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Hard to believe it's been over a year since his death, and soon his birthday is around the corner (AUG 29), he would had been 52. Say what you about the man but one can't deny that for one man to sell over 500 million records during his lifetime. That alone says something, and perhaps its true. He's the 'The King of Pop!' He left this world behind with a lot great music, and we lost a very unique entertainer. Who's dance shoes, will never be filled... EVER! Yes, the man was surrounded by controversy, and for the record, there was no evidence ever found against him. Even when the LAPD simultaneously searched his 3 homes, nothing. It was all hear say, etc. Never mind the kid's mother from the first case is in prison for falsely accusing another man of child molestation several years ago, and the parents from the second case were found guilty of embezzling money. Anyway...
What music artist do you know from the past to present, that had been singing since the age of 5? Manage to have a career well into his/her adulthood? One album after another would top the previous record on the billboard charts. Its thanks to Michael too, that music has merged with other music genres starting with Beat It. Its thanks to Michael that defined what a music video should be. Its thanks to Michael what a great concert can become an event. So many iconic moves & styles, it's not really hard to see his huge influence on the entertainment industry. After the Bad album (1987), Michael's music just didn't belong to a certain genre or race or age, it belonged to everybody. Not only could the man sing, he wrote, and produced is own music. Not to mention one heck of a natural dancer, when he danced, he defied gravity! Truly the greatest entertainer that ever lived, he even has a theme park attraction.
With that said, if one was like me, growing up in the 80′s to his music was the soundtrack to your life. Especially for those who grew up with the Jackson 5. For me, my first MJ record I ever remember playing was the Thriller vinyl album, which I used to play day in day out. I have vivid images of me dancing around my bedroom to Thriller, which as time went on, dancing to Bad, Smooth criminal, etc, etc. I like many, remember thinking that Michael was the coolest guy in the universe. I remained, and will forever be a fan of MJ. Many hours was spent trying to pull off his moves (and I kill with those moves on the dance floor too once I hear a MJ song at a club =), and I feel lucky to have grown up with his music, never again will we see someone do it like Michael Jackson.
In addition, for those who've seen This Is It concert, must admit that would had been one hell of a concert indeed to go see, MJ was making a comeback for sure, but at least his testament is forever captured on film. Plus, did you notice the Haunted Mansion influence during the Thriller sequence in This Is It concert, and MJ coming out of the black widow? AWESOME!!!
Below are a few of my favorite MJ vids, from tributes to amazing mixes. So much music so little time but starting the collection with a great megamix of a legend!
Just Get Used To It!
Never before seen music video of another great MJ song.
My favorite.
It's hard to remix MJ songs, since the man didn't release a song/album without them being 110% perfect, that said, there's only a good hand full of great remixes that for sure MJ would approve of since his death, here are some of my favorite & mazing mixes. Grab that pair of black loafers, fedora hat, & crystal-studded glove and dance =)
Sadly, something as tragic as the event of Michael Jackson's death does it take DJs to start recognizing the power of MJ's music does to everybody. If one was a Michael Jackson fan, last summer was no doubt a fun one, dancing to his music at the clubs, at a friend's house, etc. One would think it was the 80s/early 90s all over again when Michael Jackson was heard everywhere. It felt good yet sad at the same...
MJ was highly represented at the 2009 Daisy Electric Carnival at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
2010 Daisy Electric Carnival at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
On the day of MJ's passing, the New Kids On the Block was on tour, and did a touching tribute. What's amazing, the crowd starts singing with instrumental music of Man in the Mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=Sr1t...ature=related"
Over at the real Pacha in Ibiza, Spain
After just 10 hours of the word of MJ passing. 1,500 CPDRC inmates did a memory dance tribute, couple of years ago, these same inmates were famous for the Thriller dance. What's more touching, they do We Are the World at the end, with world flags being waved.
At Club Rain, Las Vegas, DJ AM (who sadly passed away couple months after) did a special tribute to MJ the day he passed away.
Dodger Stadium did a Michael Jackson firework tribute on June 25, 2009, normally they do fireworks after a game, this time, the whole crowd remained =)
Of course it would come back!
Hands down, one of the most fun & exciting performances to grace the MTV Music Awards
This was actually shot from someone's phone that same night (below)
A nice firework tribute to Michael Jackson occurred in South of France
Michael Jackson was chosen to perform because the ratings for the 1993 Super Bowl, ratings were way down. He just had 1 demand, he'll be the ONLY performer. An agreement was made and the rest is history. It remains the most watched Super Halftime event in history, first also marked for the first time the Super Bowl audience figures actually tripled during the half-time show alone. Till this day, it remains the most watched Halftime show!
Sadly, it wasn't until his death, especially with the touching televised memorial that many, including I, saw him more as a human being then ever. Saw him has a brother, a uncle, and a father then just a super mega star.
The day that MJ passed away, filmed at the Apollo (where MJ performed when he was a kid).
That same day (June 25, 2009) on the NYC subway.
While on tour last summer, Madonna had little MJ tribute.
This last video below was moving for me, dunno really why but just was when I first saw it before boarding a plane for NYC for the summer back in 09, and this was coming from MTV? MTV had a heart?
Since his death, MJ has made over a billion in music sales. Source: How Michael Jackson Made $1 Billion Since His Death | Billboard.com Not even Elvis seen that number!
Here's the official music video of This Is It directed by Spike Lee
Last but not least, Michael Jackson singing Wish Upon A Star at Disneyland, CA back in 1980.
Madonna's speech said it best...
Michael Jackson was born in August 1958. So was I. Michael Jackson grew up in the suburbs of the Midwest. So did I. Michael Jackson had eight brothers and sisters. So do I. When Michael Jackson was six, he became a superstar, and was perhaps the world’s most beloved child. When I was six, my mother died. I think he got the shorter end of the stick. I never had a mother, but he never had a childhood. And when you never get to have something, you become obsessed by it.
I spent my childhood searching for my mother figures. Sometimes I was successful, but how do you recreate your childhood when you are under the magnifying glass of the world?
There is no question that Michael Jackson is one of the greatest talents the world has ever known. That when he sang a song at the ripe old age of eight he could make you feel like an experienced adult was squeezing your heart with his words. That when he moved he had the elegance of Fred Astaire and packed the punch of Muhammad Ali. That his music had an extra layer of inexplicable magic that didn’t just make you want to dance but actually made you believe you could fly, dare to dream, be anything that you wanted to be. Because that is what heroes do and Michael Jackson was a hero.
He performed in soccer stadiums around the world, and sold hundreds of millions of records and dined with prime ministers and presidents. Girls fell in love with him, boys fell in love with him, everyone wanted to dance like him. He seemed otherworldly — but he was a human being.
Like most performers he was shy and plagued with insecurities. I can’t say we were great friends, but in 1991 I decided I wanted to try to get to know him better. I asked him out to dinner, I said “My treat, I’ll drive — just you and me.”
He agreed and showed up to my house without any bodyguards. We drove to the restaurant in my car. It was dark out, but he was still wearing sunglasses.
I said, “Michael, I feel like I’m talking to a limousine. Do you think you can take off your glasses so I can see your eyes?”
Then he tossed the glasses out the window, looked at me with a wink and a smile and said, “Can you see me now? Is that better?”
in that moment, I could see both his vulnerability and his charm. The rest of the dinner, I was hellbent on getting him to eat French fries, drink wine, have dessert and say bad words. Things he never seemed to allow himself to do. Later we went back to my house to watch a movie and sat on the couch like two kids, and somewhere in the middle of the movie, his hand snuck over and held mine.
It felt like he was looking for more of a friend than a romance, and I was happy to oblige. In that moment, he didn’t feel like a superstar. He felt like a human being.
We went out a few more times together, and then for one reason or another we fell out of touch. Then the witch hunt began, and it seemed like one negative story after another was coming out about Michael. I felt his pain, I know what it’s like to walk down the street and feel like the whole world is turned against you. I know what it’s like to feel helpless and unable to defend yourself because the roar of the lynch mob is so loud you feel like your voice can never be heard.
But I had a childhood, and I was allowed to make mistakes and find my own way in the world without the glare of the spotlight.
When I first heard that Michael had died, I was in London, days away from the start of my tour. Michael was going to perform in the same venue as me a week later. All I could think about in this moment was, “I had abandoned him.” That we had abandoned him. That we had allowed this magnificent creature who had once set the world on fire to somehow slip through the cracks. While he was trying to build a family and rebuild his career, we were all passing judgement. Most of us had turned our backs on him. In a desperate attempt to hold onto his memory, I went on the internet to watch old clips of him dancing and singing on TV and on stage and I thought, “my God, he was so unique, so original, so rare, and there will never be anyone like him again. He was a king.”
But he was also a human being, and alas we are all human beings and sometimes we have to lose things before we can appreciate them. I want to end this on a positive note and say that my sons, age nine and four, are obsessed with Michael Jackson. There’s a whole lot of crotch grabbing and moon walking going on in my house. And, it seems like a whole new generation of kids have discovered his genius and are bringing him to life again. I hope that wherever Michael is right now he is smiling about this.
Yes, Michael Jackson was a human being but he was a king. Long live the king.
Originally Posted by Druggas 
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