DUBLIN, Ireland — It’s half past four in the morning and I’m making my way to Dublin with Ray.
I have spent a fair amount of time in the back of Ray’s car in the last 34 hours. He is the driver, henchman for the fellow who owns the recording studio in the middle of no man’s land, Ireland. Not only is it a quaint studio built inside the grounds of an old stone classic Irish estate... it’s the new creative home of Michael Jackson.
And yes, I just conducted the first visit with Michael Jackson since he left the United States in June 2005. First off, let me tell te what this visit is not:
It is not a bare all, rehashing of that period of his life. I was prepared to ask him all the domande in the world regarding mistakes made and lessons learned, but trust me, he was not.
He asked if 5 minuti of rolling tape was OK in the studio while he “collaborated” with Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Ultimately, We rolled for about 40 minuti and I did ask him domande about Musica and his thoughts for making a comeback.
Michael Jackson was nervous and antsy. He was truly torn. He wanted to stay and keep jamming and have some fun, but he also wanted to leave before, from his perspective, he got crucified da another TV interview.
Michael’s publicist and advisor, Raymone Bain, informed us (me and my Executive Producer, Rob Silverstein - pictured above with Michael and Will.I.Am) that Michael would like to meet us alone, no cameras, at a nearby cottage first. We agreed of course and before long we were seated at a breakfast tavolo in a very cozy, humble stone cottage. Down the spiral staircase he came.
First his boots, then his pants... black with a oro stripe down the side, then a velvet giacca with a white t-shirt underneath, then he turned to face us. I admit, my pulse was running high. He is a mythical character as atypical and untouchable as can be.
First impression I had was that he looked healthy. Fit. As his new landlord told us earlier, artists come to his estate for the whole experience of getting away... for peace and tranquility. It has suited Michael well, although he does not live there.
We stood up, shook hands and began small talk about life... soon, Michael began to make clear what he did not want: an interview. He was just willing to let our cameras roll while he and Will listened to beats and opened the lid to a comeback. I detto that we should just go in there and go until he didn’t want to anymore. Pensively, he agreed and we started for the door and the 50 yard walk to the studio.
This visit is a baby step for Michael.
About ten minuti into the session, after I had rolled out several questions, Michael paused and tried to get out. He did not like receiving pointed domande and he encouraged Will to play più beats so we could just roll casually.
At the end of the day, we did a little più of both. At one point, I suggested Michael remake “Thriller” for a new generation... with CD/DVD and Web components, essentially go with what’s proven but update with the help of technically savvy producer, Will.I.Am.
Michael lit up. Amazingly that was something he hadn’t considered.
When the Musica was rolling and he didn’t have me asking him questions, one could see sparks of life and energy. He hummed a little and at one point got up and walked to the back of the room where he could sposta a little to the music... he was almost dancing.
Michael was there with his children. I never saw them but the studio’s owner, detto they were having a ball, playing with his children and enjoying the exquisite countryside. According to the owner, Michael gets up in the morning and makes breakfast for them... usually porridge and fruit. I find myself hoping that Michael’s life is as normal as possible. Of course, it isn’t. Nobody knows anything about him... does he drive? Apparently, he does occasionally and he even had a cell phone before losing it a giorno later.
There....something normal to which people can RELATE.
Again, this was a first step for Michael. He was excited and terrified. It’s all about feeling whether he can trust somebody o not. His track record is horrible on that front. Maybe it will improve in regards to us. I am quite sure there is più to come.
I have spent a fair amount of time in the back of Ray’s car in the last 34 hours. He is the driver, henchman for the fellow who owns the recording studio in the middle of no man’s land, Ireland. Not only is it a quaint studio built inside the grounds of an old stone classic Irish estate... it’s the new creative home of Michael Jackson.
And yes, I just conducted the first visit with Michael Jackson since he left the United States in June 2005. First off, let me tell te what this visit is not:
It is not a bare all, rehashing of that period of his life. I was prepared to ask him all the domande in the world regarding mistakes made and lessons learned, but trust me, he was not.
He asked if 5 minuti of rolling tape was OK in the studio while he “collaborated” with Will.I.Am from the Black Eyed Peas. Ultimately, We rolled for about 40 minuti and I did ask him domande about Musica and his thoughts for making a comeback.
Michael Jackson was nervous and antsy. He was truly torn. He wanted to stay and keep jamming and have some fun, but he also wanted to leave before, from his perspective, he got crucified da another TV interview.
Michael’s publicist and advisor, Raymone Bain, informed us (me and my Executive Producer, Rob Silverstein - pictured above with Michael and Will.I.Am) that Michael would like to meet us alone, no cameras, at a nearby cottage first. We agreed of course and before long we were seated at a breakfast tavolo in a very cozy, humble stone cottage. Down the spiral staircase he came.
First his boots, then his pants... black with a oro stripe down the side, then a velvet giacca with a white t-shirt underneath, then he turned to face us. I admit, my pulse was running high. He is a mythical character as atypical and untouchable as can be.
First impression I had was that he looked healthy. Fit. As his new landlord told us earlier, artists come to his estate for the whole experience of getting away... for peace and tranquility. It has suited Michael well, although he does not live there.
We stood up, shook hands and began small talk about life... soon, Michael began to make clear what he did not want: an interview. He was just willing to let our cameras roll while he and Will listened to beats and opened the lid to a comeback. I detto that we should just go in there and go until he didn’t want to anymore. Pensively, he agreed and we started for the door and the 50 yard walk to the studio.
This visit is a baby step for Michael.
About ten minuti into the session, after I had rolled out several questions, Michael paused and tried to get out. He did not like receiving pointed domande and he encouraged Will to play più beats so we could just roll casually.
At the end of the day, we did a little più of both. At one point, I suggested Michael remake “Thriller” for a new generation... with CD/DVD and Web components, essentially go with what’s proven but update with the help of technically savvy producer, Will.I.Am.
Michael lit up. Amazingly that was something he hadn’t considered.
When the Musica was rolling and he didn’t have me asking him questions, one could see sparks of life and energy. He hummed a little and at one point got up and walked to the back of the room where he could sposta a little to the music... he was almost dancing.
Michael was there with his children. I never saw them but the studio’s owner, detto they were having a ball, playing with his children and enjoying the exquisite countryside. According to the owner, Michael gets up in the morning and makes breakfast for them... usually porridge and fruit. I find myself hoping that Michael’s life is as normal as possible. Of course, it isn’t. Nobody knows anything about him... does he drive? Apparently, he does occasionally and he even had a cell phone before losing it a giorno later.
There....something normal to which people can RELATE.
Again, this was a first step for Michael. He was excited and terrified. It’s all about feeling whether he can trust somebody o not. His track record is horrible on that front. Maybe it will improve in regards to us. I am quite sure there is più to come.
Michael Jackson had some unexpected company drop da this weekend -- a surprise visit from his close friend Stevie Wonder.
TMZ has confirmed that the singer and three of his children stopped da Michael's tomb at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA this weekend to pay their respects.
According to Stevie's rep, Wonder and his kids had gone to the cemetery to visit Stevie's dearly departed mother -- but Stevie's children insisted they visit MJ too.
Wonder and MJ were famously close -- and at MJ's memorial last year, Stevie told the crowd he often let Michael know how much he loved him ... and was "at peace with that."
See also
TMZ has confirmed that the singer and three of his children stopped da Michael's tomb at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, CA this weekend to pay their respects.
According to Stevie's rep, Wonder and his kids had gone to the cemetery to visit Stevie's dearly departed mother -- but Stevie's children insisted they visit MJ too.
Wonder and MJ were famously close -- and at MJ's memorial last year, Stevie told the crowd he often let Michael know how much he loved him ... and was "at peace with that."
See also
Originally postato May 13th 2010 5:30 PM PDT da TMZ Staff
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for fan to bring più fiori to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged fan to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
fan have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for fan to bring più fiori to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged fan to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
fan have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
Verse 1:
Looking out
Across the nighttime
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs
Verse 2:
Get me out
Into the nighttime
Four walls won't hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite
Chorus:
If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
if they say-
Why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
Verse 3:
Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are ev'rywhere
See that girl
She knows I'm watching
She likes the way I stare
Chorus
I like lovin' this way
I like lovin' this way
Verse 4:
Looking out
Across the morning
Where the city's cuore begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I'm dreaming at the Street
Chorus
Looking out
Across the nighttime
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs
Verse 2:
Get me out
Into the nighttime
Four walls won't hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite
Chorus:
If they say
Why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
if they say-
Why, why, tell 'em that it's human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
Verse 3:
Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are ev'rywhere
See that girl
She knows I'm watching
She likes the way I stare
Chorus
I like lovin' this way
I like lovin' this way
Verse 4:
Looking out
Across the morning
Where the city's cuore begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I'm dreaming at the Street
Chorus
Originally postato May 3rd 2010 8:25 PM PDT da TMZ Staff
God help anyone who uses a picture of Michael Jackson to hawk their products, because the licensee of MJ's image is going after some new companies with a vengeance.
Bravado International Group -- which markets all things Michael -- is suing T-Line Design, Inc. based in Oregon.
According to the federal suit, obtained da TMZ, T-Line is downright "defiant," sardonically Scrivere a blog that says, "...it SUCKS TOTAL BOLLOCKS when people steal those creations..."
The suit seeks $750 for each image illegally used, as well as statutory damages of $150,000.
Bravado filed two other infringement Suits today against two other companies for unauthorized MJ
Read more: link
God help anyone who uses a picture of Michael Jackson to hawk their products, because the licensee of MJ's image is going after some new companies with a vengeance.
Bravado International Group -- which markets all things Michael -- is suing T-Line Design, Inc. based in Oregon.
According to the federal suit, obtained da TMZ, T-Line is downright "defiant," sardonically Scrivere a blog that says, "...it SUCKS TOTAL BOLLOCKS when people steal those creations..."
The suit seeks $750 for each image illegally used, as well as statutory damages of $150,000.
Bravado filed two other infringement Suits today against two other companies for unauthorized MJ
Read more: link
like your charm, your face,
just everything.
But the thing I think of the most
is that smile of yours.
Everytime I see it,
my cuore skips a beat
and my thoughts get Lost in it.
Your smile gives me butterflys in my stomach.
Your smile makes angeli sing, a song that fills the streets.
Without that smile,
there is no joy in this world.
No one can replace it.
There is no mistake that when te smile,
that wonderful, beautiful smile,
the world turns into a better place.
To: My LOVE, Michael Joseph Jackson
By: Gracie