|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 13, 2023 19:09:13 GMT
When was the last time you truly enjoyed being an MJ fan at the highest level of your fandom?
For me it was the HIStory era. I remember getting the Scream CD single and was completely blown away. I think I got it on tape cassette first. I remember thinking “This is incredible! He never ever disappoints!” Then the album! Got it on double cassette in a box. Was beyond excited to listen to it and it didn’t disappoint. I remember seeing the short films on MTV and Earth Song hitting the Christmas #1. I knew I was living through another golden age.
The Brit Awards and World Music Awards performances of Earth Song. Later getting HIStory on Film VHS. Seeing MJ in Dublin in 97 and the Blood On The Dance Floor single and album being released. The single was played nonstop on my local radio station 96fm. Again, I played the Blood On The Dance Floor album to death! Loved it! Still do!
I don’t think anything after that captured my imagination in the same way. That was it, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory. 3 incredible eras and nothing has come close since.
Today we’re worlds away from anything even slightly touching the surface of the excitement of those days. Obviously without MJ nothing could, but his estate have taken things in a direction I have little to no interest in and today it’s all about fallout. It’s incredible but inevitable how things change as you get older.
|
|
|
Post by pg13 on Jul 13, 2023 19:29:40 GMT
HIStory was the last great era for sure.
But my last memory has to be seeing the 2001 VMA cameo on tv in New York City before the reunion with his brothers at MSG the next night LIVE. That entrance was electrifying!
After that....well. 😐
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 13, 2023 20:55:12 GMT
HIStory was the last great era for sure. But my last memory has to be seeing the 2001 VMA cameo on tv in New York City before the reunion with his brothers at MSG the next night LIVE. That entrance was electrifying! After that....well. 😐 Must have been surreal watching that on a TV in New York and then actually attend the 30th Anniversary concert the next day! I slag it off from time to time but MSG 2001 is a real piece of MJ HIStory! The reunion with The Jackson’s must have been truly amazing to witness, and in MSG in NYC!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2023 22:02:44 GMT
I'd say the This Is It announcement for me. I never thought I'd experience that hype again. I remember being at college when it happened at the O2.
|
|
|
Post by SoCav on Jul 13, 2023 23:09:10 GMT
I'd say the This Is It announcement for me. I never thought I'd experience that hype again. I remember being at college when it happened at the O2. Beforehand, leading up to it, I agree. But didn't you find it oddly deflating when it actually took place? I remember talking to my friends about it and we all felt something was off, like he didn't really seem to want to do it. Have to say that subsided for a moment when tickets went on sale a few days later. Managing to secure those was probably the last time I felt that hyped about anything regarding MJ.
|
|
|
Post by butterflies2 on Jul 13, 2023 23:10:10 GMT
I was more excited over him when he was alive than dead. I can truly say I was in love and feel good I got to experience it even if it was one sided on my end
|
|
|
Post by MichaelD on Jul 13, 2023 23:56:01 GMT
I'd say it was in November 2006. WMAs at Earls Court, London. Although tarnished by the false press reports in the aftermath ("MJ was booed off the stage", lol), it really felt special to have been there. And since it's the only time I saw him in person, it makes it an especially great memory to me (WMAs at Earls Court and afterward at the Hempel Hotel). To this day it still grinds my gears, how unfair the press reported on this. The audience cheered massively for MJ throughout the evening (it was taped, not a live broadcast). Every 15 minutes there was a short break to set up the stage for the next performer etc. During every break the crowd celebrated Michael. Mexican waves went through the packed-19,000-seats venue, "Michael, Michael!" chantings, and flags from all over the world waving. When I think back on those reports from back in the day and the photos they chose to paint such a negative picture, I want to post the following ones to make this evening justice:
|
|
|
Post by amaya on Jul 14, 2023 0:43:01 GMT
I'd say it was in November 2006. WMAs at Earls Court, London. Although tarnished by the false press reports in the aftermath ("MJ was booed off the stage", lol), it really felt special to have been there. And since it's the only time I saw him in person, it makes it an especially great memory to me (WMAs at Earls Court and afterward at the Hempel Hotel). To this day it still grinds my gears, how unfair the press reported on this. The audience cheered massively for MJ throughout the evening (it was taped, not a live broadcast). Every 15 minutes there was a short break to set up the stage for the next performer etc. During every break the crowd celebrated Michael. Mexican waves went through the packed-19,000-seats venue, "Michael, Michael!" chantings, and flags from all over the world waving. When I think back on those reports from back in the day and the photos they chose to paint such a negative picture, I want to post the following ones to make this evening justice: It blows my mind that they deliberately falsely reported on it, despite all the evidence to the contrary. Hell, YouTube was around by this point; there had to have been uploads of this show around that time that would instantly prove the press wrong. Having not been a fan of Michael's when he was alive, my answer is going to be a bit different here. I think the happiest time for me was when I saw the Immortal Cirque du Soleil show. Being in a large arena with people calling out for Michael and "Heal the world!" after the Will You Be There segment, and everyone singing along to "Billie Jean" near the end. That was a form of magic and togetherness I had never experienced before in my life. I never quite felt that again until I visited Forest Lawn in June 2019, but that was a slightly sadder time due to it being the ten year anniversary and the fact that LN came in from nowhere just a few months prior and just... douched up the party. But seeing how many people were there for him despite all that... it gave me hope.
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 14, 2023 9:01:22 GMT
MichaelD thank you for your amazing pictures as always. I watched it live on TV and loved it. Especially when MJ threw his jacket into the crowd and just seeing him smile knowing his fans were still there with him. I also remember the typical fallout and headlines the next day Jacko Booed Off Stage etc. They just couldn’t give him his dues could they?! It was a wonderful moment in terms of MJ standing on a stage again and showing the world he still had a fanbase, career and was still Michael Jackson.
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 14, 2023 9:14:48 GMT
I'd say the This Is It announcement for me. I never thought I'd experience that hype again. I remember being at college when it happened at the O2. Beforehand, leading up to it, I agree. But didn't you find it oddly deflating when it actually took place? I remember talking to my friends about it and we all felt something was off, like he didn't really seem to want to do it. Have to say that subsided for a moment when tickets went on sale a few days later. Managing to secure those was probably the last time I felt that hyped about anything regarding MJ. I actually enjoyed it. I don’t think I was aware of it until maybe an hour before he appeared. I watched it on TV with my girlfriend now wife in my mams house. We were taken by complete surprise and hyped. I remember the official fan site allowing fans to choose what they'd like MJ to perform at the shows. A gimmick for sure but it allowed fans to interact with it. I definitely chose Another Part of Me and two other rarities. I remember the fan forums creating polls and voting amongst each other also. And getting the precodes for early tickets!! We managed to secure tickets for 5 nights I believe. Opening night, midpoint show, middle show, midpoint towards the end show and the last show. Securing all that was insane. I remember all the hype and excitement in the fan community. And a few short months later nothing would be the same ever again.
|
|
|
Post by Michaels Lover on Jul 14, 2023 10:14:36 GMT
1999 when I went to Munich for the MJ and Friends concert, and also went to the hotel where he was staying and saw him arrive and wave to us from the window. It was magical
|
|
TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,413
|
Post by TonyR on Jul 14, 2023 10:30:45 GMT
Ghosts was the last great thing he did do in terms of output then its that for me.
After that, the TII announcement.
Everything in between is just tinged with sadness.
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 14, 2023 13:56:00 GMT
1999 when I went to Munich for the MJ and Friends concert, and also went to the hotel where he was staying and saw him arrive and wave to us from the window. It was magical I believe PG13 was at that concert also. I learned about a lot of stuff from around 1999 after the fact. I remember buying Adrian Grant’s The Visual Documentary book in the early 2000’s and being surprised by how much I’d been unaware of and how out of the loop I’d been for a few years.
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 14, 2023 14:05:48 GMT
Ghosts was the last great thing he did do in terms of output then its that for me. After that, the TII announcement. Everything in between is just tinged with sadness. I remember going into HMV to buy Blood On The Dance Floor and a few weeks later being back in HMV and seeing the Ghosts boxset upstairs in the VHS section but wasn’t able to afford it at the time. It would be quite a number of years before I’d see it. I only bought the physical boxset about 7 or 8 years ago actually. It’s remarkable that it hasn’t seen a Blu-ray release to this day.
|
|
|
Post by aazzaabb on Jul 14, 2023 14:11:23 GMT
Actually, when I went in to HMV to buy BOTDF one of the choreographers from my old dance company was in there listening to it on a listening post! Remember those! She was loving it! Guess what her name is?
Billie Jean! I kid you not. She turned 50 a few weeks ago apparently. Happy Birthday Billie Jean if you ever happen to see this by chance. 😀🤩
|
|