“Let us dream of tomorrow where we can truly love from the soul, and know love as the ultimate truth at the heart of all creation.” – Michael Jackson
The King of Pop touched the hearts and souls of millions. Here are our favorite 40 Michael Jackson facts!
40. To my dear friend Sir Elton John…
In 1997, Jackson released an album titled “Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix.” He dedicated the album to his friend Sir Elton John, who had helped him through his addiction to prescribed painkillers. It went on to sell 6 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling remix album of all time.
39. Leave me alone, please.
Jackson announced he was considering retiring from the music industry in January 2000 because he was tired of the non-stop publicity.
38. Heal the kids.
In 2001, Michael addressed the Oxford Union about child welfare as part of his “Heal the Kids” initiative. At times, Michael almost came to tears, especially when talking about his own childhood and his relationship with his father. Those who have studied Michael’s psychology often cite the speech as providing great insight into Michael’s views on children. The central theme of the address: children all around the world should be unconditionally loved by everyone.
37. A drive with Marlon.
Michael attended the memorial service for the late Marlon Brando in August 2004, along with Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn. Three years earlier, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando had jumped in a car together after 9/11—the three of them, no entourage—and drove to Ohio to escape New York City.
36. Thank you, Mr. President.
Michael received a Presidential Humanitarian Award from President Ronald Reagan at the White House in May 1984. Regan wanted to recognize Jackson’s contribution to the government’s campaign against drunk driving. “Beat It” was featured in the television advertisements.
35. The king and the prince.
Michael’s hit song “Bad” from 1987 was supposed to be a duet with fellow 80’s superstar Prince, but Prince opted out. Prince said in an interview that he did not wish to sing the line “Your butt is mine.”
34. First love.
Tatum O’Neal was Jackson’s first girlfriend and, allegedly, his first real love. She shocked the world when she denied this in her book, saying that he only ever kissed her.
33. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free!
His favorite The Beatles’ song is “Come Together.” In fact, you can find his version of the song on “History – Past, Present and Future.” Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney first met and became friendly in the mid-1970s, when, according to Jackson, McCartney tried to sell him a song, “Girlfriend,” for Jackson’s upcoming solo album.
32. On top of the world.
On may 1st 2001, “Thriller” was voted at #1 by VH1 on their countdown of the Top 100 Greatest Videos Of All Time.
31. Even the king gets hate sometimes.
Disappointed his fans by singing “We Are the World” (accompanied by a children’s choir) at the World Music Awards at Earls Court, London in 2006. Fans had paid up to £500 a ticket to see him perform and expected him to perform “Thriller.” Jackson left the stage to audible boos from the audience.
30. Nip and tuck.
Michael has undergone extensive plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons debate the number and scope of Michael’s surgeries, but older Michael Jackson looked drastically different than 1976 Michael. The effectiveness of his cosmetic surgery has been hotly debated.
29. Good to be bad.
He was the highest earning singer of 1988-1989, earning $125 million from his worldwide “BAD” album tour.
28. I’m talking to the man in the mirror.
Jackson was seen by a record 500,000 people during his seven day stand at Wembley Stadium in July 1988. The concert ended with his second encore, during which he performed “Man in the Mirror.”
27. A sad day.
On the day of Jackson’s death, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics received a 911 call at 12:21 pm. They arrived three minutes and seventeen seconds later, at which point Jackson was reportedly not breathing. The recording of the emergency call was released by the LAFD on June 27, 2009. Paramedics are reported to have wanted to pronounce him dead at the scene, but a doctor insisted he be taken to a hospital. CPR was performed on the way to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where they arrived at 1:14 pm and continued for an hour. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm. Following his death, 20% of his estate (more than $100 million) was donated to children’s charities, part of the more than $300 million Jackson donated to charity throughout his lifetime.
26. Thanks again, Mr. President.
After Michael’s death, U.S. President Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama viewed Jackson as a “spectacular performer and a music icon.”
25. Jackson in paint.
An Andy Warhol’s head-and-shoulders portrait of Jackson made the cover of Time magazine on March 19, 1984.
24. Swag after death.
The gold coffin seen at his memorial is a rare design called the Promethean. It cost $25,000 and is made of solid bronze, plated with 14-carat gold. The coffin was hand-polished to a mirror finish and lined with velvet. It’s identical to the coffin used to bury James Brown in 2006.
23. Super Jackson.
In 1991, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a film project called “MidKnight” that would star Jackson as a meek young man who secretly changes into a heroic singing and dancing knight at the stroke of midnight. The film was part of Jackson’s $1 billion re-up with Sony Music. The project fell apart due to contractual issues as well as the 1993 child molestation allegations.
22. First on-screen kiss.
In 1992, Jackson received his very first screen kiss in the John Singleton-directed music video “Remember the Time.”
21. Mourning the loss.
After Michael’s sudden death, Madonna and Diana Ross said they could not stop crying. Jackson’s former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said Michael had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father. Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, “can’t imagine life without him.” Liza Minnelli told CBS, “When the autopsy comes, all hell’s going to break loose, so thank God we’re celebrating him now.” Jamie Foxx, stated: “We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else.
20. This is It.
The film This is It is about Jackson’s 50 performances in the O2 Arena in London (never performed due to his death). It’s the highest grossing documentary and concert movie of all time.
19. Remember this?
He had an incredible memory. In fact, many people even claimed he had a photographic memory. He could remember names, stories, and information relating to encounters with people many years before.
18. Getting deep.
Wesley Snipes, who got to know him while making the ”Bad” music video, was surprised at Michael’s ability to hold long and detailed conversations about topics such as psychology, metaphysics and social issues.
17. Jackson and the Lost Boys.
It has been implied that much of his self-described Peter Pan persona as an eccentric and somewhat childlike man was created and imposed by his managers. In later years, friends described his desire to be Peter Pan as a major peace of who he was. In an interview, he was asked:
Q: You don’t want to grow up?
A: No, I am Peter Pan.
Q: No you’re not, your Michael Jackson.
A: I’m Peter Pan in my heart.
16. Impersonating himself.
In 2008 while at a Halloween party with his kids, people thought he was a Michael Jackson impersonator.
15. Thank you for your service.
Jackson greeted thousands of American troops in a US army base south of Tokyo in 2007. About 3,000 troops and their family members gathered in a fitness center at Camp Zama. Jackson, after shaking hands with and thanking the troops for their service, spoke to the crowd and said, “Those of you in here today are some of the most special people in the world. It is because of you in here today, and others who so valiantly have given their lives to protect us, that we enjoy our freedom.”
14. The longest video.
The music video for his song “Thriller” ran 13 minutes and 33 seconds, the longest music video ever at its time. This record was broken by Mike Skinner with the video for the song “When You Wasn’t Famous.”
13. Kind to those in need.
In June of 2003, the day after his neighbor and friend of 25 years Gregory Peck died, Jackson went to Peck’s house to help his widow plan the memorial service. Peck had once publicly praised the singer as a model parent.
12. The spirit of childhood.
Some of his favorite pastimes were water balloon fights and climbing trees. He wrote several songs sitting in his favorite tree at Neverland, which he called Giving Tree, because it was so inspiring.
11. All hail the King of Pop.
Michael was presented with an “Artist of the decade” award by Elizabeth Taylor in 1989, proclaiming him “the true king of pop, rock and soul.”
10. Goodbye to Neverland.
In March of 2006, California state authorities ordered Jackson to close the Neverland Ranch and fined him more than $100,000 for failing to pay the staff there or maintain proper insurance.
9. Change and controversy.
Jackson hired Martin Scorsese to direct the “Bad” music video. When the video aired on television, it sparked controversy because Jackson’s appearance had changed dramatically. Jackson’s skin color had been a medium-brown for the duration of his youth, but his skin had gradually become paler since 1982. This was now so noticeable in the video that the entire press took out widespread coverage and claimed that Jackson had bleached his own skin. In 1993, Jackson claimed that his changing skin color was due to a skin disorder.
8. Jackson on surgery.
Despite a number of surgeons that claimed that Jackson has undergone multiple facial surgeries, Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography “Moon Walk” that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries. Michael attributed puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.
7. The Jackson Estate.
Katherine Jackson’s 50% share of the Jackson Estate is to be held in a lifetime trust for her benefit. Upon Katherine Jackson’s death, the balance of her trust is to be divided equally among Prince, Paris and Blanket.
6. Finding Neverland.
The name of his 2700-acre ranch near Santa Ynez, California, is Neverland Valley Ranch. It contains Jackson’s house, an amusement park co-designed by Macaulay Culkin, a private theater, a dance stage, and exotic animals.
5. Healing the world.
Through his “Heal the World” Foundation, Jackson spearheaded airlifts of food and medical supplies to war-torn Sarajevo, instituted mentoring, immunization and drug-abuse education programs and paid for a Hungarian child’s liver transplant.
4. The Beatles catalogue.
Despite rumors, Michael’s estate does not own the right to the entire Beatles catalogue. For example, the family of the late George Harrison own songs he wrote, including “Something,” and Sony music owns 50% of the catalogue after Jackson sold it to them because he needed the money.
3. A terrible mistake.
Jackson shocked his fans when he dangled his third child, infant Prince Michael II, over a balcony on the fourth floor of a Berlin hotel for all hovering fans to see. He later stated that he made “a terrible mistake.”
2. Staying on top.
His greatest hits compilation “Michael Jackson: Number Ones” sold 6 million copies worldwide following its release in November 2003, peaking at Number 1 in most countries.
1. Until death do us part.
Soon after Jackson’s death, a man who accused him of child abuse was found dead in his own New Jersey apartment. That man was Evan Chandler. He had commit suicide.
In the summer of 1993, Evan Chandler accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son, Jordan. Evan confronted his ex-wife June, who had custody of Jordan, with suspicions that their son had been in an inappropriate relationship with Jackson, but June dismissed his worries. Eventually, Michael made an out-of-court settlement over the matter for an estimated $15 million.
Michael Jackson touched the hearts and souls of millions of people worldwide. We’ll always miss our King of Pop. People will always celebrate his incredible contribution to the world!
(Source: Factinate)
The King of Pop touched the hearts and souls of millions. Here are our favorite 40 Michael Jackson facts!
40. To my dear friend Sir Elton John…
In 1997, Jackson released an album titled “Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix.” He dedicated the album to his friend Sir Elton John, who had helped him through his addiction to prescribed painkillers. It went on to sell 6 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling remix album of all time.
39. Leave me alone, please.
Jackson announced he was considering retiring from the music industry in January 2000 because he was tired of the non-stop publicity.
38. Heal the kids.
In 2001, Michael addressed the Oxford Union about child welfare as part of his “Heal the Kids” initiative. At times, Michael almost came to tears, especially when talking about his own childhood and his relationship with his father. Those who have studied Michael’s psychology often cite the speech as providing great insight into Michael’s views on children. The central theme of the address: children all around the world should be unconditionally loved by everyone.
37. A drive with Marlon.
Michael attended the memorial service for the late Marlon Brando in August 2004, along with Jack Nicholson and Sean Penn. Three years earlier, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando had jumped in a car together after 9/11—the three of them, no entourage—and drove to Ohio to escape New York City.
36. Thank you, Mr. President.
Michael received a Presidential Humanitarian Award from President Ronald Reagan at the White House in May 1984. Regan wanted to recognize Jackson’s contribution to the government’s campaign against drunk driving. “Beat It” was featured in the television advertisements.
35. The king and the prince.
Michael’s hit song “Bad” from 1987 was supposed to be a duet with fellow 80’s superstar Prince, but Prince opted out. Prince said in an interview that he did not wish to sing the line “Your butt is mine.”
34. First love.
Tatum O’Neal was Jackson’s first girlfriend and, allegedly, his first real love. She shocked the world when she denied this in her book, saying that he only ever kissed her.
33. One thing I can tell you is you got to be free!
His favorite The Beatles’ song is “Come Together.” In fact, you can find his version of the song on “History – Past, Present and Future.” Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney first met and became friendly in the mid-1970s, when, according to Jackson, McCartney tried to sell him a song, “Girlfriend,” for Jackson’s upcoming solo album.
32. On top of the world.
On may 1st 2001, “Thriller” was voted at #1 by VH1 on their countdown of the Top 100 Greatest Videos Of All Time.
31. Even the king gets hate sometimes.
Disappointed his fans by singing “We Are the World” (accompanied by a children’s choir) at the World Music Awards at Earls Court, London in 2006. Fans had paid up to £500 a ticket to see him perform and expected him to perform “Thriller.” Jackson left the stage to audible boos from the audience.
30. Nip and tuck.
Michael has undergone extensive plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons debate the number and scope of Michael’s surgeries, but older Michael Jackson looked drastically different than 1976 Michael. The effectiveness of his cosmetic surgery has been hotly debated.
29. Good to be bad.
He was the highest earning singer of 1988-1989, earning $125 million from his worldwide “BAD” album tour.
28. I’m talking to the man in the mirror.
Jackson was seen by a record 500,000 people during his seven day stand at Wembley Stadium in July 1988. The concert ended with his second encore, during which he performed “Man in the Mirror.”
27. A sad day.
On the day of Jackson’s death, Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) paramedics received a 911 call at 12:21 pm. They arrived three minutes and seventeen seconds later, at which point Jackson was reportedly not breathing. The recording of the emergency call was released by the LAFD on June 27, 2009. Paramedics are reported to have wanted to pronounce him dead at the scene, but a doctor insisted he be taken to a hospital. CPR was performed on the way to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where they arrived at 1:14 pm and continued for an hour. He was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm. Following his death, 20% of his estate (more than $100 million) was donated to children’s charities, part of the more than $300 million Jackson donated to charity throughout his lifetime.
26. Thanks again, Mr. President.
After Michael’s death, U.S. President Barack Obama sent a letter of condolence to the Jackson family. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said that President Obama viewed Jackson as a “spectacular performer and a music icon.”
25. Jackson in paint.
An Andy Warhol’s head-and-shoulders portrait of Jackson made the cover of Time magazine on March 19, 1984.
24. Swag after death.
The gold coffin seen at his memorial is a rare design called the Promethean. It cost $25,000 and is made of solid bronze, plated with 14-carat gold. The coffin was hand-polished to a mirror finish and lined with velvet. It’s identical to the coffin used to bury James Brown in 2006.
23. Super Jackson.
In 1991, Sony Pictures Entertainment announced a film project called “MidKnight” that would star Jackson as a meek young man who secretly changes into a heroic singing and dancing knight at the stroke of midnight. The film was part of Jackson’s $1 billion re-up with Sony Music. The project fell apart due to contractual issues as well as the 1993 child molestation allegations.
22. First on-screen kiss.
In 1992, Jackson received his very first screen kiss in the John Singleton-directed music video “Remember the Time.”
21. Mourning the loss.
After Michael’s sudden death, Madonna and Diana Ross said they could not stop crying. Jackson’s former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said Michael had told her he was afraid he would end up like Elvis Presley, her father. Elizabeth Taylor, a long-time friend, said she, “can’t imagine life without him.” Liza Minnelli told CBS, “When the autopsy comes, all hell’s going to break loose, so thank God we’re celebrating him now.” Jamie Foxx, stated: “We want to celebrate this black man. He belongs to us and we shared him with everybody else.
20. This is It.
The film This is It is about Jackson’s 50 performances in the O2 Arena in London (never performed due to his death). It’s the highest grossing documentary and concert movie of all time.
19. Remember this?
He had an incredible memory. In fact, many people even claimed he had a photographic memory. He could remember names, stories, and information relating to encounters with people many years before.
18. Getting deep.
Wesley Snipes, who got to know him while making the ”Bad” music video, was surprised at Michael’s ability to hold long and detailed conversations about topics such as psychology, metaphysics and social issues.
17. Jackson and the Lost Boys.
It has been implied that much of his self-described Peter Pan persona as an eccentric and somewhat childlike man was created and imposed by his managers. In later years, friends described his desire to be Peter Pan as a major peace of who he was. In an interview, he was asked:
Q: You don’t want to grow up?
A: No, I am Peter Pan.
Q: No you’re not, your Michael Jackson.
A: I’m Peter Pan in my heart.
16. Impersonating himself.
In 2008 while at a Halloween party with his kids, people thought he was a Michael Jackson impersonator.
15. Thank you for your service.
Jackson greeted thousands of American troops in a US army base south of Tokyo in 2007. About 3,000 troops and their family members gathered in a fitness center at Camp Zama. Jackson, after shaking hands with and thanking the troops for their service, spoke to the crowd and said, “Those of you in here today are some of the most special people in the world. It is because of you in here today, and others who so valiantly have given their lives to protect us, that we enjoy our freedom.”
14. The longest video.
The music video for his song “Thriller” ran 13 minutes and 33 seconds, the longest music video ever at its time. This record was broken by Mike Skinner with the video for the song “When You Wasn’t Famous.”
13. Kind to those in need.
In June of 2003, the day after his neighbor and friend of 25 years Gregory Peck died, Jackson went to Peck’s house to help his widow plan the memorial service. Peck had once publicly praised the singer as a model parent.
12. The spirit of childhood.
Some of his favorite pastimes were water balloon fights and climbing trees. He wrote several songs sitting in his favorite tree at Neverland, which he called Giving Tree, because it was so inspiring.
11. All hail the King of Pop.
Michael was presented with an “Artist of the decade” award by Elizabeth Taylor in 1989, proclaiming him “the true king of pop, rock and soul.”
10. Goodbye to Neverland.
In March of 2006, California state authorities ordered Jackson to close the Neverland Ranch and fined him more than $100,000 for failing to pay the staff there or maintain proper insurance.
9. Change and controversy.
Jackson hired Martin Scorsese to direct the “Bad” music video. When the video aired on television, it sparked controversy because Jackson’s appearance had changed dramatically. Jackson’s skin color had been a medium-brown for the duration of his youth, but his skin had gradually become paler since 1982. This was now so noticeable in the video that the entire press took out widespread coverage and claimed that Jackson had bleached his own skin. In 1993, Jackson claimed that his changing skin color was due to a skin disorder.
8. Jackson on surgery.
Despite a number of surgeons that claimed that Jackson has undergone multiple facial surgeries, Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography “Moon Walk” that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries. Michael attributed puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.
7. The Jackson Estate.
Katherine Jackson’s 50% share of the Jackson Estate is to be held in a lifetime trust for her benefit. Upon Katherine Jackson’s death, the balance of her trust is to be divided equally among Prince, Paris and Blanket.
6. Finding Neverland.
The name of his 2700-acre ranch near Santa Ynez, California, is Neverland Valley Ranch. It contains Jackson’s house, an amusement park co-designed by Macaulay Culkin, a private theater, a dance stage, and exotic animals.
5. Healing the world.
Through his “Heal the World” Foundation, Jackson spearheaded airlifts of food and medical supplies to war-torn Sarajevo, instituted mentoring, immunization and drug-abuse education programs and paid for a Hungarian child’s liver transplant.
4. The Beatles catalogue.
Despite rumors, Michael’s estate does not own the right to the entire Beatles catalogue. For example, the family of the late George Harrison own songs he wrote, including “Something,” and Sony music owns 50% of the catalogue after Jackson sold it to them because he needed the money.
3. A terrible mistake.
Jackson shocked his fans when he dangled his third child, infant Prince Michael II, over a balcony on the fourth floor of a Berlin hotel for all hovering fans to see. He later stated that he made “a terrible mistake.”
2. Staying on top.
His greatest hits compilation “Michael Jackson: Number Ones” sold 6 million copies worldwide following its release in November 2003, peaking at Number 1 in most countries.
1. Until death do us part.
Soon after Jackson’s death, a man who accused him of child abuse was found dead in his own New Jersey apartment. That man was Evan Chandler. He had commit suicide.
In the summer of 1993, Evan Chandler accused Michael Jackson of sexually abusing his 13-year-old son, Jordan. Evan confronted his ex-wife June, who had custody of Jordan, with suspicions that their son had been in an inappropriate relationship with Jackson, but June dismissed his worries. Eventually, Michael made an out-of-court settlement over the matter for an estimated $15 million.
Michael Jackson touched the hearts and souls of millions of people worldwide. We’ll always miss our King of Pop. People will always celebrate his incredible contribution to the world!
(Source: Factinate)
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