The Quotable Michael Jackson

[Starchild Indigo]

Singer Michael Jackson August 29, 1959-June 25, 2009



When a friend expressed her sadness over the recent death of Michael Jackson, she was surprised to hear me say I never paid much attention to his music or videos. I like different kinds of music but in the past few years noticed that I particularly appreciate classical music and modern New Age music with strong classical influence. Then my friend said Jackson was also a fan of classical music which made me wonder if in his different writings and interviews there might be things he said which were worth quoting. These are some selections from different lyrics and liner notes that I thought were worth considering:


“Consciousness expresses itself through creation. This world we live in is the dance of the creator. Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye but the dance lives on.”
--from The Dance, introduction to album Dangerous

“I do the score, I do the lyrics, and I do the melody but still it’s the work of God.”
--from online interview with fans

“And the dream we were conceived in will reveal a joyful face, and the world we once believed in will shine again in grace.”
--from Heal the World

“The most powerful thing in the world is the human mind and prayer.”
--from interview with fans

“I've Been A Victim Of A Selfish
Kind Of Love
It's Time That I Realize
That There Are Some With No
Home, Not A Nickel To Loan
Could It Be Really Me,
Pretending That They're Not
Alone?”
--from The Man in the Mirror

“But they told me a man should be faithful and walk when not able and fight till the end but I’m only human.”
--from Will You Be There

“Did you ever stop to notice all the blood we've shed before? Did you ever stop to notice the crying Earth the weeping shores?”
--from Earth Song

“[Creativity] It's the most spiritual thing in the world. When it comes, it comes with all the accompaniments, the strings, the bass, the drums, the lyrics, and you're just the medium through which it comes, the channel. Sometimes I feel guilty putting my name on songs - "written by Michael Jackson - because it's as if the heavens have done it already. Like Michelangelo would have this huge piece of marble from the quaries of Italy, and he'd say, "Inside is a sleeping form." He takes a hammer and chisel, and he's just freeing it. It's already in there. It's already there.”
--from interview with Vibe Magazine

“Every day create your history
Every path you take you're leaving your legacy.”
--from History

“The power’s in believing so give yourself a chance cause you can climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest sea. All you need is the will to want it and a little self-esteem, so keep the faith.”
--from Keep the Faith


And this is a link to interviews with Michael Jackson


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[Creative Conversation Interviews]

Your photo of Jackson and these quotes made me think of the tribute paid him by Jennifer Hudson and company at the memorial for the singer. Something about their spirituality matches.

CC