Reading Michael Jackson

In this Part 2 of our Season Finale of Reading Michael Jackson, join me for a deep dive into the "Michael" biopic! After six trips to the theater I have a lot to say about this extraordinary film which, at times, both honors and expands on aspects of Michael's own storytelling in "Moonwalk," and at others falls completely short (where is Diana Ross?!). In this episode things get deep as we discuss Michael's childhood trauma, the true meaning of Neverland, the complex characterization of Joe Jackson, the meaning of destiny and manifestation, the long term impact this film will have on Michael Jackson's legacy, and so much more!I hope you enjoyed Season 2 of Reading Michael Jackson. Please follow, like, and subscribe to the show to stay updated on future seasons. For questions, or comments, email me at readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com

Announcement: I will be joining the Michael Jackson Book Club for a livestream event on Saturday April 18th on MJBC Events on Facebook. We will be discussing biographies about Michael Jackson as a lead up to the release of Michael. If you are interested in attending, check out the Michael Jackson Book Club on Facebook! In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson, we finally finish our reading of "Moonwalk"! Closing out chapter 6, and the book as a whole, Michael briefly reviews his experience recording the Bad album, while devoting most of his energy in these last few pages to making several "final" statements about his relationship to fame, his admiration for children, passion for performance, and devotion to humanitarian causes. It is evident here that Michael is making one final stitch effort to be "known" by the reader and to reveal something of his true nature in the pages. He even reveals how uncomfortable the concept of a book like this makes him, but the appeal of finally letting people in just a bit more. Despite an overall rushed ending, with many elements of his life post-Thriller jammed into one long final chapter, Michael closes Moonwalk with heart. Join me for the next episode for a final "review" of "Moonwalk." As mentioned in the episode... Jaafar Jackson Interview Magazine: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/jaafar-jackson-tells-miles-teller-how-he-unlocked-the-king-of-popMichael Jackson Interview Magazine: https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/michael-jackson-1982Chris Liepe "Speed Demon" Breakdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_iL8HkUVJI

This week we kick off the final chapter of "Moonwalk," starting with Michael's recollection of the infamous "Pepsi burn," altering the course of his life forever. He also spends some time describing the connection he feels with fans. Recounting memories of the good and bad of the Victory Tour, Michael opens up about the challenges of touring before he was ready to, but giving it his all every show. In the discussion portion of this episode, I spend some time dissecting the impact of the Pepsi incident and, specifically, the ways in which Michael was silenced throughout his life from sharing the incredible physical (and emotional) pain this caused him. I discuss ways in which the media and public response to this incident represents the level of dehumanization Michael faced throughout his life, as well as the nuances of his family encouraging him to tour far before he was physically ready to do so. In this episode, I include clips from Michael's 2005 interview with Geraldo Rivera, as well as the leaked "memoir tapes" in which Michael discusses his frustration with the Victory Tour. For questions or comments, email me at readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com. Geraldo Rivera 2005 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhIXedgZAZYMemoir Tapes - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qITnlw5FB38

As we continue Chapter 5 of Moonwalk, Michael takes us through the creation of the entire album by sharing his intentions for writing Beat It and his vision for (and experience of creating) the short film, the creative tension of perfecting the Thriller album as a whole, and more! But in the discussion portion of this episode, I try to take it a step deeper. How and why does Michael continue to gain younger fans? What did the creative tension mean when it came to Michael and Quincy's relationship? How did Michael himself contribute to the creation of Human Nature, even if he was not the songwriter? How did Michael's evolved perspective on the world shape the song and video for Beat It? We dive into all of these aspects of his creative process (and genius) in this episode!For questions or comments please email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com Some of the clips included: Babyface (not LA Reid, as I misquoted) discussing MJ vs. other artists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1QYY6D8HA0Eddie Van Halen discussing "Beat It": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YePluFoYSYEMichael's Human Nature Demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acYbpNfMCEk&list=RDacYbpNfMCEk&start_radio=1

As we finish chapter 4 of Moonwalk, this extra long episode of Reading Michael Jackson goes deep into some of the most sensitive topics Michael discusses in his autobiography. While much of the chapter explores his creative process for Off the Wall, on a more personal note Michael explores his relationships with women, his views on love, sex, and connection, how closed off he feels from every day life experiences, and why he aims to be "the first Black King." Sharing clips of Michael's tearful recording of "She's Out of My Life," Maureen McCormick's confession of being "in love" with a teenage Michael, and reading Michael's handwritten note about his plans to take over the music industry, this episode is packed full of thoughtful discussion! Michael's Handwritten Notes from 1987: https://www.mjvibe.com/michael-jacksons-hand-written-notes-from-1987/She's Out of My Life Alternate Studio Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww1mdAyREFo&list=PL46p8WlIN3xFfCFRSe5X1Djs4sEhnZfC7&index=137Maureen McCormick's Interview on Being In Love with Michael Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ktcdq3tIxoU

In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson we kick off with a brief reflection on the changing discourse around Michael Jackson's innocence in light of current events. While Michael's image has been attacked for decades, social media is moving the public toward a more positive view of Michael. We can only hope that this trend is not short-lived, and the public continues to become more educated on Michael, including by continuing to learn his story in his own words. This week, we wrap up Chapter 3 of Moonwalk with Michael telling us about his experience working on The Wiz, falling in love with film, and meeting Quincy Jones. While this is a shorter section, there is still plenty to talk about! Michael's relationships with Stephanie Mills and Diana Ross, the pressures he faced as the creative force behind his family, and his drive to "transform" just beginning to manifest. For questions or comments email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com

In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson we start with a brief discussion about the value of studying The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons discography for all Michael Jackson fans, before finishing our read of Chapter 3 of Moonwalk. In this segment, Michael tells the story of the Jacksons initial transition away from Motown including the emotional struggle with losing Jermaine as a member of the group and establishing their own sound as the new rebranded "Jacksons." Michael shares what he learned from working on the Jackson's Variety TV show, collaborating with producers Gamble and Huff, before finally seeking permission from the Epic for the Jackson to produce their own album. In the discussion portion, we reflect on Michael's very intentional approach to his own celebrity and the driving philosophy that too much accessibility to your audience will lead to over-exposure. These insights are significant in how we can understand Michael's later relationship to fame. We also review Michael's early relationship to songwriting and vulnerability in music, and more!For questions or comments please email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com

Michael Jackson doesn't understand why the media write such negative things about him, but in Chapter 3 of Moonwalk he offers some of his own perspective on his volatile relationship with the press. Reflecting on his feelings about scandal and drug use, he makes a clear statement here about his future, and how he thinks he "turned out" given his upbringing as a child star. He spends the rest of the chapter telling the story of how the Jackson 5 rose to success, but ultimately left Motown in pursuit of creative freedom. In the discussion portion of this episode, we get deep discussing Michael's relationship to the media, the modern fandom's view of his changing aesthetics, the evolution of his relationship to drugs, and of course his artistic growth as. a child performer when he popularized "the robot" with his choreography for "Dancing Machine." For questions or comments, please email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com

With the Jackson 5 officially signed to Motown, in the first half of Chapter 2 Michael recounts the early days of moving from Indiana to California, recording sessions, media training, and becoming a part of the "Corporation." Including snippets of an interview with Michael's former Victory-era publicist Howard Bloom, in the discussion we review Michael's unique connection to art, and his ability to "see the infinite" in everything. We also discuss the complications and confusion with Michael's relationship to Diana Ross and the struggle he must have experienced composing an autobiography aimed to tell the truth of his life, while still grappling with the truth he'd been brought up to believe. For questions, or comments, please email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com

In this third episode of Season 2, we dive deeper into Michael's childhood and early career, continuing our reading of "Moonwalk," pages 35-50. In this segment, Michael shares what it was like to work the night club scene in Gary and Chicago at the age of 9, recording with Steeletown Records, his early inspirations in James Brown and Jackie Wilson, and winning Amateur Night at the Apollo. In the emotional discussion portion of the episode, we review not only the highlights from this time in Michael's life, but the disturbing confessions Michael shares about his early exposure to adult sexuality in nightclubs, and the relentless work expected of him as a young child. Though Michael frames many of these experiences as necessary to his growth as a performer, for those of us with "normal" childhoods in comparison, deep empathy for Michael's unique life can help us understand his choices as he grew older, and the passion he had for protecting children. In this episode, I play a segment of the Jackson 5's first single, "Big Boy." If you are interested in listening to the full song, check out this link! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiFN2DQqBFEFor questions and comments, please reach out to readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com.

Today we are officially diving into Moonwalk! Starting with the touching forward by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, included in the original publication of Moonwalk, we begin Chapter 1, covering pages 1-21. In this section, Michael introduces himself, his family, and some of the challenges he has in telling this story. He not only identifies his earliest memories with music, but begins to explore the complicated relationship he had with his father, Joseph Jackson. Through this, he touches upon the scars he has from childhood, which remain a theme throughout Michael's life and central to how he tells his story. In the discussion portion of this episode, we explore Michael's approach to storytelling and forming a narrative, as well as the early normalization of hard work for Michael and his brothers, as well as the pain he experienced as a child. For questions or comments, please comment or email me directly at readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com.

We are back for season 2 of Reading Michael Jackson! This time around, we will be focusing on reading and discussing Michael's 1988 autobiography "Moonwalk." Each episode will feature a reading from the book followed by a discussion. Tune in with new episodes dropping on Tuesday December 30th!

In this final essay from Dancing the Dream, Michael interrogates his own relationship to the world around him, and what he “owes” other life forms on earth. While examining a famous photograph of a baby seal, he finds himself projecting his own feelings and views onto the seal, forcing him to question his role in the good and bad that happens in the natural world. As a thoughtful close to this book, "Look Again, Baby Seal" challenges all readers to consider what role they play in both the betterment and suffering of the modern world. Please tune in for next week's season 1 season finale episode! For questions or comments, email readingmichaeljackson@yahoo.com.