Issue Date: 8/24/09
All hail the King of Pop: The Visionary
By Graianne Ward
Michael Jackson. He had quirks, but who doesn't? Sure he hung out with younger kids and allegedly gave them 'Jesus juice' but someone's personal life shouldn't ruin their professional career.
Colin Farrell is a wild boy but a good actor. Mel Gibson may seem insane but you have to admit he was good in "Mad Max,""Conspiracy Theory," and all the "Lethal Weapon" films.
Britney Spears and Mariah Carey both had their downfalls and seemingly crazy moments, but in the end their talent is buried right underneath all that madness.
It seems you have to be a little off to be creative in this world, so really can we say we didn't expect this of Jackson, especially considering his childhood?
Are you wondering about Jackson's alleged victims? It's possible a kid told a story, then the parents embellished it and saw a way to make money.
The world is filled with more schemers than you would expect. We're so quick to judge someone. He was found not guilty.
Kids do make up stories for attention. Need I remind you of the Salem Witch Trials? Don't underestimate kids. A 13-year-old child is definitely old enough to lie.
The media either makes or breaks you. By 1993 after the first child molestation accusations the media turned its back on him, bashing his career to pieces. The man who used to have people around the world sitting in front of their televisions waiting for his newest premiere because they respected his talent. It's a tragedy really, and we'll never know the truth about Michael Jackson.
The media focused on all the negative stuff and bypassed all his accomplishments over his 50 years of life. Like the fact he was in the Guinness Book of World Records eight times in 2006 alone. He was the first African American to strongly crossover and gain a following via MTV. He was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was also named "The Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the World Records Academy. He had 17 No. 1 singles.
He's won 13 Grammy awards and sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide. He has the biggest selling album of all time, "Thriller," with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. How can you deny his talent?
He even holds the record for the most charities supported by a pop star. Thirty-nine are known about but he constantly donated anonymously and spontaneously.
He was loving toward every single person he met, child and adult alike - family, friends, and those meeting him for the first time. He was the exact opposite of his father with his caring demeanor, but he also was quiet, reserved and sickly.
He had lupus, vitiligo, and wore wigs because of the burns he obtained while filming the infamous Pepsi commercial in the 1980s when his hair caught fire from the stage lights. All these things he kept secret from the public, but he pushed through his illnesses and the accusations to be the best. Once you see how fragile he was it makes you feel bad for beating him up.
As a child he had a strong, pure voice. As he grew older he made his voice take on a more unique sound that made it easy for impressionists to imitate him. You knew instantly it was a Michael Jackson song as soon as you heard his "ooh oohs" and hiccup voice.
His voice was always filled with excitement and got your adrenaline pumping. The catchy beat was an indicator as well. It didn't matter what race, religion or gender you were, his songs had you tapping your toes or bobbing your head to the beat, even if you didn't want to.
The moonwalk and robot left people stunned when they saw Jackson first perform them on a television screen. He had made the impossible possible. Even still, millions can't do the moonwalk or stand on their tippy toes to this day.
His music was his voice. He was very conscious about what was going on in the world and what people were saying about him.
He never needed a press conference because how he felt and what he needed to say was right there in the lyrics of his songs.
His paranoia, his frustrations with the media, and the loss of never having a childhood were just his way of telling his story all along.
All we had to do was listen.
He influenced artists like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and R. Kelly. Just about everyone out there mentions Jackson as being an inspiration to them in some way.
Those who love him believe and see what they want to see about Jackson. Those who loathe him saw what they wanted to see. In the end, the facts glared through the thick fog of fiction and hearsay. He was a wonderful singer, an amazing dancer and a huge activist for the world.
His heart didn't give up, it gave out. Michael Jackson changed the world.
See the other side: Click here
Colin Farrell is a wild boy but a good actor. Mel Gibson may seem insane but you have to admit he was good in "Mad Max,""Conspiracy Theory," and all the "Lethal Weapon" films.
Britney Spears and Mariah Carey both had their downfalls and seemingly crazy moments, but in the end their talent is buried right underneath all that madness.
It seems you have to be a little off to be creative in this world, so really can we say we didn't expect this of Jackson, especially considering his childhood?
Are you wondering about Jackson's alleged victims? It's possible a kid told a story, then the parents embellished it and saw a way to make money.
The world is filled with more schemers than you would expect. We're so quick to judge someone. He was found not guilty.
Kids do make up stories for attention. Need I remind you of the Salem Witch Trials? Don't underestimate kids. A 13-year-old child is definitely old enough to lie.
The media either makes or breaks you. By 1993 after the first child molestation accusations the media turned its back on him, bashing his career to pieces. The man who used to have people around the world sitting in front of their televisions waiting for his newest premiere because they respected his talent. It's a tragedy really, and we'll never know the truth about Michael Jackson.
The media focused on all the negative stuff and bypassed all his accomplishments over his 50 years of life. Like the fact he was in the Guinness Book of World Records eight times in 2006 alone. He was the first African American to strongly crossover and gain a following via MTV. He was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was also named "The Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by the World Records Academy. He had 17 No. 1 singles.
He's won 13 Grammy awards and sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide. He has the biggest selling album of all time, "Thriller," with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. How can you deny his talent?
He even holds the record for the most charities supported by a pop star. Thirty-nine are known about but he constantly donated anonymously and spontaneously.
He was loving toward every single person he met, child and adult alike - family, friends, and those meeting him for the first time. He was the exact opposite of his father with his caring demeanor, but he also was quiet, reserved and sickly.
He had lupus, vitiligo, and wore wigs because of the burns he obtained while filming the infamous Pepsi commercial in the 1980s when his hair caught fire from the stage lights. All these things he kept secret from the public, but he pushed through his illnesses and the accusations to be the best. Once you see how fragile he was it makes you feel bad for beating him up.
As a child he had a strong, pure voice. As he grew older he made his voice take on a more unique sound that made it easy for impressionists to imitate him. You knew instantly it was a Michael Jackson song as soon as you heard his "ooh oohs" and hiccup voice.
His voice was always filled with excitement and got your adrenaline pumping. The catchy beat was an indicator as well. It didn't matter what race, religion or gender you were, his songs had you tapping your toes or bobbing your head to the beat, even if you didn't want to.
The moonwalk and robot left people stunned when they saw Jackson first perform them on a television screen. He had made the impossible possible. Even still, millions can't do the moonwalk or stand on their tippy toes to this day.
His music was his voice. He was very conscious about what was going on in the world and what people were saying about him.
He never needed a press conference because how he felt and what he needed to say was right there in the lyrics of his songs.
His paranoia, his frustrations with the media, and the loss of never having a childhood were just his way of telling his story all along.
All we had to do was listen.
He influenced artists like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown and R. Kelly. Just about everyone out there mentions Jackson as being an inspiration to them in some way.
Those who love him believe and see what they want to see about Jackson. Those who loathe him saw what they wanted to see. In the end, the facts glared through the thick fog of fiction and hearsay. He was a wonderful singer, an amazing dancer and a huge activist for the world.
His heart didn't give up, it gave out. Michael Jackson changed the world.
See the other side: Click here
Be the first to comment on this story