Ebony Special Tribute: Michael Jackson In His Own Words
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Book Summary Information
Brand: Ebony MagazineEditor: EBONY Magazine
Edition: Paperback
Published: 2009
ISBN: N/A
Publisher: Johnson Publication
Book Reviews of Ebony Special Tribute: Michael Jackson In His Own Words
Book Review: "We Had Him..Beautiful...Delighting Our Eyes..."
Summary: 5 Stars
The final footage of "Michael Jackson's: This Is It!" shows the legendary performer standing in a circle with his colleagues at the end of rehearsal,encouraging them, and telling them that they were "bringing love back into the world."
Whatever love the world may have been lacking was restored with the news of Michael's sudden departure from it on June 25, 2009.The unity, the reminiscence over the impact of his life, career, music, and humanitarianism, as well as the grief over one man's loss was more than palpable.
Having been around for all four decades of Michael Jackson's career, I have felt a sense of sadness as well as reverence at his passing.I've been surprised at aspects of his life with which I was less familiar, and I've reviewed old footage of him with which I was more familiar in childhood.
Amid the guilded logo, this 100-page tribute comes to life. A photo from his last shoot for "Ebony" greets us, and we see a smashingly clad King of Pop, laughing as he stands with arms folded, and strands of hair shielding one of his beautiful, well-fringed eyes. I had felt pretty alienated when I initially saw the issue featuring photos from that session, thinking that he looked too flamboyant, effeminate, and eccentric, but have since regretted not having kept that issue, and am consequently very appreciative of the fact that this tribute contains his last-known interview.
The frontispiece shows 12-year-old Michael performing at the incipience of his storied career; the end piece shows his announcement of the comeback of which the world would be deprived.
But in between, we review a colorful visual adventure, featuring a charismatic and funkily costumed Michael on Ed Sullivan's stage with his brothers, wowing the crowd.
"Ebony" chairwoman and CEO, Linda Johnson Rice, initiates the remembrances by discussing the person she knew firstly as a highly celebrated 12-year-old peer group member on whom she, like millions, had a schoolgirl crush, and how "Ebony" charted the course of his life and career.
Harriet Cole discusses his final shoot, Reverend Al Sharpton praises the way Michael shifted America's cultural dynamics(as he also did at MJ's public memorial service), and praised a formidable humanitarian stating:
"Donating hundreds of millions to charity, creating his own non-profit organizations and genuinely caring about state of humanity, Michael will and must be revered for his distinguished and rare character."
We sojourn past the 15 beautifully photographed covers of "Ebony" which Michael graced, view delightful family photos, a photo of the Neverland Ranch, and read about the journey of the impish little protege to the world class icon and humanitarian, courtesy of Suzanne De Passe, Berry Gordy, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones( who discusses the singer's taking his pet snakes to the studio with him, proving that, to some extent, he did earn the "weird" badge that was often ascribed to him), Jesse Jackson, who described Michael as "deceptively smart and strong" and as having " a heart full of love", Smokey Robinson, Ne-Yo, and Scott Poulson-Bryant, who had the pleasure of first interviewing Michael as a child at the time the star was rehearsing for the film, "The Wiz", all in counterpoint to Michael's own words.
We see him as the dynamic performer-at one point sharing the stage with his idol and mentor, James Brown-a style icon, and philanthropist. There are playful moments, such as a demure peek at his fans from a balcony, as he wrapped himself in the curtain of his room in a French hotel, and clasping the hand of an elegantly clad girl in Thailand.
I've observed his frequent close proximity to his brother, Marlon, the sibling closest to him in age, in many of the photos.
But the photo of MJ standing atop his SUV to greet well-wishers during his trial is the only major reference made to that controversial chapter of his life;A photo of a 2006 performance in London, in which he is once again surrounded by children as he leads in the singing of "We Are the World" shows the light coming back to his eyes when he could see people still believed in him.
What one is struck by are the photos of his tour of Budapest, which might have been unthinkable under the Cold War conditions of just a few years earlier, and of the photos of his visits in Africa, which always welcomed him.
There is a certain poignancy in the photos of Michael with his children, with their faces shielded from the world, but who are his greatest and most precious legacy.
The photos of those mourning and celebrating his life around the world are doleful, but stirring. It was a time to mourn, a time to dance, and a time to sing.
As the world fast approaches the 30th anniversary of the passing of another musical icon, John Lennon, the words of the fallen Beatle ring true for Michael as well: "And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
Michael himself said, "If you enter this world knowing you are loved, and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."
This tribute to the King of Pop is a stirring reminder of why this man inspired love in spades!
Summary of Ebony Special Tribute: Michael Jackson In His Own Words
Ebony Special Tribute, Michael In His Own Words, is a beautiful 100-page celebration of the life of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Inside...5,000 words from Michael, including his last U.S. magazine interview, which was conducted by Ebony Magazine; Celebrity farewell essays from Quincy Jones, Berry Gordy, Ne-Yo and others; Memorable photos from the Ebony Magazine archives. Quantities of this Special Tribute Collector's Book are Limited...Order your copy TODAY!!!Subjects Books
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