A ⁿ ⁿ ' s ZONE

Expressions of Whirlwind Emotions, Thoughts, Life and Everything Possible and Impossible.




THE EARLY YEARS:
CHILD PRODIGY

Born on Aug. 29, 1958, in Gary, Ind., to Joe and Katherine Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson – the seventh child in a family of nine kids – showed a gift for singing at an early age, quickly becoming known as the little boy with a big voice. During his days with the Jackson 5, Rolling Stone magazine hailed the young singer as a prodigy with "overwhelming musical gifts."



THE EARLY YEARS:
THE 'CUTE ONE'

"Michael was the little cute one," Jermaine told PEOPLE in 1984 about his younger brother, who joined his siblings – (clockwise from left) Tito, Jackie, Jermaine and Marlon – in the group the Jackson 5 at the tender age of 6. Though he started out as a backup musician playing congas and tambourine, it wasn't long before he was the frontman, leading the group to massive success with No. 1 hits including "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There.



CHILD'S PLAY

Despite his ever-present smile in photos (like this one circa 1970), life at home in the Jackson household was anything but happy. Jackson spoke out about the childhood abuse he endured at the hands of his father during a lengthy 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. And in the 2003 documentary Living with Michael Jackson, the singer told interviewer Martin Bashir that during Jackson 5 rehearsals, father Joe "sat in the chair and he had this belt in his hand. If you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you."



LITTLE SIS

Though he and sister Janet (pictured in 1972) were close as siblings, Jackson had his typical big brother moments, like nicknaming her Dunk because of her size. "You look like a donkey, you're so big," he said. Years later, in 2001, the pair teamed up for the edgy song and video "Scream," which earned them a Grammy nomination. "Everyone sees he is different. There's no question about that," she said in 2007. "He's my brother. I love him regardless."



FUNNY GUY

During a 1972 appearance on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, Jackson showed off his funny bone. "I can't make up my mind whether to be a jet pilot, an astronaut or the governor of Georgia," deadpanned Michael when Bono asked what he wanted to be when he grew up. In his teen years, Jackson (who that year earned an Oscar nomination for Best Song for "Ben") struggled with self-esteem issues – especially about his acne and a nose he felt was too big. "I think every child star suffers through this period because you're not the cute and charming child that you were," he told Oprah Winfrey in '93.



BAND OF BROTHERS

After leaving Motown Records in 1975, Jackson and his brothers changed their name from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons, releasing six albums between 1976 and 1984. At the time, Michael was the group's lead songwriter, and the period produced hits like "Can You Feel It." Simultaneously, the singer was striking out on his own, pursuing solo projects like 1978's film The Wiz and his celebrated solo album Off the Wall.



'WIZ' KID

When Jackson made his film debut in The Wiz, it was a critical and commercial failure, but the singer earned positive reviews for his turn as the Scarecrow. Jackson called shooting it "my greatest experience so far" in the 1993 book Michael Jackson: In His Own Words. "I don't think it could have been any better, I really don't."



GOOD TIMES

Teaming up with longtime pal Diana Ross, Jackson celebrated The Wiz's premiere with a bash on Oct. 24, 1978. The two shared a common history and career trajectory, each getting their start as a part of Motown groups before forging solo careers. While they maintained a professional relationship – Jackson later wrote and produced Ross's 1982 single "Muscles" – the two maintained a personal connection over the years.



A BRICK IN THE 'WALL'

After his successful turn in The Wiz, Jackson released his fifth solo album, Off the Wall, on Aug. 10, 1979. Coproduced by friend Quincy Jones, the Grammy-winning album spawned hit singles like "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You." "He had it all …talent, grace, professionalism and dedication," Jones said in a statement after learning about Jackson's death. "He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever."



KING OF POP:
MOON LANDING

It was the moment that had kids everywhere trying to walk backwards: Jackson, in cropped pants and loafers, debuted the smooth-sliding "moonwalk," one of the most iconic dance moves ever choreographed, during the 1983 primetime special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. Singing with his brothers and solo, he performed his hit "Billie Jean" – and left the audience screaming for more. He later reprised the moment at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards (left).



KING OF POP:
SUCH A 'THRILLER'

Jackson was inspired to do a horror-themed clip for "Thriller" after seeing John Landis's An American Werewolf in London. "It was a different type of horror movie. It was comedy and horror," Jackson said. "I said ... 'We gotta get in touch with him.' " Landis directed the epic 14-minute clip, which premiered on MTV before Christmas 1983. Thriller, Jackson's breakout '82 album, went on to sell more than 100 million copies worldwide, making it one of the biggest-selling albums of all time.


KING OF POP:
A BIG NIGHT

Jackson (with longtime collaborator Quincy Jones) cradles his record-breaking eight Grammy Awards – including album of the year for Thriller and record of the year for "Beat It" – at the '84 ceremony. (In 2000, Santana later tied his one-night feat.) Jackson kept his aviators on for nearly the entire ceremony, only removing the shades because, as he said onstage, Katharine Hepburn "told me I should and I'm doing it for her, okay?" Then, as the audience erupted in screams, he added, "And the girls in the back."



KING OF POP:
DANGER ON SET

It was a close call: While filming a pyrotechnic-heavy commercial for Pepsi at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium in 1984, Jackson's hair was accidentally set on fire as he performed "Billie Jean." The singer was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was treated for a third-degree burn and a palm-sized second-degree burn on the crown on his head. At the hospital, a flood of messages poured in from fans and friends, including a telegram from a girl that said, "I heard you were hot, Michael, but this is ridiculous."



KING OF POP:
'HOUSE' CALL

"Well, isn't this a thriller?" President Ronald Regan joked when presenting Jackson with the Presidential Public Safety Commendation Award in 1984. Jackson received the honor for granting the use of his hit single, "Beat It," in a campaign against teen drunken driving. A humbled Jackson merely said, "I'm very, very honored. Thank you very much, Mr. President and Mrs. Reagan."



KING OF POP:
A STAR FOR A STAR

Although he already was included on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (the Jackson 5 received their star in 1979), the singer received his solo star in 1984, making him one of a select group to have two stars. (Diana Ross also has two – one as a solo artist, one with The Supremes.)



KING OF POP:
A 'WORLD' VIEW

In 1985, Jackson and Lionel Richie penned the charity single "We Are the World." The song was performed by USA for Africa, a supergroup that included Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross and, of course, Richie and Jackson. Profits went to the USA for Africa Foundation, and targeted famine-stricken Ethiopia.



KING OF POP:
CAPTAIN'S ORDERS

3-2-1 blastoff! In 1986, Jackson joined forces with George Lucas (left) and Francis Ford Coppola for the 3-D film Captain EO, which debuted at Walt Disney parks in 1986 and would play at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., for the next 11 years. In the sci-fi musical, featuring the song "Another Part of Me," Jackson starred as Captain EO – and wins over an evil space queen.



KING OF POP:
OFF TO NEVERLAND

Instead of a castle, the King of Pop chose to live in an amusement park. In 1988, Jackson bought a nearly 3,000-acre expanse of land in California's Santa Ynez Valley and built Neverland, named after Peter Pan's world and complete with a Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and more rides. After police searched the ranch as part of his 2005 child molestation trial, Jackson abandoned Neverland, saying it was "violated."



KING OF POP:
A SUPER BOWL

In what remains one of the most talked-about halftime performances of all time, Jackson took the stage at 1993's Super Bowl XXVII in his trademark spangled military-style gear and stood motionless for a few moments – before kicking into the energetic "Jam." The surprise? He then ripped off his jacket and broke out in a medley of his hits "Billie Jean" and "Black or White" – ending the appearance, arms outstretched, in a hail of pyrotechnics and smoke.



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
ANIMAL INSTINCT

"My chimp Bubbles is a constant delight," Jackson wrote in his autobiography, Moonwalk, published in 1998. The chimp was just one of the animals – don't forget Louis the llama and Jabbar the giraffe – the singer had when he moved into his Neverland Ranch, which contained a zoo. But Bubbles – who wore clothes, used a toilet and reportedly learned to moonwalk – had "a special relationship with Jackson," animal trainer Bob Dunn told PEOPLE. "He spoils him, just like any parent would."



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
TABLOID TALES

Outrageous rumors about Jackson ran rampant in the '80s. Among them: He offered $1 million for the Elephant Man's bones and slept in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, hoping to live to be 150 years old. "He has a chamber," his manager Frank Dileo said at the time. "I don't know if he sleeps in it." Jackson later told Oprah Winfrey that the chamber was a "piece of technology used for burn victims" and that he decided to crawl inside and "hammer around." Other reports had him leaking the photo himself to conjure a sci-fi image ahead of the release of Captain EO.



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
MAN IN THE MIRROR

Over the years, Jackson's face changed dramatically as his skin appeared lighter, his nose narrower and his chin more defined, which prompted stories about addictions to plastic surgery and skin bleaching. Jackson admitted to twice altering his nose and adding a cleft to his chin, but told Winfrey, "I've never had my cheekbones done, never had my eyes done, never had my lips done." As for his changing skin color, Jackson blamed it on vitiligo, "a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin," he said. "I have to even out my skin."



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
MILLENNIUM MIX-UP

Honoring Jackson on his 44th birthday at MTV's 2002 Video Music Awards, Britney Spears presented him with a cake and said, "I consider him the artist of the millennium ... So, happy birthday, my friend, the King of Pop." Confused, Jackson responded: "When I was a little boy in Indiana, if someone had told me ... that one day I would be getting, as a musician, the artist of the millennium award, I wouldn't have believed it." The singer went on to thank Diana Ross, Quincy Jones – and David Blaine, saying, "Your magic is real and I believe in you."



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
FAMILY MAN

Jackson married dermatologist assistant Debbie Rowe, a longtime friend who also treated the singer for his vitiligo, and the two welcomed kids Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as Prince) and Paris. When the marriage ended in 1999, Rowe gave her ex full custody. Three years later, Jackson had another child, Prince Michael Jackson II (a.k.a. Blanket), through artificial insemination, but he never revealed the surrogate mother's identity. Jackson has been protective of all his children, often masking their faces when they go out.



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
TROUBLE IN BERLIN

In Berlin in 2002, Jackson greeted fans from his fourth-floor hotel balcony, but things turned scary when he held infant son Prince Michael II with one arm and dangled the baby outside the railing. "We were waving to thousands of fans down below, and they were chanting that they wanted to see my children, so I was kind enough to let them see. I was doing something out of innocence," Jackson said. "I love my children, I was holding my son right and strong ... I wasn't going to let him fall."



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
A STRANGE REALITY

A lengthy interview with journalist Martin Bashir from May 2002 to January 2003 became Living with Michael Jackson, a documentary that premiered on ABC on Feb. 6. 2003. Composed of quotable and bizarre moments – Jackson memorably compared himself to Peter Pan; went on extravagant shopping binges; and admitted to letting disadvantaged children sleep in his bed – the documentary was a major factor leading to his 2005 child molestation trial. Jackson later said he felt betrayed by Bashir and the footage.



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
THE MUGSHOT

After years of spending time with famous kids like Emmanuel Lewis and Macaulay Culkin, Jackson settled a suit charging him with abusing a child in a 1994 case. Then, amid recording a music video for his single "One More Chance" in Las Vegas, Jackson flew back to Santa Barbara, Calif., on Nov. 20, 2003, and surrendered to police on charges of lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14. Taken to jail in handcuffs, the pop star took this now iconic mug shot – and weighed in at a frail 120 lbs.



AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
DRESSED FOR COURT

Throughout his 2005 child molestation trial, Jackson had problems arriving on time to court. On March 10, Judge Rodney S. Melville threatened to issue an arrest warrant if the pop star didn't appear immediately. The pop star's defense attorney claimed that Jackson was hospitalized for back pain, but Jackson eventually arrived – minutes after the judge would have to make good on his threat – sporting slippers, pajama bottoms, a white undershirt and blue blazer.




AN ECCENTRIC STAR:
OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT

After being acquitted on child molestation charges, Jackson and his children went on an extended trip to Bahrain, beginning a real retreat from the public eye. In the Persian Gulf nation, Jackson was reportedly a guest of the king's son. When he returned to the States, his public appearances were few. On May 1, the singer stepped out to the Ed Hardy and Christian Audigier stores with his kids – sporting a mask.


SOURCE: http://www.people.com

"Childhood"

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates in adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
Have you seen my Childhood?

People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
The dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me.
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my Childhood...

--------------------------------------------------------------------

THE MOST HONEST SONG HE EVER WRITTEN

---------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVJscGa5vbc












Superstar: The Incredible Life of Michael Jackson 1958-2009

As the pundits rehashed the scandals of his life and debated what had brought him to a sudden end, Michael Jackson's fans, an army of admirers undivided by language, religion or national differences, reacted with tears – and joy at the music he left behind. A look back at the life of the King of Pop:

Early Career

The seventh of nine children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson, Michael Joseph Jackson was born in Gary, Ind., on Aug. 29, 1958, and began his career performing with his brothers. His professional debut with the Jackson 5 came in 1969.

The group set chart records with its first four singles, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC." As a solo artist, Jackson also recorded four albums for Motown Records before moving, with his brothers, to Epic Records, where they continued to record as the Jacksons until 1984.

Forming a partnership with producer Quincy Jones after working together on the 1978 movie musical The Wiz – in which Jackson played a rather sheepish Scarecrow to Diana Ross's Dorothy in the urban adaptation of The Wizard of Oz – Jackson released his solo album Off the Wall, co-produced with Jones. The disc spawned monster hits including "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You." His second Epic solo album, 1982's Thriller, is often cited as the best-selling album of all time.

Moonwalk

The video for Thriller all but defined the music video genre, while the album sold 40 million copies in its initial chart run, with seven of its nine tracks reaching the Top Ten. It was also nominated for 12 Grammys and won eight.

On March 25, 1983, Jackson performed his single "Billie Jean" live on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever TV special, where he debuted a dance, the moonwalk, that was to become his signature move. The following year, the singer was filming a Pepsi-Cola commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles when he suffered second-degree burns after pyrotechnics set his hair on fire. The singer settled out of court and established the Michael Jackson Burn Center with his $1.5 million award.

'We Are the World'

In 1984, Jackson did his final tour with the Jacksons to support the album Victory. The one major hit from the recording was Michael's duet with Mick Jagger, "State of Shock." The next year, Jackson began to put charity first and co-wrote and sang (along with Willie Nelson, Tina Turner and nearly every pop star known at the time) "We Are the World," on behalf of USA for Africa.

Then came the 1987 album Bad, when some slippage in his popularity began to show. At the time, the reclusive Jackson, who was raised a Jehovah's Witness, started construction on a mini-Disneyland as his residence, which he named Neverland, a place to live out the childhood he claimed he never had.

In 1993, Jackson addressed persistent rumors, telling Oprah Winfrey on her TV show that, contrary to reports that he was bleaching his skin a lighter shade, he in fact suffered from a condition called vitiligo. He also said that his father physically abused him as a child.

Allegations

Not long after, Michael himself was accused of abusing a 13-year-old boy who slept over at Neverland, though police found no evidence to support the claim when they searched the ranch. The case was settled by Jackson for an undisclosed sum. When other allegations of a similar nature emerged, Jackson maintained his innocence.

In May 1994, Jackson and the daughter of the late rock icon Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, were married – and very soon split up. After their 1996 divorce, Jackson married Debbie Rowe, a nurse in the office of one of his doctors. Two children were born to the couple: son Prince Michael Jackson I, in 1997, and daughter Paris Michael Jackson, in 1998. Jackson later had a third child, Prince Michael Jackson II (nicknamed "Blanket").

Professionally, Jackson was losing some of his luster, and the reception to his 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I was mixed, even though it produced two hit singles: "You Are Not Alone" and "Scream," the latter a duet with his sister Janet Jackson. By the time Jackson's 2001 album Invincible arrived, the artist was known for being as much an eccentric character as he was a serious musician.

Farewell to Neverland

In 2002, Jackson further damaged his reputation when he held son Blanket over a hotel balcony in Berlin so his fans on the street could see the child. Once again, when the critics threw bricks at him, Jackson said he was acting out of innocence.

The real trouble came in 2003, with a TV documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, in which the star told British journalist Martin Bashir that he shared his bed with young children. In 2004 came Jackson's arrest on a slew of ugly charges, including lewd conduct with a minor, attempted lewd conduct, administering alcohol to facilitate molestation and conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion. A media circus ensued at the trial – one day a very late Jackson showed up to court in his pajamas – though on June 13, 2005, Jackson was acquitted of all charges.

Saying that he felt that Neverland had been contaminated by police authorities who had gathered evidence against him, Jackson moved himself and his children to Bahrain. Amid promises of a new album, Jackson languished as an artist. Earlier this year, he announced that he would perform a series of concerts in the U.K. He said that these would be his final curtain call – his farewell to his fans.

The world STOPPED when Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center not far from his rental mansion in the Holmby Hills.

Michael Jackson's Autopsy: "No Indication of Foul Play" or Trauma

Michael Jackson's autopsy is complete, but the L.A. County Coronor's Office says more tests are necessary to determine the official cause of death.

During a press conference this afternoon, Craig Harvey, the chief coronor investigator, said the cause of death was deferred because additional tissue studies and testing -- including toxicology, neuropathology, pulmonary and others -- must be completed. These tests should be completed in four to six weeks, he said. Once those are completed, the ongoing case can be closed.

Still, the autopsy, which took three hours to complete, revealed that Jackson's body suffered no external trauma and there was "no indication of foul play," Harvey said.

He added that Jackson, however, had been taking "some prescription medications" but could not confirm what those drugs were.

Jackson, who suffered cardiac arrest at his rented L.A. home Thursday, was pronounced dead inside the hospital's emergency room at 2:26 p.m. PST, he said. He added that because no doctor signed the death certificate, a coronor at L.A.'s coronor's office did instead.

He also said that Jackson's body is ready to be released, but the family has not yet chosen a mortuary. Thus, it is unclear if he will be released tonight or sometime later.

Coronor Ed Winter conducted the autopsy and distributed the information earlier to the family.

Before the press conference, fans gathered. They sang famous Michael Jackson songs, and some sold T-shirts that said "Michael Jackson: Rest in Peace" for $10 each.

Although some reports claim Jackson may have overdosed on Demerol, Brian Oxman -- who has served as the family's attorney for more than 20 years -- told Usmagazine.com he couldn't comment on the types of medications Jackson was taking.

"It is something which is private to Michael, and we'll have to wait for the toxicology reports before we jump to any kind of conclusions," he said. "I only know that I warned that his day may come. And lo and behold, here we are."

<333

Jackson Family Issues Statement to Fans

The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday, conveyed by family patriarch Joseph Jackson. In full, it reads:

In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter. Our beloved son, brother and father of three children has gone so unexpectedly, in such a tragic way and much too soon. It leaves us, his family, speechless and devastated to a point, where communication with the outside world seems almost impossible at times.

We miss Michael endlessly, our pain cannot be described in words. But Michael would not want us to give up now. So we want to thank all of his faithful supporters and loyal fans worldwide, you – who Michael loved so much. Please do not despair, because Michael will continue to live on in each and every one of you. Continue to spread his message, because that is what he would want you to do. Carry on, so his legacy will live forever.

In addition, Joseph Jackson wishes to personally convey: "My grandchildren are deeply moved by all the love and support you have shown for them and their father, Michael Jackson."

Joseph Jackson & Family



Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the show. Their's no live telecast in my area. I can't keep on watching online because of a super bad connection! But its fine. I can still review and watch it again online. Not bad. So my 2009 MTV Movie Awards blog starts now!

The Winners!

Best Villain Winner
Heath Ledger The Dark Knight

Breakthrough Performance Female Winner

Ashley Tisdale High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Best Fight Winner

Vampire Showdown Robert Pattinson vs. Cam Gigandet Twilight

Breakthrough Performance Male Winner

Robert Pattinson Twilight

Best Male Performance Winner

Zac Efron High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Best Kiss Winner

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson Twilight

Best WTF Moment Winner
Peeing In The Sink Amy Poehler Baby Mama

Best Song From a Movie Winner

Miley Cyrus "The Climb" Hannah Montana: The Movie

Generation Award Winner

Ben Stiller

Best Female Performance Winner

Kristen Stewart Twilight

Best Comedic Performance Winner

Jim Carrey Yes Man

Best Movie Winner

Twilight Directed by Catherine Hardwicke


An (Almost) Sweep for Twilight! Twilight won Best Fight, Breakthrough Male Performance for Robert Pattinson, Best Kiss for Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson and Best Movie! I so love Casts styles!

The Gallery:










CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS AND NOMINEES!

PS: New Moon 11.20.009 (MARK your calendar!)