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From www.8notes.com
The 80s was a decade of originality, and fun music from one continent to the next.
My life as a single digit and as a pre-teen back then was heavily influenced by the music industry. At this time, I was studying dance (ballet) and eventually working in the entertainment industry as a teenager.
Fortunately my family did not tell me what I could and could not listen to. My parents were very supportive of my unhealthy obsession with Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna and New Edition!
Out of all of the artists back then, Michael Jackson was my absolute favorite. I loved Michael Jackson so much to the point that I had this crazy idea of pretending to have cancer and calling the Make-A-Wish-Foundation to see if I could meet Michael. I was even going to shave my head bald and pretend to have cancer. That is so terrible. I am admitting my silliness as a 8 year old child to meet Michael Jackson, but this is how I felt.
Why was I obsessed with Michael Jackson?
He is a wonderful entertainer who represents the innocence that all of us long for from our days as a carefree kid.
My favorite album from him is Off The Wall. Thriller is wonderful too, but Off The Wall is my absolute favorite.
Despite all the unfortunate personal problems Michael Jackson has gone through, I try to overlook all the insanity and just concentrate on his music.
In the 1990s, I did not listen to a lot of his new music except for Dangerous every now and then. I focused more on Michael's solo career in the 1970s. Great music. I still cannot understand how a young man like him can interpret such soulful music perfectly.
Listening to Michael's music from the 1970s gave me an appreciation for artists that inspired him such as Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes and many others. By now, I know most of the Motown popular hits thanks to Michael Jackson and The Jackson family.
This past year I have been enjoying two songs from Michael Jackson's Invincible album which are Butterflies and Heaven Can Wait. I wish I could have video or audio from when he was recording these songs. Perfection.
One thing I have learned with my love for both Michael Jackson and Prince is my obsession with perfection. They did it in music, and I do it with my work. Observing how disciplined Michael Jackson and Prince were and still are with there art influenced me at a young age to work hard and to be focused with whatever do. It all paid off, but I have learned not to stress myself out like I used to!
This is why I cannot knock them as artists because they helped me evolve into the person that I am today, and they continue to inspire me to demand the best out of myself.
I still have mad love for Michael Jackson's creativity.
My dream would be to be a fly on the wall while he is recording or in a dance studio learning a dance from him. I can still do the entire Thriller video dance and of course I can Moonwalk. Most of my friends can do these dances, if not, sorry - I cannot hang with you! =)
I have been fortunate to see Michael Jackson 4 times!
Once at The Victory Tour in 1984 with his brothers (I was ten). This was my first concert ever! We were sitting way back in the bleachers at RFK stadium in Washington, DC. I could see Michael dance because his socks were made of sequins. There were not wide screen video screens to see what was going on the stage, but I could hear everything.
The second time I saw him was the Bad Tour. My father must have lost his mind, but he bought tickets at Madison Square Garden in New York City. We traveled to New York City from Washington, DC (we took the train) to see Michael Jackson perform. It was a fantastic concert. This was in 1987 or 1988. I could have sworn Michael Jackson waved to me because I was in the 10th row, but that was me in my dream world back then.
Third time I saw Michael Jackson was another tour he did in the early 1990s in Washington, DC at the Capital Center in Maryland.
My last time seeing Michael Jackson was not in a concert, but he was presented an award by the National Association of Black Journalists in Washington, DC. I was supposed to meet him because my friend's father knew him. But, unfortunately, it did not work out.
Till this day I am still kind of bummed that I did not meet him, but it was meant to happen that way. Oh, well.
Further, my "friend" accidentally taped over my unedited taped version of Michael Jackson's, Black or White video. I wanted to KILL her for doing this, but I know it was a mistake.
However, I did see Michael with my own eyes outside of him dancing and singing. I could have gone up to him and say hello but I was so scared.
I am no longer obsessed with Michael Jackson like I used to be, but listening to his music always brings great memories for me. If he were to go on tour tomorrow, I would be there!
He still has "it."
Michael Jackson
Off the Wall
Butterflies
Heaven Can Wait
Michael Jackson Videos
Someone made a video of Michael Jackson's Heaven Can Wait. Neato!
Butterflies - In Acapella
Michael Jackson Mania in the 1980s
12 Jun 2007, 07:24
From www.8notes.com
The 80s was a decade of originality, and fun music from one continent to the next.
My life as a single digit and as a pre-teen back then was heavily influenced by the music industry. At this time, I was studying dance (ballet) and eventually working in the entertainment industry as a teenager.
Fortunately my family did not tell me what I could and could not listen to. My parents were very supportive of my unhealthy obsession with Michael Jackson, Prince and Madonna and New Edition!
Out of all of the artists back then, Michael Jackson was my absolute favorite. I loved Michael Jackson so much to the point that I had this crazy idea of pretending to have cancer and calling the Make-A-Wish-Foundation to see if I could meet Michael. I was even going to shave my head bald and pretend to have cancer. That is so terrible. I am admitting my silliness as a 8 year old child to meet Michael Jackson, but this is how I felt.
Why was I obsessed with Michael Jackson?
He is a wonderful entertainer who represents the innocence that all of us long for from our days as a carefree kid.
My favorite album from him is Off The Wall. Thriller is wonderful too, but Off The Wall is my absolute favorite.
Despite all the unfortunate personal problems Michael Jackson has gone through, I try to overlook all the insanity and just concentrate on his music.
In the 1990s, I did not listen to a lot of his new music except for Dangerous every now and then. I focused more on Michael's solo career in the 1970s. Great music. I still cannot understand how a young man like him can interpret such soulful music perfectly.
Listening to Michael's music from the 1970s gave me an appreciation for artists that inspired him such as Frank Sinatra, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes and many others. By now, I know most of the Motown popular hits thanks to Michael Jackson and The Jackson family.
This past year I have been enjoying two songs from Michael Jackson's Invincible album which are Butterflies and Heaven Can Wait. I wish I could have video or audio from when he was recording these songs. Perfection.
One thing I have learned with my love for both Michael Jackson and Prince is my obsession with perfection. They did it in music, and I do it with my work. Observing how disciplined Michael Jackson and Prince were and still are with there art influenced me at a young age to work hard and to be focused with whatever do. It all paid off, but I have learned not to stress myself out like I used to!
This is why I cannot knock them as artists because they helped me evolve into the person that I am today, and they continue to inspire me to demand the best out of myself.
I still have mad love for Michael Jackson's creativity.
My dream would be to be a fly on the wall while he is recording or in a dance studio learning a dance from him. I can still do the entire Thriller video dance and of course I can Moonwalk. Most of my friends can do these dances, if not, sorry - I cannot hang with you! =)
I have been fortunate to see Michael Jackson 4 times!
Once at The Victory Tour in 1984 with his brothers (I was ten). This was my first concert ever! We were sitting way back in the bleachers at RFK stadium in Washington, DC. I could see Michael dance because his socks were made of sequins. There were not wide screen video screens to see what was going on the stage, but I could hear everything.
The second time I saw him was the Bad Tour. My father must have lost his mind, but he bought tickets at Madison Square Garden in New York City. We traveled to New York City from Washington, DC (we took the train) to see Michael Jackson perform. It was a fantastic concert. This was in 1987 or 1988. I could have sworn Michael Jackson waved to me because I was in the 10th row, but that was me in my dream world back then.
Third time I saw Michael Jackson was another tour he did in the early 1990s in Washington, DC at the Capital Center in Maryland.
My last time seeing Michael Jackson was not in a concert, but he was presented an award by the National Association of Black Journalists in Washington, DC. I was supposed to meet him because my friend's father knew him. But, unfortunately, it did not work out.
Till this day I am still kind of bummed that I did not meet him, but it was meant to happen that way. Oh, well.
Further, my "friend" accidentally taped over my unedited taped version of Michael Jackson's, Black or White video. I wanted to KILL her for doing this, but I know it was a mistake.
However, I did see Michael with my own eyes outside of him dancing and singing. I could have gone up to him and say hello but I was so scared.
I am no longer obsessed with Michael Jackson like I used to be, but listening to his music always brings great memories for me. If he were to go on tour tomorrow, I would be there!
He still has "it."
Michael Jackson
Off the Wall
ButterfliesHeaven Can WaitMichael Jackson Videos
Someone made a video of Michael Jackson's Heaven Can Wait. Neato!
Butterflies - In Acapella
Comments
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2Serenity wrote:
Michael Jackson - Music and Me (Live in the 1970s) One of my favorite Michael Jackson songs ever.
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2Serenity wrote:
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2Serenity wrote:
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2Serenity wrote:
Michael Jackson - Dangerous
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2Serenity wrote:
Thank you, MJ, for this video! It made me proud especially as an African American for you to bring this video highlighting your African ancestry and showing the range in color of our African ancestry.
It was really important then for MJ to show people of a
African ancestry of identifiable African ancestry because many people and still to this day are suspect as to whether Michael Jackson has vitiligo. He does have the skin disorder, and I wish people would just leave him alone on that issue. He cannot control it.
Someone did a good video on youtube about MJ's skin disorder
Here is a link to it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMGcJFCmnCg
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2Serenity wrote:
MJ, I love this song. It gave me hope as a darker skinned woman that people would appreciate my beauty.
I had many hang ups because of my color when MJ was going through his changes. People would ask me since I loved MJ would I bleach my skin? I retorted OH HELL NO. There is a book called, The Blacker the Berry The Sweeter The Juice by Wallace Thurman where the main character is bleaching their skin because they are hopeless growing up in America as a black person.
I actually gave this book to Janet Jackson in 1990. I told her that her album 1814 reaffirmed who I was as a woman especially a black woman. I hoped she shared it with MJ. Not to sure if she did but I really wanted her to read it. I think she did. [I worked at BET at this time, and I met her when she was on the show Video Soul. She was so sweet!]
This was my beginning of my activism as knowing my history and loving myself. Further, this is when I knew my purpose in life was to share my history as much as I could.
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2Serenity wrote:
http://www.jetzi-mjvideo.com/mt/
http://aboutmichaeljackson.com/m-news+article+storyid-255.html
The one book that I have read about Michael Jackson was his book - Moonwalker. That was enough for me. Right from his mouth.
There are plenty of others. I just do not frequent them.
Oh, I did read his mother's book:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Family-Jacksons-Katherine-Jackson/dp/0312923503
I read Latoya's book too:
** She mentions that she was molested by their father. I was shocked when I read that.
http://www.amazon.com/Toya-Growing-Up-Jackson-Family/dp/0525933433/ref=pd_sim_b_1_img/105-8694392-7401242 -
2Serenity wrote:
His music is what I love.
I do not know MJ personally.
I thought I knew his heart and spirit through his music, but I do not know what to believe anymore.
Of course his family is going to protect him 100% and I know those that are close to him are going to protect him (Elizabeth Taylor and his African nanny), but I think MJ has endured so much criticism from the media, friends, and others that he is confused with the direction of his musical career.
The child molestation case created a huge cloud over MJ. I wish he took that case to trial, but he settled because he did not want to deal with a trial. He should have proved his innocent. That is just my opinion but I understand where MJ was coming from. He did not want to deal with a long dragged out case and people into his private world. But, look at all of the mess that was created. All the speculation and questions.
MJ that is the ENTIRE reason why I want to law school!
I wanted to be his attorney and protect his butt. But, I think MJ has had too many legal issues that not even the seasoned attorney could deal with. I feel that his legal and person woes have stifled him as an artist because he has been sued left and right.
This is the problem in entertainment. Once you are popular and create a name for yourself, everyone is out for your money.
Further, you have to be extremely careful in not sampling or borrowing music from others with giving due credit.
MJ had this issue in a classical piece of music that he used in his song, Will You Be.
This is from www.mjfanclub.net
November 4, 1999
Jackson Found Not Guilty Of Plagiarism
The Court of Appeals of Milan has rejected the appeal of Italian songwriter Albano Carrisi, and confirmed the lower court's judgment in favor of Michael Jackson and Sony Music, in a lawsuit involving Jackson's hit song Will You Be There. Al Bano claimed that Jackson copied his song I cigni di Balaka (The Swans of Balaka). In November of 1997, the Trubunal of Milan ruled that there was no plagiarism, and Al Bano appealed.
Jackson's copyright lawyer, Eve Wagner of Saucer & Wagner commented on the victory:
This lawsuit has been pending for (7) seven years, and we are delighted that Michael Jackson has once again been vindicated, and that justice has been served. This is the fourth time Mr. Jackson has triumphed in an unsubstantiated copyright infringement case.
Ms. Wagner also said that Al Bano was ordered to pay legal expenses to Jackson and Sony, among others.
Ms. Wagner also commented on a ruling earlier this year by a criminal court in Rome finding Jackson guilty of plagiarism in a lawsuit involving the same two songs- Will You Be There and I Cigni di Bulaka. Wagner stated that:
The criminal court's ruling was groundless and a travesty. The criminal court had not only ignored the previous rulings by (6) six other judges in Jackson's favor, but also the opinion of the court's own expert that there was 'no possibility of plagiarism.' The court of appeals in Milan considered the criminal judgment and nonetheless concluded that Jackson was not guilty of plagiarism.
Source: Law Offices of Saucer & Wagner
Further I have learned from reading and following these legal cases of some entertainers that there is no way I would want to deal with this insanity.
The money may be great but the time, aggravation and hurt is something that money cannot buy. Although I would work extremely hard to protect my client (knowing me), I would become to emotionally involved and it would drain every once of me.
One attorney that I highly respected and who represented MJ for a hot second was Johnnie Cochran. Cochran was passionate about the law and protecting his clients. This is what made him stand out from the masses. We need more attorneys to follow his path.
MJ I pray that you always have good attorneys and management around you. I know Raymone K. Bain will protect your back. She did a wonderful job with reinventing Mayor Marion Barry so I know she can continue to protect you.
Further, she is trained as an attorney so you have the best of both worlds with her!
Great article on Raymone K. Bain (Thanks, Mom, for telling me about this article:)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27/AR2006062701934.html -
2Serenity wrote:
Don't quote me on this but I heard that this was Michael Jackson's voice used on The Simpson's
Listen and let me know what you think. I wish I could get access to the credits of the show to check on this.
-- Edited: This was not Michael Jackson's voice, but it was a song that he wrote.
Here is the text to support the claim:
Did MJ ever do a guest spot on The Simpsons?
After years of speculations that Michael Jackson contributed his voice to a 1991 episode of The Simpsons entitled Stark Raving Dad, the Series creator Matt Groening finally revealed in 1998 that Michael was indeed the mystery voice, even though even though the credits identified him with the pseudonym John Jay Smith. Up to this time, cast members and producers are legally prohibited from confirming it, but during an appearance at the Second Annual World Animation Celebration in Pasadena (2/18/98), Matt Groening confirmed the rumor and further revealed that Michael also wrote an composed the song Do the Bartman that was included on the 1991 disc The Simpsons Sing the Blues. It was always amazing to me that no one ever found out that Michael Jackson wrote that song, Groening told a crowd gathered for a Simpsons tribute at the Pasadena conference. He was a big fan of the show.
Stark Raving Dad [7F24], episode aired on September 19, 1991in the the 3rd-season of the Simposon's televisions series. In the episode, Bart carelessly tosses his lucky red hat into the wash, turning Homer's work shirt pink. At work, they take Homer's shirt as a sign of a disturbed mind, and remand him to a mental institution. There he meets a fat, balding white man who was committed because he thinks he is Michael Jackson. MJ wrote the song Lisa, It's Your Birthday, which appears in the episode, but did not sing it or the other songs in the episode because of legal obstacles. There is also a funny MJ reference in the 4th-season Halloween episode, Treehouse of Horror III [9F04], in the third tale, Dial Z for Zombies, which first aired on October 29, 1992. (alt.tv.simpsons episode capsule FAQ might provide more info)
From: http://www.mjcafe.net/the%20legend%20speeches%20&%20faq/p1.htm
Michael Jackson's Voice used to sing Happy Birthday to the character of Lisa on The Simpsons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzRgS0HAxas
Song - Lisa, It's Your Birthday
Interesting Entry from Wikipedia about Michael Jackson and The Simpsons
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stark_Raving_Dad -
2Serenity wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1ja0piFjRA
He is credited as John Jay Smith.
Other black people's voices used on The Simpsons:
http://animatedtv.about.com/od/gueststars/a/blackhistory.htm
Ron Taylor
James Earl Jones
Magic Johnson
Barry White
James Brown
Cypress Hill -
80sfever wrote:
Great, great job, sis!
My favorite songs of his are Lady In My Life, I Just Can't Stop Loving You, I Can't Help It, P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing) and all songs in Thriller album Nice links here, sister.
By the way, i believe he didn't attempt to bleach himself. It was a sickness called vitiligo. He mentioned it on Oprah Winfrey's show. I bet you heard about it. -
2Serenity wrote:
Yes -- I do remember that interview vividly with Oprah. Thank you for pointing that out. The person who had his interview on YouTube had to take the video down =(.
I do not believe he tried to bleach himself either, but I do not like this chalky makeup he is wearing. I have a good friend who has vitiligo too but she cannot afford to do the elaborate makeup. She is almost 80 years old and she just gets a face powder to try to even out the discoloration, but it is not that bad. She is extremely pale, but she let me know it is the vitiligo. -
2Serenity wrote:
Me too!! This is why with my ENTIRE MJ collection that I had to buy the CDs but some stuff I just kept on tape. There is a way to convert but I just don't feel like being bothered either. My Thriller album is on vinyl but I had to get that on CD so MJ has made plenty of money from me!
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2Serenity wrote:
Fox News Caster has Vitiligo
http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur39389.cfm
Now, LEAVE MJ alone because it is a condition I have been TRYING to tell people for YEARS and NO ONE BELIEVES me. Further, Oprah interviewed MJ on this case and he discussed it then. And, the video of Oprah and MJ's interview was circulating on youtube but it was taken down. MJ or Oprah's peeps - please do him a favor and make that video available. I am so tired of not being able to SHOW what MJ said. -
2Serenity wrote:
Another book about Michael Jackson that you may want to check out - The Michael Jackson Conspiracy
http://www.aphroditejones.com/books/MJackson.htm -
Meerseo wrote:
This is right that he was suffering from vitiligo. There are many pics of MJ with his vitiligo are the proof of his skin condition. The white patches on his skin in these pics are due to the vitiligo and quite resemble with the pics of vitiligo people on vitiligo orgs site (like http://www.antivitiligo.com/ ) .Anyhow it has been seen that many people criticize him due to his skin condition vitiligo which is not fare deed. -
2Serenity wrote:
http://www.examiner.com/x-12837-US-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m7d10-Glove-worn-by-Michael-Jackson-hid-Vitiligo
More information about Michael Jackson and vitiligo! Please read and learn and understand he was not denying his black heritage. -
2Serenity wrote:
((love you Michael)) I'm having a hard time processing your departure but I know God needed you for a higher calling. I always loved you and will always honor your spirit. You were the treasure for so many. Your music will continue to console me through the puzzle of life. I'm so thankful God allowed me to be alive to listen and experience your music live. I am so humbled by this. Thank you, God.
Please honor Michael Jackson's memory and spirit. May his family grieve in peace.
Love to Mrs. Jackson, the Jackson family, Michael's 3 children, Prince, Paris and Blanket (Prince II). And to all the extended family, friends and fans like myself who will continue to HONOR Michael's spirit.
