Yes! Bought my ticket to watch "Thriller Live" at London's West End next month. The show must go on as a tribute to Michael, and I am thrilled and thankful to be able to celebrate his life and songs at the musical.
And you can bet your bottom dollars that I will write about this!
I was awoken by an SMS news alerts early this morning saying Michael Jackson is dead.
I feel sad, I am watching CNN, I have tears while listening to his songs...
I am remembering him with a blog in his honour.
I am remembering him by wearing black and white today.
I am remembering him via my Music page here - Michael Jackson-A Tribute
Sony Comments on the Passing of Michael Jackson
NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2009 – Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.
Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: "Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him."
Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: "Michael Jackson's unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly."
Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: "Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences."
Five of Jackson's solo albums – "Off the Wall," "Thriller," "Bad," "Dangerous" and "HIStory," all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label – are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and "Thriller" as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award.
Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and the epic "Thriller." Jackson's sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.
Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.
I can't recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.
At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, "I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did."
I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.
14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.
A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn't predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened.
The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.
All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.
I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.
Our relationship was not "a sham" as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a "Normal life" found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.
I wanted to "save him" I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.
His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn't know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then.
At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.
He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated.
When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, it was really, REALLY bad.
Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson's being or actions.
I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.
I was in over my head while trying.
I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.
The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.
After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret.
Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.
At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.
As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.
Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.
He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.
I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.
He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.
I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.
The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.
I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.
~Lisa Marie Presley
As a movie lover since young, I often rent video tapes from the shop because single-screen Taiping cinemas then do not carry many titles. So when I was waiting for my SPM results, I naturally work there to gain some experience and pocket money at the same time.
I remember quite vividly that original VHS tapes were all the rage then, offering clear and sharp images with stereo sound - all for RM5.00 for a 3-day rental. When new titles arrive at the shop, I am usually excited because I can watch them at home when no customers are renting them.
When customers ask for a specific movie title, I have the pride of knowing every title in the shop and dishing it out quickly, except of course Hindi movies, which then I had to ask the shop owner.
I also remember that I enjoy rewinding the tapes because most of the time, they are returned without being rewound. I am told to use the sports car-shaped tape rewinder instead of the cranky VCR player because the latter can spoil easily if being used too often to rewind tapes. Definitely one of 90's classic icons and a must-have item of many a household...I wonder if anyone still has a functioning tape rewinder today.
Sometimes, when a certain movie title is too popular and the shop only has one copy of it, my boss will make several copies by using blank tapes or in some cases, overwriting the older titles. To do this, I need to cover the little square pit on the left side of the tape so that re-recording can be done again. Did someone mention infringement of copyrights? Perhaps Taiping started it all!
Of course in addition to the usual blockbusters, the video shop carries porn of all tastes and flavours, stocked safely in some "hidden" location, hehehe :-)
Without fail, they are in demand almost on a daily basis. I was quite shocked initially when some of these "blue-film" fans were the ones wearing head gears to protect their sanctity and purity while discreetly asking me of "new arrivals" or quietly shoving me pieces of paper with porn titles of the imaginative kind, all the while smiling sheepishly or looking away pretending like sweet little angels.
To top it all, sometimes when these "angels" are waiting for me to process their rental of those blue favourites, some rowdy Chinese elder men will walk in and start asking aloud, "Ada blue baru ah?" in full view of the girls, resulting in many blushing faces. Being the professional I was even then (ahem!), I have to contain my laughter and continue working.
During daytime, I sometimes help in putting up new movie posters, rearranging the movie library, and ensuring the counter is clean and tidy.
At night, the video shop can get a little too crowded, especially on Saturday nights with families coming in with kids asking for cartoons or family comedies. Imagine this - screaming kids with fussy parents, drunkard old men and sweet "blue" angels waiting for their opportune moment - all in the shop at the same time. Mad house, I tell you!
Still, the memory of working in this video shop is precious. Those were my heydays of living in Taiping that I will never forget.
A fitting song that manages to capture the beauty of everlasting friendships as depicted in Sex And The City-The Movie. When Carrie hurried downtown to Miranda's place and hugged her just in time as New Year struck, I sense deep down everyone of us longs for the same love and compassion...
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stoup !
And surely I’ll be mine !
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine.
And we've wandered mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
We twa hae paidl’d in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine,
But the seas between us braid hae roared
Sin' auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.