Funny story: I used to have a friend who lived out in San Diego. He wasn't a huge MJ fan.

Something had recently happened in the media with MJ, and he was talking to co-workers just ranting on MJ and how horrible he was, and he was this or that. Just water cooler talk.

As he's going back to his cubicle, he notices one of his coworkers crying and really upset. He went on to his cubicle and got to work and didn't stop to ask why.

A bit later, his boss called him to his office and said that Valencia (the girl crying) was very upset by what he had said about MJ. He was confused as to why this woman was so upset about some random MJ talk.

"Her last name is Jackson." He thought maybe the boss was just overemphasizing a point that held no water - as in she was only feeling MJ because they shared a name. He was still at a loss.

"Her father is Marlon Jackson. She's Michael Jackson's niece." He had worked for years with Valencia Jackson and never knew she was related. But that day he found the fuck out.

TrivialPursuit said:

Funny story: I used to have a friend who lived out in San Diego. He wasn't a huge MJ fan.

Something had recently happened in the media with MJ, and he was talking to co-workers just ranting on MJ and how horrible he was, and he was this or that. Just water cooler talk.

As he's going back to his cubicle, he notices one of his coworkers crying and really upset. He went on to his cubicle and got to work and didn't stop to ask why.

A bit later, his boss called him to his office and said that Valencia (the girl crying) was very upset by what he had said about MJ. He was confused as to why this woman was so upset about some random MJ talk.

"Her last name is Jackson." He thought maybe the boss was just overemphasizing a point that held no water - as in she was only feeling MJ because they shared a name. He was still at a loss.

"Her father is Marlon Jackson. She's Michael Jackson's niece." He had worked for years with Valencia Jackson and never knew she was related. But that day he found the fuck out.

that's sad, well at least a relative had that kind of love. lots of families would jump right in tearing another member down. Crazy as it sounds.

PeteSilas said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Funny story: I used to have a friend who lived out in San Diego. He wasn't a huge MJ fan.

Something had recently happened in the media with MJ, and he was talking to co-workers just ranting on MJ and how horrible he was, and he was this or that. Just water cooler talk.

As he's going back to his cubicle, he notices one of his coworkers crying and really upset. He went on to his cubicle and got to work and didn't stop to ask why.

A bit later, his boss called him to his office and said that Valencia (the girl crying) was very upset by what he had said about MJ. He was confused as to why this woman was so upset about some random MJ talk.

"Her last name is Jackson." He thought maybe the boss was just overemphasizing a point that held no water - as in she was only feeling MJ because they shared a name. He was still at a loss.

"Her father is Marlon Jackson. She's Michael Jackson's niece." He had worked for years with Valencia Jackson and never knew she was related. But that day he found the fuck out.

that's sad, well at least a relative had that kind of love. lots of families would jump right in tearing another member down. Crazy as it sounds.

From some stories I heard, it was something his nieces and nephews dealt with regularly. I remember hearing about Rebbie's daughter (she was in high school in '93) breaking down in tears and going off in class because the other kids in her class were making fun of Michael's issues

that's her standing in front of him.

Yashi Brown (Rebbie's daughter) poem about MJ from her book

GENIUS IS LOVE

Some things are right in front of us

But we laugh

Snicker, mock

Joke and argue

Making fun

Finding humor and hilarity

Wanting an imposter in purity

Finding intrigue in the glossy metal of a barrel

Pow pow!! Pop! Pop!

Human beings just don’t know where to stop stop

Too jaded to believe in anything

Casting our gory realities

On innocence

Yes if anything you were molested by society

Many claim a dark mystery

But you weren’t

With you it was always in your music

With you it was always in your words

Just listen

Sometimes I cry at its simplicity

It was in your melody

Your perfect pitch

It was in your tone

It was your love of expression

It was your home

The only thing as a young boy

That you had ever known

You knew you were chosen and wanted to share

Maybe touch somebody’s life because you knew

How song, how much emotion really cares

You were truth

You were real

You didn’t care to mar

Yes, once upon a time you lashed out with your art

Feeling targeted

Because you were so wounded by humanity

You felt mislead, lead on, rejected

Something so hard to conceive

You just wanted to feel connected

Have a real friend who wasn’t intimidated

By your abilities, that would simply let you be

Treat you like someone you found good company

Too fragile to hurt

A true artist can’t hide from us

Has everyone gone mad?

You were right in plain sight

If you did we wouldn’t care to know more

About the possible immortality of man

You didn’t want the world to see you as limited

Because they would see themselves the same

You wanted to reflect the atmosphere

The stratosphere and freedom

Where our minds could go if we could just let it

Galaxies creating more galaxies

You always knew this before scientists stamped their approval

If we could just fathom and ponder

If we could just let our inner child wander

You stayed here because you knew

It was the one place full of honor

It was full of endless inspire

You wanted honest truth

And as a kid I remember your wild rides

You behind the wheel was exquisite adventure

With me and my cousins driving along Boulevard Ventura

Acting silly

Rolling windows down

Calling out to the sidewalk passersby

All you wanted to do was snap them out of it

Jolt them alive

With our silly antics that made them smile

After they realized

Some stranger tried to end their vicious cycle

If only for a little while as we drove mile after mile

We’d go back to the compound to play imagine and focus

On our dreams – you showed us the way to let them open

Yes you out chased victories after your victories

Only to give more selflessly

And yes there would be some selfish

Only to feed your endless thirsty

It’s okay because some are inclined to indefinite

It’s our god given essence

It’s our god given message

So you just shrug and accept it

Why suppress it?

You surely can’t help it

I love you because as a child you left the biggest impression

Your most important message

Believe in your path

Your god given genius

It’s in EVERY one of us

Follow this

It is a sin to watch it mire, mold and grow fungus

Expire

Soon it will cover you

Instead of the reason you are you

Heavenly sent

We’re all messengers. . .

Just imagine

One day

When we all tap it

When we all rap

When we all trap it

Look at the stars

Stare

They’re not very far

Focus

Imagine every day

Every minute a little pray

You’ll orbit close

Closer

Peel off that negative parasite

Throw him to the wind

Let her carry him to the ocean he wants to be in

Indulge positivity

Sound speed

Surround yourself with matter that echoes your imagery

Your philosophy

Trust and then watch the impossible merging

Taking shape

Taking wake

The only secret

As already shared

Is right in front of us

Still a secret we keep passing it up

It’s a playground

Not a jump rope of despair

Don’t swing from disappointment, to anger

To jaded to fear

Genius – the elusive power

The most coveted spot

From all around and above

Is powered only by love

All force takes part

Love doesn’t discriminate but a divine cycle

These truths as a child were powered only by you

Uncle Michael

TrivialPursuit said:

Funny story: I used to have a friend who lived out in San Diego. He wasn't a huge MJ fan.

Something had recently happened in the media with MJ, and he was talking to co-workers just ranting on MJ and how horrible he was, and he was this or that. Just water cooler talk.

As he's going back to his cubicle, he notices one of his coworkers crying and really upset. He went on to his cubicle and got to work and didn't stop to ask why.

A bit later, his boss called him to his office and said that Valencia (the girl crying) was very upset by what he had said about MJ. He was confused as to why this woman was so upset about some random MJ talk.

"Her last name is Jackson." He thought maybe the boss was just overemphasizing a point that held no water - as in she was only feeling MJ because they shared a name. He was still at a loss.

"Her father is Marlon Jackson. She's Michael Jackson's niece." He had worked for years with Valencia Jackson and never knew she was related. But that day he found the fuck out.

I'm sorry, but I think he should've been fired for that.

anc282 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Funny story: I used to have a friend who lived out in San Diego. He wasn't a huge MJ fan.

Something had recently happened in the media with MJ, and he was talking to co-workers just ranting on MJ and how horrible he was, and he was this or that. Just water cooler talk.

As he's going back to his cubicle, he notices one of his coworkers crying and really upset. He went on to his cubicle and got to work and didn't stop to ask why.

A bit later, his boss called him to his office and said that Valencia (the girl crying) was very upset by what he had said about MJ. He was confused as to why this woman was so upset about some random MJ talk.

"Her last name is Jackson." He thought maybe the boss was just overemphasizing a point that held no water - as in she was only feeling MJ because they shared a name. He was still at a loss.

"Her father is Marlon Jackson. She's Michael Jackson's niece." He had worked for years with Valencia Jackson and never knew she was related. But that day he found the fuck out.

I'm sorry, but I think he should've been fired for that.

Well. That would go a little bit far. But it is cool that the boss reprimanded him. He could also very well stayed out of this, as this really had nothing to do with work.

Wow! Working with MJ's niece. Hopefully he's not a total douche and takes this occasion to educate himself about Michael.

PeteSilas said:

mjscarousal said:

I know that pissed me off too.

fucking hairlip motherfucker

Yeah. Notice how he had to throw in that bit about Michael being famous for singing about a rat and that he was very teachable... like anything MJ had done before Quincy came along wasn't worth shit!? Shade!?

PatrickS77 said:

anc282 said:

I'm sorry, but I think he should've been fired for that.

Well. That would go a little bit far. But it is cool that the boss reprimanded him. He could also very well stayed out of this, as this really had nothing to do with work.

Wow! Working with MJ's niece. Hopefully he's not a total douche and takes this occasion to educate himself about Michael.

Yeah, the boss didn't really reprimand him. It was more of a "here's some information you were missing". He wasn't disciplined or anything. It did have to do with work because one worker affected another's peace of mind and ability to perform their job (even temporarily).

He's still not an MJ fan, but he certainly curbed his opinions.

PatrickS77 said:

PeteSilas said:

fucking hairlip motherfucker

Yeah. Notice how he had to throw in that bit about Michael being famous for singing about a rat and that he was very teachable... like anything MJ had done before Quincy came along wasn't worth shit!? Shade!?

Condescending creep.

PatrickS77 said:

PeteSilas said:

fucking hairlip motherfucker

Yeah. Notice how he had to throw in that bit about Michael being famous for singing about a rat and that he was very teachable... like anything MJ had done before Quincy came along wasn't worth shit!? Shade!?

oh yeah, i noticed, one song about a rat and no mention about some truly great singles along with that one.

thedoorkeeper said:

Why is you guys hate Quincy Jones so much?

cuz he's heinous

[Edited 8/31/17 20:58pm]

Kenny Loggins

Micky Dolenz & Brian Wilson

purplethunder3121 said:

PatrickS77 said:

Yeah. Notice how he had to throw in that bit about Michael being famous for singing about a rat and that he was very teachable... like anything MJ had done before Quincy came along wasn't worth shit!? Shade!?

Condescending creep.

Professor Griff doesn't speak highly of Quincy...but for other reasons.

[Edited 8/31/17 22:19pm]

Restored version of the 'Thriller' Short film being premiered 3rd September at the Venice film festival. Don't know if it has had a 3D conversion, but as it was shot on film, at least it'll be HD at last. Just wonder when the rest of the world will get to see it and how. Can't believe I'm excited to see it yet again, but there you go.

Marrk said:

Restored version of the 'Thriller' Short film being premiered 3rd September at the Venice film festival. Don't know if it has had a 3D conversion, but as it was shot on film, at least it'll be HD at last. Just wonder when the rest of the world will get to see it and how. Can't believe I'm excited to see it yet again, but there you go.

Yep the restored version is also in 3D and apparently has some "surprise"

I have a feeling that we'll see a theatrical run in time for Halloween and a blu ray release since they're adding Making Michael Jackson's Thriller with it

Boooooo

I met him once. He was very gracious, taller than I expected. Glided across the floor instead of walking. Icon.

poppys said:

I met him once. He was very gracious, taller than I expected. Glided across the floor instead of walking. Icon.

A friend of mine worked around him over the years (worked at Motown when Motown 25 was taking place, worked briefly for Bob Jones after Jones left Motown to work at Michael's production company, then worked the production houses that worked on Michael's Dangerous era videos) and said he was a truly warm and nice person, which can be rare in the industry.

poppys said:

I met him once. He was very gracious, taller than I expected. Glided across the floor instead of walking. Icon.

i always remember an article that described him as "gliding" not walking when he moved, just natural grace, funny that you have the same description.

Michael and Bobby Womack in 1989

Michael and Roger Troutman in 1985. For years it was said that they recorded an early version of Smooth Criminal. Finally got the right info in the book "Xscape Origins" that it was actually the unreleased song, Tomboy, that was recorded

with Dustin Hoffman during the charity engagement for Camp Ronald McDonald