“I respect the secrets and magic of nature. That’s why it makes me so angry when I see these things that are happening, that every second, I hear, the size of a football field is torn down in the Amazon. I mean, that kind of stuff really bothers me. That’s why I write these kinds of songs, you know. It gives some sense of awareness and awakening and hope to people. I love the planet. I love trees. I have this thing for trees and the colors and changing of leaves. I love it. And I respect those kind of things.
I really feel that nature is trying so hard to compensate for man’s mismanagement of the planet. Because the planet is sick. Like a fever. If we don’t fix it now it’s at the point of no return. This is our last chance to fix this problem that we have - it’s like a runaway train - and the time has come. This is it. People are always saying, “They’ll take care of it, the government will - don’t worry, they’ll…”
“They” who? It starts with us. It’s us! Or else it’ll never be done.”
Michael Jackson in 2009
Screencaps from Earth Song/This Is It.
from Vanity Fair, July 2010.
March 10 1988 - Michael is honoured by the United Negro College Fund as one of their highest contributors at the 44th annual anniversary dinner held at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. He receives their highest honour, the Frederick D. Patterson Award for his continued efforts towards alleviating world hunger, helping terminally ill children and for his inspirational example to the youth of America. This is a special moments for Michael with his Michael Jackson Scholarship Fund, set up in 1984, having provided 97 scholarships. Michael scholars have been enrolled in almost every one of UNCF’s 42 schools.
“I would like to say this about United Negro College Fund. An education opens a person’s mind to the entire world, and there is nothing more important than to make sure everyone has the opportunity for an education. To want to learn, to have the capacity to learn and not to be able to is a tragedy. I am honored to be associated with an evening that says this will never happen.” - Michael Jackson
Michael answers fans questions about Billie Jean and his Motown family.
“Marvin Gaye used to come to my house at least twice a week to play basketball with my brothers. Stevie Wonder would come by for gatherings and parties. I would go to The Supremes house… it was really, sincerely, one happy family.”
Michael’s speech at the 2002 Bambi Awards in Germany, where he received the award Pop Artist of the Millennium. Watch the video.
I think what the interviewer and maybe even Oprah misinterprets, is that it wasn’t Mike chasing Thriller or trying to recreate it, it was OTHER people who didn’t allow Thriller to stay in the past.
Producers, critics, audiences, etc.; everytime he had an album, if it didn’t do what Thriller did, then it must be a failure. But that wasn’t how it was for Mike. HE had to happen, Thriller had to happen. Happenings can’t be repeated or duplicated.
Maybe Mike had a fear that everyone else wouldn’t let him move beyond Thriller, not that he couldn’t himself.
Thriller was not the height of his popularity it was just the beginning of the phenomenon.
It was a MOMENT, and those don’t happen twice.
"A quote I found on a forum.
(via borednschooled)
One time we was in the studio and you know, I said, “Mike, you know, in the Smooth Criminal, how did you lean forward like that?”
I was sitting at a baby grand piano, you know, in the chair and he was sitting up on the piano like this [cross legged], you know what I mean?
And he said, “Well you know, we had a Swami come in and you know, we did a special thing, he did a ritual, and he leaned forward and we all leaned forward together.”
I was like “Really?”
“Nooo, silly!” [laughter]
I’ve never told nobody this, and excuse the vulgarity of if, but it’s late, so it’s cool.
One time, we was sitting there in his office and I said, “Mike, Mike, you know, I gotta pass gas”
He said, “What?”
I said, “Mike, I gotta fart.”
“You gotta what?”
I said, “I have to fart.”
He said, “Well, go ahead then.”
I went [farting noise]
He went [laughing hysterically, looking disgusted]
So he gets on phone right, and I say, “Oh man, I would love some ice cream.”
He says, “Really?” He says, “Okay, hold on a second. [dials phone] Hello? Yes, hey. Guess what LL just did? … He ordered some ice cream.” [laughter]
You know - you know, Mike was a trip. You know, let me tell you something. Working with Michael was the most amazing part of my life. I respect him so much, love him so much… He was incredible, incredible.
"