Fri 26 Jun 2009
Michael Jackson – Childhood
Category: Inspiration
I wasn’t going to, but feel I must say a few things about Michael Jackson. The impact he had on me goes beyond words. Through his music, I learned to live, to love, to dream.
Yesterday and today were difficult. I refuse to leave the house because I know if I hear one of his songs, I’ll cry. It won’t be any time soon that I’ll be listening to his albums the same way I used to. Someone on Twitter linked to this, and I inadvertently clicked on it. Here I am, crying like a baby. RIP Michael…
Michael Jackson – Childhood
Deerlings: you don’t have to answer this, but where were you when you heard the news?
89 Responses to “ Michael Jackson – Childhood ”
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June 26th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
This is one of the saddest days in my life. His loss is a tragedy, but still it’s amazing how it is bringing the whole world together in celebration of such amazing artist.
He will be forever in our hearts. R.I.P. Michael.
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June 26th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I KNOW, I MADE A POST AS WELL, HE WAS THE SOUNDTRACK TO SO MANY, A TRUE ICON…❤✿❤✿ NO ONE WILL BE LIKE HIM, THEN , BEFORE, NOW OR AFTER……JUST NEVER!
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June 26th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I know what an inspiration M.J. was to you Xenia. I hope you’re doing OK. It’s so sad, he was so young. He was 3 years younger than my dad and I can’t imagine my dad being gone. M.J. will live forever in our minds and hearts. RIP
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June 26th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
I couldn’t believe it at first :-(
It feels like another part of my childhood has died.
Even if I never was a ‘real’ fan like others it’s really sad to me, because I liked him as a person and some of his songs are still in my favorites.
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June 26th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
He seems like such a sad tortured soul….The way people judge. I feel he was an amazing soul who left us so much to remember and celebrate. His music brings me back to my child hood and I can remember what I was doing when I heard his songs. That makes me feel so good!!!! After remembering songs today I think my favorite is Man in the Mirror. Just love it…
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June 26th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I felt like it was frivolous to write about MJ (after all, people are dying everywhere, every day.) I feel as if I can’t lament the death of someone who well could have been a pedophile. But MJ was a legend who lived a tortured life we will likely never understand. His legacy affected almost every cultural aspect of our generation, and will continue to influence the world of dance, music, and fashion indefinitely. RIP Michael.
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June 26th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
yesterday was just too surreal. i grew up on michael. having him be such a permanent, omnipresent fixture in our lives for upwards of 40 years just makes it harder to believe. i was watching cnn all day and as soon as wolf said “michael jackson is dead” a very weird mixture of emotions flashed through me. i still can’t bring myself to say those four words out loud.
still, it is a very bittersweet moment in time. it is sad that he died–that will never ever not be true–but it gives the current generation, one too young to remember kurt cobaine and freddie mercury, a chance to experience what we did when they passed as well. it has united so many people in grief, and has given us a chance to celebrate the change that michael not only gave to our lives and hearts, but to the entertainment industry and human rights. and for that, he will never be forgotten as not only a legend, but a beautiful person. rest in peace. ♥
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June 26th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
I was at an amusement park getting into a rollercoaster when the guy next to us looked at his phone and started freaking out about the news he just got. It was the saddest day I’ve ever spent in a park because it was almost like the world stopped. Its still so completely surreal to me. I haven’t been able to turn away from the news yet. I just hope though, that people will forget him as a “weird” alleged child molester, and remember him as a musical genius and gentle soul. I mean, he’s touched everyone on this planet in some way. There is just no way you could go anywhere and not find someone who was affected by just one song. God….this is still so surreal…. And I really hate to say… Farrah, Michael… who’s gonna be #3?my heart can’t take much more…,
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June 26th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
This post is a testament to how MJ’s legacy lives on and I’m glad other artists build off of others’ ideas to create new original works, as Xenia does. We write about what moves us. If that happens to be the death of someone who happens to be imperfect (though who knows if they allegations MJ faced were true??) and influenced how we view the world, interact, and create in it, one has the perfect right to express as much. People should never discount other’s feelings.
Michael Jackson was amazingly talented. In spite of his circumstances, he demonstrated a strength most would never be capable of, particularly before the media’s scrutiny. I’m going to go moonwalk now…
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June 26th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I was actually in makeup class and it all hit us as a shock.
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June 26th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I hope you are feeling better Doe! I’m listening to Thriller now as a tribute, but I think I’m going to cry… :’(
I was at my high school with friends, waiting for something fun to happen (we were hanging out) and one by one, friends kept getting calls and texts about the news. (I JUST happened to accidentally push my hand onto a huge bunch of glass before the news hit me. :()
It was supposed to be band sectionals. But there was no music that day. None.
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June 26th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
all the people in my year level were bundled up on camp without radios/tvs/anything and my friend kayla got a text from her boyfriend saying he died.
it was about 7 am and we were all sleepy, but that news got everyone out of bed.
this guy in the other dorm compared it to steve irwin dying, you can’t believe it.
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June 26th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I was at my beauty school and me and some friends had oddly enough just finished listening to Thriller on someone’s Ipod, and a woman came in to get her hair done a broke the news. I immediately called my mom and started crying. I think literally everyone in my school was talking about it.
I feel so bad and just kinda confused. The poor man was in the spotlight for 45 years, and never got a break from it. He really was a tortured soul, but I truly feel that he had a great heart, whether all the rumors about him are true or not. I just want him to be remembered with dignity, not for the lies. He was such an inspiration to me. One of the greatest talents the world has ever been blessed with. RIP Michael…<3
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June 26th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Michael Jackson had an impact on me the same way he did on you, his music, dancing, videos… shaped my childhood. I was 3 when I first heard him, it was an instant crush. I constantly listened to his music, and watched his videos. My mother had actually bought the ” Making of Michael Jacksons Thriller” VCR tape back in 1986, 6 years before I came along, and when I got my hands on it I never stopped watching it. My babysitter even a scrapbook of him for me, because she knew how crazy I was about him.
He was always something immortal to me, I could never picture him dying. When I heard it, it just seemed impossible to me. I still can’t even believe it, when someone says “Michael Jackson Is Dead.” It just doesn’t click. At all. It isn’t real, it’s just like a nightmare.
I was on Tumblr when someone made a post about it, and I thought it was crap, then I looked it up on ONTD and there it was, then I posted it on facebook and all my friends were in an uproar, nobody believed me.
Last night, I downloaded songs i didn’t already have of him, and I layed down and bed and listened to it, and when I got to “We are the World.” I just started to cry, so hard. When I get out of being in denial, I think i’m going to cry even harder.
He was an incredibly talented man (And I’m not going to deny, he was incredibly attractive, even after his many nose jobs xD) with his talent he carried the burdens of his horrible childhood, something he should have never carried. He was just a genuinely good person and a huge humanitarian. I don’t think there ever will be a person whose gonna make an impact like him, ever. He’s inspired millions, unlike any other entertainers. So, all I have to say now is, Rest in peace Michael, you’re finally free.
-sorry for this very long post + horrible spelling, but he meant a lot to me :D-
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June 26th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I was at school, my class just started. And then one of my classmates got a text message from someone with horrible news… Our teacher even stopped the lesson and went on the Internet to confirm the information… Everyone got very upset…
It’s just horrible… I still can’t believe it – there is no Michael Jackson anymore…
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
when i heard this news it was from my friend in cali i woke up from a nap and started crying i was still convinced he was alive and didn’t want to believe he was dead. i remember when I was five and used to love thriller, billie jean and beat it. I feel so horrible about the way people treated him and how he fell apart, people sholdn’t ridicule him because he was THE man behind all music today, the true man behind dance. R.I.P Michael you will be missed & no one will replace you
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I was working on my web show when my toolbar dinged and said that he was rushed to the hospital and wasn’t breathing.
Not 20 minutes later, my toolbar dinged again, and said that he had died.
I yelled “Holy Shit!” and my fiance came over and could barely believe it himself.
Say what you will about him, but you can never take away from him that fact that he was a MIND-BLOWINGLY talented entertainer.
He will be missed.
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
i’m still in disbelief.
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
I was ringing two teenage girls up at work (Macy’s) when one received a text and she started laughing saying her friend sent her some weird text that MJ had died. None of us believed it.
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I had been kayaking, and when I went to pay they had “RIP Michael Jackson” written on a white board…
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
I was at the hospital when I heard the news. I still can’t believe it, keep expecting to hear on the news that it’s a mistake or a hoax..it’s all so very surreal. Several radio stations have been playing his songs all day long.
No one can deny that he was EXTREMELY talented and truly a music legend; no one can take his place. This has affected the entire world and despite all the legal and personal problems I believe he had a kind soul, child-like almost?
R.I.P Michael
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June 26th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I had been home for only an hour or so when my 87 year old grandfather came bursting out of his secret old person lair shouting the news.
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I was actually doing research in chemistry lab! I just got back from the NMR room which is underground (NMR = Nuclear Magnetic Resonance–I can tell you more about it if you’d like, teehee), and then one of my labmates told us when we got back.
I didn’t believe it!!
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
I thought that I heard wrong on the radio. At the time, they were still unsure of whether or not the news was real so they played “Beat It” and we all sat in horror. When the song was over, the station was able to confirm it and they continued to play his songs for the rest of the day. We all had goosebumps and none of us spoke right away.
I am with my extended family right now and his music and influence spanned generations. It was interesting and very sad to hear all of our different takes on him and how his music was the stuff we ALL grew up with. Whether we were 20 or 50.
I am stunned and trying my hardest not to get pulled into any rumors about pills. I want to remember him as the man my mom and then I grew up listening to. He was a legend and I hope he rests in peace.
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I was doing the groceries when my daughter called and told. I wouldnt believe it. As soon as we got home my husband went on the internet and told me it was true. Very Sad.
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
I was asleep in my room. I received a call on my cell phone from my father, telling me that The King of Pop had died. I was and still am in total shock. Michael was so talented and inspiring, at times, I almost believed that he was invincible. He was a true music pioneer not only for black people like myself, but for almost every single music act that came after him. He broke down barriers that may not have been demolished otherwise. He bought everyone together, and with over 750 million albums sold, he is truly an icon whose musical presence, modesty, talent, and compassion will be greatly missed.
R.I.P. Michael Joseph Jackson
xoxo,
Nicole
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:17 pm
i was actually sitting around the pc chatting to my cousin about something and crying about it, and in an attempt to feel better, went to my reader and saw the subject from thesuperficial.com -that Michael had died and that it was confirmed…..i cudn’t believe it, because I didn’t even hear the part that he was being rushed to the hospital….i’ve been bawling since…and listening to his music and just being brought back to my childhood, it really hits me that, this man molded the way i see music and sing, and he is the greatest entertainer ever! I LOVE YOU MICHAEL, RIP. I pray I will see you in heaven!
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
I was about to serve myself a drink in the kitchen while I waited for Oprah to come back on when I heard the T.V. say, “Michael Jackson has died.” I ran to my room and listened with disbelief; I still can’t believe it. I’m not one to have idols but I grew up dancing and singing to his songs! I was too young and poor to go to his concerts, so I was really excited for this upcoming concert. Besides my sadness my love and hope for the best goes out to his 3 kids.
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June 26th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
I was at the gym…I had already heard that he’d had a heart attack, but never expected the outcome. I had to go right home and write a tribute on my website, as well. Quite literally, I do not remember a time where I didn’t know of MJ as a huge star, so yeah, this is crazy, shocking news.
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June 27th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I had just stepped out of my car, walking to a dance rehearsal, when a friend broke the news. I had just found out that Farrah Fawcett had died, plus this particular friend is a definite kidder, so at first I didn’t believe it. But as soon as I walked into rehearsal, everyone confirmed what I had heard.
Instantly I felt confused and deeply upset. Such an icon–how great I cannot even express–dead so unexpectedly and painfully. The sorrow and absence felt by his loss are very deep. As a performer, I feel so indebted to Michael Jackson for creating and expressing his vision in such a powerful and unforgettable way.
Strangely enough, just last month my dance studio performed a piece set to music by Michael Jackson. Dancing to ‘Rockin’ Robin,’ ‘Bad,’ ‘Thriller,’ and ‘Will You be There’ (so much more meaningful and powerful now), I felt like I was paying tribute. Now I realize just how important that performance was. RIP, Michael–you will never be forgotten.
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June 27th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Admittedly, Ive never been a super crazy fan of his, but as a massive fan of music and fashion, i know the colossal difference he made. I think it’s awful that the media have turned him from a historic artist to a crazy, secluded man in the last few years. Even worse, not only a few hours after his death, jokes began circling. I felt horrid. Here is a man who did as much for music as Elvis or David Bowie, and we should remember him for the amazing work he has done, and how much he has affected everyone.
R.I.P M.J thanks for everything you’ve given the world.
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June 27th, 2009 at 1:32 am
michael jackson’s music helped me get through high school. i can’t believe he’s gone so young, i thought he’d be alive forever.
i was at work when i heard. i had his songs in my head for the rest of the day.
rip michael.
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June 27th, 2009 at 2:04 am
My Mom called me at work to tell me. I’m so sad. Thanks for posting the video, I cried like a baby too.
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June 27th, 2009 at 3:47 am
I came to my Mum to wake her up, but she was awake already, watching the news, and told me. I didn’t cry, but I still couldn’t believe he was gone.
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:07 am
I’m in Australia so different time zones means I was asleep, my brother sent me a text telling me. It’s so hard, the first person I actually though of was you. I remember over the years reading lots of different stuff about how he influenced you and mainly how you learnt English through his songs. It’s such a horrible loss, I keep thinking about his children and how much this will hurt them.
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Yesterday afternoon I was sitting at the computer when my husband asked me to look up news on Michael Jackson. I was reading several different reports, and it took a few minutes to find anything that actually confirmed that he had passed.
The feeling in our home was frantic as our kids read (or listened) along and my husband and I made calls to friends. I immediately thought I should call my friend Alyssa in Seattle. Last Halloween we preformed Thriller at midnight down her street. We cried as we confirmed what we had heard to each other (well, I didn’t tell her that I was crying because I didn’t want her to be any more upset than she already was). After talking to several other people, my husband put “Thriller” on the record player and I took my kids outside to dance (Zoe wore her gold leggings, Mira dressed in black with one red Converse, Bryce didn’t change his clothes).
As an Icon, he will live forever. I will always have the memory of watching Moonwalker with my toddler as she gleefully tried to impersonate him, squeeling “OOOooooOOO” at all the right times. And as a teenager seeing the video for “Scream” for the first time, wishing for an ounce of that talent. The imprint Michael Jackson has left on our culture is astounding.
Zoe wonders whether his children are good singers.
I hope he is at peace.
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:26 am
Pretty early in the morning…it was on the news headlines that passed at the bottom of the screen…i thought i had read sth wrong at first…i thought “it cant be!!!” and i still cant get my head around it…
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June 27th, 2009 at 5:58 am
I’m in Scotland, and was in bed almost asleep when my mum text me. I immediately ran downstairs to switch on the pc, and made my boyfriend’s flatmate turn over to the news channels. Evantually, they got bored and went to bed, but I couldn’t tear myself away from checking the websites every few minutes, and switching between the news channels and when all the music channels started playing his music, I was overcome with grief.
Michael was a alot of things to me, including an icon, and he created so many of my happiest memories without even realising it. Already, the jokes about his death are flying around, as expected, but my friends know NOT to repeat them in front of me. I respect everyone has different opinions of who he was, but I won’t stand for it. I don’t want to hear the nasty things people think they can get away with.
I started to write about my own thoughts about his life, and his death, but I can’t finish it quite yet. Whenever I think about what has been done to him I can’t focus. But I will finish it soon.
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June 27th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Hi there :)
I will always remember the night he dead.. i say the night cause here in France, we learned he had an heart attack at about 23h PM, i read on net that he just made an heart attack and thought ” Oh no!!! it can’t be!!” and when i read from some american tv ” he is dead” i was sooooo shocked!! i would never imagined i could be so shocked! i almost cried!
I immediately went to msn talk to my friend ” oh my god!! MJ is dead!” he said ” What the hell are you talking about??!!”
My friend is a big fan of him and for my part i used to listen to his songs, watch video clip, see concert at tv when i was a child.
Lots of french people spend the entire night on net to watch american tv to follow it.
For my part it’s a little part of my childhood which is gone with him… and when i think that some months ago i listened his albums with my cousin and he said to me ” For me it’s the biggest artist ever!”.
Even 3 days after it, i’m still shocked! he passed away to early, i’m sure he would have done lots of new things, album and so on.
May he rest in peace now and his songs are immortal.
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June 27th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I found out about his death after driving home listening to his music… so sad…
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June 27th, 2009 at 7:11 am
I was in bed still. A friend rang my boyfriend in tears to tell us. We turned the TV on and saw she wasn’t lying. I spent my whole day at work reading everything I could about him and generally feeling miserable .
The only worse thing for me is that I have lose a couple of friends these last 2 days because of how vocal a supporter I am of him and always believed he was a good man, not a pedophile. Oh well, I guess you can’t win them all.
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June 27th, 2009 at 8:36 am
I was in bed when my mum came in and said “Guess who’s dead” and I just guessed ‘Michael Jackson?’
It’s so sad..
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June 27th, 2009 at 9:22 am
It is such a great loss that a man with great talent like Michael Jackson dies. RIP King of POP
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June 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I’ve just spent the last three hours dancing to his music. Our local bar played all his hits and we went mental celebrating his music and his life. I am very sad, but I wont mourn, instead I will listen to a song of his each day knowing that he’s at peace, and appreciating the music he brought to the world. Our life is a little less magical without him in it, RIP
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June 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I was at a trip elsewhere in Norway when I got a text message from a friend saying “Michael Jackson is dead.” with a shocked smiley face afterwards. At first I didn’t believe her, but it’s not like her to joke about death and stuff.
Michael Jackson isn’t my idol from childhood, and I’m not his biggest fan, but I’m truly sad to hear about his departure – he’s meant a great deal to the music world.
One thing I read about that I thought I should share, however, was this festival in Norway that had some band – I think it was “Faith No More” – playing when the news got out. And I read blogs saying that people in the audience started chatting amongst themselves, as they got text messages with the news.. An whole audience that already was a community due to the concert got tied even closer together by this…
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June 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
I heard the news when I was at my boyfriend’s house– after I’d returned from Dairy Queen with two chocolate malts.
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June 27th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
I was in bed, and my sister came in and told me while I was half-awake. I fell back to sleep; I could never tell if something like that was a dream or real life. But when I woke up and saw the news, I knew it was no dream.
Truth be told, I don’t consider myself a fan at all, but it struck me how many of his songs I knew and liked. I also think that to live up to his musical genius would be a feat that would certainly be impossible for almost any artiste to live up to today. He made it big across the world before the internet and in the days of vinyls and CDs.
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June 27th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I was watching a football game, and a friend from my brother came to work with him in something and he told me… And I was like “really?” I didn’t believe it at first, but then, in the break of the football match, they said it… It was soo shocking and sad. On the next day, we started talking about it with a few friends in highschool… And a group of maybe 20-25 persons walked by us with black straps around their arms!
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June 27th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Xenia,
I just had the CRAZIEST dream!!! You were in it! Bear with me, it was really crazy!
So I got this genetic test result in the mail, and somehow, it turned out that you were my mom!! In my dream you were much older, maybe in your late 40s, but you still looked the same, teehee. I’m a young adult already so it was like the long lost news sort of. So I rushed to find you and tell you. When I got to your own little clothing line store I showed you the paper and you were estatic. After all the hugs we decided to work next to each other, table to table. And we both have different styles so it’d be interesting to see what we put on the walls next to eachother’s desks!
Then I had to run to a party, and I was wearing this light brown Native American looking dress and couldn’t find the right yellow low-cut boots to go with it. You started helping me and right before we found a pair it started pouring outside. And that’s when I woke up!!
Weird, huh????
And I don’t think of you as an old lady, don’t worry! I just love reading your blogs! You’re VERY inspiring, and one day I hope to meet you!!!!!
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I had gotten my IUD put in, and was sleeping off the pain. When I woke up, I read that he had passed from a few people on my Twitter. I went to check the gossip blog I read (ONTD on LiveJournal), and the site was down, which is when I knew it was true.
So sad to see him go. <3
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June 27th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I was in a car- I learned about it through a text message, and thought it was a joke. We had heard thriller playing earlier, and then a radio announcement came on saying “Yes, Michael Jackson has officially left us,”.
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June 27th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
i was on the subway to coney island with my friend. :( someone texted her about it, and soon the whole subway car was talking about the news together like we weren’t just strangers riding public transit together anymore.
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June 27th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Its still all surreal for me, I’m not a fan of his at. all. but the fact that he’s gone surprises me. I heard about it on the way to my uncle’s funeral…just hearing that and about Farrah Fauwcett (native texan) was just too much, while adding on the whole idea that my uncle just didn’t wake up…
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June 27th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I was actually on the phone, walking through the mall, when some guy jumped at me and shouted, “Michael Jackson is dead!!!” I was annoyed at the interruption, so my instinct was to sarcastically say, “Yah- it’s so true!” and move on. I hung up with my friend a few minutes later, and 5 minutes after that got to my car without having given this guy a second thought, when all of a sudden it hit me what he said, and I dropped my keys, thinking, “WHAT?!?!”
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June 27th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I was at work by myself all day, then at the gym, then running errands, and I didn’t hear until I got home – and it was through Facebook, I’m sad to admit. And through some disgusting joke someone had made. It was not a pretty way to find out. I thought it was some gross joke at first.
Not to make you cry more, but I keep watching his acapella performance of “Ben.” It’s just a tragic story, I think (not the song – but MJ’s life and death).
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June 27th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I was at home, until my dad called, he was telling me there was a CROWD of people infront of the UCLA medical. He was passing by it on his way to a party, then saw it on the news.
RIP Michael Jackson
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June 28th, 2009 at 12:19 am
I was at work when I heard the news. My BF called me with it like as soon as I punched out for break. Within minutes of me knowing and telling one person, the whole store knew.
Around where I live, we’re taking it pretty hard. Michael (and the rest of the Jacksons) was the biggest success that has come out of the area where I live (Northwest Indiana) and it has ALWAYS made me proud. I stopped by their old house in Gary the other day and the vigil has pretty much turned into a celebratory party for Michael by this point. There’s been talk about a Jackson family museum or a Michael Jackson performing arts center in Gary for a while (Michael was just up around here about five years ago talking to the mayor about this), but I think now that Michael has passed away, it’s FINALLY going to come to fruition. I remember being in that crowd of people when he came back to Gary and getting to actually see him; he was a lot taller than I expected.
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June 28th, 2009 at 12:40 am
I just arrived at my friend’s tattoo shop, and as soon as i walked in he was like, “michael jackson died!” i actually didnt believe him until he brought it up on the internet.
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June 28th, 2009 at 1:34 am
I was at my friend’s place getting ready to leave for Disneyland. Speaking of which, I really hope they bring back the Captain EO attraction in honor of his death.
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June 28th, 2009 at 2:32 am
I was at my sisters grad, and hadnt looked at the news all day. These, people, behind me began talking about him and how the world would be glad to have (they were rather nasty)him gone. That really upset me, and I actually started crying with most of my family watching, and well, they agreed with the people behind me. Personally Michael has always been my escape, I have this incredibly beat up 8-track that I used to play in a little walkman when my family was fighting. I think I bought it for 25cents at a garage sale. Honestly, I just cant believe someone so immortal could be gone.
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June 28th, 2009 at 3:13 am
I was playing Wii with my aunt, and my friend called me to tell me. I didn’t believe him until I ran to the computer and looked it up. I was never a huge fan of MJ, but I’ve always enjoyed his music, and am saddened by the loss.
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June 28th, 2009 at 6:49 am
I live in Australia, so it was around 7:30am when I heard the news. I was asleep in bed and my mum woke me up and told me. I was completely speechless. I have grown up listening to my parents play his songs. He has AMAZING talent and I can’t think of anybody who even compares to his musical genius. R.I.P MJ – you will be remembered for years to come.
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June 28th, 2009 at 9:35 am
I felt sad when I heard, but not as sad as after watching this video… I’m going to cry!
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June 28th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I feel like he died a long time ago. I think the last 10-20 years of his life was very lonely and difficult for him.
I heard the news this way: I was just facebookin’ away like many other nights and many people had on their status: “RIP MJ” and I was just thinking: “Who is this MJ?” And then I checked my local news website and there it was.
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June 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I heard the news on my car. My fiance and I was just getting home after having dinner at a restaurant when we heard something like “it seems like michael jackson is dead” and i was “WHAT, IMPOSSIBLE!!” I was not a BIG fan, but i liked a lot of his song and he was a legend. I’m too young to know him from the beginning of his glory, but he was the first idol of my father, and he did so much for the music and the black community. A legend died.
Rest in Peace MJ.
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June 28th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
In my bed, sleeping.
My boyfriend texted me about the news. (I’m from Sweden so it was like in the middle of the night)
It’s a sad feeling alright… He always seemed like such a troubled person. I hope he is at rest now.
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June 28th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I believe I was on Twitter when I saw it. and then I had to check 4chan /b/’s reactions.
he had a crazy life…hopefully he’s got some peace now.
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June 28th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
I just couldn’t believe it- I cried for hours. Michael Jackson’s music has had a huge impact on my life- when I was going through severe depression three years ago, it was Thriller that got me back into the world- I joined Thrill the World, and have been a part of it ever since. Yesterday, I danced Thriller in Toronto on the streets because I needed to- I couldn’t think of a better way to pay tribute to a beautiful man.
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June 28th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
I had literally just finished watching a hilarious Nostalgia Critic review of Moonwalker when I heard the news. Sure, I felt a little bad about laughing at his expense mere seconds before, but I’ve never been a fan of much of his work. Smooth Criminal is pretty badass, though.
And it sounds a little bad, but MJ and Farrah Fawcett are kinda stealing Ed McMahon’s thunder =^\
And now Billy Mays is dead. Who are the next 2 gonna be?
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June 28th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I heard the news when I was driving home from physiotherapy. It was shocking and such accumulative day for so many great people to pass on after such challenging and memorable lives.
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June 29th, 2009 at 3:12 am
I was standing in line in the post office and heard it over the radio – like a couple of you guys, I thought I had misheard! When my partner got home that evening I tentatively asked him if he had heard that MJ had passed away (still sure I had misheard it and thinking that he would laugh and tell me that) but he said yeah, he had. I wouldn’t describe myself as a fan though I enjoyed his music. It seems very surreal though – the end of an era.
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June 29th, 2009 at 11:36 am
i was at work and everywhere i go i hear his music now
i think it might be a good thing though, it’s a good way to remember him
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June 29th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
It may be mean to say it but I wasn’t bothered at all my MJ’s death at all. And it didn’t shocked me at all either. He was mentally and physically unheathy for years.
I was actually a lot more upset about Andy Hughes dying at 44. He was the genius of The Orb and electronic music wouldn’t be where it is today without him. And it’s sad that his and Farrah’s death got overshadowed by MJ’s.
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June 29th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I love this song, I always cry when I listen to it, and now it’s even worse.
I’m nineteen, and been lovin’ and listening to Michael Jackson since I was born, as a kid I would say “I wanna be Michael Jackson” when I was asked what I wanted to do when I grow up… It was 22 pm in France when I read what had happened on some on my friend’s statuses on facebook, and I thought it was only a bad joke and fell asleep. But in the morning, my mom woke me up, and told me “Michael Jackson is dead.” I couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t die, he was Michael Jackson, I never thought he would die, it might be something really stupid to say, but it’s the truth, at least for me. Michael Jackson wasn’t a mortal like everyone, he couldn’t die. And I still can’t believe it. I’ve been listening and watching nothing but his songs and concerts for the last four days. I’ve watched every show about him, and been arguing with people disrespecting him, because there are two things I trully hate, people disrespecting dead persons, and people insulting or criticizing Michael Jackson. I’ve been told that listening to all of his songs was stupid, and wouldn’t bring him back, that I was just like a sheep, doing what everyone does, but I think it’s the greatest tribute we can give him, showing him that we love him despite all of the gossip… I don’t really believe in heaven and all, but I really think people like him would deserve it. Rest In Peace Michael. We love you, and always will.
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June 30th, 2009 at 9:28 am
I was at home getting ready for the gym. My sister in law called me, and told me. I had to fight back tears. It was very strange. I had to tell my 6 year old son, because for the past few months, he’s been listening to Michael and watching him every day. He loves his music. So, I told my son, and he was very sad. We hugged for a little while. Michael has been a big part of my life, and my son’s as well. When I was pregnant, I used to get headphones, and only play Michael Jackson songs to him in my belly. He was destined to love him. It was a sad sad day for both of us.
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June 30th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
in the car, listening to the radio, the announcer just randomly said he had died.
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June 30th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I was on World of Warcraft and everyone in trade was talking about how Michael died, I thought it was a prank at first until I pulled up the news.
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July 1st, 2009 at 6:23 am
I had just woken up and went to my laptop to check emails and there in the sidebar was an article on him. I clicked on it, thinking it was about the shows he was going to do in the UK and instead it had a link to another article which said he had died. I cried my eyes out and the next few days were horrible and full of depression. I’ve always been a big fan and I am crushed. Lots of people on FB were commenting about it and some of them were making horrible jokes. I don’t get why people have to be jerks :(
RIP Michael, you were a true legend <3
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July 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I was at camp… :/ I don’t know how someone found out about it, ’cause no one had their cell phones, but someone knew and the whole camp found out in one morning. I didn’t believe it at first, but once I realized it was true I was really shocked.
I just didn’t really expect for someone like Michael Jackson to suddenly just DIE. Some people just seem like they’ll be around forever I guess…
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July 1st, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Since I live in Japan, I was laying in bed half asleep when I heard the news. My roommate turned on the tv and the first thing I heard was “Michael Jackson, dead at 50″ – I just couldn’t believe it. So sad. He surely did make an impact on the world and beyond.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 am
I was on the phone with my friend, Nathan, because it was my birthday. I was sitting by the TV, and images of Michael Jackson on the news channel caught my eye. Then I heard the anchor speaking of him in the past tense. I eventually ended up yelling “Oh my God, Michael Jackson is dead on my 18th birthday” into the phone.
Worst birthday present from the world ever.
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July 2nd, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I got a text from my boyfriend before it was even up on google yet “Michael Jackson died.”. I always knew that he was a heavy influence on dance and music, but I didn’t really understand until I started watching all his videos in the last week. He had an incredible voice, he was quite possibly one of the most amazing dancers to ever grace the world of music, and it’s a true tragedy that he’s gone.
Also, I’m convinced that the way people talk about him and how his personality was always shown and described, I have no doubt that he didn’t behave inappropriately with children. I wish he didn’t have to go through all the drama around it.
Xenia, I hope that you feel better soon and that one day you can listen to Michael Jackson’s music and smile instead of crying.
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July 4th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Living in Australia, I was about to get out of bed, my husband was about to walk out the door for work….comes in to give me a kiss and goes “News overnight- Farrah Fawcett died, and not confirmed, but Michael Jackson died after a heart attack”.
Not the most tactful thing he’s done. :(
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July 7th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I work graveyards and I just woke up and checked my text msgs. My boyfriend informed me of the news…so sad…what a loss.. a true artist indeed!
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July 7th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I was In School. And everyone talked about It and I was like – Oh Bummer! I couldn’t believe It… It was like people like him cant just die…. They have to live forever
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July 10th, 2009 at 7:30 am
…..iceland XD. i had just walked into the hotel on the very first day, looked at the tv above my head, and my jaw dropped in shock. near the end of my trip was the memorial, which i watched in a guesthouse. my trip came full-circle around the news of mj’s death ;_;
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July 16th, 2009 at 3:46 am
i was at home all alone and my friend text me three words “Michael Jacksons dead!”. i just couldnt believe it and throught she was playing some sick joke, but then my mother rang and telling me that it was TRUE. i just stood there it shock. then i pulled out all his music, cranked it up REALLY loud and danced around crying at the same time, wishing id got to meet the legend himself. i miss him so much. love you michael. you are the BEST.
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August 8th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
MY MICHAEL JACKSON HA TRANSCURRIDO MÁS DE UN MES DE TU PARTIDA A LA ETERNIDAD, Y SIEMPRE SERÁS EL REY DEL POP, ESPERABA CON MUCHA ILUSIÓN TU CONCIERTO EN EUROPA. ACTUALMENTE VEO TU IMAGEN, ESCUCHO TU VOZ Y JUNTO CONTIGO CANTO TUS BELLÍSIMAS CANCIONES Y SIEMPRE ESTARAS CONMIGO. I LOVE YOU.
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October 31st, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Tru Michael was treated badly as a child but if he surrounded himself with kids as an adult and you say that it is because of his lack of childhood as youngin, How come he dangled Prince Michael II over the balcony? It was HIS own son!!
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