MJ FAN TRIBUTE
About
Michael Jackson Chosen Voices
PUTTING MY
HEART ON
THE LINE
I have a story to tell. It’s a story about ex- walk. I watched This Is It many times. I
ploring the life of the most inspiring person I
h a v e
e v e r
known. Michael Jackson’s life was nothing
short of epic. I cannot
wait for you to discover
what I have learned
about Michael’s musical and creative genius, his unparalleled
performances, his love
for people, for children,
for the environment, his vision and imagination and his desire to use his gifts to help
change the world. His life has been lifechanging for me. Maybe it will be for you,
too. So, here we go.
“I’ve always wanted to be able to tell stories,
you know, stories that came from my
soul. I’d like to sit by a fire and tell people
stories-make them see pictures, make them
cry and laugh, take them anywhere emotionally with something as deceptively simple as
words. I’d like to tell tales to move their souls
and transform them. I’ve always wanted to
be able to do that.” Moonwalk 1988
With those words, Michael Jackson opened
his autobiography. I have always believed
that when the student is ready, the teacher
will appear.
2009 was a particularly difficult time for my
family and me. On June 25, 2009, my heart
was ready to receive what, in a word, I would
call LOVE. Watching, with an estimated
billion people around the globe, Michael
Jackson, the man, the creative genius and
inexhaustible voice for change, reappeared
in my life. I had always adored Michael’s
music and short films. I could listen and
watch and never get enough of his magic. But, the journey that began for me on
June 25th was deeper than that.
In the next months, I read and reread Moon-
searched for all CD and DVD performances. I
viewed wonderful Fan videos on
YouTube. Then, I read Dancing the Dream. I
WAS TRANSFORMED. Over the course of
the next three and a half years, I have read,
studied, listened to and viewed CDs, DVDs,
books, speeches, interviews, rehearsals, public appearances and more. I transcribed thousands of words. Michael gave voice to everything I believe in. He lived out these values
daily on a world stage. He inspired. He was a
teacher.
During an Ebony Magazine interview in
1987, Michael was asked what interested him
most about life. He replied, ” What interests
me most about life is learning, finding out new
things, exploring different worlds.”
Armed with an avalanche of research and a
growing library, what was next for me? Have
you ever had something happen that touches
your heart so profoundly you want to climb to
the rooftop of your house and scream out,
“EVERYONE, LISTEN! THIS IS REALLY
IMPORTANT!” Maybe not such a good
idea. I began coming up with other avenues
for sharing: adding a “Food for the Soul” postscript to all
my emails,
creating
elaborate
Michael
Jackson
artists’
dates with
my husband. I found myself needing more. THERE
IS A CHINESE PROVERB WHICH SAYS. “IF
SOMEONE SHARES SOMETHING OF VALUE AND YOU BENEFIT FROM IT, YOU
HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO
SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.”
Having read books written by MJFans, following postings on several justice project websites, reading comments beneath amazing
YouTube videos, I hungered to be a part of
13
that global community of kindred spirits. THIS
BLOG puts MY
h e art o n t h e
line. Postings will
focus on Michael’s
creative and humanitarian
genius…his heart
and his unconditional love for the
world. It is written to
HONOR the artist
and the man. I invite comments and
dialog. Comments
that dishonor Michael will be deleted.
THERE IS A LEGEND THAT SAYS…ONCE IN
YOUR LIF ETIME SOMETHING BIG HAPPENS AND
CHANGES YOUR WHOLE LIFE FOREVER. AFTER
THIS TURNING POINT, YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER
BE THE SAME.
Is it possible to love someone you have never
met. ABSOLUTELY!!!!! I am inspired daily by
Michael. If you, too, have been introduced to
the gift of that inspiration, I hope you will share
your journey with
me. Together, we
will
feel
the
LOVE.
IT’S ALL
ABOUT
THE
LOVE!
“I remembered what
John Lennon said,
‘Elvis was my idol and
Chuck Barry was my
teacher.’
WHAT A
WONDERFUL THING TO SAY.” Michael Jackson
1981 American Music Awards Chuck Berry Tribute
HIStory
MYstory
OURstory
~Jude~
About Michael Jackson Chosen Voices