Michael Jackson: the greatest artist of all time
June 25 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Michael Jackson, the idol of millions of people around the world, the most successful artist in the history of music.
Sputnik presents some interesting facts from the life of the great musician who has become a symbol of an entire era.
1-On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson was found dead by his personal physician Konrad Murray, who, a couple of hours earlier, had given him an injection and left him alone. The ambulance arrived within minutes, the resuscitation team spent an hour trying to bring the artist back to life, but it was too late. The singer passed away at the age of 50. After four years, Murray was found guilty of involuntary murder, sentenced to four years in jail, and deprived of a medical license. In the photo: Michael Jackson performs in Kansas City, 1988.
2-Jackson earned the title of King of Pop in the 1980s, when his most famous album Thriller (1982) was released. It topped the chart on the Billboard 200 for 37 weeks and stayed there for more than two years. Thriller received eight Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. The Guinness Book declared it "the best-selling album in all history": around 109 million copies were sold worldwide. In the photo: Michael Jackson in different years of his life.
3-On May 16, 1983, Michael Jackson played 'Billie Jean' during a television concert. It was the first time that viewers saw the "moonwalk", which later became legendary. Also, it was the first time he had put on a white glove. Before Jackson, many singers danced. But it was Jackson who set the new standard for pop artists: It's not enough just to sing, you have to move. In the photo: Michael Jackson speaks at the Grammy Awards ceremony in 1988.
4-Perhaps not everyone knows that Michael Jackson is not only the recognized king of pop music, but also the official king of an African state. In 1992, the residents of the Ivory Coast awarded him this honorary title, he was officially crowned King of Sanwi. In the photo: Michael Jackson in Japan, 2007.
5-Jackson shook hands with the three presidents of the United States. It should be noted that in none of these cases did he remove his gloves. In the photo: Michael Jackson with Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, 1984.
6-As corresponds to the king, Michael maintained relations with representatives of different monarchies. He was friends with Princess Diana, while the Princess of Monaco, Stephanie, sang together with Michael the song 'In The Closet', included in the album 'Dangerous'. In the photo: Michael Jackson answers questions from journalists after the Princess Diana memorial service in Los Angeles, 1997.
7-Michael Jackson's favorite song is 'Come Together' by The Beetles. Of the classics, he especially liked the works of Debussy, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. In the photo: Michael Jackson and guitarist Slash of the group Guns N 'Roses at the MTV Video Music Awards 1995.
8-Today, about 80% of all pop hits are RnB, a genre that began in its current form with Michael Jackson. In the photo: Michael Jackson performs at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, 1993.
9-Michael Jackson patented unique shoes that created the illusion that he can change gravity by leaning forward. For the first time this move was used by Jackson in the 'Smooth Criminal' clip. In the United States Patent Office, this invention is known under number 5255452.
10-Michael Jackson performs the song 'Earth Song' at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo, 1996.
11-Michael Jackson has two stars dedicated to him on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one as a member of the Jacksons 5 and another as a soloist.
12-Michael Jackson considered that charity was one of his missions. He invested millions of dollars in 39 charities, and also created his own foundation, Heal the World. For the amount of charitable funds from him, Jackson also made it to the Guinness Book of Records. Photograph: Michael Jackson during the Carousel of Hope charity event benefiting children with diabetes, 2000.
13-In 2010, in memory of Michael Jackson, 1500 Filipino prisoners participated in a 'flash mob' in which they danced to a medley of songs from the King of Pop. The rehearsals with choreographers lasted more than a year. As a result, the video with this presentation was included in the Michael Jackson film 'This Is It'.
14-Jackson is one of those who continue to "win" after death. His songs are broadcast on the radio and clips are shown on television. Jackson's first posthumous album 'Michael' was released in 2010. On May 13, 2014, Jackson's second posthumous album, Xscape, was released with eight songs, handpicked by recording company Epic Records. Immediately after the album's release, it topped the US and UK charts. Photo: Michael Jackson performs at Yokohama Stadium, 1987.
15-On the tenth anniversary of the singer's death, the BBC recorded a documentary that should help re-evaluate his life and his heritage. The plot of the film covers practically the entire life of Michael Jackson, from childhood and performances with the Jackson 5 group to the creation of the Neverland Ranch and the preparation of the final tour of 'This Is It', which did not have place due to the death of the musician. In the photo: Michael Jackson next to the wax copy of him in the Grevin Wax museum in Paris, 1997.
