“PEOPLE ASK ME HOW I MAKE MUSIC.  I TELL THEM I JUST STEP INTO IT.  IT’S LIKE STEPPING INTO A RIVER AND JOINING THE FLOW.  EVERY MOMENT IN THE RIVER HAS ITS SONG.  SO I STAY IN THE MOMENT AND LISTEN.

WHAT I HEAR IS NEVER THE SAME.  A WALK THROUGH THE WOODS BRINGS A LIGHT, CRACKLING SONG: LEAVES RUSTLE IN THE WIND, BIRDS CHATTER AND SQUIRRELS SCOLD, TWIGS CRUNCH UNDERFOOT, AND THE BEAT OF MY HEART HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER.  WHEN YOU JOIN THE FLOW, THE MUSIC IS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, AND BOTH ARE THE SAME.  AS LONG AS I CAN LISTEN TO THE MOMENT, I’LL ALWAYS HAVE MUSIC.”

MICHAEL JACKSON DANCING THE DREAM 1992

You must get to know someone, to know their heart and soul before you can even attempt to judge their character.

“PREJUDICE IS IGNORANCE” … MICHAEL JACKSON

     Innocence of spirit, looking at the world unencumbered by color, race, religion, borders or boundaries, freed Michael Jackson’s imagination.  That imagination knew no limits.  Present every day of his life, the magic and wonder and mystery of life informed themes.  They are found in every facet of Michael’s creativity, his body of work, his humanitarian efforts.  These pervasive themes received their life’s blood from the values Michael lived out on a world stage.  He shared them all with millions.  In a career spanning 45 years, great and sustained energy produced the threads of themes to the tenth power.

To get closer to an understanding of who Michael Jackson is, one fact becomes clear…in a world filled with lies, Michael is the truth.  His character, personality, persona, whether before thousands or in private, remains the same having roots deep inside his values and a belief in the power of the people.  All have their basis in a belief in God.

“Many in the media have suggested that Michael Jackson’s legendary humanitarian works were undertaken to further publicize the most famous human being on the planet or for tax write-off purposes.  Such suggestions are laughable as well as irrelevant.  Although Michael has opened his wallet and his home to deprived, disadvantaged and ill children the world over, his most significant contribution, and one that remains an inspiration to millions of fans, is his time and his attention…a much more valuable commodity than money. 

His genuine delight in the presence of children can be experienced by watching his visits-caressing the bald head of a young cancer victim gently-watching his timid smile as he approaches-the way his face lights up, as if from within, when children are present providing evidence to his open-hearted sincerity.  Such reactions cannot be faked nor can they be hidden.

During the peak of his career, Michael did more for people and the world than any other super star, his contributions so great they would have put many governments in big industrial countries to shame.”  Journalist Frederic Taddei 2008

“MICHAEL JACKSON’S WORLD TOURS HAVE BEEN MORE LIKE GLOBAL LOVE-INS THAN CONCERTS.  HE’S TAKEN ALL THIS LOVE AND HIS OWN DEEP FEELINGS AND CHANNELED THEM INTO DOZENS OF HUMANITARIAN CAUSES.  ON BEHALF OF VH1, WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS AWARD TO YOU FOR THE WORK YOU’VE DONE OVER THE YEARS FOR SO MANY CHARITIES.  IN ADDITION, VH1 IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL VH1 INTERNATIONAL HONORS AWARD FOR THE KING OF POP WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED IN FUTURE YEARS TO ARTISTS WHOSE WORLD-WIDE CHARITABLE WORK FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF YOURSELF.” Morgan Freeman  VH1 Honors 1995

“Thank you to all the fans.  You’ve given me so much it’s allowed me to pass it on to those who need and deserve our help.  A perfect example is the recent United Nations announcement that 1 to 3 million lives could be saved if children in third world countries were given a vitamin A pill three times a year…the cost, 6 cents, that’s all.  We must join together in healing the world so we can share this beautiful planet in joy and love.  I love you very much.”  Michael Jackson

“With the untimely passing of an incomparable legend, the 2009 BET Awards will be shifting gears to honor the late Michael Jackson and his contributions to not only the music industry, but to the entire world.  His loss is a difficult one to accept and BET will do its part to ensure that his legend lives on.

The 2009 BET Awards will be dedicated to the life, the legacy and the legend of music icon Michael Jackson.  Jackson’s impact on our lives has been significant.  Whether exhibited by his humanitarian efforts, his ability to reshape the concept of the music video, or his engaging star power, THE KING OF POP is unlike any other artist, defining the very fabric of what popular music is today.  Michael Jackson’s influence is undeniable as traces of his style are prevalent in a number of today’s top artists.  But, his significant impact on this network will also forever be etched into the history tablets of BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION.  Michael’s influence is felt every day in so many ways at BET Network, and it’s been that way throughout our network’s entire 29 year history.  We watched him grow up and he truly feels like a member of the family.

He will be missed more than we can say…but his legend and memory live on in the artists, musicians, producers, dancers, FANS and everyone else who LOOKS TO HIM FOR INSPIRATION.

Who could forget that one of the most memorable milestones in BET history was Michael Jackson’s surprise appearance during the tribute to James Brown at the 2003 BET Awards?  His impromptu performance with the Godfather of Soul left everyone breathless.

Jackson has done more for music and popular culture than any other artist.  His influence crosses generations, races, genders and even continents.  That incredible global reach matched with decades of musical integrity and genius is why Jackson was the very first artist inducted in the BET WALK OF FAME back in 1995.

Taking all his monumental contributions into consideration, the 2009 BET Awards will be dedicated to the unparalleled KING OF POP and will spend the evening paying tribute to the legacy of Michael Jackson.”  2009 BET AWARDS DEDICATED TO MUSIC ICON MICHAEL JACKSON WRITTEN BY CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF BET NETWORK DEBRA LEE

“THIS SENSE OF WORLD IN ME”  DANCING THE DREAM MJ 1992

“Children show me in their playful smiles the divine in everyone.  This simple goodness shines from their hearts.  Being with them connects us to the deep wisdom of life.  These children are a reminder of the preciousness of all life, especially young lives untouched by hatred, prejudice and greed.  Now, when the world is so confused and its problems so complicated, we need our children more than ever.  Their natural wisdom points the way to solutions that lie waiting to be recognized in our own hearts.  Children are the world’s foremost idealists and optimists.  It is for that reason HEAL THE WORLD is organizing THE WORLD’S CHILDREN’S CONGRESS next year made up exclusively of delegates aged 8-16. The world desperately needs their innocent perspective on the world’s problems. 

We have to heal our wounded planet of the chaos, despair and senseless destruction we see today.  THE MISSION OF HEAL THE WORLD, MY MISSION, IS HEALING PURE AND SIMPLE.  To heal the world we must start by healing our children.  Today we come bearing gifts for the children of wartorn Sarejevo.  In 1992, Sarajevo has become a symbol of so much that is tragic but avoidable in our world.  Prejudice and ethnic hatred , the destruction of the environment, the shattering of families and centuries old communities.

We are pleased to announce at this special time of year, that we will turn our efforts home to the plight of our American children.  Towards this end, we are planning Convoy USA.  This will be an effort to help all Americans work together towards a single objective…TO HEAL THE CHILDREN OF OUR INNER CITIES.  This Thanksgiving is particularly special to me with the launch of the single, “Heal the World”.  I wrote this song for everyone in our world to help bring global harmony.  All the proceeds of this song will go to the Foundation”  Inside a hangar at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, Michael witnesses the loading of 43 tons of medical supplies, blankets, winter clothing and shoes onto a DC-8 cargo jet bound for the children of Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a war zone in the former Yugoslavia.  The Heal the World Foundation teams up with AmeriCares to fly the $2.1 million worth of aid to the Croatian capital, Zagreb, and then to Sarajevo for distribution under the supervision of the UN High Command for Refugees.  November 24, 1992  ‘Michael Jackson A Visual Documentary 1958-2009’ Adrian Grant

BAMBI POP STAR OF THE MILLENIUM 2002 BERLIN, GERMANY ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR THE BAMBI POP STAR OF THE MILLIENIUM

“WOW!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!  DEAR DR. BURDA, DEAR DR. TURNHOFER, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…I HAVE WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF MY VISITS TO GERMANY…TO BERLIN, A CITY FULL OF ENERGY.  IT’S VERY SPECIAL TO ME.  BERLIN, I LOVE YOU.  BERLIN, ICH LIEBE DICH!

SEPTEMBER 11TH HAS CHANGED OUR WORLD.  NOT LONG AGO, THE BERLIN WALL CAME DOWN.  BUT, RECENTLY, NEW WALLS HAVE BEEN BUILT.  1989, PEOPLE IN GERMANY SAID…’WIR SIND EIN VOLK.  WE ARE ONE NATION.’

WE ARE GERMANS, WE ARE ARMENIANS, FRENCH, ITALIAN, RUSSIAN, AMERICAN, ASIAN, AFRICAN AND MANY OTHER NATIONALITIES.  WE ARE CHRISTIANS, JEWISH, MUSLIMS AND OF SO MANY DIFFERENCES, SO COMPLEX AND YET, SO SIMPLE.  WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE WAR.

AND, TO THE CHILDREN OF GERMANY, I WANT TO SAY THIS…WE NEED YOU.  THE WORLD NEEDS YOU!  PLEASE GO FOR YOUR DREAMS, WHATEVER YOUR IDEALS, YOU CAN BECOME WHATEVER YOU WANT TO ;BECOME.  BECOME AN ASTRONAUT OR A FAMOUS SCIENTIST, A FAMOUS DOCTOR…AND, OF COURSE, BECOME AN ARTIST AND MAYBE YOU GET A BAMBI AWARD LIKE ME.  I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE GERMANY AND THAT YOU HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PLACE IN MY HEART.  I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.  REALLY!  ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE GIFT OF LIFE.  BE HAPPY AND HAVE FUN.  I LOVE YOU!  THANK YOU VERY MUCH!”

BERLIN 1989

THEY HATED THE WALL, BUT WHAT COULD THEY DO?  IT WAS TOO STRONG TO BREAK THROUGH.  THEY FEARED THE WALL, BUT DIDN’T THAT MAKE SENSE?  MANY WHO TRIED TO CLIMB OVER IT WERE KILLED.  THEY DISTRUSTED THE WALL, BUT WHO WOULDN’T ?  THEIR ENEMIES REFUSED TO TEAR DOWN ONE BRICK, NO MATTER HOW LONG THE PEACE TALKS DRAGGED ON.  THE WALL LAUGHED GRIMLY, “I’M TEACHING YOU A GOOD LESSON,”  IT BOASTED, “IF YOU WANT TO BUILD FOR ETERNITY, DON’T BOTHER WITH STONES.  HATRED, FEAR, AND DISTRUST ARE SO MUCH STRONGER. ”  THEY KNEW THE WALL WAS RIGHT, AND THEY ALMOST GAVE UP.  ONLY ONE THING STOPPED THEM.  THEY REMEMBERED WHO WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE.  GRANDMOTHER, COUSIN, SISTER, WIFE.  BELOVED FACES THAT YEARNED TO BE SEEN.  “WHAT’S HAPPENING?” THE WALL ASKED, TREMBLING.  WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THEY DID, THEY WERE LOOKING THROUGH THE WALL, TRYING TO FIND THEIR DEAR ONES.  SILENTLY, FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER, LOVE KEPT UP ITS INVISIBLE WORK.  “STOP IT!” THE WALL SHRIEKED.  “I’M FALLING APART.”  BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.  A MILLION HEARTS HAD FOUND EACH OTHER.  THE WALL HAD FALLEN BEFORE IT CAME DOWN. Dancing the Dream 1992 Michael Jackson

     Michael’s perfectionist theme came from his very core and was apparent in all aspects of his life.  His approach was deliberate and measured by these tenets: REVISIT NURTURE DEFINE.  Practicing this philosophy of not being hurried, taking the time to move the vision informed all the gifts Michael shared with the world…vision…seeing the overall, the big picture…working tirelessly to that end…FAITH, TRUST…asking the question, “God, where do you want me to go next?”

“Even the least breath is a gesture of gratitude to the creator.  It smiles to be alive, waiting patiently for ages of ignorance and sorrow to pass away like a mirage.”  Dancing the Dream Michael Jackson 1992

     I will end this brief look at the loss and legacy of Michael Jackson, knowing that there is so much more to say and share.  Really getting to know Michael’s heart and soul, who he was and his committment to his art and to the world is an enormous task and a wonderful labor of love.  The impact he had on popular culture will be the focus for another day.  “Lies run in sprints, the truth runs in marathons.  In the end, the truth always triumphs.”  MJ  Michael’s truth was that his 45 year career never faltered…his success is unparalleled yet today.  Michael’s music is heard across this planet each and every day.  For the fourth year in a row, he has been voted by a global public as the MOST FAMOUS PERSON 2013.  Michael Jackson Immortal Tour continues to be the hottest ticket on the planet.  Thriller Live has drawn huge crowds in London since 2006.  Bad 25 continues to sell millions.  Thriller remains the biggest selling album of all time.  But, there is so much more…another day!

When I want to be inspired, entertained…when I want to escape or fantasize…when I want to be challenged to think and be a better person…all those roads lead to Michael.  I chose to write this Blog because I have a burning desire to share this joy, this beauty, this inspiration with you.  Thank you for taking time from your day!  Whenever you are ready to know the real Michael Jackson, I am excited to introduce him to you!

Jude

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