I have seen the commercials on TV promoting the Michael Jackson movie This Is It, where they put together all the rehearsal footage and made it into a movie. I have been debating if I wanted to go see it on October 28th. It would be bittersweet. On one hand I could see part of the concert I would never get a chance to have seen if he were alive and on the other he’s not here anymore and some of the footage was taken only days before he died.

To build up the hype of the movie they released more footage from it where he is rehearsing with Ken Ortega (who was the choreographer for the High School Musical movies). I love Ken’s work and this concert would have been amazing. This footage shows Ken practicing with Michael to the song, Human Nature.  His vocals were amazing and his dancing reminded me of the old days. He would have rocked that concert.

I know that some of you may think, that we are late in writing a more in depth post about Michael Jackson, but I beg to differ.  I know that the family, friends, and fans around the world still have not had ample time to mourn, but I did wish to show them a high degree of respect, and allow them a reprieve from the constant coverage, if only on this site, if only by my hand.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born August 29,1958, and it was almost as if he were destined to sing, because I have never seen another person with such a fierce purpose, or calling, to be quite honest.
His career began in 1968, when he was a boy of ten years old, and it lasted damn near FOUR DECADES. Wrap your mind around that.
In his time as an entertainer, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once, but twice, which is a rare feat indeed. His achievements included, but were definitely not limited to multiple Guinness World Records, such as “Most Successful Entertainer of All Time”, thirteen Grammy Awards, thirteen number one singles, and the sale of over 750 million records. More importantly,and definitely most admirably to me, he was a notable philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to the thirty nine charities he supported. Some of which are listed here:

* AIDS Project Los Angeles
* American Cancer Society
* Big Brothers Big Sisters
* Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America
* Childhelp USA
* Children’s Defense Fund
* Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
* End Hunger Network
* Great Ormond Street Hospital

* Jane Goodall Institute
* Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
* Make-A-Wish Foundation
* Prince’s Trust
* Ronald McDonald House Charities
* Starlight Children’s Foundation
* Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation
* TJ Martell Foundation
* United Negro College Fund

plus he founded, and raised more through his own Heal the World Foundation Which you can visit HERE .

It breaks my heart, to know that a man has done so much good in his life, has made such an impact on so many people, both personally and professionally, yet the only thing people want to discuss are his faults, his accused flaws.
Whatever transgressions he may have made while on this Earth, nobody has to take judgment for them but him, and we should not be his judge and jury. We haven’t the right.
Like one of my dear friends,Whit, told me the other day. Most of her childhood memories, include some tie to Michael Jackson and his music. I feel it is that way for many, and I, for one, choose to remember the contributions he made to this world.
Michael Jackson was a performer, an artist, and a legend, but beneath all of that, he was just a man.

R.I.P Michael (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

[Image by Splash News]

John Mayer contributed the song, Human Nature, to the Michael Jackson Memorial Service today. I was out with my family today and didn’t get to see the service. I’m catching up by watching clips right now. But I had to include John’s contribution because it moved my soul.

John said last night on Twitter the following.

“I’m honored to have been asked to play at MJ’s memorial service. I will be representing all of us who can’t be there. Going to say goodbye from all us kids. I also want you to know that I’m going not to ‘perform’ but to contribute… Proud to be a musician.”

Thanks John for being there for the ones that couldn’t. It’s still so hard to believe that Michael is gone. Hopefully, we will all be able to move on now and just remember the good things.

This footage obtained by CNN is from the last of Michael Jackson’s rehearsals two days before he died. He was letting loose at the Staples Center. And as you can see, he still had all the right moves. It’s amazing watching this, you get a real feeling of happiness knowing that he would have shown all the doubters he could do it…and then reality sets in and you realize that that is the closest we’ll ever get to seeing his comeback tour.

Entertainment Weekly has really impressed me this year. Or maybe I am biased because I subscribe to this magazine. But I am continually excited to get the issues in the mail. On Friday they are putting out a tribute issue for Michael Jackson and unlike other magazines I think that EW has their heart in the right place. They are celebrating with four different covers, and you know you have to buy every cover don’t you?

Some of the tribute things that can be found in this issue?

* a plethora of rare photos
* a complete timeline
* a comprehensive discography (including his earliest work with the Jackson 5) and videography
* a playlist of his essential tracks
* an essay by our columnist Stephen King, who writes about working with Jackson on the 1997 video “Ghosts.”

Now you do know when you hear the word plethora it has to be alot! And Stephen King is even getting in on the action. And that playlist, it will be an awesome one. Can’t wait for this one in my mailbox on Monday.

I thought that this Michael Jackson tribute that NKOTB did at their Detroit show on June 25. They started with showing pictures of Michael performing with Man In The Mirror playing in the background. It was very moving to hear the audience singing along with the song.

After Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyre saying a few words they sang the song that I loved hearing Joey sing at their live concerts way back when, I’ll Be There. What fitting words that every one seems to need to hear right now.

I have been trying to stay away from the computer today. Trying to not get sucked up into the whirlwind of news that is just overstimulating me. I haven’t uttered Michael Jackson’s name much today. Because the truth is that I can’t imagine a world without his singing in it. It seems just so quiet without him here. Michael changed the face of music forever. I don’t think there will ever be anyone that compares to him in this world and now the King of Pop is gone.

Lisa Marie Presley was married to Michael  for a short time in the 1990’s and took to her MySpace to blog about how she felt about his passing.

Lisa Marie Presley: Michael Jackson Knew…

He Knew.

Years ago Michael and I were having a deep conversation about life in general.

I can’t recall the exact subject matter but he may have been questioning me about the circumstances of my Fathers Death.

At some point he paused, he stared at me very intensely and he stated with an almost calm certainty, “I am afraid that I am going to end up like him, the way he did.”

I promptly tried to deter him from the idea, at which point he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded almost matter of fact as if to let me know, he knew what he knew and that was kind of that.

14 years later I am sitting here watching on the news an ambulance leaves the driveway of his home, the big gates, the crowds outside the gates, the coverage, the crowds outside the hospital, the Cause of death and what may have led up to it and the memory of this conversation hit me, as did the unstoppable tears.

A predicted ending by him, by loved ones and by me, but what I didn’t predict was how much it was going to hurt when it finally happened.

The person I failed to help is being transferred right now to the LA County Coroners office for his Autopsy.

All of my indifference and detachment that I worked so hard to achieve over the years has just gone into the bowels of hell and right now I am gutted.

I am going to say now what I have never said before because I want the truth out there for once.

Our relationship was not “a sham” as is being reported in the press. It was an unusual relationship yes, where two unusual people who did not live or know a “Normal life” found a connection, perhaps with some suspect timing on his part. Nonetheless, I do believe he loved me as much as he could love anyone and I loved him very much.

I wanted to “save him” I wanted to save him from the inevitable which is what has just happened.

His family and his loved ones also wanted to save him from this as well but didn’t know how and this was 14 years ago. We all worried that this would be the outcome then.

At that time, In trying to save him, I almost lost myself.

He was an incredibly dynamic force and power that was not to be underestimated.

When he used it for something good, It was the best and when he used it for something bad, It was really, REALLY bad.

Mediocrity was not a concept that would even for a second enter Michael Jackson’s being or actions.

I became very ill and emotionally/ spiritually exhausted in my quest to save him from certain self-destructive behavior and from the awful vampires and leeches he would always manage to magnetize around him.

I was in over my head while trying.

I had my children to care for, I had to make a decision.

The hardest decision I have ever had to make, which was to walk away and let his fate have him, even though I desperately loved him and tried to stop or reverse it somehow.

After the Divorce, I spent a few years obsessing about him and what I could have done different, in regret.

Then I spent some angry years at the whole situation.

At some point, I truly became Indifferent, until now.

As I sit here overwhelmed with sadness, reflection and confusion at what was my biggest failure to date, watching on the news almost play by play The exact Scenario I saw happen on August 16th, 1977 happening again right now with Michael (A sight I never wanted to see again) just as he predicted, I am truly, truly gutted.

Any ill experience or words I have felt towards him in the past has just died inside of me along with him.

He was an amazing person and I am lucky to have gotten as close to him as I did and to have had the many experiences and years that we had together.

I desperately hope that he can be relieved from his pain, pressure and turmoil now.

He deserves to be free from all of that and I hope he is in a better place or will be.

I also hope that anyone else who feels they have failed to help him can be set free because he hopefully finally is.

The World is in shock but somehow he knew exactly how his fate would be played out some day more than anyone else knew, and he was right.

I really needed to say this right now, thanks for listening.

~LMP

I hope Michael can rest in peace where he is.

By now you have already heard the news that Michael Jackson has passed away from a heart attack. I will keep this post updated when I find out more. But as of now all the major media places have confirmed the death.

Thriller was the first album I ever bought. I loved Michael’s music for what it was worth. And for those of you that mock him, you really don’t know how amazing he really was. I would loved to have seen how he would have rocked his comeback because we all know he would have…he’s Michael after all. I leave you with my Michael Jackson song, Dirty Diana.

Isn’t funny how the world seems so much quieter without him here. It breaks my heart.

You know when Pamela Anderson gets on the Ellen Degeneres Show something funny will always happen. Today she showed up in a bikini! Here’s some highlights from the interview:

Ellen: It’s fun to be married isn’t it?
Pam: The weddings are fun. Is the honeymoon still on?
Ellen: Yes, we’re doing well and we’re very happy and it seems to be working out.
Pam: How long has it been?
Ellen: It’s been about 27 days now.
Pam: I’m impressed and you guys are a gorgeous couple.
Ellen: How does that work with you is that on the long side or the short side? 27 days?
Pam: 27 days is about half way over for me.
Ellen: It feels like it’s going to work out for me.

Then Ellen asked Pam about rumors she’s dating Michael Jackson.
Pam: (Laughing) He just wants me to be in a video.
Ellen: So seriously, have you been hanging out with him?
Pam: It happens … skin cancer and Vicodin. I don’t know … I have a lot of interesting friends.

This episode will air tomorrow.

photo and source