HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, with his sister La Toya, at JET Magazine (USA), July 31, 1980

Folk dancing with MJ's...

Now here's something different - a fusion of folk and modern dancing, made even more enthralling with  MJ flavouring; but before watching the video footage(s)  below, I'd want to give a little background on the folk aspect;

In my birth country,  the Philippines,  we have this folkdance called Tinikling which includes two people hitting bamboo poles or piece of wood, using them to beat, tap, and slide on the ground and against each other in harmonization with one or more dancers who will step over and dance in between the poles.  When the bamboo closes, the dancers must be fast enough to not get their foot or feet caught.  As the tinikling dance continues the banging of the bamboo becomes faster and harder, the sound of clashing bamboo adds more to the thrill of this awesome dance, one could not just help but be amazed by the grace and speed demonstrated by the dancers. The tinikling name came from birds locally known as Tikling. The term tinikling literally means "tikling-like", as the dance is in fact a mimic movement of tikling birds hopping over trees, grass stems or over bamboo traps set by farmers.

Hope you enjoy these clips :)

And just out of interest, in case anyone wants to see the traditional tinikling;

Mr. Fantabularious at Number One!

(Please just ignore the Jacko name-calling)

Michael Jackson, featured at 
Number One Magazine (United Kingdom),  30 July 1988

"We howl for more, but know we won't get it.  We're all too drained by the music, the emotion, the experience to handle any more and shuffle out in a state of silent euphoria.  Jackson has everything - it's as simple as that. He's got the songs, the voice, the charisma, the dancing, the theatre, the showmanship ... everything.  He's got to be the most complete pop performer of all time."

--- Excerpt from the article clipping below

A rare photo find...

MJ in Australia

Expo Oz welcomes entertainer Michael Jackson to Brisbane with a handshake and an Expo kit in 1987.

HIStory: Newspaper Clippings

News clipping below : Michael Jackson attending the funeral of film director Vincente Minnelli, father of singer Liza Minelli on July 30, 1986.

For a video clip, please go to http://vimeo.com/6434803

A funny recollection...

MJ's drawing of his sister LaToya as a prank,  in late 70's 

A story from Katherine Jackson's book, My Family

Michael and LaToya: Partners in Prank

Because they still lived at home, Michael, Janet, and LaToya were especially close. Somehow, Janet and LaToya had the ability to turn my increasingly private, driven son into the lighthearted Michael of old - if only for a little while.

They loved to play practical jokes on one another. Michael especially enjoyed tormenting LaToya with fake spiders and tarantulas. He’d place one of his plastic creatures atop the phone in her room, call her, and listen for her shrieks.  Knowing how particular she was about her room, he’d also delight in charging through the door and bouncing off her bed, with its white-satin sheets.

“I’ll teach you to be so picky!” he’d exclaim amid her furious screams.

Having been informed by Michael that he was so proud to be working with Sidney Lumet, LaToya conceived the revenge prank of all time.

One day shortly before Michael left for New York to begin filming, he received a call on his private line from “Mr. Lumet’s secretary." Mr. Lumet was in the neighborhood, the voice announced, and would be stopping by in five minutes to take him out to dinner. 

Michael didn’t know what to do first; he wasn’t dressed, and his room was a mess. Somehow in five minutes he made himself presentable, tidied up, and ran from door to door informing everyone excitedly, “Sidney Lumet is coming to take me to dinner!” He then sat down and waited for our security to inform him that Mr. Lumet had arrived. And waited. I sat with him; I, too, believed that the director was coming.

Finally, LaToya confessed, “Michael, Sidney Lumet isn’t taking you todinner. That was me on the phone!” 

I’ve never seen Michael so angry. He dragged LaToya outside and wet her from head to toe with the hose.

--- Excerpt from "My Family" by Katherine Jackson 

source:   http://twitpic.com/5x75ws 

A Bit of HIStory for today

July 28, 1989:  The Michael Jackson California Raisin advertisement airs in theatres.

The height of Michael mania around the Bad album and Bad World tour coincided with an advertising campaign of singing raisins, singing their version of the Marvin Gaye classic "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".  One of the most well known special guest characters was of course the most adorable King of Pop Michael Jackson! The  singing voice is not Michael's due to some contract issues but the talking voice at the end is his.

The characters were modeled in clay and were an excellent quality advert for the time. And accordingly, sales of raisins soared.

 This particular advertisemnt featuring Michael was launched in July 1989.  In  the advert,  we see Michael's trademarks of fedora and white glove, and of course, his dance moves.

I also read that Michael received $25,000 for his contribution to the ads, which he all donated to charity.

A bit of (family) HIStory for today

In July 27, 1991, Michael  hosted for his father’s birthday a dinner party  (a family only event) at the Neverland Valley Ranch. Michael named the birthday party “Joseph Jackson Day”.

Above picture is an autographed greeting card /dinner menu,  signed in full by Jackie Jackson, Randy Jackson and  Michael Jackson; a very rare and unique item from the Jackson's family event which was acquired from the caterer. 

“I catered the event with my father and grandmother, through our family business located in Santa Ana, CA…BURRELL’S BAR-B-Q, or BURRELL’S RIB CAGE. It was just the Jackson family and my family for most of that day, until the band showed up later that evening. I  also have a published letter to the editor newspaper article about the day I spent with them.”

--- caterer (name not given)

picture source: http://www.trishautographs.com/blog/?p=619

A Bit of HIStory for today

July 25, 1998:  Michael attends the Kick Boxing Champion All-Star Match in Tokyo, Japan.

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured on the cover of 

LOOKIN Magazine (United Kingdom),  July 24, 1993

Quote of the day

"I believe performers should try to be strong as an example to their audiences. It’s staggering what a person can do if they only try. If you’re under pressure, play off that pressure and use it to advantage to make whatever you’re doing better. Performers owe it to people to be strong and fair."

.

--- Michael Jackson, "Moonwalk"

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured on the cover of Hello Magazine (UK), July 23, 1988

HIStory: Magazine Covers and Articles

"Michael has attained his unchallenged status as the number one entertainer in the world today because he walks with kings - but never loses the common touch - and sense of caring for his fellow man - born of his own roots."

--- from Black Radio Exclusive, 1988 

Michael Jackson, featured at  Black Radio Exclusive Magazine, July 22, 1988

A Bit of HIStory for today

July 22, 1988: Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck characters present Michael Jackson with a pair of specially engraved ice skates backstage before his fourth concert in Wembley.

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured at Billboard Magazine [United States],  July 21, 1984

A Bit of HIStory for today

July 20, 1988:  Michael Jackson was presented with a Sword to commemorate the Bad Tour at the Guildhall party.

In the evening, a banquet is held to commemorate the imminent Bad shows at Wembley Stadium. Michael became the first ever commoner to enter the London’s historic Guildhall’s Royal Entrance, a unique privilege that required the Queen’s personal approval.

His arrival was heralded by the red-jacketed trumpeters of the Life Guard cavalry, usually seen marching along the Mall. There followed a pounds 75,000 banquet, during which the roast beef was paraded through the room by the Corps of Drums of the Honourable Artillery Company.

Dancers in Olde English costume scattered rose petals at Michael’s feet. Then he watched wide-eyed as first Henry VIII, then Elizabeth I, Lord Nelson, Nell Gwynn, Robin Hood, Maid Marion and Dick Whittington paid their respects.

Ballet dancers burst from a box.

Fire-eaters, jugglers, jesters and Elizabethan musicians visited his table. Then Michael was stunned as Merlin appeared in a puff of smoke, and glittering knights in armour bowed before him.

Michael took the salute as the Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers beat the retreat, walking up and down a line of liveried Life Guard troops as if he were a general inspecting them.

He bopped lightly on his heels as the band played and grinned wildly when they launched into a version of Billie Jean.

Then a knight in shining armour galloped across the courtyard, leapt from his saddle, pulled a sword from a stone and went down on one knee before handing the sword to Michael.

He was blissfully unaware of the historical significance, and handed the sword – the sword King Arthur pulled from the stone before he recruited the knights of the Round Table Knights of the Round Table – to a 7 ft minder wearing a top hat, and made him the King of England.

source: http://mjjtime.blogspot.com

An Australian HIStory

Michael Jackson made HIStory in Australia!

Quote of the day

.
"Music has been my outlet, my gift to all lovers of music in this world. Through it, I know I will live forever." 
--- Michael Jackson

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured on the cover of Istoe Magazine [Brazil],  July 18, 1984

Today in HIStory

July 17, 1980:  Michael Jackson films a special at Disneyland for Disney's 25th anniversary.

 

pictures from various sources

Quote of the day

"I've always joked that I didn't ask to sing and dance, but it's true.  When I open my mouth, music comes out.  I'm honored that I have this ability.  I thank God for it every day.  I try to cultivate what He gave me.  I feel compelled to do what I do." 
--- Michael Jackson,  "Moonwalk"

Today in HIStory

July 16, 1988:  Princess Diana of Wales attended Michael's third sold-out concert at Wembley Stadium, along with Prince Charles.

Prior to taking the stage, Michael met with the royal couple and presented a $450,000 cheque for the Princes' Trust, a charity for disadvantaged children; from the proceeds of the seven-sold-out Wembley concerts. 


Michael also made a donation of ₤100,000 to the Wishing Well Fund, established to help finance the construction of a new building for London's Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital for Sick Children.

Michael also gave Princess Diana two custom made Bad World Tour jackets; one each for her young sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and a framed set of cassettes and compact discs of Off The wall, Thriller and Bad.

The Princess had said that Michael was her favourite Pop Star; Michael was equally happy to meet her. "I was so excited at meeting the royal couple. I'm very very happy that they came to watch me perform. I thought the Princess was just wonderful"

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, at Newsweek Magazine [United States], 16 July 1984

Topmost Favourite Dancing Musician

News Update:

A most recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone website among its readers has once more confirmed that Michael Jackson is UNBEATABLE!

"It should come as no surprise that the King of Pop won this poll by a significant margin. Michael Jackson's superhuman level of talent extended to an uncanny and utterly natural gift for dancing. On top of possessing remarkable grace, Jackson was also wildly innovative."




source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/rolling-stone-readers-pick-their-10-favorite-dancing-musicians

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured at Newsweek Magazine,  July 16, 1984

"Such is the magic of America's newest Pied Piper of pop. The most explosive phenomenon since the Beatles, he defies easy categorization. Like James Brown, he's the pre-eminent black pop musician of his era, a master of soulful singing and impassioned stagecraft, able to dance with a furious precision that is innovative yet steeped in black tradition. Like the early Beatles, he's a master of upbeat musical confections, sometimes created in collaboration with the most popular ex-Beatle of all, Paul McCartney. Like Pat Boone, the prototype of rock teen idols, he's cute, wholesome and pious. He's a virtuoso of the modern recording studio; but like Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra, he aspires to be an old-fashioned entertainer. He's a stunning live performer, but also a notorious recluse with an otherworldly mystique—imagine Howard Hughes and E.T. rolled into one. Like Judy Garland or Johnny Ray, his appeal is freakish—he's utterly unlike you and me, with a streak of wildfire that unpredictably lights his eyes."

--- Excerpt from the article clipping below

HIStory: Newspaper Clippings

"He's really taken a turn for the better since he saw Michael... his spirits are so much higher."
--- quoted from below's clipping


News article from Gazette, July 16, 1984

Today in HIStory

July 16, 1996: Michael Jackson performed in Brunei to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Sultan of Brunei, Sir Hassanai Bokiah,  the world’s richest man.

Michael warmed up for his History World Tour with the one-off concert concert staged inside the Sultan’s Jerudong Park Garden, a Disney-style theme park where admission and all the rides are free. Admission to Michael’s concert was free, too, and around 60,000 fans packed into the park to attend his two hour show. Michael performed 18 songs, mostly from his previous Dangerous Tour set list. Apart from the black lace jacket he wore in the promo for You Are Not Alone, Michael re-used the stage outfits he had worn during the Dangerous World Tour.

text source: http://mjjforever.wordpress.com/2010/07/16/today-in-mjj-history-34/

Here's a picture of Michael performing Billie Jean, at the  1996 Royal Family Gala Concert in Brunei;

And for a video clip of this performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch

Today in HIStory

In July 15, 1996, the Sultan of Brunei spent $25 million on his 50th birthday party, including $15 million for three concerts by Michael Jackson.




source: http://www.mysask.com/portal/site/

HIStory: Magazine Covers

Michael Jackson, featured on   Musician Magazine (USA), July 1984

HIStory for today

July 14, 1988: Michael Jackson launched his first British tour with a two-hour concert at Wembley Stadium in London.

The shows on his Bad World Tour were attended by a total of 504,000 fans, beating the record previously held by Genesis. Ticket demand for the dates exceeded 1.5 million, enough to fill the 72,000 capacity venue 20 times over.