Michael Jackson, the singer, songwriter and dancer who earned the title “King of Pop” in a career that reached unprecedented peaks of sales and attention, died Thursday at 1:07 p.m. Pacific time, a Los Angeles city official confirmed. He was 50.
The circumstances of Mr. Jackson’s death were not immediately clear. He was unconscious when rushed to UCLA Medical Center on Thursday afternoon by paramedics who performed C.P.R., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Mr. Jackson’s 1982 album “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time, claiming global sales of more than 100 million copies. But Mr. Jackson was a star before and after “Thriller,” from his days as the piping lead singer of the Jackson 5 to his increasingly bitter final albums. He was forever a paradox: a precocious child star, a childlike grown-up, a superhumanly skilled performer who always appeared vulnerable, a figure who pursued worldwide fame only to find himself besieged and embittered by media attention. In the 1980’s, he was the embodiment of American pop success, with his ubiquitous hits and video clips, his one white glove and his moonwalk, dancing across stages and heard on radio worldwide. But that success could not last forever, and Mr. Jackson struggled in its aftermath.
***R.I.P Michael***
I grew up with you and danced to you many times...many didn't understand you but you will be missed ...You ARE the King of Pop in my eyes. Thanks for the music and fabulous moves!
Here's a couple of tributes...
thanks kempy,maree and rob for your thoughts on the recent passing of micheal jackson,we have to use our thoughts on music to remember micheal as a unique talent,from the age of 12 when the jackson five released,i saw mummy kissing santa claus!cheesy!but?1970 was like that,the jackson five and the osmond brothers were the biggest acts in america.to,1982. billy jean and thriller!i had to have that album!to bad,to me micheals last big album,plenty of singles in between,like black or white,the above. man in the mirror,and this one for you maree,courtesy of myspace,you rock my world,r.i.p.http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...3-09e39b5f4717
G'day G'day, just love his music and moves. I recieved this in an e-mail just so inspirational thougt I would share.
Without a doubt, there are few people in history that affect others like Michael Jackson did and still does. While there are people who idolize him, there are others who are sickened by the sight of him or the mention of his name. His passing probably only strengthens how each camp already sees him.
That is the challenge when talking about Michael Jackson.
So I'm going to ask now that, if you don't like him, set that aside for a few moments, however difficult that may be. It will be worth it to you. Cool? Alright. Let's go.
Because, what you must accept, embrace and keep in mind for the rest of your life is that every single person you meet, see, hear or read about can teach you important lessons... lessons on what to do or say, what not to, how to improve and become more successful or happy in life.
And Michael Jackson, for all of his problems, like everyone else, he can teach us all lessons about success in any area of life. Those lessons can change you for the better... forever.
Now, unlike the hero-worshipper types, I personally was just fascinated by how effortlessly he moved, how he danced as if floating above the ground, and how he could sing practically any style of music.
Until the mid 1980s, when I didn't yet understand what it took to be successful at anything, I'd see talent like that and, like many other people, assumed that it was all God -given and that all came so easy to those like Michael Jackson and other accomplished, successful people. I never
looked beyond the performance and asked, "How did he gain those skills?"
But a few years after "Thriller" (the best selling album of all time) came out, I saw a news story about him. In interviews with him and those who knew him well, I learned that he had been dancing and singing and entertaining since
he was a very young child, for some 18 or so years before "Thriller" was released.
He told of the years of constant practice it took to be able to move and dance and sing the way he did. Years and years of daily practice.
Oh sure, he obviously had natural talent, like all of the most successful people in any field do.
But talent alone is never enough. It cannot take you very far. All of have something that we could be great at. But sadly, few ever develop their talents to any degree. So talent alone won't take you anywhere unless you are ready, willing, and able to put the time and effort in to develop it.
So I started watching closely the most successful people in every field. It became an obsession. I read about them, listened to them, and pondered their thought processes concerning the areas of life where they were most
skilled.
Business, entertainment, sports, fitness, social skills, politics, academia... it didn't matter. Successful people share a few definite traits that make them successful. They work at it.
And more, they love it...
Love what they do so much, they're willing to invest their time.
And like anyone whose ever studied success like I did, it became clear to me that I could change my life 180 degrees if I could just commit myself to excellence and went about learning and working toward some meaningful, worthwhile goals.
I thought, "If I could get myself to learn and study and practice the profession of sales, I could become successful at anything. I came to believe that if I could learn to motivate myself, to ignore temptation, to ignore people who wanted to keep me down, to keep my eyes on my objectives, then I could literally be anything I wanted to be.
That is what I convinced myself of.
And like Michael Jackson, I practiced with purpose for many hours each day, becoming among the best in the world in that one skillset.
And it all started with watching someone who seemed to float over the ground, as if he wasn't even touching it.
You see, with practice, we can all accomplish amazing things.
The key is to be able to gain a high level of control over your mind.
Do that and I don't care what your disability, or what excuses you've ever had for your failings or your emotional breakdowns... when you can gain control over your thoughts and emotions, you are in the driver's seat of your life.
The event that first grabbed me was seeing Michael Jackson float on air. After that, there were many other people who kept me convinced that with a powerful mind and trained skills comes success.
Now, no one will ever gain complete mastery over their minds.
But the good news is, you don't have to.
You just need to control it enough to keep yourself, confident, motivated, facing in the right direction and to never quit. That is all successful people do.
Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare?
The hair had the most God-given talent, but he didn't stay focused. The tortoise was slow, but he stayed focused on his goal and didn't quit. So he, not the hare won the race.
That is so simple to understand...
But how many people do meaningful work they love, master it and develop their talents like they expect others to do?
Not many.
If most people did, the world would be a much different place.
Today I was reading The Advertiser,
Out of Adelaide this newspaper & came across this
which I thought was interesting... A prison...something different... hope it works!!
Finally on vic rock ,a person with an opinion,and I might add, not afraid to let us know how insensitive he is.I have my opinion of Micheal Jackson and certainly I do not agree with what he may or MAY not have done, and I will keep it to myself.What I will share with those that want to know is that there will never be another Micheal Jackson contribution to music and the music industry ever, and thats the sad thing. Thats why I feel sad about his passing.I can only wish at my passing that all those that I have meet and consider to be friends either in the rock n roll friendship scene or private friends only remember the good things I have done. I will love to be in the front row ,listening to the best that have left us so early,man what a concert.
How quickly comments get earased from this site! seems your not allowed to voice any opinion that doesn't match the majority or the administrators - sorry didn't realise we lived behind the iron curtain, hang on wasnt that demoslished years ago? oh I see, they must have moved it to Vic Rock,
you will write what I want, your opinions will match mine or your Banished!!
Kranky Pants… I don't know what you are talking about as I wasn't involved with the removal of your post. However I am sure that it would have been removed by one of our moderators for good reason.
Contrary to what you obviously thought, there are restrictions on what you can post on this site and this includes unsavoury and inflammatory comments; although I will admit that because we have other lives and cannot police this site 24/7, some do go unnoticed occasionally.
Thanks Mel for clearing that up. My deleted post contained some reference to Michael Jacksons alleged interest in little boys, yes he was talented, inspirational and a fantastic advocate for the black artist in a time that they really needed someone to promote them but just because he was a good dancer, singer, entertainer etc., it is doing a misjustice to all those people he alledgedly damaged when we just ignore it ever happened, in my opinion of course.
micheal jackson was laid to rest,8th july.2009. with mariah carey leading the tributes with this immortal song by the jackson five,ill be there.when micheal was a kid and?naturally black.r.i.p.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oT_TyK1Eh8update,apparently micheals still in a morgue for tests on drugs administered by his private doctor,and manslaughter charges pending...
Re: Jacko Dies @ 50
MsM XX
Re: Jacko Dies @ 50
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