by IzzyB
A singer, songwriter, dancer, producer and multi award-winner, Michael Jackson transformed the face of pop music and was named King of Pop.
Born in Gary, Indiana, on August 29, 1958 he started his career at the age of 5 when he joined four of his siblings to form the Jackson 5 as the group's lead singer in 1964. The group went on to have a successful career with the top songs "ABC" , "I'll Be There" & "I Want You Back" until the band separated and released their last song in 1973 in the UK.
In 1971 MJ started his very successful solo career. Between 1972-1975 he released 4 Motown solo albums before started his adult career with the album Off The Wall in 1979 with his first song written by himself "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" becoming No.1 hit single in the US. He then went on to release the best-selling album in history, Thriller, in 1982. With the video Thriller having over 18 million views!
MJ went on to become one of the most internationally famous award-winning solo pop sensations ever and is still the most famous artist!
However he was not immune to the hate of the world.
In 1993 he was accused of molestation to which no charges where pressed. In 2003 a British TV show interviewed MJ and shared that he allowed children to share his bed at Neverland Ranch, and the same year another child claimed Jackson molested him which he was also found not guilty.
Many have come to see his change in appearance, his self medicating and odd behaviour as coping with being bullied.
Michael like everyone wanted to be loved. Having grown up with a father who was "stern and often abusive" and in the limelight of the world, he seen the hate and jealousy others could direct at him.
If you think about it, when people change their appearance for others so they will accept them, they are not happy with themselves and are often looking to be accepted. MJ was loved by many but those haters of the world he wanted their love and acceptance too. Just like all of us! He was a person and his thoughts, feelings and coping skills are no different then anyone else's.
Over the course of his career he faced success, failure, love, hate, legal issues, family issues, pressure from the media and his fans. Who wouldn't crack under that kind of pressure! Rumours about his sexual orientation also were noted after two failed marriages to Lisa Marie Presley (Elvis daughter) and Deborah Jeanne Rowe and his parenting skills where always questioned especially after holding his son over a balcony with a blanket over his head for fans below.
I can't imagine what he felt with the amount of hate this world could rain on him regardless of the amount of love we had for him!
When he died unexpectedly in 2009 the music world lost a legend. His death was ultimately ruled a homicide and Dr. Conrad Murray, who had been caring for MJ at the time of his death, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
At the time of his death he was only 112 pounds and was found with pills in his stomach and needle marks on his body. In my eyes that is clear signs he was self medicating and self harming. Keep in mind I am no specialist but sadly have seen the same path of destruction in my sister (without the self medicating).
Having left behind three children who have since struggled themselves with suicidal tendencies, legal battles, and one could say self medicating, as well as bullying it makes you wonder if indeed MJ struggled with mental illness the same way any one of us could.
His music will continue to live on and we will always remember the good and the bad that came from Michael Jackson, but more importantly this man created change and that is what I choose to look up to! Oh and lets not forget that Moonwalk though!! A dancer's nightmare and dream when you nail it!!!
My Ode to MJ by IzzyB
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