RIP, Michael Jackson
Bellas, I feel devastated. I can’t even fully put into words what I feel right now. So instead, I turn to you.
What’s your favorite Michael Jackson memory? What’s your favorite song? And how do you feel right now, after this awful, tragic news?
Category: Famous Faces
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Waiting at a bus stop in darkness with my mother and best friend Teresa as we took a bus down to RFK stadium to get ‘Victory’ tour tickets. The jubliation I felt getting those tickets has probably not been duplicated. Pure pre-teen joy! Teresa was the one who called 25 years later to break the news from DC to NYC. I’m glad it was her.
Top 5:
Never Can Say Goodbye
Remember The Time
Lady In My Life
Liberian Girl
People Make the World Go Round
Actually, that’s just the top 5 in this moment.
Love you Michael!
The only word that comes to mind when I think of Michael Jackson is THRILLER!!!!!!!
I was living in Mississippi at the time. Right before the album came out one of my aunts told me that a friend told her that Michael Jackson had an album coming out that was going to blow everybody’s mind.
I remember where I was the night MTV….. who back then did NOT play black videos…..played THRILLER.
I still get chills when I watch the GENIUS that was that video.
I feel fortunate to have been alive to get to see and appreciate Michael Jackson. And I hope they give him a final STANDING OVATION at his funeral.
Often imitated, but never duplicated. There will NEVER be another entertainer like Michael Jackson.
Thank you Michael….
I like most of you all grew up on Mike and the Jackson 5 etc, it was almost like he was apart of ALL our fams…
I think one of my fav memories was watching Motown 25 live when I was about 8 or 9 nine years old and the house just erupted when he moonwalked, I mean everybody was siced from the oldest to the youngest.. I had posters, BUTTONS, LOL, 45′s and album(s)..he was just the ULITIMATE…….. May GOD bless his soul and yes may he def have the peace now that this world could not provide!!!
I’m glad you chose this image Afrobella, I think it reminds us of the gentle aspects of the man. Not to mention, the fact that he was incredibly handsome!! As a 70′s child with little spending money I have to admit to trying to “record” his music from the radio to learn the lyrics. This is really quite shattering and immensely saddening. Michael Jackson’s music and philanthropy will endure and will be recalled for generations to come.
MJ was a huge part of my childhood. I had my favorite denim jacket in 3rd grade, and both its sleeves were adorned with my collection of MJ buttons: my favorite of the bunch was that pic of MJ in his brown leather jacket and jeans striking a pose in front of a lavendar background. He was my first crush.
I didn’t have a Ken doll. My MJ doll sang to my Barbie dolls during my playtime. I remember MJ and Black Barbie had a thing. Then he moved on to Spanish Barbie.
I was grateful to reclaim a bit of my childhood when I bought an iPod…then I downloaded all my favorite tracks from the Triumph, Destiny, Off the Wall and Thriller albums.
Today I heard “Heaven Can Wait” for the first time. I think that’s my new favorite, considering he’s passed on to another world now. I realize that there’s so much music I missed out on because I paid too much attention to his drama and not his art. I need to rediscover “Dangerous” and “Invincible”.
I hope he’s giving the performance of his lifetime now in the arms of God.
Mike was Mike. We all loved him at some point. He is responsible for the success Black artists now take for granted on MTV. I remember the fear from watching Thriller, but being unable to turn from the tv. I remember listening to my parents Jackson 5 LPs. He seemed like a big child and I feel like I officially grew up yesterday upon hearing the horrible news. His videos were always something to watch, even if you didn’t like the song. He will be truly, truly, truly missed. My hearts go out to Joe and Katherine and Rebbie, Janet, Latoya, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy and Tito. And especially to his three childrent. Your daddy will be forever missed and loved. He was the King of Pop.
A misunderstood genius.Rest in peace Michael. You gave so much to so many. Thank you x
Thank all of you positive Bellas out there for remembering the good.
R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON U WILL FOREVER BE MISS LOVE U MICHAEL.MAY GOD BE WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THIS UNBELEIVEABLE TIME LOVE ALWAY’S
I remember the day my mama surprised me with tickets to see the Jackson 5. Michael sang Ben, I cried, and cried while he sung that sung, and laughed when Randy tripped coming onto the stage zipping up his pants. I didn’t get onto twitter, nor the web just because the last day or so cause I’m really not ready to process the loss.
He was a genius in the truest sense of the word. He has left a legacy of fabulous music and artistry that can never be duplicated.
We miss you Mike.
I was and still am in shock. I wake up thinking it’s just a dream. Although I’m fully aware that each one of us must transition, it’s hard to accept that my first crush, the gorgeous brothah that stayed on my wall (Thriller album) until I went off to college and then in my freshman dorm room is with The Creator.
I had the Beat It jacket (in black), the bubble gum cards, the albums, the books, the frame pic with him in a yellow sweater. I luved me some Michael and dared anyone to talked about him badly.
Do yall remember the debate: Prince or Michael? Well in my heart it was and will always me Michael Jackson. RIP and farewell.
My fav song to sing was Ben – perfect pitch for my voice. But I also loved the album ‘Off the Wall’ which seems to be ignored w/all the talk of Thriller. I loved ‘Human Nature’ though and ‘You Are not Alone’ and Never Can Say Goodbye’ and ‘Got to be There’…i don’t know, I could go on and on…there’s so much!! ‘Rock With You’!! So so much!!
RIP Michael.
I grew up in grouphomes and foster care and have been adopted twice and so on and you know what….? Michael Jackson was the most stable, constant and pure thing I could have had growning up….I find myself tearing up if I even think about his passing, though i can say i haven’t heard his music again until just recently. I just kind of forgot about him for the longest time….I forgot how important he was to this world, and am now remembering… Though I never really believed the stuff that was thrown at him, the constant pervert messages from the media did not help either. I believe that the collective public conscience really punished him as a symbol of something he wasn’t. His world wide familiarity made him an easy target for anything. He so loved the world and we unwittingly left him heart broken and alone. You can see it in the timeline of some of his song lyrics. I just discovered a really cool one actually. It’s called, They Don’t Really Care About Us”, and the versions I found were on you tube. There are a few versions of this song, most notably the jailhouse version and the brazilian community version which i like best @ 4 to 7 some odd minutes. But please find the lyrics and read them as it can initially be hard to hear it all. He was a wonderful person who lived an extrordinary life and I regret that I didn’t do more to be there for him…Maybe I can help out his familly… I’m gonna go buy a few records….
luv you Michael…rip
I didn’t realize how I would be affected by Mr. Jackson’s passing.
I grew up in the 1980′s and everyone my age with a radio or M-TV heard or saw Michael Jackson. I fondly remember walking down the street one summer afternoon with Gina, a girl a couple years older than me, singing “Beat It” and “Billie Jean”.
I was there when the “Black or White” and “Scream” videos premiered on Fox Television.
I think my favorite MJ song is “Will You Be There”, because it sounds to me like he is talking to God and that gives me a little comfort about his eternal situation (I hope he knew the LORD).
I have been disappointed with the magazine coverage so far. NEWSWEEK and TIME both basically did rip pieces. I am hoping for better things from PEOPLE and JET.
God bless all of you.
In 1984 I was 4 years old. I used to sit next to the living room speakers for hours listening to my parents’ Thriller tape while they were at work. Michael Jackson coined my childhood years.
Later in 1992, I would be so excited to see the prime-time TV World Premier of Black or White and Do You Remember the time…Right after The Cosby Show and before In Living Color.
Michael Jackson shaped my teen years.
The night he passed away, I went to sleep feeling that something and someone very special was missing from the world and from my life. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. Thankfully the memories live on through the music.
Rest in Peace Michael. We always loved you. I hope you knew that.
Michael Jackson was a gift from God sent down to sing hits that made history. He was an influence to musicians and many others. He was one of few who was not afraid to express his thoughts and he showed that through his music, he was a great man and misunderstood by some but loved by many more. But now it is time for our angel to fly back to heaven and moon walk in the clouds where he will truly be Peter Pan and never grow up. We love you Michael your legacy will live forever. Long live the King of Pop!
My daughter and I was watching a tribute to Michael today. She’s 4 years old. She loves Michael. She asked me where was Michael now. I told her he was in Heaven with Jesus. She replied ” Momma, I want to go to heaven to see Michael. Can I go now?” I couln’t sing the songs becuse she wanted to hear Michael without interuption.
Michael is the Greatest performer that ever lived. His perfomances on stage is unbealievable. He will be truly missed.
My mom has cried every single day since Jacko went away.
rip>>>my kinG
rip>>my legenD
rip>>my GOD
you know when i heard that i cried so much ..and i said:”THEY TEACH US AT SCHOOLS THAT GODS NOT DEAD ..AND MJ is like a goD..how could that happened” ..ilove u so much ..i believe on u too much ..im not gonna miss u at all..koz u will b always N my broken heart and that will b 4 ever..no 1 can b just like the kinG ..so..don’t tell me Elevis or the beatelz or even damn madonna koz they r no Thing in front of his career ..goD bless u up there ..koz that is the place where u BLONG..sorry mike i know they hRt u so much but we didn’t heard u murmuring of that..koz ur so classy and such a great human being…i love u so much and ur r my god.. my hero.. and my angel..and btw thanks 4 makinG our world batter place
love ya
..xoxoxoxoxoxoxooxxooxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxox
Like many of you, I was taken off guard by how hard MJ’s death has hit me. I honestly haven’t given him much of a thought in the past 20 years or so, and I think I’m feeling a little guilty. I feel like I abandoned him after he gave so much to me. I cry thinking about the pain he had to endure when all he wanted to do was bring people happiness and joy and love and magic. I was 13 years old when I first heard Billie Jean and that was all it took. I was hooked. I was vaguely familiar with the Jackson 5, my parents had one of their records. I don’t remember which one but it had a song called Boogeyman on it…and I used to listen to that song over and over as a child. But when I heard Billie Jean, and then Beat It, it was like a whole new world opened up for me. I’d always had this feeling of being misunderstood, the kind of kid who always feels alone in a crowd. For some unexplicable reason, Michael’s songs made me feel understood…finally! I remember waiting for the Thriller video, wearing my Michael Jackson t-shirt…and then going to the video store 10 times a day to check to see if the video for the Making of Thriller was in (it was usually checked out). Throughout the years, through his changes in appearance, legal problems, and sometimes questionable choices I kind of gave up on him. It didn’t seem like the person I “knew” back in the 80s, but with his death, I realize that it was unfair of me to judge him or expect him to remain that person I fell in love with. I think a part of why I’m so upset is that his music was the soundtrack of my childhood and I feel like my childhood has died along with him (strange thing for an almost 40 year old to feel!). More than anything though, I’m grateful to MJ for all of the love and happiness he brought to my life and millions of others. We’re lucky he existed at all.
i can not beleive he has passed away. He was and is the king of pop. He was the greatest singer and i feel like there is a peice missing from my heart. I wish i could have seen him live. It is not fair i wish he was still here.
He is and was my hero. He done loads of good songs and he will always remain in my heart. I will always miss him. It does not feel real. I just want him back. This should not of happened he did not deserve it. He is in a good place and may he Rest In Peace. I will always love your music. And i will listen to it everyday.
I feel terible about his death.My whole family grew up on his music.I love Michael Jackson and he will always be in my heart.I listen to him everyday and I always will.
R.I.P Micheal I love u very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hi how are you i love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
biggest star on earth RIP thanks for the best child hood Michael
grr………………………..
u know i luv michael with all my heart and have been killing myself try in to do the moonwalk and i read what the supid doctor do and i is mad but michael i rly HOPE ur with GOD not the devil say hi to my godmother and my granfather and my cousin
i never heard any songs until he died. i was in love with thriller ’til i heard BAD it is now my fav song.i have a pic of him in dangerous’ as my wallpaper on my phone. i am only 11yrs old and i love michael he is my HERO!!
i can do the moonwalk it takes lots of practice but succeeded king of pop, we will all miss u. R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON!!!!!
Michael you know you rock my world. I love you Michael. You are my life, the way you and me work. I promise you i never can see you again so i see your photo but you are not alone. I love you Michael.
Just From: Christy
*(chorus)You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You’re my daytime my nighttime
My world
You are my life
Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
Cause you love me
You help me understand
That love is the answer to all that i am
And I’m a better man
You taught me by sharing your life
You are the sun
You make me shine
Or more like the stars
That twinkle at night
You are the moon
That glows in my heart
You’re my daytime my night time
My world
You’re my life
You gave me strength
When i wasn’t strong
You gave me hope when all hope is lost
You opened my eyes When i couldn? t see
Love was always here waiting for me
I can’t pretend to be like the rest of you who have all grown up loving Michael. I’m part of the generation who never knew him until he died. And i know that makes people mad; they say we never really felt the spark and we’re just jumping on the bandwagon. But if by “spark” they mean getting goosebumps every time you see live footage, getting knots in your stomach when you hear one of his emotional songs, or smiling every time you hear his voice, then I’ve felt it. Michael Jackson was an amazing person who has inspired me to change my outlook on life. Although I may be late, I believe that Michael would want everyone to be inspired by his music. I know he is in a place where the tabloids can’t hurt him anymore. He’s in a place where no one is going to judge him for being himself. We all wish Michael could have done the “This Is It” tour, but we can’t doubt for one second that the King of Pop has made his comeback. A generation that never knew his music is hearing it now and those who were starting to forget the fire are remembering. Perhaps this is the comeback that worked better for Michael. Maybe he needed to be at peace. Regardless, as we mourn Micheal’s death we should remember one thing; Michael is finally getting the respect he always deserved. People all over the world are coming together and the whole world is dancing again.
The day you were born, you belong to your parents but when the world started hearing you sing… You belong to the World. We will miss you…I will miss you… your own words… “I love you more”
I’m only 12 and my dads sister got the new cd michael jackson numbe ones . I loved it so much and got mom to get it for me that was like almost a year ago i grew to love him and i downloaded alot of his song when i heard he died i was shocked . All im trying to say id that no mater what age you are you can still like people that your parents grew up with .
thanks
R.I.P Michael Joseph Jackson <3
Where do I start. I saw your tweet about this so I will add my feelings on MJ’s passing. I was born in 1984, a good year I might add. So I remember “Bad” and beyond. My mother told me how awesome MJ was and she just went on and on about “Thriller” I guess I am more familiar with the 90s music from him but I have since went back and bought a lot of old records and something really changed in MJ. His tone in his songs seemed more dark to me, like he was really hurting, crying out. I am so saddened by his death, saddened by how he lived his life, how people tried their best to tear this black man down. I felt like I have lost my dad or uncle or someone. He meant that much to us all. My mother passed some yrs ago, so I can listen to him and think about happier times when she was here. The media really hurt MJ. he was hurt beyond repair. MJ really needed help when he was living but I know he is resting in eternal bliss, so I find comfort in knowing he does not have to suffer anymore. I play MJ all the time and me and my young child love him and can’t get enough. MJ will live on forever because his music was timeless. God bless the Jackson family, and any family tht has lost a loved one.
I love his song “I Can’t Help It” that might be my favorite but he has so much great music, its hard to pick just one, lol.
A misunderstood genius we loved u Mike and i will never 4get the magic, the brilliance thank you 4 those beautiful moments and 4 influencing so many people all ova è world to dream big
MJ always in my heart
…the legend live on..