Today in MJJ HIStory

1989 - MTV aired a special, Rate The 80's, in which they revealed how viewers had voted in several phone in categories, including their choices for Best Movie, Video, and TV show of the 80's. Viewers phoned in their choices for one month. Michael Jackson had the most nominations with three. "Thriller" was nominated for the Greatest Video in the HIStory of the World, THRILLER was nominated for Really Big Album, and Michael was among the nominees for Mega Artist of the 80's. "Thriller" was chosen as the Greatest Video in the History of the World with 35% of the vote.

This award was presented to Michael when he made a surprise appearance on the Arsenio Hall Show.

1993 - Michael is on the cover of Jet magazine.

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1995 - Michael was rushed to Beth Israel Medical Center in New York after collapsing at rehearsals for his HBO special "One Night Only". Early reports from the Center indicated that Michael was suffering from gastro-enteritis, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Michael was due to play at the Beacon Theater on the 8th and 9th. The shows were canceled.

2000 - After receiving the "Angel of Hope" award from the G&P Foundation for his efforts in combating cancer, he reminds the audience of that "Cancer is the number one killer of children and it is only when we join together on evenings like this, that we can summon the courage and determination to stop it from ever robbing another child of the precious gift of life, or a parent of the joy of watching their child grow." He also remembers the merits of invitee and Nobel-Prize winner, Professor Elie Wiesel and children’s expert, Dr. Stanley Greenspan, for joining him at the formal dinner.

Filed under  //   1989   1993   1995   2000  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1995 - Michael invites the media to see him rehearse for the HBO special 'Michael Jackson: One Night Only' at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
Michael appears onstage with mime, Marcel Marceau.

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1996 - Michael performs HIStory concert at Burswood Dome in Perth, Australia attending 18,900 fans.

1999 - "T.V. Guide" Magazine Interview

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On being disconnected to past achievements:

“[…] It’s sad to get caught up in the past. That’s why I don’t put awards in my house. No gold records, no Grammys. They’re in storage. I don’t like to be puffed up with pride, ‘cause I’d feel I don’t have any more things to reach for. And that’s not true.”

On who his audience is:

“I don’t know. I just try to write wonderful music; and if they love it, they love it. I don’t think about any demographic. [The record company] tries to get me to think that way, but I just do what I would enjoy hearing.”

On disguises and lack of privacy:

“I do disguises for different reasons. I like to study people – be like the fly on the wall. Even if it's two old ladies sitting on a bench or some kids on a swing. Because I don't know what it's like to fit in an everyday life situation. One time I was in a record store, completely disguised, and these girls were pulling out my album, talking all about me. I was literally next to them. It was wonderful. I loved it. But if I go out as myself, I can't have fun. People always say, "Why don't we just go to a party?" Soon as I step in, the party's over – for me. It's a party for them, but they are all putting their cards on my face, saying, "Remember me? I met you four years ago at…" and I say, "I don't remember." So I can't enjoy the experience. They play all my songs. I didn't come to hear my music. And everybody starts chanting "Dance!" "Well, I want to see you dance for a change."

On being erroneously portrayed by the media:

“[…] The press has made me out to be this monster, this crazy person who's bizarre and weird. I'm nothing like that. […] All I can do is be myself and create from my soul. But they take that and manipulate it. […] God created animals and they are loving, they are beautiful. I feel the way anthropologist Jane Goodall does, or any of those naturalists. I don't find my interest in animal weird or strange at all.”

On his children and fatherhood:

“[…] [Reading about me not being my children’s father…] That's total garbage. It's just trash and not true. […] Prince tells me all day that he has to make movies. So I bought him this video camera. I say, "What are we doing this time?" He goes, "Star Wars." So we put some figures on the table, make them move. And Paris is just now starting to talk and walk. She's very sweet. And I'm surprised she loves dolls. My sister, Janet didn't like that sort of thing. She was a tomboy. I thought she was going to be like that but she isn't. [I change their diapers and feed them]. I love it. It's a lot of work. I thought I was prepared, 'cause I read everything about child rearing, but it's so much more exciting than I ever imagined it to be. The only regret I have is that I wish I had done it earlier.”

On whether or not he is happy and the sources which make him happy:

“I usually am happy. I don't let anything get me down, no matter what. I like to hear the sound of water and birds chirping and laughter, you know. I love all the real natural, innocent things. I would never go to a party or a club. I did that when I was a kid, and I don't care to do it anymore. […] I always have [felt that I can’t live without children], 'cause I would feel I have nothing to live for. […] I wouldn't care [living for myself or my creativity]. Everything I create is inspired by that kind of innocence. And nature, it's eveything. It has to be. I mean, that's it.”
On his plans for then approaching millenium:

"[…] [Releasing "I Have This Dream"]. It’s a millenium song about the world and the environment that I co-wrote with Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster."

Michael Attends Fund-Raiser

Saturday night, December 4th, Michael Jackson attended a fund-raiser for Whitney Houston's charitable foundation at the Marriott Marquis hotel in Times Square, New York.
Fox News broke the news. In their release, they state: "Michael made small talk with Whitney and hubby Bobby Brown, then took a center seat and stayed to watch performances by everyone from Petula Clark to Whitney herself. (...) New York radio star Frankie Blue, who later got an award from the foundation, said in his thank you address: 'Michael, I will always be there for you. Let's have a tour and an album in America.'"

Filed under  //   1995   1996   1999  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Baltimore, Maryland

1993 - Michael performs at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City [Mexico] attending 100,000.

1995 - Sony released a statement that the company had entered into a joint agreement with Michael Jackson that would merge Jackson's ATV publishing copyrights with Sony's.

2001 - Michael Jackson attended a special record signing at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square, New York.

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When Michael Jackson comes to town, everything shuts down.

Frantic, screaming fans filled the streets and stopped traffic in the middle of Times Square when Jackson made what his record company called his first-ever in-store appearance, proving he still has luster on his crown.

Emerging in front of the Virgin Megastore on a small stage covered with red carpet, Jackson, clad in a blue silk shirt and matching pants, bopped to the sounds of his single "You Rock My World" and threw kisses to the crowd for about a minute before he went back inside the store to sign autographs and promote his new album, Invincible.

"Michael! Michael! Michael!"
throngs of fans chanted in the hopes he would come back outside. Instead the police told the crowd to keep it moving.

"I lost my mind," said 17-year-old Sydney Torrence of Harlem, who was still basking in making eye contact with the reclusive superstar. "Michael Jackson communicated with us!"

"He's the greatest of all time, you don't even have to ask the question," said her friend Shari Griffith, 17, of the Bronx. "He's just an innovator. Who could make up words like 'cha'mon'?"

Jackson's Invincible, which was released on October 30, will debut at #1 on next week's Billboard 200 according to SoundScan data released on Wednesday (November 7. Both young women agreed the album deserves to top the chart.

"He's got Biggie on the album, he's got Jay-Z on the ['You Rock My World'] remix," Torrence said. "He doesn't just sing about love. He sings about war, he sings about everything. He's hot."

"It's real weird to see a new generation accepting Mike," said Rodney Jerkins, one of Invincible's producers. Jerkins, who was in a nearby studio working on the next Brandy album, showed up unannounced at the event after seeing a live on-site interview with Jackson on "TRL."

"That was the mission for all of us [while making the album]: 'How do we get younger kids?' " Jerkins said. "Standing out here, I can tell the kids love him. It's all in the music. Mike's an entertainer. He's gonna show you what he can do, but the music has to catch the kids' ears. It's a blessing to be part of this. It's history."

Michael Jackson granted an exclusive interview to the TV show "Entertainment Tonight." The show was aired on November 12 and 13 as a two-part special.

Filed under  //   1979   1993   1995   2001  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1972 - The Jackson 5's second TV special was aired in the States.


The date was November 5, 1972, and suddenly the J5 were big as life on the TV screen right in your living room! Here, appropriately "labeled", the boys discuss a deal with Ted Ziegler.

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Michael sang Ben and joined his brothers for I Want You Back, ABC, I’ll Be There, The Love You Save and Never Can Say Goodbye
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Wow! That super screen behind Michael's head is really Johnny Brown. The J5 looked into this screen and were able to see their daydreams projected! (and you were, too, as they acted them out.)

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This daydream sequence turned your favs into a bunch of elves. And they're off to save a damsel in distress, played by Jo Anne Worley.
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The Jackson 5 also performed a skit featuring an unreleased song, Daydreamer, and closed the first half of the show with We’re Coming Back, using the riff from I Want You Back to good effect.

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The special introduces a totally new visual technique that combines live action with animation as J5 order a world of daydreams.
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^ Michael was left holding the basket quite literally, as "Shorty" strolls away. Dig the many muscles on Mike's beautiful bod!

Don't the guys wear some boss clothing during these way-out 30 minutes? Here, the spotlight is on Mike and Jermaine, those dandy dudes.

The Jackson 5 on their first European tour in Frankfurt, Germany.

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Detroit, Michigan.

1981 - Michael is on the cover of Jet Magazine in which he is voted Most Popular Male Entertainer.

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When Michael Jackson recently concluded a 40-city tour as the angelic-voiced lead singer of the world famous vocal quintet of Jackson brothers, he promptly proceeded to his next project-to co-produce an album with Quincy Jones, the Svengali songmaster who produced Michael's best-selling album, Off The Wall.

It was the impact of this triple platinum album and JET readers opinion poll that influenced the editors to name Michael "Most Popular Male Entertainer."
Being the "best" or "most" is nothing new to the fifth of six talented sons of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. Born 23 years ago in Gary, Ind., under the sign of Virgo, whose trait is unselfishness, the handsome singer's onstage magnetism and magic are mesmerized only by his offstage majesty and meekheartedness. He got started being the best at age 13 when his first solo album, Got To Be There, become a best-seller and he was named "Male Vocalist Of The Year."

Of all his honors, his Off The Wall album set new precedents in the record industry. It sold more than 5 million copies in the US and Michael become the first solo recording artist in history to place four singles (Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You, Off The Wall and She's Out Of My Life) from the same album in the top 10 of the nation's leading record charts.
In UK it is the first time in UK that five singles have been released from the same album.
With that kind of solid success, Michael merits the "most."

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1991 - Michael Jackson's single "Black Or White" was released.

1993 - Michael Jackson's video "Dangerous: The Short Films" was released.

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Michael attends a children’s festivity at "Hard Rock Cafe" in Mexico City, dedicated to the homeless ones from the "Tere Alarcon" orphanage.

1994 - Laurent Hopman visits Michael at the Hit Factory Studio in New York and gets to listen to 3 songs from the new album!

1995 - Michael graced the popular German Game show Wetten Dass? (Wanna Bet?) with his live appearance.

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In addition to his immaculate Dangerous routine, executed with the same precision and finesse as at the MTV Music Video Awards in September, Michael also performed Earth Song in public for the first time, a real coup for Wetten Dass?
Backstage, he meets Laurent Hopman and Anton Schleiter, son of son of Hamburg-based Sony music exec Wolfgang Schleiter.

The TV special attracted 18 million viewers, became the biggest TV event throughout Europe breaking viewership records in Germany and another 25 million throughout the rest of Europe tuning in to watch Michael's guest spot. Far and away the highest German TV audience of 1995 it's THE event of the year 1995 in Europe.

1996 - Ghosts received its U.S. première. The film also premièred in selected Sony Movie Theatres in various other European cities and in Tokyo, Japan - very successfully.

2001 - Michael Jackson's Invincible is at #1 on the Australian ARIA Albums Chart.

2005 - Michael & the kids are back in Dubai where they stay at the One and Only Royal Mirage.

2009 - The MTV Europe Music Awards pay tribute to MJ live from Germany.

The Thriller demos leak on the Internet.

Filed under  //   1972   1979   1991   1993   1995   1996   2001   2002   2005   2009  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1971 - The first of two appearances of the Jackson 5 on the Flip Wilson Show was broadcast. They performed a medley of hits I Want You Back / ABC / The Love You Save/ Never Can Say Goodbye

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1972
- The Jackson Five appeared on "Soul Train." performing That's How Love Goes, I Want You Back, Corner Of The Sky, Daddy's Home, Lookin' Through The Windows


The Jackson 5 on their first European tour in Munich, Germany.

1977 - Michael attends Andre McArdle's birthday party.

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1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Detroit, Michigan

1995 - Michael Jackson premiered his single "Earth Song" on the German game show "Wetten Dass?".

1996 - Stranger In Moscow was released as the fifth and final single from Michael's album HIStory.


Michael Jackson announced that he and a friend, Debbie Rowe, were expecting a child, but he denied that the couple had used artificial insemination and that Rowe had been paid to carry the baby.

News broke that Debbie Rowe is carrying Michael's first child. [Liz Smith reported in her column in the San Francisco Chronicle as follows: "Congratulations and good luck to Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, the woman who is reported to be carrying his first child."]

1999 - The Court of Appeals of Milan has rejected the appeal of Italian songwriter Albano Carrisi, and confirmed the lower court's judgment in favor of Michael Jackson and Sony Music, in a lawsuit involving Jackson's hit song "Will You Be There." Al Bano claimed that Jackson copied his song "I cigni di Balaka" (The Swans of Balaka). In November of 1997, the Tribunal of Milan ruled that there was no plagiarism, and Al Bano appealed.

2001 - HITS magazine featured Michael on their cover.

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2004 - Jackson issues a message gratitude to his fans on his official website, for their support throughout the attempts of defamation made against him by means of the child abuse charges from December, 2003. The message states: “To my loyal fans and supporters, I would like to sincerely thank all those who have spoken out and taken action against the most recent attempt to defame me as a person and an entertainer. My team has told me of the thousands of calls that have been made and the thousands of emails that have been sent by you, on my behalf. I am so grateful and inspired by you all. To my fans in the UK, I want to you to know how touched I was to hear about the demonstration in London that took place on October 31st and the thousands of people that attended. I am so overwhelmed by these beautiful expressions of love from my fans. Thank you. Recently, I have been informed that there is an event being planned for me, by the fans, to take place in New York very soon. I wanted take this opportunity to thank these fans from the bottom of my heart for your love and support. As always, I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR NOT BEING AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT. God Bless, Michael Jackson”.

Filed under  //   1971   1972   1977   1979   1995   1996   1999   2001   2004  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1972 - The Jackson 5 on their first European tour in Amsterdam, Holland

1995 – Michael Jackson receives the Diamond of Africa award from Ghana’s President, Jerry Rawlings during a dinner at the Hotel Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.

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The evening's highlight was the appearance of pop legend Michael Jackson who postponed a trip to Europe to make certain he was at the event. "I'm supposed to be in Germany, but I postponed it to be here," Michael told the President and First Lady. "I was advised of your presence and I found out about your mission to rebuild Africa. I couldn't resist. I love Africa... You are not alone."

Michael present the first couple with two elegantly decorated swords on behalf of Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. According to the dinner's organizer, Dr. Khalid Abdullah Tariq AlMansour, the swords were designed "to cut out devision, insecurity, hypocrisy and negativism. Rise and Unite! Africa is back."

President Rawlings said of Michael to the sellout, black-tie crowd: "I never thought I'd have the honor and privilege of meeting the genius in person. To meet him on a day like this is an honor. What impressed me most is that he's a man of heart."

The President and first lady expressed their gratitude to Michael by presenting him with the elegant Diamond of Africa, To a Favorite Son of Africa Michael Jackson, offered by "That's What Friends Are For Committee". On accepting the honor, Michael acknowledges a few children that joined him on stage, among whom cancer-stricken ones.

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2002
- Jackson is presented with the 2002 "World Arts Award" in Vienna, Austria, for global peace and tolerance efforts. The award recognizes individuals for achievements in a variety of areas such as acting, arts, business, media, health etc. The singer accepts the award via a video message.

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Chicago, Illinois.

1984 - The Jacksons perform Victory tour at Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, USA attending 68,000 fans.

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The following acceptance speech for the 'World Arts Award 2002' he wins that year, on occasion of the first World Awards event held in Vienna, Austria, the singer conveying his empathy with the event’s values of peace and tolerance, as well as those of love and unity for an improved planet. "Dear guest of honor. Dear Mr. Gorbachev. It is a great honor for me to be selected by Mr. Gorbachev and the jury to receive the 'World Arts Award 2002'. This year the motto of the World Awards is 'Peace and Tolerance'. These values are especially dear to me. In my own heart and mind I stand united with you for peace, love and tolerance in the world. I have to thank Mr. Günther Stampf, Mr. Georg Kindel and I thank President Mikhail Gorbachev. I love you very much. Thank you so much. Thank you.", Jackson says in the speech.
Filed under  //   1972   1979   1984   1995   2002  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - Michael attends his friend Jane Fonda’s fundraiser Halloween Disco Party at The Hollywood Palace.

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1987 - Hitkrant magazine [Netherlands] featured Michael on their cover.

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Michael Jackson's single BAD hit #1 in the U.S. for a second consecutive week.

The Way You Make Me Feel
, promoted with a nine minutes short film directed by Joe Pytka, co-starred Tatiana Thumbtzen, and featured a cameo appearance by Michael’s sister, La Toya, premiered on 31st October 1987.
Extended 25 minute version also made – exclusively screened by Michael at his Neverland home.

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The video begins with a girl walking down streets alone, with a clip being intercut that shows MJ talking with other people. Shortly after MJ walks out of an alley and stands in front of the girl while she's walking down the street, although she ignores him and keeps walking. He gets her attention by shouting, and then begins singing "The Way You Make Me Feel" to her while also dancing. Uninterested, she walks away. He follows her, having been cheered on by his friends to pursue her. Another dance routine begins, involving the males friends, which leads to MJ pursing the girl throughout the neighborhood. The video ends with MJ eventually winning the girl over, and embraces her, while a fire hydrant is spraying out water. MJ's love interest was played by Tatiana Thumbtzen, and the videoclip also features an appearance by his sister La Toya as one of Thumbtzen's friends.

1992 - Hitkrant magazine[Netherlands] featured Michael with Slash on their cover with the headline: Slash & Michael - Wat Niemand Voor Mogelijk Hield [Michael & Slash - What No one Thought Possible]

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1993 - Michael performs at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City [Mexico] attending 100,000.

Michael’s grandfather, Samuel Jackson dies at the age of 90.

1995 - Michael perform Dangerous & You Are Not Alone at the Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall Of Fame show (aired on 22nd November).

The short film Ghosts is premiered in 11 selected Sony cinemas.

2000 - Further news on Michael's planned movie "The Nightmare Of Edgar Allen Poe" was revealed. Gary Pudney to "The Columbus Dispatch": "Michael Jackson will move to Montreal with his two children in early 2001 to prepare for the shooting of his long-planned movie."

Production is to begin in March and Michael will act in the leading role and also will be executive producer, with Gary Pudney and Jim Green.

Gary Pudney told columnist Marilyn Beck: "Michael's not going to look exactly like Poe, but you won't be able to tell the difference between them 10 minutes into the picture, it's going to be absolutely spectacular, full of gruesome goodies - and concluding with all the ghosts Poe wrote about coming back to haunt him at the end of his life. We'll also be hiring six to eight other incredible actors to help bring Michael up to snuff, he'll have an acting coach prior to production and during shooting."

Michael is currently writing the theme song, which he will sing. Gary Pudney: "He wants to concentrate on films, we're already planning on more Poe films, and there are one or two other pictures we are also talking about doing. Michael is wired into the hierarchy of Hollywood - people like Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor, with whom he wants to work - and vice versa."

The exciting news about Michael's plans to play Edgar Allen Poe was revealed for the first time in an interview with "TV GUIDE" magazine dated December 4 - 10, 1999.

2007 - Access Hollywood airs a preview of Michael's photoshoot for Ebony magazine.

Michael & the kids celebrates Halloween at the Cascio family house in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

2008 - Michael goes trick-or-treating with his kids to an Halloween party at Natalie Maines'house (the singer from the Dixie Chicks) They were invited by Veronique Peck and stop by a KFC DriveThru in Brentwood in Los Angeles, Ca.

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Filed under  //   1979   1987   1992   1993   1995   2000   2007   2008  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1970 - The Jackson 5 perform at New York City, NY on their first national tour.

1981 - While at the Studio 55 in Los Angeles, Michael sings backing vocals on the song Don’t Let A Woman Make A Fool Out Of You by Joe Carrasco.

1993 - Manchete magazine [Brazil] featured Michael on the cover.


1995 - Minister Louis Farrakhan reveals, for the first time, during a public lecture in Chicago, July 26, 2009, that the entertainer quietly donated 100,000 dollars to the historic ‘Million Man March’ from October 16, 1995. ‘The Million Man March’ was a gathering of social activists, en masse, held in Washington, D.C.. Under the leadership of Nation of Islam head, Louis Farrakhan, African American men from across the United States converged on Washington in an effort to “convey to the world a vastly different picture of the Black male” and to unite in self-help and self-defense against economic and social ills plaguing the African American minority/community

1997 - Michael Leaves Africa and Return to Neverland with OMer Bhatti.

2001 - Michael shoots a scene for the movie Men In Black 2 directed by Barry Sonnefield where he plays Agent M.

'We shot a small scene with Michael on Tuesday,’ said the film’s director, Barry Sonnenfeld. ‘He was charming, funny, and really cool to work with.’ Michael’s small cameo - just a few seconds long – took around five hours to shoot.

Michael had a lot of questions about his role, according to Sonnenfeld. He wanted to know everything about the special effects background of his scene. Sonnenfeld told him that there would be icebergs, but Michael wanted to know much more details:

"He said, 'Can I see the icebergs?'
'No we don't have the photos yet.'
'Is there anything else behind me?'
'Penguins.' I'm making this up! I don't know if there are going to be penguins," Sonnenfeld said.
"'Can I see the penguins?'
'No I don't have the pictures of the penguins yet.'
'Are they king penguins?'
'Yes.'
And then I said, 'You know, I gotta go.'"
Michael dressed in MIB trademark attire; consulting MIB chief Zed via monitor, tries to persuade Chief Zed to make him Agent M!
A big fan of sci-fi, Michael is sought out director Barry Sonnenfeld & requested a cameo to be briefly featured in the MIIB as a rogue alien.

Michael Jackson cameo as Undercover alien intelligence officer Agent M

Agent M: Zed, the Drolecks are gone and the treaty is signed.
Zed: Good work!
Agent M: Zed, what about that position you promised me in Men In Black?
Zed: Still working on the Alien Affirmative Action Program. I'll keep you posted.
Agent M: Wait a minute! That's not what you promised me!
Zed: You're breaking up, can't hear you.
Agent M: Zed! Hello? Zed?
Zed: I'll call you back...
[starts walking away]
Agent M: I could be Agent M!

Will Smith explained in an interview that seeing Michael, dressed in MIB trademenk attire and consulting MIB chief Zed via monitor, is a credit to Michael's sense of humor:
"You know, when he comes on the screen, people are really happy. It's as if Michael is saying to the world,
'OK, all right. I'm human just like everyone else. I appreciate a good joke just like everyone else does,'
But the thing that I loved so much is he kept wanting to play it serious. You know, he was, like,
'You know, I'm a Man In Black, I just want it to be really serious.'
‘I think people are going to be really shocked and really surprised,’ predicted Smith, ‘and enjoy seeing Michael in this film and in this light.’
The movie Men In Black 2 was premiered in early July. Director Barry Sonnenfeld scored a big hit in convincing Michael Jackson to appear in Men in Black II as an alien. Michael's small cameo appearance as an undercover alien intelligence officer 'Agent M' receives one of the biggest laughs! Both critics and the public praised Michael's performance & his sense of humor:)

The sci-fi action comedy starring Will Smith as Agent Jay & Tommy Lee Jones, sees the government agents team up again to tackle an alien which disguises itself in the body of a model, played by Flynn Boyle. MIIB do well at the box office in the US, charted at #1 in it's opening weekend with a revenue of $52.2m.

2005 - Michael & Grace take Prince, Paris & Blanket to see the movie Wallace & Grommit.

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Today in MJJ HIStory

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1979 - Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough hit #1 on the Hot 100, toppling Robert John’s Sad Eyes, giving Michael his first #1 hit since Ben in 1972. The song also gave Michael his first solo #1 – for five weeks – on the R&B singles chart.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, written and composed by Michael was the album's first single for his first solo album after leaving Motown, OFF THE WALL, released in August 1979.

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The song became one of the album's biggest hits, heralded Michael's arrival as an adult solo performer, and paved the way for a new beginning to his musical career. It spent one week at the top of the pop charts & 5 weeks at the top of the black singles chart. A RIAA Gold Record duly followed, and in the UK the single peaked at #3 and earned Michael a Silver Disc.
Elsewhere, the single hit #1 in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa and Zimbabwe, #2 in Belgium and Holland, #3 in Canada, #5 in Finland, #10 in Ireland and Italy, and #13 in Germany (where it was the first Jackson record to chart).

Michael told Dick Clark's National Music Survey how he wrote Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough with help from Randy.
"I was walking around the house and I just started singing, 'da-da--da-da-da-da-da', and said, 'Ah, that sounds kinda nice.' I kept singing it and gradually it came about. I went into the studio, we have a studio at home, a 24 track studio. Randy and I, I told Randy what to put down, what to play on the piano, and we did some percussion and some clapping and it turned out real funky. I played it for Quincey Jones and he loved it."

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"We had little arguments, nothing very serious, during the first record we made, which was Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," said Quincy Jones. "Most people at Motown didn't sing low and I needed him to sing low. I wanted him to do a very sexy kind of sound at the bottom. At first, he was a little reluctant, but that’s okay. It was never contentious, and that’s where the trust comes in."

Lyrical content shocked his mother, Katherine, who pointed out the title could easily be misinterpreted – Michael asserted it wasn't a reference to sex, but that it could mean whatever people wanted it to mean.

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Rochester[US].

1984 - The Jacksons perform at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois [USA] attending 40,000.

1988 -Michael performs BAD tour at Capital Centre in Washington DC [US].

MTV premieres the video of Smooth Criminal.

1993 - Michael arrives in Sao Paulo, Brasil to perform 2 concerts on October 15th & 17th at Morumbi Stadium.

1995 - Michael Jackson's single You Are Not Alone was certified Gold and Platinum.

1996 - Michael performs HIStory concert at Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea attending 72,000.

During the performance of "Earth Song", Jackson, (who was up on a crane) was accosted by a male Korean fan who climbed up the crane just to meet Jackson. Michael held on to the man because he had a risk of falling. The man was then taken away by security after the crane was lowered. This concert was commercially released on VHS in Korea. Before the release of the 1992 Dangerous Tour Concert in Bucharest this was the only commercially released concert.

2001 - Tele Poche magazine[France] featured Michael on the cover with the headline: Michael Jackson - Verites ou mensonges? [Michael Jackson - Truth or lies?]

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2004 - CBS Early show airs an interview of Genevieve, Randy Jr, Dante, Jaffar, & Jermajesty Jackson at Hayvenhurst defending their uncle Michael.

2009 - The Jackson 5 CHRISTMAS ALBUM was re-released as Ultimate Christmas Collection with Christmas messages, remixes, and a Christmas medley.


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Apart from the original track listing the collection includes bonus tracks:
Season's Greetings from Michael Jackson
Little Christmas Tree (Clinton/Wayne)
Season's Greetings from Tito
Up On The Housetop - DJ Spinna Re-Edit
Season's Greetings from Jackie Jackson
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Stripped Mix)
Season's Greetings from Jermaine Jackson
Someday At Christmas (Stripped Mix)
Give Love On Christmas Day (Group A Cappella Version)
J5 Christmas Medley


2010 - The official website of Michael Jackson announced the release of the new deluxe 3 DVD box set Michael Jackson's Vision on November 22, 2010, which included One More Chance video.
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VISION contains more than 4 1/2 hours of video across 3 DVDs, capturing the entire spectrum of Michael's pioneering short films.
  • More than 40 videos
  • 10 short films never offered before on DVD
  • Bonus DVD includes 7 additional videos including the previously-unreleased clip for the R. Kelly-penned "One More Chance"

Previously Unreleased on DVD
She's Out Of My Life
Ghosts
You Rock My World
Cry
Blame It On the Boogie
Enjoy Yourself
Can You Feel It
Say Say Say
They Don't Care About Us (Prison version)
Why
Filed under  //   1979   1984   1988   1993   1995   1996   2001   2004   2009   2010  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1969 - The Jackson 5's debut single for Motown, I Want You Back, was officially released on October 7, 1969, and would become the first of four number one hit singles in a row. A lively and deceptively sophisticated pop tune, Michael's performance was strong and memorable, guaranteed to charm the most reluctant audience.

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I Want You Back was produced and written by Berry Gordy’s new writing team, The Corporation™ (made up of Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell and Deke Richards). It was The Jackson 5’s first song recorded at Motown’s L.A. studios and originally intended for Gladys Knight.

The song became a massive hit — thanks in large part to the quintet's pint-sized dynamo of a lead singer, then 11 years old Michael. the song hit #1 spot on both Hot 100 & R&B charts as the group's first of four #1 hit singles in a row. It peaked #2 in the UK, earning the J5 their first Platinum record as well the Silver Award. The single sold over 6 million copies globally, a key force in driving their total worldwide sales past 90 million.

Accolades:
  • In 1999, I Want You Back became the first Jackson 5 single inducted into the "Grammy Hall of Fame".
  • In MTV’s millennium poll, I Want You Back was voted the #9 'Greatest Pop Song of all time'.
  • In 1999, I Want You Back ranks #9 on Rolling Stone's list of the '100 Greatest Pop Songs since 1963'
  • In 2006, I Want You Back ranked at #2 on Pitchfork Media's list of the '200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s'
  • In June 2009, The Daily Telegraph named I Want You Back as the Greatest Pop Record of all time.

1971 - Michael’s first ever solo single, Got To Be There, was released on October 7, 1971, in advance of his debut solo album of the same name, which would come out early the following year.

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The single made #4 on both the Hot 100 and R&B chart, and sold an impressive 1.6 million copies in U.S. It also hit #3 in neighbouring Canada and #5 in the UK. By this time, Michael had eight chart topping singles and six albums with his brothers.

Got To Be There was originally intended for the Supremes, then was planned as a Jackson 5 release. Indeed, Michael’s brothers do feature on backing vocals, as they would continue to do on
many songs credited to Michael alone. It was a soulful love song that showed off thirteen year old Michael’s amazing vocal ability.

Got To Be There: The album had a beautiful mix of ballads and up tempo numbers perfectly suited to Michael’s range and style. Young Michael had shown that he could carry a full album all on his own. The album charted at number 14 in the US and number 37 in the UK. “Got To Be There” generated 3 more singles. “Rockin’ Robin” hit number 2 in the US and number 3 in the UK. “I Wanna Be Where You Are” hit number 16 in the US and “Ain’t No Sunshine” was a European only release that reached number 8 in the UK.
In releasing it, Michael broke a Motown tradition, as he became the first Motown artist to go solo whilst still an active member of a group (Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson and David Ruffin all had to leave their respective groups before becoming solo artists).

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Louisville [US].

1984 - The Jacksons perform Victory tour at Canadian National Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario [Canada] attending 35,000.

1993 - Michel arrives in Buenos Aires with Frank & Eddie.

1995 - Michael graced the popular German Game show Wetten Dass? (Wanna Bet?) with his live appearance.

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In addition to his immaculate Dangerous routine, executed with the same precision and finesse as at the MTV Music Video Awards in September, Michael also performed Earth Song in public for the first time, a real coup for Wetten Dass?
When aired on November 04th, the show attracted 18 million viewers, breaking German viewing records with 25 million tuning in to watch Michael’s guest spot – far and away the highest German TV audience of 1995.

1996 Michael played a historic concert at El Menzah Stadium before 60,000 people in Tunis, capital of Tunisia. The performance marked the first time Jackson performed in the continent of Africa. Four days prior to the concert, speaking via Kingdom International, Michael said:
This concert will be of special significance for me because it will be my first in Africa and the Arab world. The people and nations of both regions have always held a special place in my heart and I always wanted to perform for them.
Michael further announced all proceeds from the concert would be donated to The National Solidarity Fund, a Tunisian charity dedicated to fighting poverty.

This concert was aired on September 18, 2010 by the Nessma TV channel in Tunisia. Before then, only parts of this concert were shown on television as well as a very poor quality amateur-filmed far from the stage. The broadcast ended at "Heal The World", cutting off the final number, "HIStory". The quality of the broadcast was rather average as the entire concert was on a VHS, and a red ball (Nessma TV's logo) occasionally rolled across the screen as a means of copyright protection. The concert broadcasted twice, with the red ball appearing in different places in both broadcasts.

2005 - Michael is at The Power House Studios, working on a charity song, From The Bottom Of My Heart, to help the victims of hurricane Katrina.

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The working title of the Hurricane relief song penned by Michael is, "From the Bottom of My Heart," which was supposed to be released on 2 Seas Records, owned by Prince Abdullah Hamad Alkhalifa of Bahrain.

Fundraising Project titled: "From the Gulf to the Gulf" is in response to the widespread devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina, and because of the human suffering taking place in the Gulf Region of his country.

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"It pains me to watch the human suffering taking place in the Gulf Region of my country. My heart and prayers go out to every individual who has had to endure the pain and suffering caused by this tragedy. I will be reaching out to others within the music industry, to join me in helping to bring relief and hope to these resilient people who have lost everything." Michael said.
Within 24 hrs from the devastation, Mr. Jackson penned the song and has reach out to artists who would like to work with him in this project, some of the enlisted celebrity friends, including R. Kelly, Ciara, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, James Brown, Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige, which he humbly hopes will make a tremendous difference to all individuals who have been affected by this tragedy.
Filed under  //   1969   1971   1979   1984   1993   1995   1996   2005  

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