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At the
height of his fame, Michael Jackson: was among the
world`s most beloved figures. Heads of state clamoured
to meet him, screen legends like Elizabeth Taylor
were his close friends, and worldwide, simply the
mention of his name could make people do the moonwalk,
from Los Angeles to Laos. |
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The New York Times
once accurately described him as one of the six most
famous people on the planet.. |
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Jackson influenced
artists ranging from Justin Timberlake to Madonna,
from rock to pop to R&B to even rap, across genres
and groups that no other artist was able to unite.
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Jackson`s Thriller
in 1983 is still considered by most to be the greatest
music video ever made. His one glove, white socks
and glittery jackets made him a fashion trendsetter,
making androgyny seem sexy and even safe. |
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Jackson came into
public consciousness as an impossibly cute preteen
wonder in 1969, an unbelievably precocious singer
of his family band, The Jackson 5. The soon-to-be
Motown legend channeled songs like "I Want You Back,"
and "I`ll Be There" with a passion and soulfulness
that belied his young years. |
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With the legendary
producer Quincy Jones, Jackson crafted what for most
artists would be a career-defining album, from the
string-enhanced disco classic Don`t Stop Til You Get
Enough, a party staple which he wrote, to the bitter
ballad She`s Out of My Life. At the time, it was Jackson`s
music that was front and center. A 21-year-old who
spoke in a breathy, high voice, still lived at home,
had his first, barely noticeable nose job and was
a self-claimed virgin in an industry known for his
hedonism, he was certainly an odd figure. |
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The Thriller sold
more than 50 million albums worldwide to become the
globe`s best-selling disc. It spawned seven Billboard
top 10 hits, including two No 1s with "Billie Jean"
and "Beat It," won an then-unprecedented eight Grammy
awards, and numerous other awards. |
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Jackson broke the
MTV`s colour barrier, becoming the first artist played
on the young, rock-oriented channel when the success
of Billie Jean and Beat It became so overwhelming
it could not be ignored. Jackson`s amazing talents
as a dancer were also displayed to the world during
his Emmy-nominated performance for Motown`s 25th anniversary,
is still considered one of TV`s most thrilling moments,
from his moonwalk strut to his pulsating pelvic movements.
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His skin, once a dark
brown, became the color of paste, a transition he
blamed on the skin disease vitiligo, though some believed
he simply bleached his skin in order to appear more
Caucasian. That belief was rooted in his frequent
plastic surgeries, which whittled his nose from a
broad frame to an almost impossibly narrowed bridge.
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Jackson was first accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy in 1993; no charges were ever filed, a civil lawsuit was settled out of court and he always maintained his
innocence. A criminal charge of molestation of another young boy 2004, which resulted in his acquittal in 2005, further stripped his marketability and his legacy; after the
trial ended, he went into seclusion, and while top hitmakers from Ne-Yo to Akon courted him to make new music, no new CD was ever released. He was overwhelmed with
legal and financial troubles, with what seemed like weekly lawsuits against him seeking money owed.
Source: Associated Press
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I’m just like
anyone. I cut and I bleed. And I embarrass easily. |
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Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where
did that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart
and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to
me. It’s not nice. |
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If you enter this world
knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing
the same, then everything that happens in between can
be dealt with. |
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The meaning of life is
contained in every single expression of life. |
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Just because it’s in print
doesn’t mean it’s the gospel. |
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Because I think every
child star suffers through this period because you’re
not the cute and charming child that you were. You start
to grow, and they want to keep you little forever. Elizabeth
Taylor is gorgeous, beautiful, and she still is today,
I’m crazy about her. |
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And I remember going to
the record studio and there was a park across the street
and I’d see all the children playing and I would cry
because it would make me sad that I would have to work
instead. |
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I’m never pleased with
anything, I’m a perfectionist, it’s part of who I am. |
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People write negatives things, cause they feel that’s what sells. Good news to them, doesn’t sell. |
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We
salute the Gloved One
Michael Jackson is an artist who can`t be clubbed into
`evergreen hits`, `the Best of MJ` and other such compilations.
His hits transcend time, genre, race, and geography.
Several artists have shaped their careers on him and
his influence has always led them onto rock the charts.
This is the splendid discography he`s left us with.
We love you, Michael.
Exclusively on Sify.com
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