Historian Traces Emergence of Black Identity in America ...
www.utexas.edu/.../historian-traces-emergence-of-black-identity-in-america/ - Cached - Similar -
Black Identity - Blckr Thn Blck(The Prophet & JDX Remix) | ||||||
  | 3 min 51 sec - 22 Sep 2007 - Black Identity - Blckr Thn Blck(The Prophet & JDX Remix) Dope Nummer www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIjb2BKBJPM - | |||||
Black Identity - Blacker Than Black | ||||||
 | 5 min - 14 Apr 2008 - Black Identity - Blacker Than Black (The Prophet vs Jdx Remix) www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8X6HcUFwdc - | |||||
Sensation Black 2008 Amsterdam ArenA | ||||||
| 100 min - 15 Jul 2008 - Black in Amsterdam am 12. Juli 2008 LineUp: Marcel Woods Fausto Headhunterz Technoboy Showtek Black Identity The Prophet Donkey Rollers ... video.google.com/videoplay?docid=522924161913378060 - | |||||
Black Identity | ||||||
| 31 min - 13 Jul 2008 - Black 2008 Black Identity Live Mix Sensation Black Amsterdam Arena Hardstyle Hardcore. video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2659690479737865068 - | |||||
Cultural Consumption, Black Identity, and Racialized Environments
www.allacademic.com/meta/p183214_index.html - Cached - Similar -
by C Consumption - All 2 versions
Black History And Black Identity: W. D. Wright: Books 0275974421 ...
www.flipkart.com/black...identity.../0275974421-lsw3fm6bud - Cached - Similar -
African American Racial Identity Research Lab
www.lsa.umich.edu/aari/mibi.htm - Cached - Similar -
Black Identity: Rhetoric, Ideology, and Nineteenth-Century Black ...
www.infibeam.com/.../Black-Identity.../080932735X.html - Cached - Similar -
Slice of Life: Young Jean Lee Tackles Black Identity
annajenkinson-culture.blogspot.com/.../young-jean-lee-tackles-black-identity.html - Cached - Similar -
Book results for Black Identity
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next |
Nilekani quits Infosys to head Unique ID projectHindu - 20 hours ago The Authority, under the aegis of the Planning Commission, is aimed at providing a unique identity to the targeted population of the Government's flagship ... What Nilekani will log on to in the ID project Business Standard ID project can catalyse domestic IT business, open new marketsEconomic Times - 18 hours ago "The project would act as a big catalyst. The Unique ID project will overlay many underlying projects, creating huge efficiencies for the country leading to ... Multibillion opportunity for IT cos Times of India Bartronics shares jump on govt ID project hopesReuters India - 56 minutes ago The newly-elected government on Thursday said it has appointed former Infosys co-chairman Nandan Nilekani to head Unique Identification Authority of India ... Nilekani quits Infy for big Govt projectHindustan Times - 11 hours ago The database will comprise a unique permanent identity number assigned to every individual that would remain from birth to death. ... Infosys's Nilekani Quits to Head Indian Government ProjectBloomberg - 6 hours ago Singh aims to provide every Indian with a unique identity card that would serve to improve the delivery of its welfare programs and boost security. ... Citizen ids to cost Rs 1.5 lakh croreTimes of India - 12 hours ago In 2003, the government decided to launch a pilot project for providing the Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC) to 31 lakh people in 12 states and ... National ID card to create useful IT infra: NASSCOMMoneycontrol.com - 21 hours ago ... as the head of the National ID Card Project Authority, a massive project that would provide a unique identification number to every citizen of India. ... Nandan Nilekani may get charge of national ID card projectIndian Express - Jun 21, 2009 According to highly-placed sources, Nilekani is seen as best suited to guide the UPA's ambitious project to provide every Indian with a unique identity card ... Public Health Agency seeks new 'visual identity'Canada.com - - Jun 24, 2009 The agency is seeking "a design firm with the passion, creativity and expertise to help develop a unique and effective visual identity system," say ... Sensex lifeline: high beeps and pratfallsLivemint - 14 hours ago Union human resource development minister Kapil Sibal said the unique identification system will use biometrics and the proposed national unique identity ... |
Email this story
Fresh operation on in Lalgarh to flush out Maoists
US National Security Adviser calls on Manmohan Singh
Michael and his women
| Shyamanuja Das | ||
| Friday, June 26, 2009 | ||
| ||
| NEW DELHI, INDIA: The appointment of Nandan Nilekani, the co-chairman of Infosys, as the chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India is significant, not only because it marks a departure from the traditional government way of working — of looking at bureaucrats and ex-bureaucrats to head projects of national importance, but also because it shows that the government has actually put out effort to hunt the right person for the job. "Such specific purpose identities were often found to have inherent limitations in accuracy and currency levels on account of low frequency of usage. Moreover, the multiplicity of such systems renders it impossible to correlate information across sectors and even across institutions within the same sector for providing better services to people. Similarly, different agencies of government are unable to correlate their data relating to any particular individual," it added. At that time, the UPA government had said that unique identity (UID) number of each individual would remain a permanent identifier right from birth to death of the individual. It would obviate the need for a person to produce multiple documentary proofs of his identity for availing of any government service, or private services like opening of a bank account, etc.
http://www.ciol.com/News/News-Reports/What-exactly-is-the-Unique-ID-project/26609121548/0/ |
Email This
Print This
Comments
RSSState chosen for unique ID project
www.deccanherald.com/.../state-chosen-unique-id-project.html - Cached - Similar -
What exactly is the Unique ID project? - CIOL News Reports
www.ciol.com/News/News...is...Unique-ID-project/.../0/ - 2 hours ago - Similar -
Centre appoints Nilekani head of unique ID agency
www.dnaindia.com/.../report_centre-appoints-nilekani-head-of-unique-id-agency_1268400 - 13 hours ago - Similar -
Unique identity | mydigitalfc.com
www.mydigitalfc.com/2009/unique-identity - 14 hours ago - Similar -
Infosys chairman to head government identity project - Network World
www.networkworld.com/.../062509-infosys-chairman-to-head-government.html - 20 hours ago - Similar -
::DIT:e-Governance
www.mit.gov.in/default.aspx?id=859 - Cached - Similar -
Microsoft Project Tips for Unique ID's and Simplified Gantt Charts
www.dbcrane.com/ms-project-tips.htm - Cached - Similar -
Nilekani to head unique ID project : 26th jun09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines
e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=23&src=260609 - 5 hours ago - Similar -
The Hindu News Update Service
www.thehindu.com/holnus/000200906251704.htm - 20 hours ago - Similar -
The Assam Tribune Online
www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jun2609/... - 13 hours ago - Similar -
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next |
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, who has died aged 50, was a precociously talented performer and songwriter whose childhood was blighted by the pressures of stardom, and who was in later life better known for his bizarre behaviour and allegations of sexual abuse against children
For legions of fans around the world, such grave suspicions meant little. Jackson styled himself "The King of Pop" and for them he was just that. An unrivalled catalogue of dancefloor-filling hits – from the joyous ABC to the infectiously basslined Beat It and the pastiche-horror anthem Thriller - seems certain to ensure that his musical legacy survives and thrives well beyond the memory of the legal proceedings that tainted his reputation and his life during its last years.
That his recorded and onstage achievements have been able to overwhelm the seriousness of the charges laid against him is possibly the greatest testament to his talent.
Related Articles
Few could generate the hysteria that Jackson could. Whether propelled into a stadium arena from a trapdoor or exiting it via jetpack, screams of adulation – sometimes lasting minutes – were guaranteed. And that was without his even opening his mouth, or gyrating the hips and ankles that could propel him backwards (while apparently walking forwards) in a dance move with which he will ever be associated: The Moonwalk.
When the vocals did come, however, they hinted at the bizarre personal life that lay behind Jackson's musical career. Neither manly bass, hot funk nor steamy soul, his timbre was set apart from the vocal traditions of America's greatest black singers – from Marvin Gaye to James Brown. His boyhood treble endured, it seemed, well into adulthood. For much of his career that did not matter. The falsetto cries that greeted each new crotch-grabbing dance move seemingly referred to the classic eroticism that infused so much of that black music.
But as the years passed, the enduringly whispery, high-pitched voice carried with it the sombre suggestion that Jackson had failed to move on from his childhood years – and, indeed, was determined to remained rooted in a reassuringly pre-pubescent world. Whatever his musical reputation, it was clear that he sought the company of children in ways that most adults found, at best, distasteful and ill-advised, and at worst illegal and depraved.
Michael Jackson was born on August 29 1958 at Gary, Indiana. His father Joseph, a steelworker, had pursued a less than brilliant career as a musician and was determined that his children would succeed where he had failed. The young Michael showed amazing early promise, and from the age of four he would stand in front of his four older brothers as the lead singer of the family group, The Jackson 5.
After winning talent contests and becoming local celebrities, they were discovered by Gladys Knight, and were signed to Berry Gordy's Motown label. The subsequent move to Los Angeles meant separation from Jackson's beloved mother Katherine, a devout Jehovah's Witness, but Michael soon found a surrogate mother in Motown's biggest act, Diana Ross.
After a year of recording and grooming for stardom, The Jackson 5 released their first single, I Want You Back, in November 1969, which became a US chart-topper. Over the next seven years, The Jackson 5 released 13 albums and became huge stars, even having a cartoon series based on them. "Baby" Michael, the focal point of the band, endured a whirlwind of recording, touring, television appearances, and media attention.
The demands on him were not eased by Joseph, who took his role as manager to the band more seriously than that of father. He demanded a merciless work ethic, often resorting to taunts and even physical abuse to get the best out of his sons. Years later, Jackson was still tormented by the fact that Joseph "never told me he loved me". Always softly spoken, polite and reserved, he withdrew further into himself, only really coming to life when performing. Work was always Jackson's escape, and in this time he also released several solo albums and started writing his own songs.
In 1976, the family split with Motown and signed to Epic records under the name The Jacksons. After two lacklustre albums, it seemed as if their reign of success was over, but the brothers persuaded Epic to give them greater artistic control, and they made a triumphant return with the disco-inflected Destiny (1978).
The following year, as part of his bid to escape the confining clutches of his family, Jackson, now 21, moved to New York to appear as the scarecrow in The Wiz, an all-black film version of The Wizard of Oz, starring Diana Ross. He formed a bond with the film's musical director, Quincy Jones, and later that year, the pair worked together on Jackson's hugely successful Off The Wall (1979). It was on this album that Jackson's adult solo sound came to fruition, and he began to firmly eclipse his work with the Jacksons. He also found his form as a songwriter with the hit single Don't Stop (Til You get Enough). After another tour and album with his brothers, Jackson started work on what was to become Thriller (1982).
The album spent 37 weeks at the top of the US charts, spawned four US number one singles – including the self-penned Billy Jean, Gotta Be Startin' Somethin', and Beat It – and went on to sell 46 million copies, making it the most successful album of all time. The video for the album's title song, directed by film director Jon Landis, was half an hour long and cost 10 million dollars. Infused, like many of his greatest tracks, with a simple but driving bassline, its also featured a Hammer House of Horror-style voice-over from Vincent Price. It was the dance routines, however, expertly choreographed and performed, that set Jackson apart from other performers. Dressed and made up as zombies, they shuffled, stamped, clapped, and boogied, as the undead never had before. At the head of the file was Jackson himself, transformed in the song from dream date to nightmare stalker, enthralling viewers around the world.
Thriller's enormous success made Jackson an international media icon, his single sequinned glove, his unlaced sneakers, and his Moonwalk instantly recognisable the world over. But it also made him the target of unwanted attention.
He then bought a Californian ranch. Having always identified strongly with Peter Pan, he called his new home Neverland. Here he started building up his collections of amusement park rides, mannequins, and animals (among them the infamous Bubbles, the chimpanzee). Jackson also embarked on a course of plastic surgery. Nicknamed "Big nose" by his brothers as a child, and repeatedly described as "ugly" by his father, he had never been happy with his appearance.
His increasingly strange transformation prompted a media frenzy, with allegations that he was trying to look like his friend Elizabeth Taylor (among others). There was also his ever-whiter skin, a result, said his publicists, of the skirt condition vitiligo, but deemed by critics as a deliberate effort to escape his blackness.
The more famous Jackson got, the more he retreated into his own world, and the more rumours of his increasingly odd behaviour titillated the public. "Wacko Jacko", as he was now called in the British tabloids, allegedly had an eating disorder, slept in an oxygen tent, tried to buy the remains of the Elephant Man, and wore a surgical mask on his rare public outings.
In 1987, Jackson released Bad, which once again was a huge worldwide hit, but inevitably failed to match the success of Thriller despite Jackson's massive and gruelling world tour. For the first time, his music took second place to his lifestyle in the public's attentions. Dangerous (1991) was not exceptional, and it seemed that Jackson's detachment from reality meant that he was no longer in tune with his audience. But the gradual decline in record sales was as nothing compared to the scandal which broke in 1993, from which his career was never to fully recover.
Jackson, who had been denied a childhood, had always felt a special affinity for children. Throughout his adult life he raised millions of dollars for children's charities. But his affection for children did not stop there. He clearly felt he could trust them, preferred their company to that of adults, and often invited them to stay at Neverland.
There had always been doubts about Jackson's sexuality; a claimed teenage liaison with Diana Ross was hotly denied by her, a brief relationship with Tatum O'Neal following a first date at Hugh Hefner's Playboy Mansion came to nothing. Over the years, Jackson's image was repeatedly tarnished by rumours.
The father of Jordan Chandler, one of Jackson's young "friends", took accusations of molestation to the police. They were unable to press charges after the 13-year-old boy declined to testify, having received an undisclosed settlement (believed to be $26 million) from Jackson.
This payment damned Jackson as guilty in the eyes of many, despite his emphatic denials. Pepsi dropped his sponsorship deal, and the following year he was admitted to a British drug rehabilitation clinic for treatment for addiction to the painkillers morphine and demerol.
While Jackson's considerable number of diehard fans around the world refused to believe the worst of their idol, for the majority of people Jackson became at best a joke, and at worst a criminal using his wealth to escape justice. Many of Jackson's subsequent acts seemed like stunningly ill-advised and cynical attempts to rehabilitate his image.
Neither of his two marriages, firstly to Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa-Marie in 1994, and secondly to his dermatologist's assistant Debbie Rowe in 1996, lasted more than two years. The fact that he had two children with Rowe (allegedly by artificial insemination) – Prince Michael, born in 1997, and Paris Michael, born in 1998 – made the liaison seem only more grotesque.
Rowe later complained to a newspaper that she had hardly seen her children since their birth. According to the tabloids, they were brought up in a fittingly freakish manner, with six nannies and six nurses, and toys and cutlery thrown out after a single use.
Jackson's next three albums, HIStory, Past Present and Future Part 1 (1995), Blood On the Dancefloor (1997), and, in 2001, Invincible (said to be the most expensive ever recorded), all performed underwhelmingly, despite enormous promotional budgets. The HIStory album generated a hit single with Scream, although a large part of its appeal was due to the collaboration of his sister Janet, who had begun to eclipse him in popularity.
For the British public, Jackson's image as a slightly sinister figure of fun was cemented by his friendship with the celebrity spoon-bender Uri Geller (at whose wedding he was best man), and Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed, whom he accompanied to a Fulham versus Wigan football game at which the away supporters chanted "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles".
In March 2001, Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He followed this with a concert at Madison Square Gardens to celebrate his 30th anniversary in showbusiness. Despite the roster of celebrity guests such as Britney Spears and Marlon Brando, the concert received terrible reviews for its expensive tickets, poor organisation and general self-indulgence.
In 1985 Jackson had been a linchpin of the all-star USA for Africa charity recording, We Are the World. It was indicative of how his star had waned that, in October 2001, he was prevented from appearing on A Tribute To Heroes, the televised fund-raiser for victims of the September 11 attacks. The self-styled "King of Pop" was no more.
For many, Jackson calling for a "greater understanding between children and adults" in a lecture at the Oxford Union to publicise his Heal The Kids "initiative" was deeply offensive, as was his being made UN Special Ambassador for Children in 2001. But there seems little doubt that Jackson's love of children, however misguided, was genuine. In 1999 he told a journalist: "If it wasn't for the children I'd throw in the towel." Michael Jackson was as much a victim as he was an offender, a victim of his upbringing, and of the modern obsession with celebrity.
In 2003 Jackson was charged with seven counts of sexually abusing a another young boy, Gavin Anzio, whom he had entertained at "sleepovers" at Neverland. When the case came to court two years later Jackson claimed that he and Gavin had merely watched television together in bed, a claim supported by his friend Elizabeth Taylor. He spent much of the trial in a wheelchair, explaining that he was in serious pain owing to a broken vertebra.
The trial was the centre of an extraordinary media circus reminiscent of the OJ Simpson case, and lasted five months, ending in the singer's acquittal on all counts. But the sordid details that had emerged during the proceedings had done nothing for his reputation, and the verdict could hardly be deemed a triumph. Jackson remained beleaguered, and he went to live in Bahrain at the invitation of Sheikh Abdullah. It was now rumoured that Jackson was in severe financial difficulties: he was said to have borrowed more than $250 million against his music publishing interests; Neverland was closed down to save money; he became bogged down in protracted lawsuits.
Martin Bashir's television documentary about Jackson in 2003 revealed that the singer had blown $6 million in a single store; he had also paid his second wife $ 6.5 million between 1996 to 1999 for her to renounce her conjugal rights to their two children; and it was estimated that he had managed to spend around $1 billion in earnings and borrowed money in 20 years.
In recent months there had been much fanfare about a projected comeback tour. The singer had been due to launch a series of concerts in London on July 13 which would continue until March next year. The dates had sold out three months ago within five hours of the tickets going on sale. According to the promoters of the shows, AEG Live, Jackson had been subjected to, and passed, an intensive medical examination before the tour was announced.
He made a brief, and typically mysterious, appearance at the O2 to publicise the events, punching the air and announcing "This is it!" in a voice a full octave lower than his customary girlish whisper; some observers even began to wonder whether they were not being addressed by a lookalike.
After Britain, the tour was due to take in Europe and the Far East before concluding in the United States in 2011.
Jackson often said he felt like "the loneliest person in the world". In 1982 he narrated the storybook LP of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, another outsider from children's fiction he identified with. He said: "ET's story is the story of my life in so many ways." Unlike ET, Jackson never found a home except on stage, which was, he said in 1979, "where I'm supposed to be, where God meant me to be".
Jackson is survived by his two children.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/celebrity-obituaries/5643156/Michael-Jackson.html
Breaking News
King Of Pop Michael Jackson Is Dead At 50
Showbiz sensation Michael Jackson is pronounced dead after suffering a suspected heart attack at home in Los Angeles.
Read full story Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50 | ||||
 Michael Jackson had been due to play 50 concert dates in the UK this summer Pop star Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles, aged 50. Paramedics were called to the singer's Beverly Hills home at about midday on Thursday after he stopped breathing. He was pronounced dead two hours later at the UCLA medical centre. Jackson's brother, Jermaine, said he was believed to have suffered a cardiac arrest. Jackson, who had a history of health problems, had been due to stage a series of comeback concerts in the UK, beginning on 13 July. Speaking on behalf of the Jackson family, Jermaine said doctors had tried to resuscitate the star for more than an hour without success. Jermaine Jackson on his brother's sudden death He added: "The family request that the media please respect our privacy during this tough time." "And Allah be with you Michael always. I love you." TV footage showed the star's body flown from UCLA to the LA County Coroner's office where a post-mortem is expected to take place on Friday. Concerns were raised last month when four of Jackson's planned comeback concerts were postponed, but organisers insisted the dates had been moved due to the complexity of staging the show. A spokeswoman for The Outside Organisation, which was organising the publicity for the shows, said she had no comment at this time. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini said: "I always doubted that he would have been able to go through that schedule, those concerts. It seemed to be too much of a demand on the unhealthy body of a 50 year old. HAVE YOUR SAY Can't believe it. I'm gutted. RIP Michael, thanks for everything you gave us. Tommy, Cardiff "I'm wondering that, as we find out details of his death, if perhaps the stress of preparing for those dates was a factor in his collapse. "It was wishful thinking that at this stage of his life he could be Michael Jackson again." Uri Geller, a close friend of the star, told BBC News it was "very, very sad". Speaking outside New York's historic Apollo theatre, civil rights activist Rev Al Sharpton paid tribute to his friend. "I knew him 35 years. When he had problems he would call me," he said. "I feel like he was not treated fairly. I hope history will be more kind to him than some of the contemporary media." Melanie Bromley, west coast bureau chief of Us Weekly magazine, told the BBC the scene in Los Angeles was one of "pandemonium". "At the moment there is a period of disbelief. He was buying a home in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles and the scene outside the house is one of fans, reporters and TV cameras - it's absolute craziness. "I feel this is the biggest celebrity story in a long time and has the potential to be the Princess Diana of popular culture." Musical icon Tributes from the world of music and film have already flooded in from celebrities including Madonna, Arnold Schwarzenegger and ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.
Large numbers of fans have also gathered outside Jackson's home and at the UCLA medical centre with lit candles to mourn the star while playing his greatest hits. Facebook groups have also been set up for fans to share their memories. The singer's albums are occupying the top 15 slots of online music retailer Amazon's current best-seller chart, led by his 1982 smash hit Thriller. Paramedics were called to the singer's house in Bel Air at 1221 (1921GMT) following an emergency phone call. They performed CPR on Jackson and rushed him to the UCLA medical centre. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department said the robbery and homicide team was investigating Jackson's death because of its "high profile", but there was no suggestion of foul play. Jackson began his career as a child in family group The Jackson 5.
He then went on to achieve global fame as a solo artist with smash hits such as Billie Jean and Bad. Thriller, released in 1982, is the biggest-selling album of all time, shifting 65m copies, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. He scored seven UK number ones as a solo artist and won a total of 13 Grammy awards. "For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words," said Quincy Jones, who produced Thriller, Bad and Off The Wall. "He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him." The singer had been dogged by controversy and money trouble in recent years, becoming a virtual recluse. Michael Jackson's body is delivered by helicopter for a post mortem report He was arrested in 2003 on charges of molesting a 14-year-old boy, but was found not guilty following a five-month trial. The star had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince Michael Jackson II. He is survived by his mother, Katherine, father, Joseph and eight siblings - including Janet, Randy, Jermaine and La Toya Jackson. | ||||
Jermaine Jackson pays tribute to brother 
Jackson's body flown to post mortem 
Jackson fans worldwide react to his death 
Sharpton: 'We thought he'd moonwalk again' 
Uri Geller: 'My reaction is utter shock' 
Motown founder: 'Jackson was like son' 
Memorable Michael Jackson moments Jermaine Jackson pays tribute to brother Jackson's body flown to post mortem Jackson fans worldwide react to his death Sharpton: 'We thought he'd moonwalk again' Uri Geller: 'My reaction is utter shock' Motown founder: 'Jackson was like son' Memorable Michael Jackson moments 
Singer Michael Jackson dies at 50 
Child star, pop icon, troubled decline - a life in pictures Chidambaram visit at critical
Mayawati defends statue-unveiling spree
Suicide bomber kills two soldiers in pok
US hits back at Ahmadinejad claim
13 killed in Baghdad market bombing
The Associated Press Video: Violence Rises As US Troop Withdrawal Nears The Associated Press 
NTSB probes 2 incidents involving Airbus A330s
IPO issue well worth the price, says Mahindra Holidays
Mkts strong; capital goods, banks, realty, oil&gas surge
Infosys up 2 pc on BSE
Nokia N86 Hits Indian Shores
To lure customers Toshiba launches ARTFUL notebooks
RCom to offer 35 streaming channels to GSM subscribers
Maya's renewed bid to woo Dalits
Five Lankan boats held in Indian waters
Indian-origin woman is US special envoy to Muslim world
Snoop Dogg, Rev Run, More Remember MJ In MTV News' 'Michael Jackson: A Tribute'
'I hope now the genius and humanity of Michael Jackson gets its due,' the Reverend Al Sharpton says.
Just hours after news broke that Michael Jackson had died of cardiac arrest, several artists — Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Timbaland and Fat Joe — and two reverends — Al Sharpton and Rev Run — called in to MTV to talk about the singer's life and legacy for the show, "Michael Jackson: A Tribute."
"I knew Michael since the mid-'70s," Al Sharpton recalled. "But we got tight in the '80s because by then James Brown had kind of adopted me as a son, and Michael was a James Brown fanatic. He used to always come to see James Brown ... I remember though, the thing that was kind of spooky to me this afternoon, I remember I got a call in the middle of the night before James Brown's last funeral, and it was the mortician saying that Michael wanted to visit the funeral home. ... He viewed the body and we convinced him to stay for the funeral and he spoke at the funeral.
"He talked about how he hopes that as a legend James Brown will get the due in death he never got in life, and I felt the same way about Michael. I hope now the genius and humanity of Michael Jackson gets its due."
Timbaland, who sounded very upset when he spoke on the show, said, "He was just a fabulous guy. Phenomenal. I watched him as a kid and I was like, 'Man, he works very hard.' His music was incredible. Everybody from Chris Brown to everybody who started dancing — he influenced all of that."
Fat Joe called in to remember the effect that Jackson's music had on him in his youth. "This is probably [among] the top three worst days of my life. MJ — you know I'm a gangsta rapper so we always got that hard edge, but at the end of the day, the king is the king.
"I can go down the list: there wouldn't be no Usher, there wouldn't be no Chris Brown. There wouldn't be nobody without MJ. There wouldn't be no Justin. He was just harmony on Earth. I never think MJ ever did anything wrong in his life. He was just a beautiful soul on this earth."
Rev Run and Snoop Dogg both called in to the show and recalled Jackson's strong sense of pride in his career and with his fans. "The thing that went through my mind was that he lived so big. He just worked it so hard. He was such a big imagination. He danced, he sang, he pushed so hard to entertain us," Rev said. "He was so driven that it was really amazing. I think the best thing that Michael will leave is his ability to captivate people. He captivated us."
Snoop Dogg added, "I feel like his music will never die and his spirit will never die, because he influenced so many if us. He gave us a lot of hope that we feel like we can be big. He was very inspiring and up close and personal with his fans. That to me was special. That's one of the things that I loved about Mike. When I got a chance to meet him, that's the feeling and spirit that I got from him."
Share your Michael Jackson memories by uploading video and comments to Your.MTV.com or joining the discussion below.
Related Videos
Related Photos
Top Stories
Related Stories
Related Artists
Michael Jackson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article is about a person who has recently died. Some information, such as that pertaining to the circumstances of the person's death and surrounding events, may change rapidly as more facts become known. |
| Michael Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Michael Jackson in 1984 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Born | August 29, 1958(1958-08-29) Gary, Indiana, United States |
| Died | June 25, 2009 (aged 50) Los Angeles, California United States |
| Genre(s) | Pop, R&B, rock, soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, dancer, choreographer, actor, author, businessman, financier |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, multiple instruments, percussion |
| Voice type(s) | Falsetto[1] |
| Years active | 1967–2009 |
| Label(s) | Motown, Epic |
| Associated acts | The Jackson 5/The Jacksons |
| Website | MichaelJackson.com |
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)[2] was an American recording artist and entertainer. The seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the "King of Pop" in subsequent years, four of his solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995), while his 1982 Thriller is the world's best-selling record of all time.
In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African-American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and Thriller—credited for transforming the music video into an art form and a promotional tool—helped bring the relatively new channel to fame. Videos such as "Black or White" and "Scream" made Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound and vocal style influenced many hip hop, pop and contemporary R&B artists.
One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, his other achievements include multiple Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era. Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades. He died unexpectedly on June 25, 2009, aged 50, of a suspected cardiac arrest or heart attack. The specific cause of death is yet to be determined.[2]
Biography
1958–1975: Early life and The Jackson 5
Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana (an industrial suburb of Chicago, Illinois) to a working-class family on August 29, 1958.[3] The son of Joseph Walter "Joe" and Katherine Esther (née Scruse),[3] he was the seventh of nine children. His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet.[3] Joseph Jackson was a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called The Falcons with his brother Luther.[3] Jackson was raised as a Jehovah's Witness by his devout mother.[3]
From a young age Jackson was physically and mentally abused by his father, enduring incessant rehearsals, whippings and name-calling. Jackson's abuse as a child affected him throughout his grown life.[4] In one altercation—later recalled by Marlon Jackson—Joseph held Michael upside down by one leg and "pummeled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks".[5] Joseph would often trip up, or push the male children into walls.[5] One night while Jackson was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the bedroom window. Wearing a fright mask, he entered the room screaming and shouting. Joseph said he wanted to teach his children not to leave the window open when they went to sleep. For years afterwards, Jackson suffered nightmares about being kidnapped from his bedroom.[5]
Jackson first spoke openly about his childhood abuse in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. He said that during his childhood he often cried from loneliness and would sometimes get sick or start to regurgitate upon seeing his father.[6][7][8][9] In Jackson's other high profile interview, Living with Michael Jackson (2003), the singer covered his face with his hand and began crying when talking about his childhood abuse.[5] Jackson recalled that Joseph sat in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his siblings rehearsed and that "if you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you."[10]
Jackson showed musical talent early in his life, performing in front of classmates and others during a Christmas recital at the age of five.[3] In 1964, Jackson and Marlon joined the Jackson Brothers—a band formed by brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine—as backup musicians playing congas and tambourine, respectively. Jackson later began performing backup vocals and dancing; at the age of eight, he and Jermaine assumed lead vocals, and the group's name was changed to The Jackson 5.[3] The band toured the Midwest extensively from 1966 to 1968. The band frequently performed at a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", where they often opened for stripteases and other adult acts. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of Motown hits and James Brown's "I Got You (I Feel Good)", led by Michael.[11]
The Jackson 5 recorded several songs, including "Big Boy", for the local record label Steeltown in 1967 and signed with Motown Records in 1968.[3] Rolling Stone magazine later described the young Michael as "a prodigy" with "overwhelming musical gifts", noting that Michael "quickly emerged as the main draw and lead singer" after he began to dance and sing with his brothers.[12] Though Michael sang with a "child's piping voice, he danced like a grown-up hoofer and sang with the R&B/gospel inflections of Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder".[12] The group set a chart record when its first four singles ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There") peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] During The Jackson 5's early years, Motown's public relations team claimed that Jackson was nine years old—two years younger than he actually was—to make him appear cuter and more accessible to the mainstream audience.[13] Starting in 1972, Jackson released a total of four solo studio albums with Motown, among them Got to Be There and Ben. These were released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise, and produced successful singles such as "Got to Be There", "Ben" and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin". The group's sales began declining in 1973, and the band members chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow them creative control or input.[14] Although the group scored several top 40 hits, including the top 5 disco single "Dancing Machine" and the top 20 hit "I Am Love", the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975.[14]
1975–1981: Move to Epic and Off the Wall
The Jackson 5 signed a new contract with CBS Records in June 1975, joining the Philadelphia International Records division, later Epic Records.[14] As a result of legal proceedings, the group was renamed The Jacksons.[15] After the name change, the band continued to tour internationally, releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984. From 1976 to 1984, Michael Jackson was the lead songwriter of the group, writing hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel" and "Can You Feel It".[11]
In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the film musical The Wiz.[16] The musical scores were arranged by Quincy Jones, who formed a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce the singer's next solo album Off the Wall.[17] In 1979, Jackson broke his nose during a complex dance routine. His subsequent rhinoplasty surgery was not a complete success; he complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. He was referred to Dr. Steven Hoefflin, who performed Jackson's second rhinoplasty and other subsequent operations.[18]
Jones and Jackson jointly produced Off the Wall. Songwriters included Jackson, Heatwave's Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. Released in 1979, it was the first album to generate four US top 10 hits, including the chart-topping singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".[19] Off the Wall reached number three on the Billboard 200 and has since been certified for 7 million shipments in the US and eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide.[20][21] In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".[19] That year, he also won Billboard Music Awards for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[19] Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt Off the Wall should have made a much bigger impact, and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.[22] In 1980, Jackson secured the highest royalty rate in the music industry: 37% of wholesale album profit.[23]
1982–1985: Thriller, Motown 25, We Are the World and business career
After Jackson's early 1982 contribution, "Someone In the Dark", to the blockbuster film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which nabbed him a Grammy for Best Album for Children,[24] Epic issued his second album, Thriller. In what would turn out to be the apex of Jackson's career, the album remained in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 for 80 consecutive weeks, 37 at the peak. Seven singles from Thriller concurrently hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[25] Thriller went on to sell upwards of 109 million copies, making it the best-selling album of all time,[26][27][28] [29] causing Jackson biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli to muse that "at some point, Thriller stopped selling like a leisure item—like a magazine, a toy, tickets to a hit movie—and started selling like a household staple."[30]
The period of Thriller was an extraodinarily lucrative one for Jackson, whose lawyer John Branca had negotiated what he boasted then as the highest royalty rate ever in the music industry, approximately $2 per album. Meanwhile, Jackson raked in record-breaking profits from The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, a documentary by Jackson and John Landis. Financed by MTV, the film sold over 350,000 copies in just months. In addition, Jackson profited from his image, as companies marketed Michael Jackson dolls and other novelties.[31] Thriller retains a position in American culture.[30]
Gil Friesen, president of A&M Records, said "the whole industry has a stake in this success".[31] Thriller raised the importance of albums, but multiple hits also changed notions about the number of singles to release.[32] Time magazine explained that "the fallout from Thriller has given the [music] business its best years since the heady days of 1978, when it had an estimated total domestic revenue of $4.1 billion".[31] Time summed up Thriller's impact as a "restoration of confidence" for an industry bordering on "the ruins of punk and the chic regions of synthesizer pop". The publication described Jackson's influence at that point as "Star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too".[31] The New York Times called him a "musical phenomenon", saying that "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".[33] According to the The Washington Post, Thriller paved the way for other acts such as Prince.[34]
On March 25, 1983, Jackson performed live on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special, both with The Jackson 5 and on his own singing "Billie Jean". Debuting his signature dance move—the moonwalk—his performances during the event were seen by 47 million viewers during its initial airing, and drew comparisons to Elvis Presley's and the The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.[35] The New York Times said, "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk requires perfect timing".[36]
Jackson suffered a setback on January 27, 1984. While filming a Pepsi Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire. Happening in front of a full house of fans during a simulated concert, the incident was the subject of heavy media scrutiny and elicited an outpouring of sympathy.[37] PepsiCo settled a lawsuit out of court, and Jackson gave his $1.5 million settlement to the "Michael Jackson Burn Center" which was a piece of new technology to help people with severe burns.[37] Jackson had his third rhinoplasty shortly afterwards and grew self conscious about his appearance.[18]
On May 14, 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award presented by American President Ronald Reagan. The award was given for Jackson's support of charities that helped people overcome alcohol and drug abuse.[38] Jackson won eight awards during the 1984 Grammys. Unlike later albums, Thriller did not have an official tour to promote it, but the 1984 Victory Tour, headlined by The Jacksons, showcased much of Jackson's new solo material to more than two million Americans.[39] He donated his $5 million share from the Victory Tour to charity.[40]
Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief.[41]
While working with Paul McCartney on the two hit singles "The Girl Is Mine" and "Say Say Say", the pair became friendly, occasionally visiting one another. In one discussion, McCartney told Jackson about the millions of dollars he had made from music catalogs; he was earning approximately $40 million a year from other people's songs. Jackson then began a business career buying, selling and distributing publishing rights to music from numerous artists. Shortly afterwards, Northern Songs—a music catalog holding thousands of songs, including The Beatles' back catalog—was put up for sale.[42][43]
Jackson took immediate interest in the catalog but was warned that he would face strong competition. Excited, he skipped around saying, "I don't care. I want those songs. Get me those songs Branca [his attorney]". Branca then contacted the attorney of McCartney, who clarified that his client was not interested in bidding; "It's too pricey". After Jackson had started negotiations, McCartney changed his mind and tried to persuade Yoko Ono to join him in a joint bid, she declined, so he pulled out. Jackson eventually beat the rest of the competition in negotiations that lasted 10 months, purchasing the catalog for $47.5 million. When McCartney found out he said, "I think it's dodgy to do things like that. To be someone's friend and then buy the rug they're standing on". Reacting to that statement, biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli observed that McCartney made millions of dollars from the music of other people. He had more money than Jackson at that point so could have made a substantial bid for his own music and would not have suffered financial difficulties from Jackson owning the catalog.[42][44]
1986–1990: Tabloids, appearance, Bad, autobiography and films
In 1986, the tabloid press ran a story claiming that Jackson slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to slow the aging process; he was pictured lying down in a glass box. Although the claim was untrue, Jackson disseminated the fabricated story himself. The singer was promoting his upcoming movie Captain EO and wanted to promote a science fiction image of himself.[45][46] Jackson had a fourth rhinoplasty and, wanting masculine features, had a cleft put in his chin.[18] Then he starred in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed 3-D film Captain EO. It was the most expensive film produced on a per-minute basis at the time, and was later hosted in Disney theme parks. Disneyland featured the film in its Tomorrowland area for nearly 11 years, while Walt Disney World screened the film in its Epcot theme park from 1986 to 1994.[47]
Jackson bought and befriended a pet chimpanzee called Bubbles, an act which extended his eccentric persona. In 2003, the singer claimed that Bubbles shared his toilet and cleaned his bedroom.[46] Later it was reported that Jackson bought the bones of The Elephant Man. Although untrue, it was a story that Jackson again disseminated to the tabloid press.[45][46] These stories inspired the pejorative nickname "Wacko Jacko", which Jackson acquired the following year. He would eventually come to despise the nickname. Realizing his mistake, he stopped leaking untruths to the press. However due to the profit being made, the media began making up their own stories.[46][48]
Jackson's skin was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, but starting in the early 1980s, his skin gradually grew paler. This change gained widespread media coverage, including rumors that Jackson was bleaching his skin.[6] In the mid-1980s, Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus; the latter was in remission in Jackson's case, and both illnesses made him sensitive to sunlight. The treatments he used for his condition further lightened his skin tone, and, with the application of pancake makeup to even out blotches, he could appear very pale.[49] The structure of his face changed as well; several surgeons have speculated that Jackson had undergone multiple nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips and a cheekbone surgery.[50] Changes to his face were, in part, due to periods of significant weight loss.[15] Jackson lost weight in the early 1980s because of a change in diet and a desire for "a dancer's body".[51] Witnesses reported that Jackson was often dizzy and speculated that he was suffering from anorexia nervosa; periods of weight loss would become a recurring problem for the singer later in life.[52] Some medical professionals have publicly stated their belief that the singer had body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition whereby the sufferer has no concept of how they are perceived by others.[49]
"Why not just tell people I'm an alien from Mars. Tell them I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight. They'll believe anything you say, because you're a reporter. But if I, Michael Jackson, were to say, 'I'm an alien from Mars and I eat live chickens and do a voodoo dance at midnight,' people would say, 'Oh, man, that Michael Jackson is nuts. He's cracked up. You can't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth.'"[53]
—Michael Jackson
With the industry expecting another major hit, Jackson's first album in five years, Bad (1987), was highly anticipated.[54] Bad had lower sales than Thriller, but was still a substantial commercial success. In the US, it spawned seven hit singles, five of which ("I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror" and "Dirty Diana") reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, more than any other album.[55] As of 2008, the album sold 30 million copies worldwide, including eight million shipments in the US.[21][56]
The Bad World Tour began on September 12, 1987, and finished on January 14, 1989.[57] In Japan alone, the tour had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000 people, nearly tripling the previous record of 200,000 in a single tour.[58] Jackson broke a Guinness World Record when 504,000 people attended seven sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium. He performed a total of 123 concerts to a total audience of 4.4 million people, and gained a further Guinness World Record when the tour grossed him $125 million. During the trip he invited underprivileged children to watch for free and gave donations to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.[57]
In 1988, Jackson released his first autobiography, Moon Walk, which took four years to complete. Jackson told of his childhood, his experience in The Jackson 5 and the abuse he suffered as a child.[59] He also spoke of his plastic surgery, saying he had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin.[51] In the book, he attributed the change in the structure of his face to puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hair style and stage lighting.[51] Moonwalk reached the top position on The New York Times best sellers' list.[60] The musician then released a film called Moonwalker, which featured live footage, music videos, and a feature film that starred Jackson and Joe Pesci. Moonwalker debuted atop the Billboard Top Music Video Cassette chart, staying there for 22 weeks. It was eventually knocked off the top spot by Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues.[61]
In March 1988, Jackson purchased land near Santa Ynez, California to build Neverland Ranch at a cost of $17 million. The 2,700-acre (11 km2) property had Ferris wheels, a menagerie, and a movie theater. A security staff of 40 patrolled the grounds. In 2003, the property was valued at approximately $100 million.[12][62] In 1989, his annual earnings from album sales, endorsements, and concerts was estimated at $125 million for that year alone.[63] Shortly afterwards, Jackson became the first Westerner to appear in a television advert for Russia.[61]
Jackson's success resulted in his being dubbed the "King of Pop", a nickname conceived by actress and friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul".[64][65] President George H. W. Bush presented the singer with The White House's special "Artist of the Decade" award in recognition of Jackson's musical influence in the 1980s; Bush commended Jackson for acquiring a "tremendous following" among other achievements.[66] From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund, and all of the profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity.[67][68]
Jackson's live rendition of "You Were There" at Sammy Davis Jr. 60th birthday celebration received an Emmy nomination.[61]
1991–1993: Dangerous and Super Bowl XXVII
In March 1991, Jackson renewed his contract with Sony for $65 million; a record breaking deal at the time, displacing Neil Diamond's renewal contract with Columbia Records.[62] Jackson released his eighth album Dangerous in 1991. As of 2008, Dangerous has shipped 7 million copies in the US and has sold 32 million copies worldwide; it is the most successful New Jack Swing album of all time.[21][69][70] In the US, the album's first single "Black or White" was the album's biggest hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining there for seven weeks, with similar chart performances worldwide.[71] The album's second single "Remember the Time" spent eight weeks in the top five in the US, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.[72] In 1993, Jackson performed the song at the Soul Train Awards in a wheelchair, saying he had suffered an injury in rehearsals.[73] In the UK and other parts of Europe, "Heal the World" was the biggest hit from the album; it sold 450,000 copies in the UK and spent five weeks at two in 1992.[72]
Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch, to go on theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease. The Dangerous World Tour began on June 27, 1992, and finished on November 11, 1993. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 67 concerts. All profits from the concerts went to the "Heal the World Foundation", raising millions of dollars in relief.[72][74] He sold the broadcast rights to his Dangerous world tour to HBO for $20 million, a record-breaking deal that still stands.[75] Following the illness and death of Ryan White, Jackson helped draw public attention to HIV/AIDS, something that was still controversial at the time. He publicly pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research.[76][77]
In a high-profile visit to Africa, Jackson visited several countries, among them Gabon and Egypt.[78] His first stop to Gabon was greeted with a sizable reception of more than 100,000 people in "spiritual bedlam", some of them carrying signs that read, "Welcome Home Michael".[78] In his trip to the Ivory Coast, Jackson was crowned "King Sani" by a tribal chief.[78] He then thanked the dignitaries in French and English, signed official documents formalizing his kingship and sat on a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.[78]
One of Jackson's most acclaimed performances came during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. As the performances began, Jackson was catapulted onto the stage as fireworks went off behind him. As he landed on the canvass, he maintained a motionless "clenched fist, standing statue stance", dressed in a gold and black military outfit and sunglasses; he remained completely motionless for several minutes while the crowd cheered. He then slowly removed his sunglasses, threw them away and began to sing and dance. His routine included four songs: "Jam", "Billie Jean", "Black or White" and "Heal the World". It was the first Super Bowl where the audience figures increased during the half-time show, and was viewed by 135 million Americans alone; Jackson's Dangerous album rose 90 places up the album chart.[6]
Jackson was given the "Living Legend Award" at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. "Black or White" was Grammy nominated for best vocal performance. "Jam" gained two nominations: Best R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song.[72]
1993–1994: Sexual abuse accusations and marriage
Jackson gave a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey in February 1993, his first television interview since 1979. He grimaced when speaking of his childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood years, admitting that he often cried from loneliness. He denied previous tabloid rumors that he bought the bones of the Elephant Man or slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. The entertainer went on to dispel suggestions that he bleached his skin, admitting for the first time that he had vitiligo. The interview was watched by 90 million Americans, becoming the fourth most-viewed non-sport program in US history. It also started a public debate on the topic of vitiligo, a relatively unknown condition before then. Dangerous re-entered the album chart top 10, more than a year after its original release.[6][7][72]
Jackson was accused of child sexual abuse by a 13-year-old child named Jordan Chandler and his father Evan Chandler.[79] The friendship between Jackson and Evan Chandler broke down. Sometime afterwards, Evan Chandler was tape-recorded saying amongst other things, "If I go through with this, I win big-time. There's no way I lose. I will get everything I want and they will be destroyed forever...Michael's career will be over".[80] A year after they had met, under the influence of a controversial sedative, Jordan Chandler told his father that Jackson had touched his penis.[81] Evan Chandler and Jackson, represented by their legal teams, then engaged in unsuccessful negotiations to resolve the issue in a financial settlement; the negotiations were initiated by Chandler but Jackson did make several counter offers. Jordan Chandler then told a psychiatrist and later police that he and Jackson had engaged in acts of kissing, masturbation and oral sex, as well as giving a detailed description of what he alleged were the singer's genitals.[82]
An official investigation began, with Jordan Chandler's mother adamant that there was no wrongdoing on Jackson's part. Neverland Ranch was searched; multiple children and family members denied that he was a pedophile.[82] Jackson's image took a further turn for the worse when his older sister La Toya Jackson accused him of being a pedophile, a statement she later retracted.[83] Jackson agreed to a 25-minute strip search, conducted at his ranch. The search was required to see if a description provided by Jordan Chandler was accurate. Doctors concluded that there were some strong similarities, but it was not a definitive match.[83] Jackson made an emotional public statement on the events; he proclaimed his innocence, criticized what he perceived as biased media coverage and told of his strip search.[79]
Jackson began taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations made against him. By the fall of 1993, Jackson was addicted to the drugs.[84] His health deteriorated to the extent that he canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation for a few months.[85] The stress of the allegations also caused Jackson to stop eating, losing a significant amount of weight.[86] With his health in decline, Jackson's friends and legal advisers took over his defense and finances; they called on him to settle the allegations out of court, believing that he could not endure a lengthy trial.[85][86]
Tabloid reaction to the allegations put Jackson in an unfavorable light.[87] Complaints about the coverage and media included everything from bias against Jackson, accepting stories of alleged criminal activity for money to accepting confidential leaked material from the police investigation in return for money paid.[88] On January 1, 1994, Jackson settled with the Chandler family and their legal team out of court, in a civil lawsuit for $22 million. After the settlement Jordan Chandler refused to continue with Police criminal proceedings. Jackson was never charged, and the state closed its criminal investigation, citing lack of evidence.[89]
Later that year, Jackson married singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. They had first met in 1975 during one of Jackson's family engagements at the MGM Grand, and were reconnected through a mutual friend in early 1993.[87] They stayed in contact every day over the telephone. As child molestation accusations became public, Jackson became dependent on Lisa Marie for emotional support; she was concerned about his faltering health and addiction to drugs.[84] Lisa Marie explained, "I believed he didn't do anything wrong and that he was wrongly accused and yes I started falling for him. I wanted to save him. I felt that I could do it."[90] In a phone call he made to her, she described him as high, incoherent and delusional.[84] Shortly afterwards, she tried to persuade Jackson to settle the allegations out of court and go into rehabilitation to recover—he subsequently did both.[84] Jackson proposed to Lisa Marie over the telephone towards the fall of 1993, saying, "If I asked you to marry me, would you do it?".[84] Presley and Jackson married in the Dominican Republic in secrecy; the parties denied they had been married for nearly two months.[91] The marriage was, in her words, "a married couple's life ... that was sexually active".[92] At the time, the tabloid media speculated that the wedding was a ploy to prop up Jackson's public image in light of prior sexual abuse allegations.[91] Jackson and Presley divorced less than two years later, remaining friendly.[93]
1995–1999: HIStory, second marriage and fatherhood
In 1995, Jackson merged his Northern Songs catalog with Sony's publishing division creating Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Jackson retained half-ownership of the company, earned $95 million upfront as well as the rights to even more songs.[43][94] He then released the double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. The first disc, HIStory Begins, was a 15-track greatest hits album, and was later reissued as Greatest Hits — HIStory Vol. I in 2001, the second disc, HIStory Continues, contained 15 new songs. The album debuted at number one on the charts and has been certified for seven million shipments in the US.[95] It is the best-selling multiple-disc album of all-time, with 20 million copies (40 million units) sold worldwide.[71][96] HIStory received a Grammy nomination for best album.[97]
The first single released from the album was the double A-side "Scream/Childhood". "Scream" was a duet, sung and performed with Jackson's youngest sister Janet. The single had the highest debut on the Billboard Hot 100 at number five, and received a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals".[97] "You Are Not Alone" was the second single released from HIStory; it holds the Guinness World Record for the first song ever to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[63] It was seen as a major artistic and commercial success, receiving a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Vocal Performance".[97] In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance; the incident was caused by a stress related panic attack.[98] "Earth Song" was the third single released from HIStory, and topped the UK singles chart for six weeks over Christmas 1995; it sold a million copies, making it Jackson's most successful single in the UK.[97]
In early 1996, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a press release charging Jackson with antisemitism regarding lyrics in the song "They Don't Care About Us", the fourth single from HIStory.[99] The song had originally been recorded with lyrics that included the phrase "Jew me, sue me", and "Kick me, kike me". The ADL complained and Jackson responded by saying he would re-record the lyrics before the album went into production. However the ADL's press release charged that Jackson had performed the song live and included the lyrics in question during the live performance.[99] The dispute over the lyrics upset long-time Jackson friend Steven Spielberg, who considered the song anti-semitic [100]
The HIStory World Tour began on September 7, 1996, and finished on October 15, 1997. Jackson performed 82 concerts in 58 cities to over 4.5 million fans. The show, which visited 5 continents and 35 countries, became Jackson's most successful in terms of audience figures.[57] During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married dermatologist nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.[93][101] The pair first met in the mid-1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo. She spent many years treating his illness as well as providing emotional support. They built a strong friendship, then became romantically involved.[102] Originally there were no plans to marry, but following Rowe's first pregnancy, Jackson's mother intervened and persuaded them to do so.[103] After the couple divorced in 1999, with Rowe giving full custody rights of the children to Jackson, they remained friends.[104]
In 1997, Jackson released Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix, which contained remixes of hit singles from HIStory and five new songs. Worldwide sales stand at 6 million copies as of 2007, making it one of the best selling remix albums ever released. It reached number one in the UK, as did the title track.[105][106] In the US, the album was certified platinum, but only reached number 24.[21][97] Forbes placed his annual income at $35 million in 1996 and $20 million in 1997.[62]
Throughout June 1999, Jackson was involved in a number of charitable events. He joined Luciano Pavarotti for a benefit concert in Modena, Italy. The show was in support of the non-profit organization Warchild, and raised a million dollars for the refugees of Kosovo, as well as additional funds for the children of Guatemala.[107] Later that month, Jackson organized a set of "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concerts in Germany and Korea. Other artists involved included Slash, The Scorpions, Boyz II Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A. R. Rahman, Prabhu Deva Sundaram, Shobana Chandrakumar, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti. The proceeds went to the "Nelson Mandela Children's Fund", the Red Cross and UNESCO.[108]
2000–2002: Label dispute, Invincible and third child
In 2000, Jackson was listed in the book of Guinness World Records for his support of 39 charities, more than any other entertainer or personality.[109] At the time, Jackson was waiting for the licenses to the masters of his albums to revert back to him; this allowed him to promote his old material how he liked and prevented Sony from getting a cut of the profit. Jackson expected this to occur early in the new millennium, however, due to the fine print and various clauses in the contract, this revert date is still many years away. Jackson began an investigation, and it emerged that the attorney who represented the singer in the deal was also representing Sony, creating a conflict of interest.[106] Jackson was also concerned about another conflict of interest. For a number of years, Sony had been pushing to buy all of Jackson's share in their music catalog venture. If Jackson's career or financial situation were to deteriorate, he would have to sell his catalog. Thus, Sony had something to gain from Jackson's career failing.[110] Jackson was able to use these conflicts as leverage to exit his contract early.[106] Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was leaving Sony.[106] As a result, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the Invincible album were canceled. Jackson made allegations in July 2002 that Mottola was a "devil" and a "racist" who did not support his African-American artists, using them merely for his own personal gain.[106] He charged that Mottola had called his colleague Irv Gotti a "fat nigger".[111] Sony disputed claims that they had failed to promote Invincible with sufficient energy, maintaining that Jackson refused to tour in the US.[112]
Six years after his last studio album and after spending much of the late 1990s to early millennium out of the public eye, Jackson released Invincible in October 2001 to much anticipation. To help promote the album, a special 30th Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden occurred in September 2001 to mark the singer's 30th year as a solo artist. Jackson appeared onstage alongside his brothers for the first time since 1984.[113] The show also featured performances by Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, 'N Sync, and Slash, among other artists.[26] In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The concert was aired on October 21, 2001, and included performances from dozens of major artists, including Jackson, who performed his song "What More Can I Give" as the finale.[110] Invincible was a commercial success, debuting atop the charts in 13 countries and going on to sell approximately 10 million copies worldwide. It received double-platinum certification in the US.[21][71][110] However, the sales for Invincible were notably low compared to his previous releases, due in part to a diminishing pop music industry, the lack of promotion, no supporting world tour and the label dispute.[110] The album spawned three singles, "You Rock My World", "Cry" and "Butterflies", the latter did not have a music video.
Jackson's third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (also known as Blanket) was born in 2002.[114] The mother's identity was never released by Jackson, but he has said the child was the result of artificial insemination from a surrogate mother and his own sperm cells.[104] In November of that year, Jackson brought his new born son onto the balcony of his hotel room in Berlin, as fans stood below. Holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby's face, Jackson briefly extended the baby over the railing of the balcony, four stories above ground level, causing widespread criticism in the media. Jackson later apologized for the incident, calling it "a terrible mistake".[115]
2003–2007: Documentary, trial and business ventures
In 2003, Sony put out a compilation of Jackson's hits on CD and DVD. In the US, the album peaked at number 13 and was certified platinum by the RIAA; in the UK it was certified for shipments of at least 1.2 million units.[21][116] In a Granada Television documentary titled Living with Michael Jackson, the singer was seen holding hands and discussing sleeping arrangements with Gavin Arvizo, who would later accuse him of child sexual abuse.[117] In the same documentary Jackson was observed spending large amounts of money in an apparently frivolous manner, when he spent $6 million in a single store.[62] Shortly after the documentary aired, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child sexual abuse and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit that felony; all charges regarded the same boy, Gavin Arvizo, who was under 14 at the time of the alleged crime.[117]
Jackson denied the sexual abuse allegations, saying that the sleepovers were in no way sexual in nature. Jackson's friend Elizabeth Taylor defended him on Larry King Live, saying that she had been there when they "were in the bed, watching television. There was nothing abnormal about it. There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children and we watched a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it."[118] During the investigation, Jackson's profile was examined by mental health professional Dr. Stan Katz; the doctor spent several hours with the accuser too. The assessment made by Katz was that Jackson had become a regressed 10-year-old and did not fit the profile of a pedophile.[119]
The People v. Jackson trial began in Santa Maria, California, two years after Jackson was originally charged. During this period the singer became dependent on morphine and Demerol, a dependency which he subsequently overcame. He also suffered from stress-related illnesses and severe weight loss, that would alter his appearance. The trial lasted five months, until the end of May 2005, he was acquitted on all counts.[120][121][122] Jackson then relocated to the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain as a guest of Sheikh Abdullah.[123]
Sony BMG released Visionary: The Video Singles to the European market: a series of 20 of his biggest hit singles of the 1980s and 1990s. Each single was issued weekly over a five-month period in DualDisc format (DVD video on one side, CD audio on the other), and the whole group of discs was made available as a boxed set afterwards.[124] The box set was released in the US on November 14, 2006.[125]
Reports of financial problems for Jackson became frequent in 2006 after the closure of the main house on the Neverland Ranch as a cost-cutting measure.[126] One prominent financial issue for him concerned a $270 million loan secured against his music publishing holdings. After delayed repayments on the loan, a refinancing package shifted the loans from Bank of America to debt specialists Fortress Investments. A new package proposed by Sony would have had Jackson borrow an additional $300 million and reduce the interest rate payable on the loan, while giving Sony the future option to buy half of Jackson's stake in their jointly owned publishing company (leaving Jackson with a 25% stake).[94] Jackson agreed to a Sony-backed refinancing deal, although details were not made public.[127] Despite these loans, according to Forbes, Jackson was still making as much as $75 million a year from his publishing partnership with Sony alone.[128]
One of Jackson's first documented public appearances since his trial was in November 2006, when he visited the London office of the Guinness World Records. He received eight records, among them "First Entertainer to Earn More Than 100 Million Dollars in a Year" and "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time".[63] Jackson was awarded the Diamond Award on November 15, 2006, for selling over 100 million albums, at the World Music Awards.[71] Following the death of James Brown, Jackson returned to the US to pay his respects. He, along with more than 8,000 people, paid tribute during Brown's public funeral on December 30, 2006.[129] In late 2006, Jackson agreed to share joint custody of his first two children with ex-wife Debbie Rowe.[130] Jackson and Sony bought Famous Music LLC from Viacom in 2007. This deal gave him the rights to songs by Eminem, Shakira and Beck, among others.[131]
I've been in the entertainment industry since I was six-years-old... As Charles Dickens says, "It's been the best of times, the worst of times." But I would not change my career... While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me.[132]
—Michael Jackson
2008–2009: Milestones, real estate, planned return to live performance
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Thriller, Jackson issued Thriller 25, comprised of original material from the album, re-mixes, the previously unreleased song "For All Time" and a DVD. Two singles were released to moderate success: "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008". Thriller 25 was a commercial success, having done particularly well as a re-issue, peaking at number one in eight countries and Europe. It reached number two in the US, number three in the UK and top 10 on over 30 national charts.[133][134][135] It was ineligible for the Billboard 200 chart as a re-release, but entered atop the Pop Catalog chart, where it stayed for 11 non-consecutive weeks and had the best sales on that chart since December 1996.[136][137][138] In 12 weeks Thriller 25 sold over three million copies worldwide.[139] As of November 2008, US sales of Thriller 25 stood at 688,000 copies, making it the best-selling catalog album of 2008.[138]
To celebrate Jackson's 50th birthday, Sony BMG released a compilation album called King of Pop in various countries. These albums included tracks from Jackson's group and solo career, all voted for by fans. The albums had different tracklists, according to how the fans of each nation voted.[140][141] Although it was not released in the US, King of Pop did reach the top 10 in the vast majority of countries it was issued in. It also charted in other countries, albeit lower, from imported sales.[142][143]
Fortress considered a foreclosure sale of Neverland Ranch to service a loan Jackson owed on the property, but ultimately sold the loan to Colony Capital LLC. In November, Jackson transferred the title of Neverland Ranch to Sycamore Valley Ranch Company LLC. At the time of his death, Jackson still owned an unknown stake in the property—Sycamore Valley Ranch was a joint venture between Jackson and Colony Capital LLC—the loan Jackson owed was cleared, he acquired $35 million in the venture.[144][145][146]
2009: Death
| Wikinews has related news: | |
On the morning of June 25, 2009, Jackson reportedly collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles. After he collapsed, Jackson's personal physician, who was with him at the time, attempted to resuscitate him.[147] Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a 911 call at 12:21 pm (PST)[148] and arrived nine minutes later. Jackson was reportedly not breathing and CPR was quickly performed.[149] Resuscitation efforts continued both en route to the UCLA Medical Center, and after arrival at approximately 1:14 pm (20:14 UTC), for a further hour.[147] He fell into a coma and died shortly after arrival.[150] The cause of death is as yet unknown, but he was noted to be already in cardiac arrest by the paramedics who attended him.[149] Jackson was pronounced dead at about 2:26 pm local time (21:26 UTC).[151]
Los Angeles Police Department homicide and robbery division detectives attended the scene as a matter of routine in high profile death cases.[152] The case was transferred to the Los Angeles coroner for investigation as there was no doctor in attendance to sign the death certificate.[147] Jackson's body was transported by helicopter from UCLA to the LA Coroners offices in Boyle Heights.[153][154] The autopsy is said to be scheduled for Friday, June 26, 2009.[151]
Prior to his death, Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010. During a publicity press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.[155] Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, had stated that the first 10 dates alone would have earned the singer approximately £50 million.[156]
Musical style and performance
Themes and genres
Steve Huey of Allmusic asserts that throughout his solo career, Jackson's versatility allowed him to experiment with various themes and genres.[157] As a musician, he ranged from Motown's dance fare and ballads to techno-edged new jack swing to work that incorporates both funk rhythms and hard rock guitar.[12] Unlike many artists, Jackson did not write his songs on paper. Instead he would dictate into a sound recorder; when recording he would sing from memory.[18][158] Several critics observed Off the Wall was crafted from funk, disco-pop, soul, soft rock, jazz and pop ballads.[157][159][160] Prominent examples include the ballad "She's out of My Life", and the two disco tunes "Workin' Day and Night" and "Get on the Floor".[159]
According to Huey, Thriller refined the strengths of Off the Wall; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.[157] Notable tracks included the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "Human Nature" and "The Girl Is Mine"; the funk pieces "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"; and the disco set "Baby Be Mine" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)".[157][161][162][163] With Thriller, Christopher Connelly of Rolling Stone commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of paranoia and darker imagery.[163] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted this is evident on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[162] In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers.[157] In "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.[163] The anti-gang violence rock song "Beat It" became a homage to West Side Story, and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.[12][157] He also observed that the title track "Thriller" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the supernatural, a topic he revisited in subsequent years.[157] In 1985, Jackson wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a central component of his life and music.[157]
| |||||||||
| Problems listening to these files? See media help. | |||||||||
In Bad, Jackson's concept of the predatory lover can be seen on the rock song "Dirty Diana".[165] The lead single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was a traditional love ballad, while "Man in the Mirror", an anthemic ballad of confession and resolution, improved on his earlier "We Are the World".[54] "Smooth Criminal" was an evocation of bloody assault, rape and likely murder.[54] Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine states that Dangerous presents Jackson as a stark paradoxical individual.[166] He comments the album is more diverse than his previous Bad, as it appeals to an urban audience while also attracting the middle class with anthems like "Heal the World".[166] The first half of the record is dedicated to new jack swing, including songs like "Jam" and "Remember the Time".[167] The album is Jackson's first where social ills become a primary theme; "Why You Wanna Trip on Me", for example, protests against world hunger, AIDS, homelessness and drugs.[167] Dangerous contains sexually charged efforts like "In the Closet", a love song about desire and denial, risk and repression, solitude and connection, privacy and revelation.[167] The title track continues the theme of the predatory lover and compulsive desire.[167] The second half includes introspective, pop-gospel anthems such as "Will You Be There", "Heal the World" and "Keep the Faith"; these songs show Jackson finally opening up about various personal struggles and worries.[167] In the ballad "Gone Too Soon", Jackson gives tribute to his friend Ryan White and the plight of those with AIDS.[168]
HIStory creates an atmosphere of paranoia.[169] Its content focuses on the hardships and public struggles Jackson went through just prior to its production. In the new jack swing-funk-rock efforts "Scream" and "Tabloid Junkie", along with the R&B ballad "You Are Not Alone", Jackson retaliates against the injustice and isolation he feels, and directs much of his anger at the media.[170] In the introspective ballad "Stranger in Moscow", Jackson laments over his "fall from grace", while songs like "Earth Song", "Childhood", "Little Susie" and "Smile" are all operatic pop pieces.[169][170] In the track "D.S.", Jackson launched a verbal attack against Tom Sneddon. He describes Sneddon as an antisocial, white supremacist who wanted to "get my ass, dead or alive". Of the song, Sneddon said, "I have not—shall we say—done him the honor of listening to it, but I've been told that it ends with the sound of a gunshot".[171] Invincible found Jackson working heavily with producer Rodney Jerkins.[157] It is a record made up of urban soul like "Cry" and "The Lost Children", ballads such as "Speechless", "Break of Dawn" and "Butterflies" and mixes hip hop, pop and rap in "2000 Watts", "Heartbreaker" and "Invincible".[172][173]
Vocal style
Jackson sang since he was a child, and over time his voice and vocal style changed noticeably, either through puberty or a personal preference to align his vocal interpretation to the themes and genres he chose to express. Between 1971 and 1975, Jackson's voice "descended ever so slightly from boy soprano to his current androgynous high tenor".[12] In the mid-1970s, the singer adopted a "vocal hiccup" as seen in "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)". The purpose of the hiccup—somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping—was to help promote a certain emotion, be it excitement, sadness or fear.[14] With the arrival of Off the Wall in the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded; Allmusic described him as a "blindingly gifted vocalist".[159] At the time, Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbered tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly".[160] 1982 saw the release of Thriller, and Rolling Stone were of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".[163]
| |||||
| Problems listening to this file? See media help. | |||||
The release of "Bad" in 1987 displayed gritty lead vocals on the verse and lighter tones employed on the chorus.[17] A distinctive deliberate mispronunciation used frequently by Jackson, occasionally spelt "cha'mone" or "shamone", is also a staple in impressions and caricatures of him.[175] The turn of the 1990s saw the release of the introspective album Dangerous; here Jackson used his vocals to intensify the split themes and genres described earlier. The New York Times noted that on some tracks, "he gulps for breath, his voice quivers with anxiety or drops to a desperate whisper, hissing through clenched teeth" and he had a "wretched tone".[167] When singing of brotherhood or self-esteem the musician would return to "smooth" vocals.[167] "In the Closet" contained heavy breathing and a loop of five scat-sung syllables, whereas in the album's title track, Jackson performs a spoken rap.[164][167] When commenting on Invincible, Rolling Stone were of the opinion that—at the age of 43—Jackson still performed, "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies".[176] Nelson George summed up Jackson's vocals by stating "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".[164]
Music videos and choreography
Steve Huey of Allmusic observed how Jackson transformed the music video into an art form and a promotional tool through complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and famous cameo appearances; simultaneously breaking down racial barriers.[157] According to director Vincent Paterson, who collaborated with the singer on several music videos, Jackson conceptualized many of the darker, bleak themes in his filmography.[177]
Before Thriller, Jackson struggled to receive coverage on MTV because he was African American.[178] Pressure from CBS Records persuaded MTV to start showing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", leading to a lengthy partnership with Jackson, also helping other black music artists gain recognition.[179] The popularity of his videos on MTV helped to put the relatively young channel "on the map"; MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.[179][180] Short films like Thriller largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has frequently been imitated.[181] The choreography in Thriller has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from Bollywood to prisons in the Philippines.[182] The Thriller short film marked an increase in scale for music videos, and has been named the most successful music video ever by the Guinness World Records.[63]
In the 18-minute music video for "Bad"—directed by Martin Scorsese—Jackson began using sexual imagery and choreography not previously seen in his work. He occasionally grabbed or touched his chest, torso and crotch. While he has described this as "choreography," it garnered a mixed reception from both fans and critics; Time magazine described it as "infamous". The video also featured Wesley Snipes; Jackson's videos would often feature famous cameos roles in the future.[48][183] For "Smooth Criminal", Jackson experimented with an innovative "anti-gravity lean" in his performances, for which he was granted US Patent No. 5,255,452.[184] Although the music video for "Leave Me Alone" was not officially released in the US, in 1989, it was nominated for four Billboard Music Video Awards, winning three; the same year it won a Golden Lion Award for the quality of the special effects used in its production. In 1990, "Leave Me Alone" won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form.[61]
The MTV Video Vanguard Artist of the Decade Award was given to Jackson to celebrate his accomplishments in the art form in the 1980s; the following year the award was renamed in his honor.[72] "Black or White" was accompanied by a controversial music video, which, on November 14, 1991, simultaneously premiered in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people, the largest viewing ever for a music video.[71] It featured scenes construed as having a sexual nature as well as depictions of violence. The offending scenes in the final half of the 14-minute version were edited out to prevent the video from being banned, and Jackson apologized.[185] Along with Jackson, it featured Macaulay Culkin, Peggy Lipton and George Wendt. It helped usher in morphing as an important technology in music videos.[186]
"Remember the Time" was an elaborate production, and became one of his longest videos at over nine minutes. Set in ancient Egypt, it featured groundbreaking visual effects and appearances by Eddie Murphy, Iman and Magic Johnson, along with a distinct complex dance routine.[187] The video for "In the Closet" was Jackson's most sexually provocative piece to date. It featured supermodel Naomi Campbell in a courtship dance with Jackson. The video was banned in South Africa because of its imagery.[72]
The music video for "Scream", directed by Mark Romanek and production designer Tom Foden, is one of Jackson's most critically acclaimed. In 1995, it gained 11 MTV Video Music Award Nominations—more than any other music video—and won "Best Dance Video", "Best Choreography", and "Best Art Direction".[188] The song and its accompanying video are a response to the backlash Jackson received from the media after being accused of child molestation in 1993.[189] A year later, it won a Grammy for Best Music Video, Short Form; shortly afterwards Guinness World Records listed it as the most expensive music video ever made at a cost of $7 million.[97][190]
"Earth Song" was accompanied by an expensive and well-received music video that gained a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video, Short Form in 1997. The video had an environmental theme, showing images of animal cruelty, deforestation, pollution and war. Using special effects, time is reversed so that life returns, war ends and the forests re-grow.[97][191] Released in 1997 and premiering at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, Ghosts was a short film written by Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston. The video for Ghosts is over 38 minutes long and holds the Guinness World Record as the world's longest music video.[97][106][192][193]
Legacy and influence
Inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1984, Jackson had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world. He broke down racial barriers, transformed the art of the music video and paved the way for modern pop music in his own country. Jackson's work, distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced hip hop, pop and R&B artists, including Mariah Carey,[12] Usher,[194] Britney Spears,[12] Justin Timberlake[110] and R. Kelly.[164] For much of his career, he had an "unparalleled" level of worldwide influence over the younger generation through his musical and humanitarian contributions.[195]
Throughout his career he received numerous honors and awards, including the World Music Awards' Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award and the Bambi Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.[26][196] He was a double-inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and later as a solo artist in 2001. Jackson was also an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.[26] His awards include multiple Guinness World Records (eight in 2006 alone), 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his solo career—more than any other male artist in the Hot 100 era—and the sale of over 750 million albums worldwide, making him the world's best selling male pop artist.[24][63][71][197][198][199]
He was characterized as "an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility and loads of sheer star power".[157] In the mid-1980s, Time described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley".[31] By 1990, Vanity Fair had already cited Jackson as the most popular artist in the history of show business.[61] Daily Telegraph writer Tom Utley called him an "extremely important figure in the history of popular culture" and a "genius".[200] His total lifetime earnings from royalties on his solo recordings and music videos, revenue from concerts and endorsements have been estimated at $500 million; some analysts have speculated that his music catalog holdings could be worth billions of dollars.[62][201] Cited as one of the world's most famous men, Jackson's highly publicized personal life, coupled with his successful career, made him a part of popular culture for almost four decades.[71][202]
Discography
- Got to Be There (1972)
- Ben (1972)
- Music and Me (1973)
- Forever, Michael (1975)
- Off the Wall (1979)
- Thriller (1982)
- Bad (1987)
- Dangerous (1991)
- HIStory (1995)
- Invincible (2001)
See also
- List of best-selling albums worldwide
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of most expensive music videos
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of Michael Jackson's awards
- List of Michael Jackson tours
- Michael Jackson filmography
- List of honorific titles in popular music
- Records and achievements of Michael Jackson
- Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Notes
- ^ Dean, Maury (2003). Rock-N-Roll Gold Rush. Algora Publishing. p. 34. ISBN 0875862071. http://books.google.ca/books?ct=result&id=lJS4EArRBwoC&dq=Rock-N-Roll+Gold+Rush+mariah+carey&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&sig=ACfU3U0fbLW248NcvjE6rRshbjsWieA1hg&q=diana+ross#PPA34,M1.
- ^ a b Ryan, Joal (2009-06-25). "Michael Jackson, Pop's Thrilling King, Dead at 50". E! Online. http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b131173_michael_jackson_pops_thrilling_king.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i George, p. 20
- ^ "Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_news_presents/82010/episode_about.jhtml. Retrieved on June 20, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Taraborrelli, pp. 20–22
- ^ a b c d Campbell (1995), pp. 14–16
- ^ a b Lewis, pp. 165–168
- ^ George, pp. 45–46
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 620
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 602
- ^ a b "The Jackson Five". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/the-jackson-five. Retrieved on May 29, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael Jackson: Biography". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/biography. Retrieved on February 14, 2008.
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 17
- ^ a b c d George, p. 22
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 138–144
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 163–169
- ^ a b c George, p. 23
- ^ a b c d Taraborrelli, pp. 205–210
- ^ a b c George, pp. 37–38
- ^ "Michael Jackson: Off the Wall - Classic albums - Music - Virgin media". Virgin Media. http://www.virginmedia.com/music/classicalbums/michaeljackson-offthewall.php. Retrieved on December 12, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gold and Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Michael%20Jackson&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=100. Retrieved on April 27, 2008.
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 188
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 191
- ^ a b "Grammy Award Winners". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/Winners/Results.aspx?title=&winner=Michael+Jackson&year=0&genreID=0&hp=1. Retrieved on February 14, 2008.
- ^ Lewis, p. 47
- ^ a b c d George, pp. 50–53
- ^ "Michael Jackson Opens Up". CBS. (November 6, 2007). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/entertainment/main3461884.shtml?source=search_story. Retrieved on July 24, 2008.
- ^ "Music Icon Quincy Jones Kicks-Off New Series in Tribune Newspapers". PR Newswire. (January 16, 2009). http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-16-2009/0004956264&EDATE=. Retrieved on January 24, 2009.
- ^ Jill Serjeant, "Michael Jackson superstardom tarnished by scandal", 25 June 2009, Reuters, available online.
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 226
- ^ a b c d e Cocks, Jay (March 19, 1984). "Why He's a Thriller". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,950053-1,00.html. Retrieved on March 17, 2007.
- ^ "Michael Jackson". VH1. (2007). http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/jackson_michael/bio.jhtml. Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (January 14, 1984). "Michael Jackson at 25: A Musical Phenomenon". The New York Times. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40F10FB3A5C0C778DDDA80894DC484D81. Retrieved on March 30, 2009.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (October 9, 1988). "Prince & Michael Jackson: Two Paths to the Top of Pop". The Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73636369.html?dids=73636369:73636369&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+9%2C+1988&author=Richard+Harrington&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=g.01&desc=Prince+%26+Michael+Jackson%3A+Two+Paths+to+the+Top+of+Pop. Retrieved on May 21, 2007.
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 238–241
- ^ Kisselgoff, Anna (March 6, 1988). "Dancing feet of Michael Jackson". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DE1539F935A35750C0A96E948260&sec=&spon=&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 279–287
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 304–307
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 315–319
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 320
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 340–344
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 333–337
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson sells Beatles songs to Sony". The New York Times. (November 8, 1995). http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B01E7DD1439F93BA35752C1A963958260. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Bad Fortunes". The Guardian. (June 15, 2005). http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1506781,00.html. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 355–361
- ^ a b c d "Music's misunderstood superstar". BBC. (June 13, 2005). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4584367.stm. Retrieved on July 14, 2008.
- ^ George, p. 41
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 370–373
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 434–436
- ^ "Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple'". ABC News. (February 8, 2003). http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Cosmetic/story?id=131910&page=1. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ a b c Jackson, pp. 229–230
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 312–313
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. vii
- ^ a b c Cocks, Jay (September 14, 1987). "The Badder They Come". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,965452-2,00.html. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Leopold, Todd (June 6, 2005). "Michael Jackson: A life in the spotlight". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/30/jackson.life/. Retrieved on May 5, 2008.
- ^ Savage, Mark (August 29, 2008). "Michael Jackson: Highs and lows". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7448908.stm. Retrieved on November 25, 2008.
- ^ a b c Lewis, pp. 95–96
- ^ Harrington, Richard (January 12, 1988). "Jackson to Make First Solo U.S. Tour". The Washington Post. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/73555081.html?dids=73555081:73555081&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+12%2C+1988&author=Richard+Harrington&pub=The+Washington+Post+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=b.03&desc=Jackson+to+Make+First+Solo+U.S.+Tour. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Jackson, pp. 29–31
- ^ George, p. 42
- ^ a b c d e George, pp. 43–44
- ^ a b c d e Gundersen, Edna (February 19, 2007). "For Jackson, scandal could spell financial ruin". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-11-24-jackson-finances_x.htm. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Jackson receives his World Records". Yahoo!. (November 14, 2006). http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/14112006/344/jackson-receives-world-records.html&e=l_news_dm. Retrieved on November 16, 2006.
- ^ Jackson, Michael. HIStory booklet. Sony BMG. p 3
- ^ Keehner, Jonathan; Mider, Zachary R. (May 11, 2008). "Michael Jackson's Neverland Loan Sold by Fortress to Colony". Bloomberg L.P.. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=admSeQqJY2Xs&refer=home. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
- ^ "Remarks on the Upcoming Summit With President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union". The American Presidency Project. (April 5, 1990). http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=18331. Retrieved on April 8, 2007.
- ^ "Blacks who give back". Ebony. (March 1990). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n5_v45/ai_8540117. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 382
- ^ "Michael Jackson sulla sedia a rotelle". Affari Italiani. August 11, 2008. http://www.affaritaliani.it/entertainment/micheal-jackson110708.html. Retrieved on May 10, 2009.
- ^ Carter, Kelley L. (August 11, 2008). "New jack swing". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-5-things-0810aug10,0,1329158.story. Retrieved on August 21, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The return of the King of Pop". MSNBC. (November 2, 2006). http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15529981/. Retrieved on June 8, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g George, pp. 45–46
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 459
- ^ Harrington, Richard (February 5, 1992). "Jackson to Tour Overseas". The Washington Post.
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 452–454
- ^ "Stars line up for Clinton celebration". Daily News of Los Angeles. (January 19, 1993).
- ^ Smith, Patricia (January 20, 1992). "Facing the music and the masses at the presidential gala". The Boston Globe.
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Robert (May 1992). "Michael Jackson: crowned in Africa". Ebony. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n7_v47/ai_12288831. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b "1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse". BBC. (February 8, 2003). http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/24/newsid_2512000/2512077.stm. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 477–478
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 485–486
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 496–498
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 534–540
- ^ a b c d e Taraborrelli, pp. 518–520
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 524–528
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 514–516
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 500–507
- ^ Campbell (1995), pp. 47–50
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 540–545
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 510
- ^ a b "She's Out Of His Life". CNN. (January 18, 1996). http://www.cnn.com/US/9601/jacko_presley/. Retrieved on July 24, 2008.
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 562–564
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 580–581
- ^ a b Leeds, Jeff (April 13, 2006). "Michael Jackson Bailout Said to Be Close". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/13/business/media/13music.html?ex=1302580800&en=45bff2f7a4da68fe&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Top 100 Albums (Page 2)". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTop100&action=. Retrieved on April 16, 2008.
- ^ Putti, Laura (August 24, 2001). "Il nuovo Michael Jackson fa un tuffo nel passato". La Repubblica. http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2001/08/24/il-nuovo-michael-jackson-fa-un-tuffo.html. Retrieved on May 10, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h George, pp. 48–50
- ^ Taraborrelli, pp. 576–577
- ^ a b ADL OUTRAGED THAT MICHAEL JACKSON HAS REINSTATED ANTI-SEMITIC LYRICS INTO VIDEO VERSION OF "THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT US", http://www.adl.org/presrele/ASUS_12/2662_12.asp
- ^ "Obituary: Michael Jackson". BBC News. 2009-6-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4612963.stm.
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 597
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 570
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 586
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, pp. 599–600
- ^ Rojek, Chris (2007). Cultural Studies. Polity. p. 74. ISBN 0745636837.
- ^ a b c d e f Taraborrelli, pp. 610–612
- ^ "Ricky Martin, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Others To Join Pavarotti For Benefit". VH1. (May 5, 1999). http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1426933/19990505/carey_mariah.jhtml. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
- ^ "Slash, Scorpions, Others Scheduled For "Michael Jackson & Friends"". VH1. (May 27, 1999). http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1429785/19990527/guns_n_roses.jhtml. Retrieved on May 30, 2008.
- ^ Lewis, pp. 8–9
- ^ a b c d e Taraborrelli, pp. 614–617
- ^ Jackson, Jermaine. Interview with Connie Chung. Interview with Jermaine Jackson. Connie Chung Tonight. (December 31, 2002). Retrieved on July 2, 2008.
- ^ Burkeman, Oliver (July 8, 2002). "Jacko gets tough: but is he a race crusader or just a falling star?". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/jul/08/oliverburkeman. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Branigan, Tania (September 8, 2001). "Jackson spends £20m to be Invincible". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/sep/08/taniabranigan. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Michael Jackson". Daily Mirror. http://www.mirror.co.uk/topics/michael-jackson/. Retrieved on May 29, 2009.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (November 20, 2002). "Michael Jackson Calls Baby-Dangling Incident A 'Terrible Mistake'". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1458799/20021120/jackson_michael.jhtml. Retrieved on March 3, 2009.
- ^ "BPI Searchable database - Gold and Platinum". British Phonographic Industry. http://www.bpi.co.uk/index.asp. Retrieved on January 25, 2009.
- ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 640
- ^ "Elizabeth Taylor defends Michael on Larry King Live". CNN. (May 30, 2006). http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/30/lkl.01.html. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 648
- ^ Taraborrelli, p. 661
- ^ Davis, Matthew (June 6, 2005). "Michael Jackson health concerns". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4612897.stm. Retrieved on April 14, 2008.
- ^ Associated Press (June 13, 2005). "Michael Jackson jury reaches verdict". http://www.guardian.co.uk/jackson/story/0,15819,1505806,00.html. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
- ^ Toumi, Habib (January 23, 2006). "Jackson settles down to his new life in the Persian Gulf". Gulf News. http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/01/23/10013403.html. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ "M J Visionary". Sony BMG. http://www.mjvisionary.com/mjvisionary.html. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Visionary ...The Video Singles". Sony BMG. http://www.sonymusicstore.com/store/catalog/MerchandiseDetails.jsp?selectionId=700406&sms=extsite-sony.com. Retrieved on November 14, 2006.
- ^ McNamara, Melissa (March 17, 2006). "Jackson Closes Neverland House". CBS. http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/03/17/people/main1414450.shtml. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ "Jackson strikes deal over loans". BBC. (April 14, 2006). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4909412.stm. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ Ackman, Dan (May 14, 2005). "Really Odd Facts About Michael Jackson". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/2005/06/14/jackson-celebrity-trial-cx_da_0614topnews.html. Retrieved on August 20, 2008.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem (December 30, 2006). "James Brown Saluted By Michael Jackson at Public Funeral Service". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1549061/20061230/brown_james.jhtml. Retrieved on December 31, 2006.
- ^ "Jackson child custody battle ends". BBC. (September 30, 2006). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5394792.stm. Retrieved on April 16, 2008.
- ^ "Michael Jackson buys rights to Eminem tunes and more". Rolling Stone. (May 31, 2007). http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/05/31/the-police-plan-mtv-unplugged-performance-michael-jackson-buys-rights-to-eminem-tunes-and-more/. Retrieved on June 23, 2008.
- ^ Talmadge, Eric (2007). "Michael Jackson 'wouldn't change anything'". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/2007-03-08-2208485574_x.htm. Retrieved on July 25, 2008.
- ^ "Zona Musical" (in Spanish). zm.nu. http://zm.nu/detalle.php?base=zmnews&lay=cgi&form=detalle&tok4=notici&tok5=Noticias&id=17840. Retrieved on April 5, 2008.
- ^ "Thriller the best selling album of all time". digitalproducer. (February 20, 2008). http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=312105&afterinter=true. Retrieved on April 6, 2008.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Thriller 25". ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Thriller+25&cat=a. Retrieved on April 6, 2008.
- ^ Grein, Paul (May 18, 2008). "Diva Smackdown". Yahoo!. http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/7658/week-ending-may-18-2008-diva-smackdown-ends-with-ingenues-on-rise. Retrieved on May 22, 2008.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (February 20, 2008). "Big Grammy Gains For Many; King of Pop Returns". Billboard. http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/charts/chart_alert/e3id5388aa9b5187ee7e0bde5d5e991eb4b. Retrieved on February 20, 2008.
- ^ a b Waddell, Ray (November 7, 2008). "Michael Jackson Eyeing London Run?". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003888626. Retrieved on November 8, 2008.
- ^ Friedman, Roger (May 16, 2008). "Jacko: Neverland East in Upstate New York". Fox News Channel. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356282,00.html#3. Retrieved on May 22, 2008.
- ^ "Choose The Tracks On Michael Jackson's 50th Birthday Album!". Sony BMG. (June 20, 2008). http://www.sonybmg.com.au/news/details.do;.tomcat2?newsId=20030829005656. Retrieved on June 20, 2008.
- ^ "MJ50 - Michael Jackson". mj50.com. http://www.mj50.com.au/. Retrieved on June 20, 2008.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - King of Pop". acharts.us. http://acharts.us/album/37399. Retrieved on September 11, 2008.
- ^ "King of Pop". www.ultratop.be. http://www.ultratop.be/nl/search.asp?search=king+of+pop&cat=a. Retrieved on September 5, 2008.
- ^ "Neverland peters out for pop's Peter Pan". The Sydney Morning Herald. (November 13, 2008). http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/people/neverland-peters-out-for-pops-peter-pan/2008/11/13/1226318822205.html. Retrieved on November 20, 2008.
- ^ "Jacko gives up Neverland ranch deed". Press Association. (November 16, 2008).
- ^ Adams, Susan (April 14, 2009). "Ten Most Expensive Michael Jackson Collectibles". Forbes. http://www.forbes.com/2009/04/14/michael-jackson-auction-lifestyle-collecting-michael-jackson.html. Retrieved on April 14, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Fans mourn artist for whom it didn't matter if you were black or white". the Times. 26 June 2009. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1. Retrieved on 26 June 2009.
- ^ "Michael Jackson, pop music legend, dead at 50". CNN. June 25, 2009. http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/jackson/index.html. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ a b "Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50-Legendary pop star had been preparing for London comeback tour". MSNBC. June 25, 2009. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31552029?gt1=43001. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ Blankstein, Andrew; Phil Willon (June 25, 2009). "Michael Jackson is dead [Updated]". The LA Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/06/pop-star-michael-jackson-was-rushed-to-a-hospital-this-afternoon-by-los-angeles-fire-department-paramedics--capt-steve-ruda.html. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ a b Tourtellotte, Bob (June 25, 2009). "King of Pop Michael Jackson is dead: official". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE55O6AK20090626. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
- ^ "King Of Pop Michael Jackson Is Dead At 50". Sky News. June 26, 2009. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Michael-Jackson-Dies-Of-Heart-Attack-After-Being-Rushed-To-UCLA-Hospital-In-Los-Angeles/Article/200906415319936?lpos=Showbiz_News_Carousel_Region_0. Retrieved on June 26, 2009.
- ^ "Jackson's body flown to autopsy". BBC News. 26 June 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8120153.stm. Retrieved on 26 June 2009.
- ^ "King of pop Michael Jackson is dead". The Guardian. 26 June 2009. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/8577696. Retrieved on 26 June 2009. "TV footage showed a rescue helicopter flying the star's body to a waiting ambulance."
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (March 12, 2009). "Michael Jackson's "This Is It!" Tour Balloons to 50-Show Run Stretching Into 2010". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/03/12/michael-jacksons-this-is-it-tour-balloons-to-50-show-run-stretching-into-2010/. Retrieved on March 24, 2009.
- ^ Foster, Patrick (March 6, 2009). "Michael Jackson grand finale curtain-raiser". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article5854735.ece. Retrieved on March 24, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Huey, Steve. "Michael Jackson — Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kifuxqe5ldae~T1. Retrieved on November 11, 2006.
- ^ Lyle, Peter (November 25, 2007). "Michael Jackson's Monster Smash". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/11/25/sv_thriller.xml. Retrieved on April 20, 2008.
- ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Off the Wall Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A7cu1z85ajyv6. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (November 1, 1979). "Off the Wall : Michael Jackson". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/259585/review/6067502/off_the_wall. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Henderson, Eric (2003). "Michael Jackson:Thriller". Slant Magazine. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=358. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Thriller Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A9kqog44ttvjz. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Connelly, Christopher (January 28, 1983). "Michael Jackson : Thriller". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/albums/album/303823/review/6067536/thriller. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b c d George, p. 24
- ^ Pareles, Jon (September 3, 1987). "How good is Jackson's Bad?". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE1DC1F38F930A3575AC0A961948260&scp=5&sq=Michael+Jackson+Bad+review&st=nyt. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dangerous Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0hrsa9igb23u. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Pareles, Jon (November 24, 1991). "Michael Jackson in the Electronic Wilderness". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2D6143DF937A15752C1A967958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fJ%2fJackson%2c%20Michael. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (November 24, 1991). "Jackson's `Dangerous' Departures; Stylistic Shifts Mar His First Album in 4 Years". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Michael Jackson HIStory Overview". Allmusic. http://www.allmusicguide.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rz60tr7qklkx. Retrieved on June 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Hunter, James (August 10, 1995). "Michael Jackson HIStory". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/albums/album/312830/review/5943497/history_past_present_and_future_book_1. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Thomas W. (Tom) Sneddon, Jr.". ndaa.org. http://www.ndaa.org/ndaa/profile/tom_sneddon_jan_feb_2003.html. Retrieved on July 12, 2008.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Michael Jackson :Invincible". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A0dq5g4hptv8z. Retrieved on September 9, 2007.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (November 30, 2001). "Michael Jackson :Invincible". NME. http://www.nme.com/reviews/michael-jackson/5780. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Dangerous Review". Sony Music Entertainment. http://web.archive.org/web/20051204230345/http://www.sonybmg.com.au/cd/releaseDetails.do?catalogueNo=5044242000. Retrieved on August 27, 2008.
- ^ Lewarne, Rory (July 26, 2004). "Pink Grease". Music News. http://www.music-news.com/ShowReview.asp?nReviewID=363&nType=4. Retrieved on August 10, 2008.
- ^ Hunter, James (December 6, 2001). "Michael Jackson: Invincible". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/michaeljackson/albums/album/301517/review/5945685/invincible. Retrieved on July 20, 2008.
- ^ Noh, David (January 26, 2006). "Choreographer Supreme". Gay City News. http://gaycitynews.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17007818&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=8. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.
- ^ "Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean:". Blender. October 2005. http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?ID=1777. Retrieved on April 11, 2007.
- ^ a b Gundersen, Edna (August 25, 2005). "Music videos changing places". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-08-25-mtv_x.htm. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ Robinson, Bryan (February 23, 2005). "Why Are Michael Jackson's Fans So Devoted?". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/LegalCenter/story?id=464753&page=1. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
- ^ Jackson, Michael. Thriller Special Edition Audio.
- ^ "Philippine jailhouse rocks to Thriller". BBC. (July 27, 2007). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6917318.stm. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Corliss, Richard (September 6, 1993). "Who's Bad?". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,979177,00.html?internalid=ACA. Retrieved on April 23, 2008.
- ^ "U.S. Patent 5,255,452; "Method and Means For Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion"; Michael J. Jackson, Michael L. Bush, Dennis Tompkins, issued Oct 26, 1993, Filed June 29, 1992". http://www.google.com/patents?vid=5255452.
- ^ Michael Jackson Dangerous on Film VHS/DVD
- ^ Campbell (1993), p. 303
- ^ Campbell (1993), pp. 313–314
- ^ Boepple, Leanne (November 1, 1995). Scream: space odyssey Jackson-style.(video production; Michael and Janet Jackson video). 29. Theatre Crafts International. p. 52.
- ^ Bark, Ed (June 26, 1995). Michael Jackson Interview Raises Questions, Answers. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. 06E.
- ^ Guinness World Records 2006
- ^ Michael Jackson HIStory on Film volume II VHS/DVD
- ^ Lewis, pp. 125–126
- ^ Guinness World Records 2004
- ^ Jean-Louis, Rosemary (November 1, 2004). "Usher, Usher, Usher: The new 'King of Pop'?". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/01/usher/. Retrieved on March 6, 2007.
- ^ "ADL happy with Michael Jackson decision". Anti-Defamation League. (June 22, 1995). http://www.adl.org/PresRele/ASUS_12/2471_12.asp. Retrieved on July 1, 2008.
- ^ "Michael Jackson and Halle Berry Pick Up Bambi Awards in Berlin". Hello!. (November 22, 2002). http://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2002/11/22/michaeljackson/. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Most No. 1s By Artist (All-Time)". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/most-no1s-overall.shtml. Retrieved on September 8, 2008.
- ^ "Pop Icon Looks Back At A "Thriller" Of A Career In New Interview". CBS. (November 6, 2007). http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/entertainment/main3461884.shtml. Retrieved on February 14, 2008.
- ^ Lee, Chris (May 31, 2009). "To this financier, Michael Jackson is an undervalued asset". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-michael-jackson31-2009may31,0,1441957.story. Retrieved on May 31, 2009.
- ^ Utley, Tom (March 8, 2003). "Of course Jackson's odd — but his genius is what matters". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2003/02/08/do0801.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2003/02/08/ixopinion.html. Retrieved on July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Witness: Jacko Lived Way Above Means". Fox News Channel. (May 3, 2005). http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155356,00.html. Retrieved on May 30, 2007.
- ^ "Tom Sneddon: Dogged prosecutor". BBC. (January 31, 2005). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4216779.stm. Retrieved on August 14, 2008.
References
- Campbell, Lisa (1993). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop. Branden. ISBN 082831957X.
- Campbell, Lisa (1995). Michael Jackson: The King of Pop's Darkest Hour. Branden. ISBN 0828320039.
- George, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
- Guinness World Records (2003). Guinness World Records 2004. Guinness. ISBN 1892051206.
- Guinness World Records (2005). Guinness World Records 2006. Guinness. ISBN 1-904994-02-4.
- Jackson, Michael (1988). Moon Walk. Doubleday. ISBN 0385247125.
- Lewis, Jel (2005). Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Big Picture : the Music! the Man! the Legend! the Interviews!. Amber Books Publishing. ISBN 0-974977-90-X.
- Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
Further reading
- Dineen, Catherine (1993). Michael Jackson: In His Own Words. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0711932166.
- Grant, Adrian (1994, 1997, 2002 and 2005). Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-432-2.
- Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. pp. 143–144. ISBN 0-434-37042-8.
- Jackson, Michael (1992). Dancing the Dream. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-40368-2.
- Jackson, Michael (2006). My World, The Official Photobook, Vol. 1. Triumph International. ISBN 0-9768891-1-0.
- Jones, Bob (2005). Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask. Select Books Inc. ISBN 1590790723.
- Noonan, Damien (1994) (Audio book). Michael Jackson. Carlton Books. ISBN 1-85797-587-1.
External links
Quotations from Wikiquote
Images and media from Commons
- Sony's Official Michael Jackson website
- Michael Jackson at the Internet Movie Database
- Michael Jackson at Allmovie
- Michael Jackson at Allmusic
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page on Michael Jackson
- Michael Jackson at the Open Directory Project
- Michael Jackson's Family Tree
- Michael Jackson at Discogs
- Michael Jackson Fan Club
- Michael Jackson at Find A Grave
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Jackson, Michael Joseph |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Jackson, Michael Joe; Jackson, Michael J. |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 29, 1958 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Gary, Indiana, United States |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 25, 2009 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Los Angeles, California, United States |
Michael Jackson | The Official Site
The HisTory of Michael Jackson's face
www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Jackson.html - Cached - Similar -
Image results for Michael Jackson
- Report imagesReport the following images as offensive. Confirm CancelThank you for the feedback.
.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.examiner.com/x-7494-LA-Gossip-Examiner~y2009m5d21-Michael-Jackson--Thinks-he-is-bigger-than-Elvis-and-the-Beatles&h=306&w=320&sz=20&tbnid=QgvA4oxsnmaR4M:&tbnh=113&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3DMichael%2BJackson&hl=en&usg=__UXFhSgxx99bfD_owYDszmy7XiTk=&ei=3ItESqajMpeIkQWM4sWfDw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=8&ct=image "http://www.examiner.com/x-7494-LA-Gossip-Examiner~y2009m5d21-Michael-Jackson--Thinks-he-is-bigger-than-Elvis-and-the-Beatles")
Video results for Michael Jackson
|
|
Blog posts about Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson (I)
www.imdb.com/name/nm0001391/ - Cached - Similar -
Michael Jackson News Pictures Biography Videos Thriller
The Beer Hunter
michaeljacksonthebeerhunter.blogspot.com/ - Cached - Similar -
Michael Jackson on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures ...
www.myspace.com/michaeljackson - Cached - Similar -
Michael Jackson: The King of Pop - Google Books Result
"Michael Jackson: The King of Pop" follows the path of the amazing of Michael Jackson from his beginning as lead singer of the Jackson 5 to becoming...
books.google.co.in/books?isbn=082831957X... -
| Michael Jackson | |||
| michael jackson songs | michael jackson lyrics | michael jackson biography | michael jackson dead |
| michael jackson news | michael jackson videos | michael jackson islam | michael jackson albums |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next |
Posts
Comments
Comments on this Article89
DRz Calderon posted on 06.26.09 at 01:18pm
TheEyeCandy posted on 06.26.09 at 11:45am
Malaunie_69Mercier posted on 06.26.09 at 11:21am
preston2190 posted on 06.26.09 at 10:57am