“JOY HEALS” Michael Jackson…Reflections and Tributes

MY TRIBUTE POEM

Let justice be

A King to see,

As global stages shareheart

Love’s unconditional care.

Once again ovation rings out

To silence prejudice and doubt.

Instead, rejoice with love’s caress

No lies or greed to put to rest

The millions who know

Present, Past and Future.

The legacy shall grow,

And, gone will be the blindness of the soul.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO KNOW HIM WILL ALWAYS BE IN LOVE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKkNJpI7OWk

At age 21, Michael Jackson wrote his manifesto:  MJ will be my name. I want to be a whole new character, a whole new look.  I should be a totally different person.  People should never think of me as the kid who sang “ABC” or “I Want You Back”.  I should be a new, incredible actor/singer/dancer that will shock the world.  I will do no interviews.  I will be magic.  I will be a perfectionist, a researcher, a trainer, a master.  I will be better than every great actor roped into one.  I will study and look back on the whole world of entertainment and perfect it, take it steps further from where the greats left off.shy two

“It’s unusual for young artists, musicians, actors today to dream about how big a star they want to become, but for someone to write it down at age 21 and actually EXECUTE it almost to the “T” is remarkable.  He set his goals, and he did exactly what he said, on the back of a piece of paper.”  Hamilen…Producer…60 Minutes May,2013

     It has been my great good fortune and unending joy to have been given the gift of Michael Jackson.  During the past five years, I have delved into Michael’s creative visions and tireless work which manifested themselves into a massive catalog of stunning music.  I have spent more hours than I can count listening to the layers of music, the sounds the ear had never heard before, the legendary beatboxing and background vocals.  I have been touched by lyrics and moved to become involved in many charities.  I have enjoyed spectacular performances, watching each countless times, being transported by magic.  I have “followed” Michael all over the world as he continued his chosen path, to heal the world through music and love.  I have begun a library which now includes all of Michael’s CDs, all DVD performances and short films available, documentaries, books, periodicals and more.  I have transcribed every speech I have  found, poured over articles and books and written hundreds of pages of notes.  I have prepared  more than 60 complete Artist’s Dates to share with my husband and friends.royal brunei

That brings me to the present.  I am now on Facebook. My intent has been to connect with MJ Worldwide Families.  And…TO PAY MICHAEL FORWARD through my blog, MICHAELJACKSONCHOSENVOICES.COM. Yet again, I have been given an incredible gift.  Through the connection to Michael, I have “met” many kindred spirits.  Michael’s love blankets this entire planet and I am so very fortunate and honored to be wrapped up in it. I am connected with knowledgeable people…the Justice Projects and Facebook Friends are PAYING MICHAEL FORWARD each and every day and I am the recipient of all of their love.black history month

I decided to write today’s blog  with the intention of sharing some of the TRIBUTES I have found while reading Facebook.  Although anyone can look these up as I have, I see an advantage in having a collection of thoughts together.  I guess I should say that this is just a sampling of Michael Jackson Tributes.  But, these are special because they are the first I have received from my new  MJ Family and that makes me feel their love even more.  And so, here are tributes to honor Michael Jackson and his legacy.angel two

ONE VOICE

ONE HEART

ONE LOVE

HONORING MICHAEL JACKSON ONE ROSE AT A TIME

ONEROSE4MICHAELrose

Dear Michael,

The more I get to know you, the more I love you and you truly remain the most beautiful heart and soul of any man.  Your voice is angelic and truly God-given!  You were abundantly blessed in so many ways and you blessed us in turn with your voice and talent.

But, more than that, we know you not just as the greatest entertainer of all time, but love you as a man; as a human being.  Outside of doing the best we possibly can to educate and teach people about you, Michael, about the loving, giving, caring and kind man we love…IT’S A CASE OF LETTING THE REST OF THE WORLD CATCH UP WITH US…not to let slip and sacrificing your beautiful message of love and doing the best to heal the world.smile

Thank you for everything and everyone that you have brought into my life as family and friends.  Michael, you’re so very special and precious to all of us on a worldwide basis.  You had such strength, courage and dignity for what you were made to endure and that is a true inspiration by which we can build on and be in our own lives…including to be strong for one another.  You know the love of your fans and treated them as your family truly, too.prince charming

Almost 8,000 roses for you already to be laid at Forest Lawn this year and I believe you can somehow see and know about them…that you see and know about the love for you here.

Sue Jackson and all the Fans worldwide

Onerose4michael

THERE’S SUPERSTAR FRENZY AND THEN THERE’S MICHAEL JACKSON FRENZY

“Some people, including Michael Jackson himself, called him shy.  I would call him observant.  When you’re observant and listening and taking things in you are not talking as much…so people think that you’re shy when actually you are observing, learning and selecting the optimum time to speak.  Michael’s conversation was not about stating his philosophies, but more about stating observations and how these observations could make me think and feel.  I would say that Michael Jackson had a unique one-of-a-kind intellectual curiosity…he was curious about EVERYTHING.”  Biggy Small

MY FANS ARE ACTIVISTS…THEY WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND ME.will you be there

MICHAEL JACKSON

Rest in Peace, my dear Michael,

God wanted one of his angels back, I know it’s better on the other side.  I  can’t stop crying because of this huge pain in my heart, but I know you will be with me always.  The loss has been and still devastating and my heart is absolutely shattered, but Michael will live in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls…NO ONE CAN EVER REPLACE HIM.  His extraordinary talent and magnificently beautiful spirit never dies.  Michael lives through us and in his music forever.  Thank you, Michael for everything you’ve done.  You brought such joy and happiness to my life and I am endlessly grateful for that.  You taught me how to live and love, you taught me to be a better person.  You gave your all and everything you could.  Now it’s your time to rest.  I once promised that I will stand by you for the very last day of my life  and I will, Michael.  Even though you’re not with us anymore, I will keep fighting for you and will believe in you.  I love you and miss you dearly.  Goodbye and see you on the other side.ijcsly

ccarii

“I’ve said all along that this court case should not be happening and that nothing good would come of it.  When I watched the video yesterday of that interview and the dreadful things he was saying about Michael, I felt physically sick.  There is so much more I could say about both of these, but I’ll leave it at that.  What I do want to say is that I believe in you, Michael, absolutely and I love you.itc

Michael spent a third of a billion dollars on helping children, paying for surgeries, building hospital wings, orphanages, a burn center and on and on and on.  The good things he did he would never talk about them.  You’d always have to hear it from people around him because Michael always thought if you did a charitable act and then you talked about it, that it negated all of that.  I asked him, Michael, how can you do that? How can you spend the time with children who are dying and then go from that on stage and give that kind of performance?’  He said, ‘ How could I not? If these children want to see me.  I know I’m not important, but Michael Jackson the superstar is…and, if I can make a child live an extra minute or hour or month, then wouldn’t that HTW THREEbe worth it?’ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1SlNXYFH6g

Michael was always that way.  If he would get a call from somebody and a child was dying, he would get on a plane and go and he would tell them, ‘I’m going to be back in two weeks to see you…and, a lot of times he extended little kids’ lives that way.  It gave them something to look forward to down the line. You have to admire something like that.hospital

Michael told me ‘We’re all put on earth to do something.  He said I was put here to help children.’  Which from the time I met him, he was 29, that was what his life was all about.  It was that way all the way up to the time he died.  Michael had incredible empathy, especially for children that were injured or sick or neglected.  There were people that were hungry and homeless and that was always in the front of his mind his whole life.  And then to be accused of something so horrific…it just stopped him in his tracks…and then when it happened 10 years later…the man was devastated, absolutely devastated.

David Nordahl

Painter and Friend

MICHAEL JACKSON WAS AND IS AN INTERNATIONAL ICON.  HE MADE MAGIC THROUGH HIS MUSIC AND HIS CREATIVITY…THROUGH HIS GENEROSITY AND HIS SHOWMANSHIP.  LEGIONS HAVE LOVED MICHAEL THROUGH EVERY TWIST AND TURN.  WE APPLAUD THE BODY OF WORK WHICH CONSISTENTLY OFFERED US AS EXQUISITELY PRESENTED GIFTS.  WE HONOR THE LIFE, THE CONTRIBUTIONS, THE JOY.  Ebony Magazine 2009come

I have decided that this topic needs more than one blog to really touch the surface of all that has been said and written.  But, I want to end this first edition with words from the JUSTICE PROJECTS:  IT’S OUR ROLE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVEN IN DEATH, YOU KEEP GETTING UP.  YOUR MUSIC AND YOUR LEGACY WILL NEVER DIE.  OUR GOAL IS NOT ONLY FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE FOR MICHAEL JACKSON, BUT ALSO TO CELEBRATE AND PROTECT HIS LEGACY. 

Jude

History

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TAKING A MEASURE OF THE LOSS AND A MEASURE OF THE LEGACY

voiceless“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 JACKSONbeat it

     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.rock

“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.heal the world

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 1995will you be there

“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.moonwalk two

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 LEEsmooth criminal

“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.  heal

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 Granthistory world tour

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.ijcsly two

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!”glasses

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?”ibt

“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 1992japan two

     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!dangerous two

Jude

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