“I can’t answer whether or not I like being famous, but I do love achieving goals. I love not only reaching a mark I’ve set for myself but exceeding it. I think it’s so important to set goals for yourself. It gives you an idea of where you want to go and how you want to get there. If you don’t aim for something, you’ll never know whether you could have hit the mark.” – Michael Jackson
Last night was the official opening for the MJ the Musical National Tour at the James M. Nederlander Theater in Chicago! For more info on the tour and the announced tour cities, click the link in story. #MJtheMusicalTour
This week in 1996, Michael Jackson met Nelson Mandela for the first time in South Africa, one of several visits with that nation’s president, which turned into a friendship over the years. Michael also visited Soweto on that trip and commemorated anti-apartheid protestors who had died while fighting against segregation. #MJHumanitarian
Director Guillermo del Toro is known for making films with fantastic mythical creatures and cites “Thriller” as an early inspiration. He tells the Hollywood reporter: “It was only as a teenager, and watching ‘Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller’, that I realized that the people actually making these monsters were not the men I saw in the old books in lab coats. It’s young guys with long hair and rock ’n’ roll shirts, who I could relate to.”
Slide into the weekend as effortlessly as Tiktok user Psykosis glides along to Michael’s “Smooth Criminal.” Show off your best dance moves set to Michael’s official sounds on TikTok with #MyMJMoves
Michael celebrating Rev. Jesse Jackson’s 66th birthday in 2007. The Reverend on his lifetime friendship with Michael: “As he restructured his business, we spent a lot of private time together. I saw him as strong in his business vision as he was on the stage.”
Fan and illustrator Ekwaki Tinda (@christ_artdigital) recently shared his portrait of Michael in the Michael Jackson website community. In this short clip, Ekwaki shows how he digitally created the portrait. Share your fan art #MyMJFanArt
In 1980 – before Thriller – Michael stated: “I think secretly and privately, really deep within, there’s a destiny for me and just for me to stay on that track and follow it. I really believe and feel I’m here for a reason, and that’s my job – to perform for the people. And if they accept it – I’m rewarded.”
Fan Shrouk Sroor (@ashush_art) posted their portrait of Michael looking quite regal in the community on Michael’s website. Share your fan art. #MyMJFanArt
Have you read Michael’s autobiography “Moonwalk”? According to Shaye Areheart, Jackie Onasis’ assistant editor on the book, it almost did not get published because Michael temporarily changed his mind about releasing it. He ultimately decided to move forward and the book was #1 on The New York Times bestseller list.
This week in 1988, Michael sold out Wembley Stadium in the UK for a total of five “Bad” Tour performances. The July 16th concert is available in its entirety on YouTube. Hit the link in stories to watch this fast paced 2-hour plus show full of showstoppers including “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Beat It”, and “Billie Jean.”
Keep everyone on their feet with the help of this non-stop dance playlist! Includes “Billie Jean”, “Remember The Time”, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”, and almost 5 hours of music. Hit the link in stories to listen to the “Michael Jackson: Dance Party” playlist on Spotify.
Beyond the acrobatics, dance, and visuals of the Michael Jackson ONE show, there are details that Las Vegas Magazine says make the show even more special: “Each outfit is painstakingly designed to pay homage to King of Pop’s sense of style. From the crystal-embellished glove, to his fedora to rhinestone white socks, every thread of @mjonelv’s wardrobe embodies his timeless fashion statements.” Hit the link in stories to get tickets now.
The Orange County Register recently wrote: “1983 as a whole was a particularly rich year for influential albums. Imagine you sent a time traveler back to 1983 to bring back the biggest, most influential album of the year. If your time traveler didn’t return with Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’, well, you’d just have to send them back to get it right.”
The cast of the US national touring company of @mjthemusical has been working hard in rehearsals and performances begin in Chicago today at the Nederlander Theater and continue through September 2nd, 2023. Roman Banks performs as MJ. The tour includes stops in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle and several more cities. Hit the link in stories to see the tour performance dates. #MJtheMusicalTour
For someone to reinvent themselves over and over again … that truly gives you the title “King of Style”. Tune in Sunday, 8/6 at 630 pm pst / 930 pm est on @michaeljackson @youtube for the premiere of the King of Style roundtable discussion.
Some fans may have MiniDisc (MD) versions of Michael’s albums in their Michael Jackson collection. The MD audio format launched in November of 1992 and lasted about 20 years. Only a small number of pre-recorded albums were available on MD as relatively few record labels embraced the format, but most all of Michael’s releases had a MD version. #MJCollectibles
On this date in 1995, Michael’s “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” became his fourth album to top the Billboard Hot 200 chart. It also hit #1 in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Denmark, Chile, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Norway. Pictured is the original vinyl pressing of the album which was spread across three discs.
Michael Jackson’s mastery of how to precisely blend dance-floor-ready funk, deeply felt soul, and massive hooks electrified his entire catalog. Apple Music’s playlist “Michael Jackson – Next Steps” is two hours of diverse listening from heartfelt R&B ballads like “Butterflies” to political anthems like “Heal The World.” Hit the link in stories to listen now.
“Everyone knew Michael as one way .. and then he put on the fedora and it had a whole new meaning.” Tune into the @mjkosofficial roundtable discussion August 6th 630 pm PST/930 pm EST exclusively on the @michaeljackson YouTube Channel.
Harris Matthew is a swing cast member in @mjthemusical. He performed on Broadway in the musicals “Frozen” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” Hit the link in stories to get your tickets now for Broadway performances through January 7th, 2024.
“Michael Jackson ONE” is now in its tenth year of performances, and reflecting on her work on the show Kati Renaud, senior artistic director says, “To know that I was going to be pursuing this production about an artist who made music I grew up with that really touched me and impacted me and influenced me, I was thrilled.” Hit the link in stories to get tickets now.
Less than a month away from Michael Jackson’s Blue Sapphire Birthday Celebration at the Mandalay Bay, in Las Vegas. Ticket holders for “Michael Jackson ONE” performances on 8/29 can reserve a spot for the 3rd annual Birthday brunch, join in on the pre-show meet and greet, and more activities in the theater. Hit the link in stories for more information.
Updates on the Blue Sapphire Celebration for Michael’s upcoming birthday have been provided. And links have now been provided to sign up for the annual brunch and the special immersive event. Don’t miss it! For info on all of the plans for the birthday celebration, check out the event page — link in story.
