels in heaven take care of you forver.Just as you requsted your immortality will live on eternally through your hard work in life. I love you.
Geri on July 07, 2009 at 09:04 AM
I remember Thriller coming out when I was in eighth grade. His performance at Motown 25th Anniversary special blew everyone away. I have been a devoted fan of his ever since. I love the Off the Wall album that was prior to Thriller. I always believed in Michael even with all the tabloid talk. I always knew that the accusations about him were false.
Michael, I will miss you greatly. The public loves you and always will. Rest in peace. I will pray for your family and children. Your music will live on forever. You were a musical genius. Hopefully you are still entertaining people up in heaven.
nneka michelle on July 07, 2009 at 08:45 AM
I WOKE UP ON A SUNDAY MORNING 10 YEARS AGO AUGUST 1998 TO HEAR THE DEVASTATING NEWS OF A WOMAN /PUBLIC I ADORE MOST-PRINCESS DIANA,IT TOOK ME ANOTHER 10 YEARS TO GET OVER IT-BUT THEN THERE ARE ARE JUST TO PEOPLE I ADORE MOST IN LIFE -THAT IS PRINCESS DIANA AND MICHAEL JACKSON- AND JUST TEN YEARS LATER , I WOKE UP AGAIN ON A SATURDAY MORNING -NIGERIAN TIME TO HEAR THE NEWS OF MICHAEL JACKSONS DEATH AND JUST THEN SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME DIED THAT WILL NEVER RESURRECT.BUT THEN I TAKE SOLACE IN THE FACT THAT ALL MORTALS WILL DIE SOMEDAY AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE LEGACY ONE LEAVES BEHIND-MICHAEL YOUR LEGACY IS FOR ETERNITY-IT IS TRULY UNPARARELL .AS I BID YOU FAREWELL FROM NIGERIA I TRULY TAKE SOLACE THAT WHILE YOU WHERE HERE ON EARTH YOU WERE A SAINT OR AT LEAST MY SAINT AS WE LOOSE YOU GOD ALMIGHTY AND ALL THE HEAVENLY HOSTS WILL RECEIVE YOU WITH WARM ARMS FOR HEAVEN AS TRULY GAINED ANOTHER ANGEL MICHAEL .SLEEP ON ANGEL MICHAEL TILL WE ALL MEET TO PART NO MORE.REST IN PEACE.NNEKA MICHELLE ,LAGOS,NIGERIA.
barbara on July 07, 2009 at 03:15 AM
I bought Ben on 45rpm when i was still in secondary school i am the same age as michael one month younger. Starting on my journey of life, i was just getting into the music scene with my hero being David Cassidy. Ben was my first record i bought from the singer Michael Jackson and it is a favourite till this day. I still have that 45 rpm in my vinyl record collection. The album on vinyl which i bought was off the wall another favourite. I was old enough to go out with my mates at the night clubs and the songs from this album were being played. I danced to your songs Michael i play them to this day.
Nainy on July 07, 2009 at 01:23 AM
Hello everyone,
I'm nainy from India, I saw Michael Jackson album at the age of 20, previous to that I've heard of him but I never seen his shows.
After watching his albums, I didn't became fan to him, because in India if we like a person, we'll worship him, so he is my god. I cannot control myself after the news, I don't know what to do now, I have lost my way, I feel weak now, there is no energy in my legs to stand. I can do one thing, crying like a new born baby where there is no control.
I have lost everything.
I cannot say.........................any more.
I love...................you mic............
YOU ROCKED MY WORLD.
Nainy.