Michael Jackson

     
            Few days ago I was watching my TV and I heard  the news the verdict on MJ's death. AEG was acquitted of the charges. This trial took so long and I still do not understand why the Jackson family decided to go through it. MJ's children are so young  they just lost their father and the trial about his death was the last thing to do. Proving that AEG was involved in his death could not be easy at all. There are so many people involved, people that only Michael knew or probably may not knew since the circle was so big around him. "This is me who is just thinking and sharing my opinion."
              The reason why I decided to write a post about Michael it's because this man was a part of my life from my childhood to my adulthood. I grew up with his songs. I wanted to pay him a tribute. I also decided to write a post about MJ because I miss this kind of artist who is really talented and who knew how to create this special connection with his fans. I do not think that pushing the public by dancing in a certain way is a proof to show that one is talented. My heart is so broken to see young artists especially females nowadays  dancing almost nude or naked on TV encouraging a certain idea among young people. Knowing my choice of music,"twerking" will definitely not be my choice at all. This is the new generation what about them? what about the future of these children watching them on TV everyday? Maybe I worry too much, maybe I am wrong but this is what I stand for this is my belief : Talent has nothing to do with it. What message do they carry when we know that in other places some children are used as a mean of money by forcing them into prostitution . I still believe that artists are supposed to be role models in some ways to the other young girls and boys. Is it encouraging the fact  that women can be treated like that ? People have many times denounced that sex industry have treated women like animals seeing them dancing this way gives me mixed feelings because it is like denying or contradicting these complaints and the work that some women are doing so hard to restore the female image. What is even worse is to see adult people participating and giving ovation, applauding this kind of behavior. Do artists nowadays are still doing their jobs?
             What is music? I think music is creativity, music is a connection to soul therefore music has a certain power. What was or what is Art today? I always thought being an artist is to move or influence people through your lyrics, movies or your artistic work such as paints, sculptures... It is to create awareness when things are going wrong. I always thought that artists were supposed to educate people (Example: The French author named Jean de La Fontaine was known for his work as a writer who will create awareness through humor)  It is good to sing love I mean pure love. However today it sounds like things are so different. Some even going further with lyrics related to sex nothing and nothing constructive! Is it only about money? fame?  Or is it more than that? When I was young the first time I heard Tracy Chapman singing; "Talking about Revolution" I could think she was living in my country and that she witnessed the injustice that the people were living. No Tracy Chapman has never been there, but because she was an artist  and that she observed how governments and societies are ruled nowadays, she knew that certain things are working in a way and it is  a system that needed to be changed or denounced. She did what an artist was supposed to do: sing it!

If you want to enjoy that song, if you want to feel that song "Human Nature" do like he says in the lyrics...and do like me:" wait at night when there is the fresh breeze breathe deeply feel relaxed and inspired. Take a sweet apple. Open and Sit at your window listen to this song and eat your apple and imagine yourself walking in the street touching a stranger. You will understand...

Michael Jackson "Human nature"

            Back to MJ,  I was thinking: where are these great artists that we enjoyed to listen singing. I believe he is one of them. Have you ever been a "Stranger in Moscow?" No, I have never been in Moscow, but MJ made me experience how it feels to be a Stranger in Moscow" through his song: It's like feeling a cold weather through your coat, walking in the streets of Moscow, looking the sky and see a bird flying, some nostalgic people drinking in a café, the rain, children playing and me, like him, feeling alone in this world. It is late, 12am  in Dallas and I am standing on the balcony of my bedroom. I cannot sleep but I cannot stop hearing in my head this famous song that I love so much of MJ :"Human Nature". This song is just  a breath of fresh breeze at night. I imagine myself walking like him in the street of this town...Yes, we are human nature and human nature is difficult to understand that's the reason why he asks this question in this song: "why?" twice.
            

Here is one of the famous songs in the Jackson 5 group.

 The Jackson 5: "I 'll be there"

 

               Michael Joseph Jackson was born the 29th August 1958 in Gary Indiana from a working class family. I truly believe that Michael was a gift to America and to the world. A talent like the one he had cannot be seen very often. Unfortunately, Michael has never been understood by most of the people. He was always subject of mockery, subject of lies people were making money over him, taking advantage of his kindness and his naivety. Because of his talent and his role as philanthropist, his country was seen like a place that many others dreamt to visit or to live someday. Michael was one of the artists who made us people of the world, to like America. I can never forget the song that he wrote with Lionel Richie "We are the world". I always believed that this is a song that can never be forgotten. An artist is supposed to write this kind of lyrics. "Heal the world" ,"Man in the mirror" "Earth Song" and many others. Nowadays it sounds like people care more about themselves and their money.

 

MJ: "Black Or White" (A genius 'touch) Unforgettable. Great lyrics.

           Like he always said before judging me try to know who I am. Everybody knows about MJ's sad childhood. I do not want to go into these details of his past because it will be difficult to understand and explain the circumstances. We cannot completely say he had bad parents, we cannot also say they were the best parent either because putting a little innocent child in this vicious industry could not bring positive effects on this child. His early career started in the Jackson 5 but clearly MJ was the real star. He did not have to force it, it was simply natural. He was simply born this way. I can never forget Motown 25 when Michael  performed the moonwalk.
If you are a MJ's fan, then you know Motown 25!! (Some people say: Yesterday, today Forever! lol!!! Really guys! Who can forget Motown 25? The Moonwalk!

MJ performing live at Motown 25. MJ definitely has written his name in the history of our world. I am so proud of him. He has set an example to believe in what you are and what you are called to be.

Michael Jackson "Earth Song" (Through this song MJ already raised awareness about the issue of our planet, endangered species... I watch people on TV talking about it but look He thought ahead of time. Did people care?)

           I was a child when I first saw his "Billie Jean "video he was walking with his vest on the shoulder, every time that he was putting one of his feet on the floor or touching something there was a light as if he was himself an energy source. Wow! what an imagination! Funny at the same time. Michael Jackson had class because dancing was simply natural. I always compared his gait or walk as that of a cat walking. His black shoes and white socks always reminded me of the piano keys. He was a genius and genius are not common. Who could not fall in love with this man? I did! (Smiling)

Then later he had the song "Black or White" the video and the song were wonderful! The creativity that himself added for the video of the song was incredible. He had this ability to create himself, imagine and draw he was a complete artist. In this song he talks about people of the world being united as one human race. He did not stop there he sang "They don't care about us" to denounce a system which do not care about people of the middle class and working class. Also in a romantic way he sang "Keep it in the closet" and many others.
         I remember my little sister always singing his song "Will you be there" in her room. She was singing this song because she was sad and in pain. People would look at her as a strange specimen and sometimes make fun of her. That medical condition could not allow her to walk since she was born and that song was her favorite one even though she could not understand the meaning (that is why I said earlier that music is more than Art only). When later after learning English I could translate and understand the lyrics of that song I was  deeply moved. It made me cry it is a call for God's help. That song was also related to the trial that he went through. That period of his life was hard on him. I also remember 2004 to me was a year when in Johannesburg( South Africa), I felt so lonely no family or friends around me . The park was the only place I could feel good but every night in my apartment for some reasons, I could keep listening to his song "Speechless." After reading his book entitled "Moonwalk" (1988), I felt so connected to him with a lot of compassion. I felt like I knew him because we both shared the view of the world. I always thought that having a child's heart does not hurt at all. At the same time, after reading his book I understood that he needed to be loved as well.

Michael Jackson: "Will you Be There"

             As an entertainer and as a dad he was successful. However in his personal life, he was probably one of the saddest person in the "world"  (Like he stated himself) even though he had all these people around him. I just wanted to pay a tribute to you MJ. It is a way to say thank you for being the greatest entertainer of all times with your songs and your dance. Michael, the lyrics of your songs impacted me so much and I know I will be involved in humanitarian activities like you someday. You did what you were born to do with passion and love. You impacted many people.
           MJ died the 25th of June 2009. I remember that as if it was yesterday. I was watching the CNN news and the breaking news was that MJ died. That day it was so heartbreaking. I did not want to believe it first I thought the news were not true I thought it was a hoax. Was it a dream? I was still hoping to hear that it was a mistake. However, the day of his memorial , the world was watching and seeing live people crying in different countries made me realized that for it was real. I literally have tears on my eyes when I saw his young brother crying but I was still hoping to see him appearing somewhere on the stage...(Don't ask me why) But nothing happened and I was like:" Michael wake up please come back!" well, Michael was really gone. Gone too soon! The pain of this lost made me sad. I could not retain tears when I saw his daughter Paris saying the love of her lost dad. That was when I realized that it was real.

(John Mayer playing Human Nature with electric guitar. To me that was the best performance of MJ's Memorial. Forgive my lack of knowledge: I have never known that "Human Nature" could be played with an electric guitar only. This is when music does not really need human voices. Incredible! John Mayer what a talent! I was not a John Mayer's fan but after that performance I thought that guy is talented! I can keep watching this part of the Memorial many times. That was not easy but you can tell he put all his heart in this performance)

   Yes...Unfortunately MJ left and took with him the best time of my childhood. Music has lost a genius.  We will never forget you and your pure heart. I miss MJ and his talent and his imagination. I miss the artist. I hope that his children will never care about the negative comments of the media concerning their dad because he loved them so much! I wish them to be happy.

      As for me, I keep the memory of this little child who later became a  successful man. A little child who was born a star to be a shinning star. A little child who had a great destiny. The little boy who sang "Just call my name and I'll be there. So look over your shoulder honey..." Goodbye! Michael You are never going to be forgotten. Now that I have written enough about one of my favorite artists, I will simply turn off my computer, go to sleep and listen to his one of my favorite song "Human Nature" and ask myself  why??  I know He would have simply replied to me with a smile: "because it's Human Nature."

From me,MJ's fan forever

Thank you for reading my post...Maybe you have some comments to drop. You are welcome to share them. Here are some videos of some of his songs:

MJ: " A stranger In Moscow" (I still try to understand what was the idea behind the "Stranger in Moscow" I am curious to know why Moscow? Why not New York for example? or I don't know...)

 

"Man in the Mirror"

 

"Billie Jean"

 

MJ: "Do You remember the Time"

 

MJ:"Heal The World"

and to finish this touching and inspiring song: "Gone Too Soon" in memory of Ryan White and later himself.  When I see Ryan White's story I understand that there is no time to complain but to fight for the best.  I always have in mind what Ryan White says at the beginning of this video. That were true words. People can express so much love to animals but will be so hard with another human being just because of the differences. How can you understand that a person can hate his neighbor because of his/her race or religion and that same person can express more love to an animal? I love animals but still I admit that human life worth more than animals. Wise and powerful message.

 Rest in Peace Ryan and  rest in peace Michael