On 25th June, 2009 the World lost one of the greatest entertainers of all time. This blog is dedicated to his fond memory….
Michael Jackson aka The King of Pop was born to a steel worker Joe Jackson and his wife Katherine Jackson on 29th August, 1958. One of several brothers and sisters, he was always the darling of them all especially since he was the youngest. He rose to fame at an early age of 11 when he along with four of his brothers started “The jackson Five”. Working with Motown Record label, they won over the audience. The fact that Michael was the soul of the entire group was never hidden. It was in time that he realised that and seperated from the group to go solo and launched his first album “off the Wall”. It was a huge success but michael always wanted more. Next he came out with “thriller”. This was the album that shot him to fame. From there he never looked back.The Guiness Book of World Records noted thriller as the greatest selling of all time. The video of the title ‘thriller’ was the longest video ever made and ‘Bilie Jean’ ruled the charts for a long long time.
Michael’s greatest moment perhaps came on the 25th anniversay celebration of Motown label, when during the live television event Michael performed the ‘Moonwalk’. The entire crowd went wild and it became his signature. Later, Michael came with a host of other albums which tasted success on the Charts but none could match up to ‘Thriller’. ‘Bad’ became the first album ever to have 6 of its songs in the top 10. Till date, Michael has the record for wining the maximum number of Emmy’s in one night, a staggering 9 awards out of 13 nominations.
Michael not only set reords in terms of album sales and awards. He also has the Guiness record to his name for the maximum number of people gathered at a concert. Michael Jackson concerts were always a huge attraction to youngsters all across the globe. His series of comeback concerts to be held in July this year, known as “This Is It” became the fast selling concert of all times with the tickets selling at a rate of 11/second. Unfortunately, his bid to again become the King of the World was halted midway by tragedy.
The life of Michael Jackson has been an up and a down story. From the success he enjoyed on the stage to he controversies he courted outside. It was any paparazi’s dream story. His colour changed dramatically from a black african-american male to a surprisisngly white looking pale guy with feminine features. His strange sometimes bizzare behaviour did not sit well with a lot of people. People gave him the nickname “wacko-jacko”. He had multiple surgeries done on his nose to recify its shape and his photo sleeping in an oxygen chamber became widely pulblicised. He was criticised for hanging his baby from a hotel window in Germany and later apologised. His greatest downfall came when in 2003; he was charged with child molestation charges and tried. The trial went on for 2 years and the Los Angeles court later acquitted him of all charges. Though he emerged victourious in his legal battles, the toll that it took on him personally was too much to bear. He suffered financially and kept away from the media. He even shifted to ahrain for two years. His famous residence Neverland Ranch had to be sold to pay off some of his debts and when he did return to the United States in late 2007 he rented a home in a posh neighbourhood in downtown Los Angeles.
Whatever controversies may have dogged him through out his illustious career, to his loyal fans he will always be the King, yes the King!. Here’s is my tribute to the man around whom a generation grew….
“He showed us how to ‘Heal the world’. It does not matter whether you are ‘Black or White’, just ‘beat it’, beat the problem coz ‘We are the World’. When in doubt just look at the ‘Man in the Mirror’. Remember ‘You are not alone’, but ‘Don’t walk away’; that is not the ‘Human Nature’. Sing the ‘Earth Song’ with a ‘Smile’. Even though he is ‘Gone too Soon’, he is here in our hearts ‘Moonwalking’ forever.
Here’s remembering the ‘invincible’ MICHAEL JACKSON …”
