Richiepiep
Administrator
No, I haven't been struggling to get some Michael Jackson topic going, but among all the brouhaha I suddenly remembered a quote by Michael from a few years ago. So it's not even off-topic . I just found out it's a TV Guide interview from November 1, 2001.
At the time I thought, good grief, here we go again and I disliked it, because any favourable comment made by Michael on some cultural phenomenon featuring children is bound to be interpreted one way, taken out of context and bandied about. But now I think it's actually quite poignant.
In the interview, Michael is actually the first to point out on several occasions how he missed his childhood and how he could only relate to people much older and younger than him. You have every right to call this weird, but it's first and foremost infintely sad for all involved I reckon. I hope MITM gave him some real laughs and genuine moments of happiness and release in what was by then a beleaguered, more and more isolated existence. Despite the fact that Malcolm and his family always seemed on the brink of seriously injuring each other, and could have even killed themselves or others with their near-constant infighting and violent revenge, I think in Michael's perception it was a couple of kids running wild and free in ways he could only dream of.
The quotes. The full article is well worth reading.
Rich
TVG: Do you watch TV?
MJ: I love PBS, the Discovery Channel, The Simpsons. I love Sesame Street. I could watch it for hours. But my favorite show is Malcolm in the Middle. It reminds me so much of [my brothers and me] when we were little.
TVG: Which character do you relate to?
MJ: Malcolm. Mainly because he tries to fit into society, and he doesn't - like E.T. or Bambi, he can't adjust to other people's concepts. And I feel like that a lot of times. Once I'm offstage, I feel awkward, like this is not where I'm supposed to be.
TVG: Who else do you spend time with?
MJ: Elizabeth [Taylor], [Marlon] Brando, Gregory Peck, these are very close friends of mine. Either they're much older than me or much younger. I've never had real contact with a person my age level. I think this happened because all my life I played clubs, since I was 5 years old. I saw people drunk, fighting, and it was just disgusting. When people say to me today, "Hey, lets go to a club," I go, "No way." If I go, it's not a party for me - too many autographs and photographs.
He then mentions Liza Minelli, another close friend.
We come from the same planet. Like Elizabeth does.
TVG: What planet is that?
MJ: It's called Capricious Anomaly in the Sea of Space. [laughs]. Gee, I can't name it. Just beyond our solar system, I think. But this is true, and this is not to be taken lightly: People who grew up as child stars have the same thing in common. You're cute, they love you; you go through the awkward stage, they don't accept you anymore. Very few make the transition to adult star. And most of them become self-destructive. And it's very sad.
TVG: Why do you think you have such an affinity for children?
MJ: I'll tell you exactly where it comes from. Because I never had a childhood. When they're in pain, I feel their pain. And when they're in despair, I feel their despair. I have such concern about the plight and the state of our children today. If there was one day where kids could get with parents and bond, this would make such a difference. If I had that one day with my father, it would have made a difference in our relationship today - just the one day.
The full interview:
http://www.accessinterviews.com/interviews/detail/michael-jackson/15570
At the time I thought, good grief, here we go again and I disliked it, because any favourable comment made by Michael on some cultural phenomenon featuring children is bound to be interpreted one way, taken out of context and bandied about. But now I think it's actually quite poignant.
In the interview, Michael is actually the first to point out on several occasions how he missed his childhood and how he could only relate to people much older and younger than him. You have every right to call this weird, but it's first and foremost infintely sad for all involved I reckon. I hope MITM gave him some real laughs and genuine moments of happiness and release in what was by then a beleaguered, more and more isolated existence. Despite the fact that Malcolm and his family always seemed on the brink of seriously injuring each other, and could have even killed themselves or others with their near-constant infighting and violent revenge, I think in Michael's perception it was a couple of kids running wild and free in ways he could only dream of.
The quotes. The full article is well worth reading.
Rich
TVG: Do you watch TV?
MJ: I love PBS, the Discovery Channel, The Simpsons. I love Sesame Street. I could watch it for hours. But my favorite show is Malcolm in the Middle. It reminds me so much of [my brothers and me] when we were little.
TVG: Which character do you relate to?
MJ: Malcolm. Mainly because he tries to fit into society, and he doesn't - like E.T. or Bambi, he can't adjust to other people's concepts. And I feel like that a lot of times. Once I'm offstage, I feel awkward, like this is not where I'm supposed to be.
TVG: Who else do you spend time with?
MJ: Elizabeth [Taylor], [Marlon] Brando, Gregory Peck, these are very close friends of mine. Either they're much older than me or much younger. I've never had real contact with a person my age level. I think this happened because all my life I played clubs, since I was 5 years old. I saw people drunk, fighting, and it was just disgusting. When people say to me today, "Hey, lets go to a club," I go, "No way." If I go, it's not a party for me - too many autographs and photographs.
He then mentions Liza Minelli, another close friend.
We come from the same planet. Like Elizabeth does.
TVG: What planet is that?
MJ: It's called Capricious Anomaly in the Sea of Space. [laughs]. Gee, I can't name it. Just beyond our solar system, I think. But this is true, and this is not to be taken lightly: People who grew up as child stars have the same thing in common. You're cute, they love you; you go through the awkward stage, they don't accept you anymore. Very few make the transition to adult star. And most of them become self-destructive. And it's very sad.
TVG: Why do you think you have such an affinity for children?
MJ: I'll tell you exactly where it comes from. Because I never had a childhood. When they're in pain, I feel their pain. And when they're in despair, I feel their despair. I have such concern about the plight and the state of our children today. If there was one day where kids could get with parents and bond, this would make such a difference. If I had that one day with my father, it would have made a difference in our relationship today - just the one day.
The full interview:
http://www.accessinterviews.com/interviews/detail/michael-jackson/15570
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