We Grew Up With Michael Jackson

The Love You Save Acapella
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Y5Hwz-AV8&NR=1

Tough. That's the word we used, back in the day, before it was called "Back In The Day," Tough was cool and tight and funky and rockin' all rolled into one. Jackson 5 was tough.

We'd all get in the neighbor's den, with the big stereo Hi-Fi and lots and lots of records and dance the shag off the carpeting. Jackson 5, Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Hugh Masekela, Spinners, Fifth Dimension, Temptations, Four Tops, Otis Redding, Edwin Starr:

WAR
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7kHWEGtRgA

There was blood on the news of the war and blood in the streets. Political assassinations and rock stars dying of success.
We grew up on soul and love and funk and groove. In the midst of chaos.
We grew up with Michael Jackson, survivors all, until today.

Watching the little boy with the phenomenal spirit and voice get older and reach megafame and die, in a way, of that success; then rise from the ashes as a creature of his own design; who are we to judge what it was like to be him? Who else could know? Elvis?

The odd bird, a self created living sculpture, caged in his wealth and weirdness.

He flew away today. May Michael find the love and freedom he could not find here on earth.

For those who want to detract his memory or the affection of those who remember him as a part of their lives:

Tough.



Michael Jackson - Man In The Mirror
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGeZYednWtI

I Want You Back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt9TUy0_GiM

Motown celebrates 50
http://freep.com/section/special0302

who is condemned by the culture-at-large, a dignity made greater when it is as eloquently delivered as this post.

For many good reasons and just because.

Recommended.

When these folks pass, we reflect on ourselves, on our culture...

Or not :spray: :pals:

tonight would be the night to sit and look at the new moon, wondering,


“Where did we come from? What are we? Where are we going?”

:hug:

I thought I KNEW what it was gonna be! :rofl:

I'll see your Gaugin and raise you a Vincent :spray:

:hug: to you and thank you. I needed your Gaugin tonight.

"Hey, Collie, why the long poker face?" :spray:

Jerk, turn off the caps.

"We" as in a nominative group?

"Wee" as in small?

Wee wee wee all the way home?

I'm into complete sentences, give or take an e e cummings passage or two.

Call me old-fashioned.

The poster was trying to shout at the OP, whose reply would have been:

"We who did. And if you didn't, please don't take it personally." :spray:

Wee wee wee :woohoo:

circuit-breaker.

After this past week, nothing less than a circuit-breaker will do. Thanks for deliverin' the good stuff.

What away with words. Circuit-breaker indeed. Turn the lights back on and all these cool folks show up!! :pals:

Alchemy is an amazing thing.

memories came flooding back with that "Got To Be There" pic. That's the Michael Jackson I remember.

The acapella link at top really shows his power. :thumbsup:

tonight it's killing me. Decided to pull out a Jackson 5 Greatest Hits CD...sniff.

check out the OP link to Motown 50 Anniversary. Lots of good stuff. :thumbsup:

So sad the way things turned out ... I keep thinking: If only Joe Jackson had been a good, non-abusive father ...

I will always love his music, but as a person he was really screwed up and did horrible things to kids.

There's no excusing his behavior. IMHO I am not prepared to judge him as a person. A person who WAS so clearly -- and uniquely -- screwed up.

He was so handsome as a kid and a young man. He'd have grown into a gorgeous man as he matured.

This cover always tickled me:

very sad to watch the way he mutilated himself.

A lot of pain there. And such beauty in "old Michael's" smile.........

It's pretty much completely forgotten now, but it was monster hit and was fantastic musically.

his craziness got in the way of his creativity and his work. He just stopped, or maybe he burned out.

But it had to be frustrating for him, to have all that talent within him, and unable to do anything with it because he was caught up in the madness that defined him..........................

n/t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF0o-W5uu8o


http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/off-the-wall.html

Tracklisting:

1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

2. Rock with You

3. Working Day and Night

4. Get on the Floor

5. Off the Wall

6. Girlfriend" (McCartney) 

7. She's out of My Life" (Tom Bahler)

8. I Can't Help It

9. It's the Falling in Love

10. Burn This Disco Out

n/t

Track listing
1. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
2. Rock With You
3. Working Day and Night
4. Get on the Floor
5. Off the Wall
6. Girlfriend
7. She's Out of My Life
8. I Can't Help It
9. It's the Falling in Love
10. Burn This Disco Out
11. Quincy Jones Commentary
12. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - (Intro)
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - (previously unreleased, 1978 demo)
14. Quincy Jones Commentary
15. Working Day and Night - (Intro)
16. Working Day and Night - (previously unreleased, 1978 demo)
17. Quincy Jones Commentary
18. Rod Temperton Commentary
19. Quincy Jones Commentary


Details
Playing time: 42 min.
Contributing artists: George Duke, Patti Austin
Producer: Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (
Recording type: Studio
Recording mode: Stereo
SPAR Code: AAD


Album notes
OFF THE WALL remaster contains previously unreleased demos and commentary by producer Quincy Jones and songwriter Rod Temperton.
Personnel includes: Michael Jackson (vocals, percussion); Patti Austin (vocals); David Williams, Marlo Henderson, Phil Upchurch, Wah Wah Watson, Marlo Henderson, Larry Carlton (guitar); Larry Williams (flute, alto & tenor saxophones); Kim Hutchcroft (flute, tenor & baritone saxophones); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Gary Grant (trumpet); William Reichenbach (trombone); Greg Phillinganes (electric piano, synthesizer); David "Hawk" Wolinski (electric piano); Michael Boddiker (synthesizer, programming); George Duke, David Foster (synthesizer); Louis Johnson (bass); John Robinson (drums, percussion); Randy Jackson, Janet Jackson, Richard Heath, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).
Producers: Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson.
Reissue producer: Bruce Swedien.
Recorded in Los Angeles, California between 1978 & 1979. Originally released on Epic (35745).
Digitally remastered by Bernie Grundman (Bernie Grundman Mastering, Los Angeles, California).
As the lead singer of the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson had already been labeled a legend at a young age; but OFF THE WALL introduced the world to the adult Michael Jackson, and proved that he was still very much worthy of that label. It was the real beginning for Michael as a solo artist, and opened the doors for his next album THRILLER, which would become the greatest selling album of all time and help foist upon a Jackson a new title: King Of Pop.
Under the supervision of Quincy Jones, OFF THE WALL illustrated some of Jackson's most soulful material. The title-track is among the album's smoothest, and introduces his silky feel for the dance-floor. The lively "Working Day And Night" was a teaser for the singles "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You," both of which reached #1 on the pop charts. Slowing down the pace, the album also hosted some romantic tunes which, through the years, have become classics in their own right. With "Girlfriend" and "She's Out Of My Life," Michael proved that he never lost his golden touch when it came to love songs.


Editorial reviews
5 stars (out of 5) - ...one of the greatest albums ever made...all the songs are great, the sound is new and different, and it was a big part of pleasant people's lives at the time....some of the best melodies in the history of pop...
Q (09/01/1999)

5 stars out of 5 - ...Was and remains a perfect album....the rhythm never lets up, and neither does the quality....Never has Michael sounded so self-assured, his talents so right for the pop moment...
Rolling Stone (02/01/2001)

Ranked #93 in NME's list of the 'Greatest Albums Of All Time.'
NME (10/02/1993)

Ranked #31 in Rolling Stone's 50 Coolest Records.
Rolling Stone (04/11/2002)

It's only right that maybe the greatest single-artist disco album was the work of that generation's greatest dancer.

Clearly, he wanted to obliterate his face, become someone else entirely. Anyone with a pair of eyes would say, stop-right-there, you're already a heartbreaker. But that wasn't what he was after, and in the end being a porcelain goblin was preferable to anything remotely like the way he was born.

in his own body.

I wonder how much the little kid happy go lucky star got a shock from the "real world" right when we entered Uncle Ronnie's Down Is Up Land, MJ hits superstardom, surrounded by corporat musc jackals bent on killing the golden goose.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc7HxvADWak

He would have been a good looking guy without all the surgeries.

as I never could have.

My brother and I watched his videos over and over again on MTV as kids. We all wanted to be like him at that age. He was cool back then. :)

in his music, the beginnings of MTV and a LOT of other great music back then. :hi:

Did you moonwalk?

And we breakdanced too, wore parachute pants, and knew the whole dance to Thriller. Ahh, the 80's. Good times. I think I was about 7 when Thriller came out and my big bro was 10. Michael Jackson was definitely an icon of our childhood.

:yourock:

battling some demons. He will be missed.

A very fitting tribute.

He had an AMAZING voice!

"Never Can Say Goodbye" live. It is not in the same style as the record, and does not appear to be lip syncing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snihdG1rE0Y

There's so much joy in his voice.

I think SDJ passed on not long after

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c8UI1Roxpo

You posted the exact same subject within 2 minutes of me.

I'm still shocked.

:spray:

and had to turn it off. I think I will break down if I watch tonight...so, so sad. And that song always made me emotional anyway.
What a day it's been.:(

putting together the Cronkite and Juneteenth OPs recently. Our collective gaze with these anniversaries and earthly departures (HANG IN THEIR, WALTER) is being directed back to those days.......

When you get the to end of that video, the sad faces are smiling. It is a heartbreaker and a reminder of when pop culture reached out to Africa.

That particular song and it's lyrics, the impact he had on my entire life etc. - it all adds to a emotional peak now that he's died suddenly only 3 years older than me.

Tough. In the best sense of that word (that I remember using in such a context, too).

It was a good word. High praise. Jackson 5 ROCKED! :headbang: :spray:

Like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYx3BR2aJA4

Michael has own -ikiality goin on, didn't he?

With all DU respect.

... to mark his passing.

As you know, I'm a syscop on the Truthiness Encyclopedia and since last year's Year in Review" went over so well, I thought I'd make it an annual thing.

So, I go around and collect images that I think would capture a moment or event.

At first I was going to put the one of his body being put in the helicopter, but it's not online, so I kept looking.

I found some horrid pictures of the crowds at his house (even ones showing tourists riding by taking pictures).

But, then I saw that one.

I think that one is perfect.

:toast:

Go look at his videos, at the snapshots. Dancers know. He was amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sRfqvwgimU&feature=related

He really was. From the beginning to the end of his career. Absolutely awesome. When MTV came along and he made his first videos, if I was walking thru a room and one came on, I would freeze dead-stop in my tracks and drop absolutely everything I was doing every single time. I couldn't get enough. Janet, too.

:rofl:

Thank you!

lol

Help me. I'm lost in time. :rofl:

I wonder what made him become so bizarre?

I was okay until I read this. Lovely post.

:hug:

:thumbsup:

:hi:

I had first heard The Jackson 5, The Osmonds were famous about the same time. They were okay, but the Jackson 5 was just "totally BOSS!"

David Soul immediately popped Don't Give Up on us Baby into my noodle, which then led to...

Let Her In by IIRC, John Travolta? OMG!

And lo these many years later, I still know every single word to these songs. I will lose my Goth Card if anyone IRL finds out HA!

:hi:

:evilgrin: Loved all those big drums back then, Hawaii 5-O, Here Come The Brides...

How bout THIS for "way back"? You might not remember......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN7JKtnODwE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYG9Bpnjuv0


Hawaii 5-O
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AepyGm9Me6w
Jack Lord, yum yum

Ventures (Max Weinberg on drums)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQSPivbWwuY

What's funny is much of the music I love was technically before my time albeit slightly, but I grew up hearing it on the radio so it feels like mine.

Well what the heck, if I can claim Mozart to be "my" music, I suppose I can claim the Yardbirds.

:P


You should see my iPod, that is one schizophrenic music collection! LOL!


Oh, your post also made me think of a joke:

Why was Hawai'i the 50th state?

Because who wants to watch a show callled "Hawai'i Four-Nine?"

Heart-wrenching retrospective images near the end..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehal1eUG1jk&NR=1

There was only one Michael.

:cry:

Thanks, chill_wind

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snihdG1rE0Y

:hug:

I was in a store when the news came through today and no one could believe it. Maybe if we hear it a few dozen or hundred more times, it''ll sink in.

:hug: Did you say your kids danced around to MJ?

I'm not sure I didn't, myself. Somewhere deep in all that pain, there was a free thing. And that's what we loved, wasn't it?



:toast:

was watching "We Are The World" and being a Springsteen fan. Too much good rock/punk/ska/etc. at that time for MJ to fascinate.

:toast:

Remember "Ebony and Ivory"? Remember making mix tapes? I have a tape that starts with that wackadoodle intro, "Na na nana NAH, na na nana nah, na na nana NAH" ------ cut to me saying "what the fuck is this-------" :spray: Didn't know my voice recorded! :rofl: til I heard it.

I would have done the "Safety Dance" before the moonwalk.:hi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcOZ6xFxJqg

or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V83JR2IoI8k

or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4o8TeqKhgY

AND I get everything you're saying about the body and the dance. How can someone that fluid in his body be so uncomfortable in it?

But we do have these brains that can fool us -- so when we look in the mirror, we see something that isn't there. :(

as well la condition humaine... We have plenty of folks on DU who deal with the outside not matching the inside...

and then there is creative genius."Over" Sensitivity. Someone who just can't deal with what his talent and gifts put him at the center of. I don't know. I don't pretend to know -- or think that anyone who hasn't been there can (which is one reason I don't judge the sexual weirdness, it seems all of a piece).

I ventured to guess elsewhere in the thread -- esp. in context of age -- that the timing must have been weird for him. Acheiving superstardom while mercenaries took over our cultural trust and megaphonies like Reagan :puke: rose to mindfuck the generations... and Liz Taylor became a pal...

I'd get me a zoo and a Ferris Wheel post haste, too. :spray:

sitting down, or how blue his eyes are.

Michael was a casualty of this fucking homophobic culture and more. He was a lost boy and there was no Nana for him, no matter how much money he made. Reagan was just the figurehead, as you know.

Michael always looked like he was on fire to me. For those few moments when his art allowed him to ignore the flames, gratitude.

Who's Smokey :shrug:

Doug was booked at Konacti Harbor opening for him. Smokey sang his wedding song for us and after, he waited about two minutes to shake our hands. He was TALL and his eyes were BLUE. LOL

Can I touch you?

Me LOVE Smokey!!!!!!!!!!

is smiling but the two pros are showing all their ivory. I might as well have been a potted plant as far as the camera was concerned.

lol

Anyway, Larry King had him on all night tonight. It was good to see the face. :hug:

love Smokey too.

I used to be constantly shocked that they aren't. Shocked that Cindy Sheehan is a head taller than me and Cynthia McKinney, a head shorter. Smokey was much taller than I thought he was and my husband was 6'5". :crazy:

There are some sick people on this board, willing to put him up on a pedestal for his performance skills, while ignoring the pervert and the danger he was around children. How fucking sick is this?

We know something went on. We know that justice may or may not have been served. I don't follow the gossip stories to know all about that.

On a human -- and maybe not as informed or confirmed as you would like -- level, I remember growiing up with the boy and the man. I know that he was incredibly talented and also troubled. That he gave as much to our lives as he got in his (you might say unjust) rewards.

I just don't have more reason to judge him than to appreciate him.

Whatever his demons and issues were, I hope that he finds peace.

:hi:

The spell of celebrity and the cult of personality is frightening when you consider the sheer POWER it has over the public mind.

someone if they are talented.

I mean, there's millions of Paris Hilton fans out there. Even millions of Perez Hilton fans. Talent isn't even a factor in the equation.

and mourn the damage to his spirit and work that caused his troubled behavior and ill health. :hi:

"The spell of celebrity and the cult of personality is frightening when you consider the sheer POWER it has over the public mind."



Absolutely. That spell and cult had power over MJ's mind as well. The "sheer power" -- of those who own and manipulate it -- of the "spell of celebrity and the cult of personality" arose with Michael Jackson's life and fame.

I wonder how much of that mercenary marketing of style over substance had to do with destroying his ability to cope.

They were awesome.

He was the consummate performer.

A gifted song writer.

He was involved in some worthy humanitarian causes.


But he was a damaged individual. His emotional development probably stopped at age 12 or 13.

He was basically a young boy in a man's body.


I look at him and see a pitiful damaged creature...not a predatory animal, as opposed to the guy who molested my daughter when she was a young girl, nearly 30 years ago. There's a huge difference between him and Michael Jackson, not the least of which is the fact that MJ was never convicted, whereas the man who molested my daughter was.

a child stuck in a man's body, with huge demands placed on him w/o much support. Lots of people wanting from him, not many giving.

It makes a difference in how my comment is percieved. I did add "while ignoring the pervert and the danger to children..."

This is the sick world we live in.

"But he was a damaged individual. His emotional development probably stopped at age 12 or 13.

"He was basically a young boy in a man's body.


"I look at him and see a pitiful damaged creature...not a predatory animal, as opposed to the guy who molested my daughter when she was a young girl, nearly 30 years ago. There's a huge difference between him and Michael Jackson, not the least of which is the fact that MJ was never convicted, whereas the man who molested my daughter was."

person really? What are you hoping to gain from your constant badgering in these thread of people who appreciate Michael's works maybe some messed up part of you has somehow turned MJ into your personal boogie monster. Maybe you should spend your Saturday doing something more productive. Clearly you have issues that you need to work out and I cannot imagine posting on message boards constantly about a man you never even met can beneficial to you.

:think:

What sick parents would allow that stuff unless they were really trying to set up for the big money grab...if anything happened...and was never proved...?

I met him when he was little..cute but his brothers were so much more musical..sad they were never recognized.

:toast:

His music has been on the radio my whole life .

So I didn't really grow up with him but my kids sure did. This hits me pretty hard. My sincere condolences to the generation that did grow-up with him.

Michael. So so many of Michael's moves were pure Fred Astaire. I hope they now get the opportunity to dance a duet. What a thrill for the Saints and Angels.

:cry:

BIG fan of Motown in general.

Michael Jackson was a big part of my youth. Actually lost "friends" as a pre-teen because of my love for the music. (white/black Southern 'neck thing) :-(

Strangely enough I stopped listening/caring about his music just as he ascended into that rarefied air of pop phenomenon.

Thanks for your post.

RIP.

Some of the few good childhood memories I have involve his music.

Thankyou! :fistbump:

We surely live in "Interesting Times" :pals:

For better or worse. :(

you captured the essence of the time like a polaroid picture... shake & peel... even though i was but a wee tyke at the time

Grazin' In The Grass
Friends Of Distinction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17R572Ggrks
Hugh Masekela
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtfKmRa5TsA&feature=fvw

Hey Ya!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrr81SRhp_s

Day Tripper
Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y63c3fHZVgc&feature=related

He may have been too fine an artist to be sold out.

That had the 'Record' of ABC on it. I tried cutting this out of the box, however my hand slipped and I cut into the playing surface and it was not any good.

dangerous toys for kids back then :yourock: :spray:

Wow, that was a looooong time ago ...

His entire life seemed to be a chase for his butterly-like missing youth.

:headbang:
rocktivity

:grouphug:

I'm left with the tragic perception that Michael never grew up. But nonetheless he's free of the nonsense that life must endure.

:cry:

I'm not a huge fan, but I did in fact grow up with his music, I'm 9 years younger, and your words and all these posts have been quite a time warp for me. His passing has brought lots of other things to my mind, for which his songs are a touchstone, if that makes sense. I had forgotten about most of these songs, but reading the titles brings me right back to a time and place. Sometimes a good time, sometimes not, but it gives me pause regardless.

Some days I feel my age and this is one of those days.

This day, and the day after I hurt my neck headbanging at an Apocolypica concert. Oh man that sucked. LOL!

LIke someone pointed out, little girls had crushes on Michael and wanted to be the Supremes. He rose to mega stardom as a solo artist, right when there still was some freedom in the music business and corporations were figuring out how to milk it for all it's worth and eventually kill it off (or "synergize")

Sorry about the lecture -- it's part of why music lovers DO see him and his career as a touchstone. And I wonder how much the "star maker machinery" had to do with his retreat into some deep internal dream castle......

Hope your neck is better!! :hi:

And now we're hearing that his death was caused by a 20-year drug addiction to painkillers caused by that Pepsi ad mishap. ...He was a lucky man in some ways to be blessed with so much talent and so many peope who adored him from afar, but he a lot went wrong with his life that shouldn't have. Great talent seems to invite that, much of the time.

I was never into the Jackson 5 that much as a kid, but in college, 1983 was an amazing year for me and his music provided the soundtrack. :cry:

Some of the best, last years for great commercial (independent) radio stations.

Definitely recommended :thumbsup:

in their own time, and it's time to move on to whatever you go to - we all have fallen short of the glory of CHRIST (my opinion, I respect what you believe), and Michael showed many flaws in gluttonous spending, but he also was a world-class charity 'king', and helped raised more money in one for famine relief by organizing, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, Steve Perry, Kenny Loggins, etc, and working Lionel made millions for Ethiopian people to have food - he also was super giving in many other arenas of philanthropy. He had a flawed life, but he seemed to try to maximize his charitableness.

He also brought us some of the most awesome songs (Man in the Mirror, Billie Jean, Beat It, Human Nature, etc) and we did grow up on Michael. When I think of music he's one of the first few people I think of even though I'm not a 'huge' fan. I like Steve Perry, Lauper, George Michael and others more than Michael, but MJ was MJ! He was the king of pop around the world, even at 50 couldn't walk around in most towns without being besieged by fans to the point of a mob. God bless him for bringing us that music and memories.

Thanks for the thread on MJ. He was the king of entertainment in the 80's. No question.

Insert STEVE PERRY into this thread!!!! :spray:

That's okay, I have a very low telerance for off key singing that sounds like cats in heat being tossed around in a bag. :yoiks: :rofl:

Actually, I was in a store recently that was playing a Journey album. I was very proud of myself for not running out screaming. :rofl:

I know I'm in the minority. His singing is completely off key to my ear.


:hi: Thank you for your post honoring Michael. We Are The World was a BIG DEAL back then. There's a link to "Man In The Mirror" in the OP.

As you say, he had a "flawed life." Yet, I don't think evenElvis Presley could have known what it's like to be Michael. He may have been very lonely.

Interesting KO mentioned Elvis' death to now, MJ's death. What do we reflect on in our lifetimes/culture from '77 to '09?

:hi:

in a restaurant when she picked "Teddy Bear" on the jukebox.

That was 1957 so that means I was 18 months old.

:rofl:

:toast: Hey, did you see our poker set up? :spray:

Yes, I saw our table. Love it! :toast:

:yourock: :headbang:

That had the 'Record' of ABC on it. I tried cutting this out of the box, however my hand slipped and I cut into the playing surface and it was not any good.

For those who aren't fans, he brought us something that you would never be able to understand. I grew up listening to him. His music is playing in our home videos and so it's like a member of the family dying almost...

Michael Jackson and Joe Pesci: a winning combination, I shit you not.



We're gonna miss you Michael. You were misunderstood, but you were still and shall remain the king of pop. :thumbsup:

his friend on MSNBC confirmed that he had lupus. I didn't know that before this. That explains a LOT about his health too. No sun, skin issues, extreme weight loss, risk for infections, risk for organ failure.

My mom died of lupus at 55 y.o.

edit* - sorry to sidetrack your thread. I did not want to go to another one or worse, create one.

he looked unhealthily thin. Don't know much about lupus.

Heard also addiction to painkillers (since the commercial fire injury?) contributed.

Very sad. Thanks again.

I was 12 when Thriller came out. I feel as if I have lost a bit of my childhood.

:cry:

:toast:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5935721&mesg_id=5935721

posted with permission of OP, who is one of LMP's Friends on MySpace, where this was published yesterday.

K&R!

:kick:

Nice to meet you. Belated Welcome to DU :toast:

Off The Wall Album cover....he would have been a very handsome man if he had not felt compelled to mutilate himself.

His isolation of himself after that point, in different ways (including self mutilation) are part of why now, maybe, we feel like honoring all the different incarnations he packed into 50 years.

:loveya:

How you got up to 100,000 posts :rofl:

:P

for the last year and a half. lol

I was out of work and I'm only contracting now - sucks out there. Hope you find something fun to do sooner than later.

you do what you gotta do. :spray: so many great people show up on DU when we quit picking at each other!! :think: :grouphug: :pals:

Same age as Michael too.

Thanks, OM.

K&R.

:party: :spray:

His lifestyle was dangerous, to be sure.....b/c no one had ever had the opportunity (means/where-with-all) to go there before.

Rest in Peace Michael. I hope/trust you're in a better place. You certainly worked hard and changed a LOT (for the better) in this world.

Maybe Tomorrow....was my first album as a kid. :loveya: :cry:

:hug:

I don’t know how many stars there are
Up in the heavenly sky
I only know my heaven is here on earth
Each time you look into my eyes
The way.. you do baby

Thank you, thank you baby

My beautiful bird you have flown away
I held you to tight, I can see

You’re all I need to get by
No one else can make me cry
The way you do baby

Chorus:
You are the book that I read each day
You are the song that I sing
Gonna sing it to you
You are the four seasons of my life
But maybe tomorrow, you’ll change your mind girl
Maybe tomorrow, you’ll come back to my arms girl

(maybe she won’t)

Maybe
You’re all I need to get by
No one else can make me cry
The way you do baby

Chorus)

I came to the party slightly later than you. I was a child growing up in the 1980s. For me and my friends growing up, Michael Jackson represented the epitomy of "cool". We loved his songs, danced to them at our birthday parties, watched in awe at his music videos and I for one had a Michael Jackson poster in my room for the longest time. I read his autobiography when I was 11. I got a Michael Jackson CD for at least one of my birthdays and I remember how much profound respect and admiration I had for him growing up. I'd say he was probably the No. 1 music influence in my life and I think he influenced my life in other ways I can't adequately put into words. I know this sounds terribly cliched but it was honestly how I felt. To me he represented and (and still represents) many of the happy memories from my childhood. Particularly during a time when my life is not so good, he reminded me of the good times and the fun I used to have when I was younger

I always loved his music and retained a deep sense of affection for him, despite his flaws. And today it feels like a part of me has died. I feel a sense of loss and sadness that I don't usually feel for these type of news events/celebrity deaths. Yesterday evening and early this morning, I went on YouTube and listened to a whole lot of my favorite Michael Jackson hits. I still can't believe he's gone.

I wasn't alive when either John Lennon or Elvis Presley died but I guess I'm experiencing some of the same feelings and emotions as some of their fans did. It has hit a little too close to home for me

Thanks for posting this. Your right -- first there's the disbelief. And reflection on what they mean to us, reflection on our times and our culture... We're drawing back to those milestones of EP and Lennon. I was saying that maybe only Presley might have known how it felt to be Michael, but Elvis was never a child star. And I was forgetting that MU married Lisa Marie.

Thanks so much for your reply :toast:

They grew up with either the Jackson 5 or solo Michael. Older people remember idolizing Elvis and really cannot grasp what MJ meant to our generations.

It socked me in the gut right after hearing about his passing: two girls of college age (half as young as I am), were discussing MJ's untimely demise. One says to the other: "Well, he was taking so many drugs and all. Isn't it weird that Farrah died, too?" The other girl replies: "Okay, now who was Farrah?"

WHO WAS FARRAH?! But how can I hold it against the girl that she was probably born at least ten years after Farrah quit "Charlie's Angels?" And the only MJ they knew was "Wacko Jacko..."

"Who's John Lennon?" :wow:



We grew up on Cat Stevens too. Welcome to DU teaserandthefirecat. :toast:

Oh, sorry, two posts and TATFC is no longer with us.

I was born in the later part of 85 so I really did not get to experience semi normal Jackson. He always seemed like an extraterrestrial to me. I have seen some of his videos and think they are pretty cool and it is sad what fame did to him

:bounce:

Wish I could recommend some more.

:yourock:

:hi:

:hi: :bounce:

Gonna find a body of water today, and jump in!

:hi:

:rofl: :crazy: