And the most popular version in the last 10 years... Michael Jackson's 'Smile'
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Jackson. Show all posts
Monday, September 05, 2011
Friday, July 10, 2009
When Michael Jackson and Oona Chaplin met
There has been people wondering if Michael Jackson and Charlie Chaplin ever met. They did not. Michael was a famous child and teenage singing star with the Jackson 5, as well as some solo work during Chaplin's later years. Michael was a huge fan of Chaplin's and the song 'Smile' was his favorite song. Jackson did say he always wanted to meet Oona Chaplin, which he did in the 1980s.
According to Jane Scovell book - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows'
"Oona's old friend Sophia Loren, "something of a Jackson groupie," had been attending Jackson's concerts, and when the singer came to Switzerland the Italian actress did arrange for them to meet. He (Michael Jackson) went to the Manoir and was given a tour of the estate by Oona. At one point she told him that he and Charlie "had a lot in common: you were born poor and had to strive to achieve all that you have." - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows' by Jane Scovell
Chaplin's home? Here is a tour of the Manior in Switzerland by Chaplin fan Rainer Mann. LINK
Update: Aug. 24th - Link to a painting Michael did of Chaplin when he was nine years old.
Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - LA Times Magazine, Michael Jackson dressed as Chaplin.
Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - More about Michael Jackson as Charlie Chaplin photo shoot.
Update Mar. 24, 2010 - 'Charlie and Michael' impersonators at the Adamastor Theatre.
According to Jane Scovell book - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows'
"Oona's old friend Sophia Loren, "something of a Jackson groupie," had been attending Jackson's concerts, and when the singer came to Switzerland the Italian actress did arrange for them to meet. He (Michael Jackson) went to the Manoir and was given a tour of the estate by Oona. At one point she told him that he and Charlie "had a lot in common: you were born poor and had to strive to achieve all that you have." - 'Oona: Living in the Shadows' by Jane Scovell
Chaplin's home? Here is a tour of the Manior in Switzerland by Chaplin fan Rainer Mann. LINK
Update: Aug. 24th - Link to a painting Michael did of Chaplin when he was nine years old.
Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - LA Times Magazine, Michael Jackson dressed as Chaplin.
Update: Dec. 9, 2009 - More about Michael Jackson as Charlie Chaplin photo shoot.
Update Mar. 24, 2010 - 'Charlie and Michael' impersonators at the Adamastor Theatre.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Jermaine Jackson's tribute to Michael
Jermaine Jackson sings Michael's favorite song 'Smile' (video taken down by user) at an emotional filled memorial today. Video from AP. (Michael and Janet in the 70's.)
Update: Jermaine Jackson will be posthumously accepting the award for his brother at the Save the World Awards in Zwentendorf, Austria, July 24th. The motto for this year's event will be 'Heal The World' named after Michael's 'Heal the World' foundation, which gave multi-millions of dollars to social and humanitarian projects around the world. It is reported Jermaine will sing Smile at this event.
July 25, 2009 - Update - AP report about the event
August 7, 2009 - iTunes plans to have Jermaine Jackson's version of 'Smile'
Sept. 4, 2009 - Forest Lawn - Los Angeles Times report and photos.
Update: Jermaine Jackson will be posthumously accepting the award for his brother at the Save the World Awards in Zwentendorf, Austria, July 24th. The motto for this year's event will be 'Heal The World' named after Michael's 'Heal the World' foundation, which gave multi-millions of dollars to social and humanitarian projects around the world. It is reported Jermaine will sing Smile at this event.
July 25, 2009 - Update - AP report about the event
August 7, 2009 - iTunes plans to have Jermaine Jackson's version of 'Smile'
Sept. 4, 2009 - Forest Lawn - Los Angeles Times report and photos.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Michael
Michael Jackson
1958-2009
May the music always live on...
Since I am the same age as Michael, I got to watch his career grow from the start. I remember seeing him with his brothers on the Dick Clark show (Bandstand) and on several variety programs of the late 1960s/early 1970s.
In junior high in the early 70s, we had a morning assembly every Tuesday and would always have a sing-along. The early Jackson Five hits, like ABC, were part of that sing-along. (The only African-American created music I remember singing in that school.)
By the time of his solo album Off the Wall, I remember purchasing it during my first year in college. I still remember the shop and pulling it off the rank in my little farm town.
And by the 1980s, I remember watching Thriller on MTV with my husband. It was huge, and I always would stop to watch it whenever it came on. (That is when MTV showed nothing but music videos 24/7. But more important, Jackson broke down the wall, allowing African-Americans to be shown on MTV. Before Michael, only white artist were shown on MTV. It wasn't easy, as it was a fight to get his video shown.)
Our very first music CD was Bad, which we purchased in Oakland, California. It was the same trip we got our first CD player.
And that was the last Michael Jackson album we purchased. But it wasn't the last time I listened to them, as I still have all those albums. The great thing about music, it always lives on, as long as people remember it.
I never saw him in person, only heard him on TV, records and countless times on the radio (like most people). And like so many other musical artists I grew up loving to listen too, I am always going to remember growing up with Michael's music and dancing.
He was so young when he started, he didn't choose his life, he was just having fun singing in the beginning and naturally good. It is just sad Michael never had the chance to 'grow up' to know a life outside his fame.
Three Video breakthrough favorites during peak:
Thriller | Billie Jean | Beat It
Update: Michael Jackson's recording of SMILE
(Apparently the video originally on MJ's site before, but placed up here by someone over a year ago, so don't know if it will stay, but includes Edna, Charlie, Jackie with Michael's version of SMILE.)
Update: Early moonwalk? In this tribute video called I Want You Back it shows early video clips from the Jackson Five television performances. If you watch closely at the end, you will see a very brief piece at what looks likes a very early moonwalk try by Michael at a much younger age.
Charlie Chaplin related fact: On January 28, 1985, "We are the World" which was co-written by Michael Jackson, was recorded on the Charlie Chaplin Studio lot, when the studio was A&M Studios.
In junior high in the early 70s, we had a morning assembly every Tuesday and would always have a sing-along. The early Jackson Five hits, like ABC, were part of that sing-along. (The only African-American created music I remember singing in that school.)
By the time of his solo album Off the Wall, I remember purchasing it during my first year in college. I still remember the shop and pulling it off the rank in my little farm town.
And by the 1980s, I remember watching Thriller on MTV with my husband. It was huge, and I always would stop to watch it whenever it came on. (That is when MTV showed nothing but music videos 24/7. But more important, Jackson broke down the wall, allowing African-Americans to be shown on MTV. Before Michael, only white artist were shown on MTV. It wasn't easy, as it was a fight to get his video shown.)
Our very first music CD was Bad, which we purchased in Oakland, California. It was the same trip we got our first CD player.
And that was the last Michael Jackson album we purchased. But it wasn't the last time I listened to them, as I still have all those albums. The great thing about music, it always lives on, as long as people remember it.
I never saw him in person, only heard him on TV, records and countless times on the radio (like most people). And like so many other musical artists I grew up loving to listen too, I am always going to remember growing up with Michael's music and dancing.
He was so young when he started, he didn't choose his life, he was just having fun singing in the beginning and naturally good. It is just sad Michael never had the chance to 'grow up' to know a life outside his fame.
Three Video breakthrough favorites during peak:
Thriller | Billie Jean | Beat It
Update: Michael Jackson's recording of SMILE
(Apparently the video originally on MJ's site before, but placed up here by someone over a year ago, so don't know if it will stay, but includes Edna, Charlie, Jackie with Michael's version of SMILE.)
Update: Early moonwalk? In this tribute video called I Want You Back it shows early video clips from the Jackson Five television performances. If you watch closely at the end, you will see a very brief piece at what looks likes a very early moonwalk try by Michael at a much younger age.
Charlie Chaplin related fact: On January 28, 1985, "We are the World" which was co-written by Michael Jackson, was recorded on the Charlie Chaplin Studio lot, when the studio was A&M Studios.
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