Even though I’ve already done one posting about Dame Elizabeth’s passing in my other blog, I had not covered all I wanted to. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I wanted to focus on the devoted friendship she gave to Michael in a separate entry.
Plus, there are even more photos of these two beautiful souls that I wanted to present!
Like many people of my generation, I’ve grown up knowing of this spectacular and legendary actress. I’d seen some of her movies and admired her greatly for her acting and her famed beauty. But it was because of her friendship with Michael Jackson that I came to know more about her personally, rather than merely knowing how many times she had been married.
She was a truly exceptional friend, not only to Michael Jackson, but to many, many others as well. She said to Barbara Walters in a TV interview that she wanted to be remembered as someone ‘who lived’ and boy, did she! She lived and loved passionately and it is that quality which makes her so remarkable.
Like most MJ fans I am extremely grateful that Michael had this wonderful woman in his life, and on his side. The quotes taken from Dame Elizabeth’s acceptance speech at the 1994 Jackson Family Honors surmise perfectly why her friendship means so much to us – her words epitomize unconditional love.
“Michael, we who know you more intimately than others acknowledge the suffering you have endured because we have suffered with you. But in the midst of our deepest anguish, we have known that you would prevail through this dark hour, that you would emerge stronger but still innocent, childlike, trusting bruised but still magically untouched by the tongues and opinions of the world. Hurt, but still gloriously loving and benevolent despite the slings and arrows of those who know better.
Enough of tabloid media! Enough of tabloid television! You know only you, the public, can accomplish this simply by not buying their garbage. Only you can put them out of business. Only you, and wouldn’t that be great?
Michael, we know your recent torture isn’t going to alter or change your compassion and love for children. There is beauty and truth in your being. You are the brightest star in the universe. Don’t let anything dim your leading light. Neither crisis nor circumstances can ever take it away from you.”
The ‘conventional wisdom’ of that particular time after the first false allegations surfaced was for Michael to distance himself from his love for children. A prime example of this is when Diane Sawyer questioned whether Michael intended to allow any more kids to sleepover during the June 1995 interview she did with him and Lisa Marie Presley.
“I just want to… Is it over? Are you going to make sure it doesn’t happen again? I think this is really the key thing people want to know.”
Whilst Diane Sawyer’s approach may have reflected the popular consensus at the time it is Elizabeth Taylor’s plea to Michael to refuse to allow the preceding nightmare to change him that resonates with us fans. It shows us that she truly ‘gets’ him; that she knows who Michael really is and doesn’t want him to change a thing about himself. That is what a true friend does.
Nowadays I don’t believe anything I see or read in the media – and not just reports pertaining to Michael Jackson either, but on each and every subject they cover. For example, my reaction to the female reporter who was “brutally” sexually assaulted recently in Egypt was not the instantaneous condemnation I felt the media was demanding. After being exposed, no - awakened to their tactics I can’t help but question the story. Without knowing the specific nature of the assault, I am supposed to accept their characterization of it? I’m sorry but I just can’t do it any more. The media has demonstrated that they like to do more than just champion a victim – they don’t just tell a story, sometimes they create the story.
This is not news to ‘those that know’ - Michael’s fans he refers to in his song ‘Privacy’. But I’m afraid it is a new revelation to me. I used to trust the mainstream media. When I heard Michael say “Don’t read the tabloids – its garbage!” I agreed with him. Since Princess Diana’s death in 1997 I have avoided all tabloid news so I thought I was already complying with Michael’s request.
What I hadn’t realized is how the mainstream media has deteriorated so much that the line between them and the tabloid media is blurred at best and at worst, it is non-existent.
As a result, there are many myths and misconceptions about Michael Jackson that have been perpetuated by the mainstream media. One by one since he died these myths and misconceptions have been disproved as I have collected photos, listened to and watched interviews Michael did and read accounts from people who met him.
All these showed Michael being affectionate with loads of different people, of all ages, of both sexes and all races. So off the media’s list of characteristics they had ascribed to Michael you could cross off germ-o-phobe; he clearly was unafraid of close physical contact with people, many who were complete strangers to him.
All displays of affection were entirely appropriate and were not limited to only boys of a certain age, with a certain look, as the media would have us believe.
One other misconception that was totally shattered for me was the implication that Michael had a Messiah complex. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard someone suggest that or read that Michael suffered from this.
They cited the pose Michael did in many of his performances that inspired the Chinese statue as proof that Michael desired to be perceived as a crucified Christ-like figure.
From my point of view, I knew Michael was religious, that he aspired to be Christ-like so if he was emulating Jesus, then so what? Isn’t that a good thing – wanting to be like Jesus? Plus, in my opinion, Michael was justified in feeling persecuted. I believe this even more strongly now with all that I’ve learnt since he passed. But the pose isn’t about crucifixion…it’s about love.
In Seven’s posting about the unveiling of the Chinese statue on New Year’s Day, one of her readers named Blue Lotus made the following observation about the pose:
This "arms outstretched" pose has a deep spiritual meaning: In India, they had a great Saint by the name of Sri Aurbindo. He wrote the following prayer: "O Lord, my arms are outstretched in supplication towards Thee, my heart is wide open before Thee, that Thou mayst make of it a reservoir of Thy infinite love.". BlueLotus believes this is exactly what Michael Jackson had in mind every time he outstretched his arms...what a pure being!
I love this explanation! And when you look at the faces in this photo; both Michael’s and the children’s you will see the truth of what Blue Lotus wrote. It’s all about opening yourself to love…and joy. I love how these children show they truly get it, even the little cutie in front of Michael!
From his hotel balcony, high above and out of earshot of his adoring fans gathered below, the arms wide pose allows for some non verbal communication – letting them know how much their support means to him. In sign language terms maybe it could be the equivalent of one of Michael’s catch phrases: ‘I love you more!’
On horseback, in a beautiful wooded area, Michael uses the arms open wide pose to convey his appreciation for his surroundings. It’s so bittersweet to see him relishing the sensation of sunshine on his face, knowing that his vitiligo would have forced to him to wear the hat (which he has briefly removed in the above gif) to protect his skin. The below photo looks like it was taken in the Thriller era, where the vitiligo was still in the initial stages so no hat was used.
In this stunning snowy alp setting an even younger Michael enjoys a winter wonderland.
When Michael was performing, the pose was adapted to suit the mood of the song. In ‘They don’t care about us’ for example the open palms become clenched fists – to denote Michael’s strength in adversity and perhaps his desire to fight back figuratively against those that would try and destroy him?
In looking at the below photo, you can almost hear the powerful shout Michael does to accompany his guitarist Jennifer Batten’s solo. And that’s the whole point that those who, because of this pose labeled him as having a Messiah complex missed. As a dancer and musician whose instrument was his body, Michael used every ounce of energy, every muscle and every fiber of his being in his performances to convey the emotion behind the song, the lyric or the music.
And lastly, one for the fangirls…Hee Hee!
There were so many more wonderful photos of Michael in this pose so I've created an album on Facebook, which I'll add to as I come across more photos.
If you would like to take a look, here is the link:
One of the things I’ve struggled with since Michael’s death is remaining positive in light of the dawning evidence that I had been somewhat brainwashed by the media. I’m a MJ fan, have been since 1991 and yet some of their crap did permeate my perception of Michael. Not all of it, but more than I would have thought possible.
As a result, now that I know better I am incredibly cynical about the veracity of any news report I see or read. It infuriated me recently when all the various media outlets seemed to be insisting that I fear for the safety of several US journalists covering the unrest in Egypt. Most notably to me were Katie Couric and Anderson Cooper. Firstly, they knew what they were getting themselves into; after all that is why they were there – to cover the newsworthy event.
After the election of President Obama in September 2008, I began watching a lot of CNN to learn more about the charismatic new US leader – and in particular I watched Anderson Cooper 360. I picked his show because he had become known to me as doing exceptionally good work covering Hurricane Katrina. The impression I got was that he was one of the few remaining authentic newsmen; an honorable journalist committed to using his reporting skills to make a positive change in the world.
I distinctly remember they covered the ‘This Is It’ announcement in March 2009. They implied that Michael was a rambling, incoherent mess. Now, they are not members of the tabloid media so I assumed (incorrectly) that it must be true. I felt bad for Michael; I did not want to see him humiliated so I fast-forwarded the rest of the segment featuring the O2 Press Conference.
Imagine my surprise when a year later, I came across a transcript of his O2 announcement. It was so brief, how could anyone possibly label it as rambling?
2009-03-06jacksonaction.com"I love you so much. Thank you all. (Fans begin chanting ‘This Is It’ and Michael responds to this by chanting along with them) This is it. I just want to say these…these will be my final show performances in London. This is it, this is it and when I say “this is it” it really means this is it because erm…I’ll be, I’ll be performing the songs my fans want to hear. This is it, I mean, this is, this is the final curtain call okay? And, erm…I’ll see you in July and (Fans chat “We love you Michael!”) I love you. I really do. You have to know that, I love you so much, really, from the bottom of my heart. This is it and see you in July!”
To characterize it like that, when it could be so easily verified…it shows you how audacious the media has become. And it also shows how stupid they think we are! I suppose they’re right because I didn’t question them…not enough.
With Katie Couric, I have been a fan of hers for years. I would even tape ‘NBC Today’ everyday (it is on at 4am in Australia) because I loved her and Matt Lauer. I still watched it even after she left for CBS – until Congressman…the former Congressman (hee hee!)…Peter King appeared on it. One day, I came across a YouTube video of Katie on ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ discussing Michael Jackson.
Now, my situation is a bit different, I do not have the internet at home (ironic isn’t it? I cancel my home internet and then a week later I start a blog!) So after I finish work I use www.keepvid.com at my office to save any videos. I don’t watch them at work – instead I use a USB device to transfer files between my home and the office. Anyway, the point is: when I got the Katie Couric ‘Late Show’ appearance home it wouldn’t open. I didn’t give it another thought other than perhaps I was better off if the story Katie told was mean spirited.
So I wasn’t inclined to feel instantaneous concern for either Anderson Cooper or Katie Couric. Even that angered me, because I would have prior to Michael’s death. It is the loss of trust I have in the media, my increasing levels of scepticism that I struggle with daily. I’ve found that most of us are Michael Jackson fans not because of his undeniable and unquestionable talent, but because of his heart. He was a genuinely good person. He was an angel on earth, here to make the world a better place.
I want to be like him not like them…I want to see the world through his eyes not theirs.
Months passed, I became more adept at using the new system I’d implemented for YouTube videos so I re-tried and finally got to see the Katie Couric MJ discussion for myself a few days ago. Here it is:
I was so relieved that she wasn’t nasty about him! The video also served to inspire me to group the following items together, with Michael, as he always should, getting the last word.
“My friends, with 2 children of my own, I know what it means to have to balance the demand of family and career -- let's not even talk about finding a date for myself, even though... Even though Rabbi Shmuley keeps telling me he's going to find me the perfect woman, my response is: As long as it's not a journalist!”
Michael Jackson, Heal the Kids, Carnegie Hall Address
I imagine that question has crossed the minds of other MJ fans besides me. I love watching animal documentaries and whenever there are scenes where the animals are being treated and an anesthesia is administered, I’m always struck by how many people are present to ensure all goes well. I can’t help but think of Michael Jackson- a human being – left alone by that irresponsible man who calls himself a doctor.
Today, when I was working on another posting, I was watching an episode of ‘The Zoo’ and a silverback gorilla named Rigo (he is pictured above) had to have surgery to remove a damaged tooth. Attending to him were two vets and a human doctor – and on top of that there was the zoo staff as well. Please don’t get me wrong – I am glad this many people were monitoring Rigo. That is the way it should be, our wildlife is precious and humans should take this much care with all animals, especially those we have put on the endangered list.
Michael loved gorilla's - as seen here firsthand by a very lucky fan indeed!
But at the same time, it reminds me that our beloved Michael was left alone, after he had been given that fatal dose. Why? Not just why did that incompetent fool leave him alone, but why was there not a nurse present to assist the doctor to monitor his patient? It seems to me that if Michael had regularly used that drug to combat insomnia – I don’t necessarily believe this is true but it is what the defense are claiming – then wouldn’t they have to have taken into consideration the length of time Michael would be under? If it were a regular occurrence like they claim, surely they would have anticipated the need for someone to relieve the doctor from time to time?
Even if you can get past: 1. That drug being administered outside of a hospital setting and 2. the lack of another medical professional present, why wasn’t one of Michael’s staff called to sit with their boss whilst the doctor was absent from Michael’s bedside? Michael had his household staff there in that Holmby Hills mansion, his chef Kai Chase and the children’s nannies not to mention the security personnel. Why wasn’t one of these people called to sit with Michael when the doctor realized he had to leave his patient?
I’m not just asking from the doctor’s point of view either. I mean, if I was Michael and I wanted a doctor to administer a drug like Propofol to me because I wanted to sleep for X amount of hours; I would expect the doctor might need to leave my side to use the restroom, for example. I wonder what Michael thought would happen in this instance, who did Michael think was looking after him?
For all the multitude of people who constantly surrounded Michael Jackson throughout his life, he finally got some privacy – but at the worst possible time! It’s unbelievable to me that such a remarkable, irreplaceable individual like Michael could be left alone like that.
Rigo had at least half a dozen people present whilst he was under anesthesia. Michael Jackson had only one? Why?
Perhaps the upcoming involuntary manslaughter trial will answer these questions…
When it comes to this subject, one of the best sources I've found is Nikki Alligators blog "From the branches of the giving tree". I am grateful at least, like during the preliminary hearing, I could turn to my fellow MJ bloggers for the news. The details were horrendous, and sent me spinning away in distress, but I imagine it would have been far worse if delivered from the traditional media.
Recently, Charles Thomson published a review of Usher’s O2 Arena concert. In that article, Charles describes how Usher does more than simply pay homage to Michael Jackson.
One part in particular bothered me – the section where Usher alludes to filling Michael’s shoes.
Now, I could go on and on about my thoughts on this matter but I prefer to let these clever MJ fans say it for me. First, here is a Macro-manic’s take on the situation:
Hee Hee!
And then here Chili from TLC lets George Lopez and all of us know where she stands on that question!
(Opening scene – Michael with Prince, Paris, Nanny Grace and Mr. Bashir are leaving the Las Vegas shopping mall and getting back into their vehicle.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “…recently been joined by a new baby brother and he was back at the hotel with his nanny.”
April 24th 2002 - Proud papa Michael introduces 2 month old Blanket to President Clinton
BASHIR: “…so we’re not going to Virgin?”
MICHAEL: “No, no we can’t…”
BASHIR: “It’s crazy out here…”
BASHIR (off camera): “You’ve recently had your third child.”
MICHAEL (off camera): “Yes.”
BASHIR (off camera): Were you present for his birth?”
MICHAEL (off camera): “Yes.” (Cut to Michael sitting in his suite at the Four Seasons Hotel as Mr. Bashir asks the next question)
BASHIR (off camera): “And what’s he like…and what’s his name?”
MICHAEL: “Prince Michael…uh…the second - but we call him Blanket.”
BASHIR (off camera): “You call him Blanket?”
MICHAEL: “Yeah.”
BASHIR (off camera): “Why do you call him Blanket?”
MICHAEL: “Cause…um…it’s an expression I use with my family and…my employees…I say: ‘You should blanket me…I mean, you should blanket…her with something, meaning…like a…A blanket is a blessing… (00:00:40. Cut to a shot of a baby’s crib then a close of up of the blanket lining that crib where the words “Best friends” is visible) …it’s a way of showing love and caring.”
BASHIR (off camera): “Who is Blanket’s mother?”
(00:00:47. Cut back to Michael) MICHAEL: “Blanket’s mother? I can’t say…because she will be bombarded with…uh…you know…we have an agreement that we can’t uh…a contractual agreement…talk about…who she is and everything…that’s how we worked that out.”
BASHIR (off camera): “And…was she someone that you had a relationship with?”
MICHAEL: “Yes.”
BASHIR (off camera): “But you’ve kept it secret?”
MICHAEL: “Yes.”
BASHIR (off camera): “And…that’s because she doesn’t want anybody…to know?”
MICHAEL: “Yes and I don’t want anybody to know. I don’t think…She doesn’t want to be like…in papers and tabloids...and she doesn’t want it and I don’t blame her. Cause she knows how scum… (Michael pauses and grimaces apologetically) bag their comments can be, you know?”
BASHIR (off camera): “Does…do any of the mothers live with you now?”
MICHAEL: “Live with me now?”
BASHIR (off camera): “Yeah.”
MICHAEL: “No.”
BASHIR (off camera): “And… is that difficult…for you and the children?”
MICHAEL: “No. No, why would it be difficult?”
BASHIR (off camera): “Are the children not looking for their mother?”
MICHAEL: “No, they’re fine. How many babies live with their mothers and they don’t have a father around? Nobody say nothing, you know…No, they’re having a good time…”
BASHIR (off camera): “So with you, it’s the other way round?”
MICHAEL: “Yeah”
BASHIR (off camera): “They live with their Dad?”
MICHAEL: “They’re having a great time…they have enough women in their lives…they’re everywhere. (Off camera Bashir laughs) Women are everywhere in my house. I mean they…they’re with them all day long.
BASHIR (off camera): “What would you say to somebody who says that’s a bit strange…that none of your children have their mother?”
MICHAEL: “People can always have a judgment about anything you do so it doesn’t bother me. Everything can be strange to someone. This interview is strange to some people out there so who cares, right?”
♫ Introduction to “Smooth Criminal” from the 1987 album Bad starts to play
(00:02:28. Cut to a night scene depicting a taxi driving through the streets of Berlin. Inside the cab is Mr. Bashir. The streets are lined with cheering fans and the sound editor has captured the noise of the crowd.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “But thousands of miles away Jackson’s behavior as a father was about to come under serious scrutiny. A few weeks later, I went to meet him in Berlin and just as I was arriving this happened:”
(00:02:45. Cuts to interior shot and a close up of a television screen that has footage of Michael Jackson briefly walking out onto his hotel balcony to show his veiled baby to the fans waiting below him. The title credit comes up – for an in built commercial break – then the balcony scene is repeated again)
♫ Introduction to “Smooth Criminal” from the 1987 album Badstarts to play again
BASHIR COMMENTARY: (00:03:07. Cut to a shot taken from Michael’s hotel suite looking down to the excited fans below). “Michael Jackson had just dangled his new baby out of the window of a Berlin hotel. (00:03:12. Cut to Michael drawing back a curtain, before opening the door and stepping out onto the balcony to greet his fans) His fans outside were going crazy.” (00:03:19. Cut to footage taken from street level looking up to see Michael waving to his fans)
♪ “Came up to the window Sound of a crescendo”
“When I got up to his room I was worried – there was a manic quality(00:03:22. Cut back to interior shot. A delighted Michael is pointing out something below to the camera man) about him that I had never seen before - and he was loving the attention (00:03:29. Cut back to street level again where one of the fans is holding an ‘Invincible’ poster. The camera pans up to show Michael on the balcony) of the screaming fans outside the hotel.”
(00:03:34. Cut to a shot of a fan wearing an orange beanie blowing a bazooka and being twirled around by a fellow fan.)
♪ “Annie, are you okay, are you okay, are you okay Annie?”
(00:03:38. Cuts to a close up of a pillow Michael is autographing.)
BASHIR (off camera): “What does it say? (Bashir reads aloud :) ‘I love you with all my heart ~ Michael Jackson’ …that’s the hotel pillow?”
(Meanwhile his fans can be heard chanting in the background. 00:03:47. Cut to fans outside who become even more excited when Michael reappears on the balcony)
MICHAEL (off camera): “Yep!”
(00:03:50. Michael throws the autographed pillow down to the fans who all clamor to catch it)
♪ “Annie, are you okay, are you okay, are you okay Annie?
Annie, are you okay, will you tell us you’re okay
Your apartment…the blood stays on the carpet…”
(00:04:04. Cut to inside the hotel suite. Michael is coming in from the balcony and closes the door behind him)
BASHIR (off camera): “What were they singing earlier?”
MICHAEL: “F the Press – Michael you’re the best!”
BASHIR (off camera): “Say that again?”
MICHAEL: “F…that’s F.U.C.K.”
BASHIR (off camera): “F the Press…?”
MICHAEL: “F.U.C.K the Press – Michael you’re the best – but I’m not going to say the word…”
(00:04:18. Cut to a shot of the hotel corridor where a number of Michael’s security team are visible. Meanwhile, ‘Smooth Criminal’ is still playing…)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “He’d arrived in Berlin after a week of appearances in a Los Angeles courtroom. (00:04:25. Cut to a shot of Michael [talking on a cell phone] walking down the hotel corridor with Mr. Bashir.) Media coverage of the court case said his face was disintegrating.” (Michael ends his call saying “Bye-bye!” and pulls a funny face at the camera before stepping into an elevator.)
♪ “outrage it was Sunday what a black day…”
MICHAEL: “Wasn’t that silly?
BASHIR:“Gonna be a tight fit!”
MICHAEL: “Wasn’t that silly?I make the worst faces!”
♪ “Annie, are you okay, are you okay, are you okay Annie?”
BASHIR:“What do you think of Berlin?”
MICHAEL: “I love Berlin!”
(00:04:44. Cut to a shot of a group of fans outside the hotel chanting “Michael, Michael, Michael”.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “As fans waited for another glimpse of their idol at the hotel, his motorcade sped off. I wanted to know if the articles about his face had hurt him.”
(00:04:52. Cut to a shot of Michael laughing inside his limousine.)
BASHIR (off camera): “What did you think of the press coverage of the court case?”
MICHAEL: “I haven’t seen any of that.”
BASHIR (off camera): “Because they were…”
MICHAEL: “I don’t talk about…I don’t watch TV…”
BASHIR (off camera): “No…”
MICHAEL: “I don’t look at tabloids. I hate tabloids. I think we should have a tabloid burning, just make mountains out of them…just burn it all! People should be more aware that it’s…completely not the truth. Its sensationalism…it’s uh…its ignorance, it really is.”
(00:05:22. Cut to a shot of the people/fans running alongside the moving vehicle with sirens blaring in the background. A female voice can be heard calling out “Michael!”)
MICHAEL (off camera): “Ignorance! Like what they did to poor Lady Diana. You know it was like…sick. She was being hunted by those people.”
BASHIR (off camera): “What did you think of the way they seemed to make such a fuss about your appearance in court - that seemed to be the big story?”
MICHAEL (off camera): “Awh…don’t pay attention to that.”
UNIDENTIFIED BRITISH MALE VOICE: “Film this guy man, film this guy!
(00:05:40. Cut to Michael who is pointing to something happening in front of the vehicle.)
MICHAEL: “Look, look, look, look!”
(The camera pans abruptly from Michael to what Michael is looking at. A man wearing white jeans and a black top is in front of the car and is pushed off the road by another person. The camera pans back to Michael who is laughing uproariously.)
UNIDENTIFIED BRITISH MALE VOICE: “The police pulled him out of here!”
BASHIR (off camera): “What was he doing?”
MICHAEL: “He was doing…”
BASHIR (off camera): “He was doing a Jackson dance!”
MICHAEL: “He was doing all my…Every time he starts the police pull him out…Every time! He can never get on a roll…Poor guy! (Michael laughs) Oh, he does the leg kick, the spin…he grabs his crotch…after that they take him out!”
♪ “the blood stays on the carpet…ADD LYRICS”
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “We were headed for a restaurant but Jackson’s army of devotees had got there first. They included his number one fan, who finally got to perform his dance.”
♪ “Annie, are you okay, are you okay, are you okay Annie?
Annie, are you okay, so Annie, are you okay…you’ve been hit by…
You’ve been hit by a Smooth Criminal”
(A man wearing white jeans, a black top and a black leather coat is filmed doing his impersonation dance.)
BASHIR (off camera addressing the No.1 fan): “How long you been doing that for?”
No. 1 FAN: “Uh….Since I was little.”
(00:06:36. Cut to a shot of Michael leaving the restaurant and being funneled into the vehicle by his security. Camera flashes are going off and the crowd is all vying for Michael’s attention.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “By the time we left, the atmosphere was becoming frenzied.”
(In the limo, there is Michael’s manager Dieter Weisner, Michael and Mr. Bashir)
MICHAEL: “No! I want some more posters. C’mon! More posters…”
DIETER: “Okay, okay, okay…”
MICHAEL: “Give me that one please…I want that one. C’mon! The babies…I want more!”
BASHIR (Off camera): “You want more? What is this?”
(Michael holds up one of the posters he has collected: it is a photo of a small boy, a toddler, with two yellow roses)
MALE MJ FAN (at the limo window): “Michael, can I come to your hotel maybe? I come all the way from Israel.”
(00:07:12. Cut to the crowd outside the limo. A male voice says “I’ll take care of it, okay? Relax” and a female responds “Thank you so much”)
BASHIR: “…jump in the car. Be careful!”
FEMALE MJ FAN (at the limo window): “Michael, can I get a hug?”
MICHAEL: “Let her. Let her. Let her…”
FEMALE MJ FAN (to security guard): “Let me in please.”
MICHAEL: “Let her. Let her. Let her…She won’t hurt me.”
(00:07:25.She is let in with her large poster. She then asks Michael :) I want to give you a hug, can I?”
MICHAEL: “Of course…I’ll give you more than a hug!”
(Michael hugs the fan. We hear someone say: “Sorry?”)
FEMALE MJ FAN: “Oh God, I love you!” MICHAEL: “I love you more.”
(The camera pans in for a close up of Michael holding the fan’s hand. Then they cut briefly to the scene outside the limo. When they cut back to the interior of the limo we hear someone say: “Careful…careful. Okay, close…close” as the fan is helped out of the limo.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “As Jackson headed back to the hotel a storm was brewing about the Blanket incident. (00:08:05. Switch from night time to day time – a shot of the media gathered outside Michael’s hotel.) The next morninghe was keen to show me how he cared for his children.”
(00:08:11. Cut to hotel room. Michael is about to feed baby Blanket as Mr. Bashir watches.)
MICHAEL (to Blanket): “I love you.” BASHIR: “Here he is.”
MICHAEL (to Blanket): “I have to give you the bottle...”
(Michael laughs nervously as he tries to place the bottle in Blanket’s mouth. To do so he has to lift the sheer scarf covering Blanket’s face – a smiling Mr. Bashir lifts the scarf. Michael utters a frightened “Wait, wait…Ah!” and “Here’s the bottle!” Blanket begins to cry at 00:08:18. )
BASHIR: “It’s okay. Just give yourself….”
MICHAEL (to Blanket): “Oh, please don’t cry, Blanket...okay…here we go…Abu! Abu! (Blanket stops crying at 00:08:28.) Yes….Abu! Blankets…Blankets…Blanket…Blanket…Blanket. I love you, Blanket! Yes…yes…yes… (The camera goes in for a close up of Blanket’s face. You can see Blanket look up at Michael as Michael says “I love you Blanket” Blanket then seems to be looking directly at the camera at 00:08:35. Michael switches the hand that is holding the bottle so he can move his hair off his face. He directs the next comment to Mr. Bashir :) I love my children…very much! (The camera pans to a head shot of Michael.) Yes…I don’t want him to cry.”
BASHIR (off camera): “Does he like his feed?”
MICHAEL: “Yes!”
(00:08:46.The editor has repeated the sequence where Blanket appears to be looking at the camera and Michael switches the hand holding the bottle. 00:08:50. Camera cuts to Michael’s lower legs which are twitching as he bounces Blanket on his lap before panning up to a full length shot.)
BASHIR (off camera): “Have you been hearing about what people have been saying?”
MICHAEL: “That’s totally ignorant. I would never do that to my children…or any child. Trying to kill them? C’mon, that’s stupid! And why would I put a scarf over the baby’s face if I was trying to throw(Michael growls the word ‘throw’) him off the balcony? (Michael looks directly at the camera as he says the next bit.)
“We were waving to thousands of fans down below and they were chanting they wanted to see my child…and I was kind enough to let them see. I was doing something out of innocence.”
(00:09:13. Cut to a close up of Blanket’s face. Michael, perhaps sensing this close up is being done, rearranges the scarf to better obscure Blanket’s features.)
BASHIR (off camera): “He’s hungry, isn’t he?”
(00:09:20. Cut to a head shot of Mr. Bashir smiling as he watches Michael feed Blanket.)
MICHAEL (off camera): “He loves milk this guy…It is good! (00:09:25. Cut to Michael who rises out of his chair, says “Thank you” and exits the room carrying Blanket.)
BASHIR COMMENTARY: “Jackson’s behaviour was beginning to alarm me. (00:09:34. Cut to footage of a black car driving along the road.) Later that day he took Prince & Paris to Berlin Zoo. (00:09:40. Cut to a shot of people running to follow Michael’s car.) It was supposed to be a family outing, but the press were out in force. (00:09:44. Cut to a shot of the car park. Prince wearing a sheer red scarf is standing outside the car; Michael’s arm is the only part of him that is visible and he seems to be exiting the car. Mr. Bashir is standing in front of Michael.) Somebody had helpfully tipped them off. (00:09:48. Cut to footage of security guards trying to fend off the paparazzi.) Michael was here to see the gorillas (00:09:52. Cut to Michael walking through the zoo. His security team is in front of him and the children and Security are using large open black umbrellas to shield the Jackson family from view.) but he seemed completely oblivious to the fact that the trip had descended...”
END OF PART 6 – NOW FOR SOME ANALYSIS/COMMENTARY of my own.
1. BASHIR COMMENTARY: “…recently been joined by a new baby brother and he was back at the hotel with his nanny.”
From the mjjtimeline.blogspot.com the Las Vegas shopping trip occurred sometime in September 2002, which would have made Blanket at least 6 months old at the time. Michael was able to keep the news of Blanket’s arrival a secret – his existence only became known to the public in early August after Michael visited with Siegfrid & Roy at The Mirage in Las Vegas.
Interestingly enough the film makers don’t show Blanket until Berlin, which was November 20. From his commentary, Mr Bashir implies he meets Blanket in Las Vegas, and perhaps he did. They may have chosen to not show any earlier footage because they want to maximise the impact of introducing him via the controversial Berlin visit. But given the disregard they have shown for Michael’s wishes in regards to filming his children, I suspect the footage they do show is the only film of Blanket they were able to obtain.
2. MICHAEL: “People can always have a judgment about anything you do so it doesn’t bother me. Everything can be strange to someone. This interview is strange to some people out there so who cares, right?”
I’ve deliberately not going to delve too much into the question of who Blanket’s mother is. I know Raven from Allforloveblog has her theories about this, and I look forward to reading them when she shares them with us. For me, I plan to discuss my thoughts on the matter of the children’s mothers in Part 8 and 9 of this series.
‘This interview is strange’ – oh, how right you are Michael! With the benefit of hindsight we can all see that Michael should never have agreed to do this interview with Mr. Bashir. As a fellow admirer of Princess Diana though, I can see how the 1995 interview with her would have lent credence to Mr. Bashir that he didn’t necessarily deserve. Anyone who got to interview a member of the royal family would seem to have passed the tests as to whether they were a professional journalist or not. 'Not' being the operative word in Mr. Bashir's case judging by his conduct.
3. (00:02:28. Cut to a night scene depicting a taxi driving through the streets of Berlin. Inside the cab is Mr. Bashir. The streets are lined with cheering fans and the sound editor has captured the noise of the crowd.)
To me, this is another ego boost, I think Mr. Bashir likes to imagine the adoring crowds are for him!
4. (00:02:45. Cuts to interior shot and a close up of a television screen that has footage of Michael Jackson briefly walking out onto his hotel balcony to show his veiled baby to the fans waiting below him. The title credit comes up – for an in built commercial break – then the balcony scene is repeated again)
Milking this incident for all it was worth...
5. ♫ Introduction to “Smooth Criminal” from the 1987 album Badstarts to play again
Unlike all the preceding Parts, only one song is featured in this 10 minute segment – Smooth Criminal. The fan in me says, so what – it’s a great song with a superb short film. But I doubt the film makers have chosen to feature this song on its merits. Rather, they intend to instil a negative frenetic atmosphere.
(Sorry I will have to come back and finish this later!)
