What AEG exec told my friend about Michael

[Datsymay]

Kenny and Travis didn't lie for heaven's sake. The fact is, Michael himself told us before that he didn't want to do tours anymore in the ebony magazine interview, but that he really enjoyed being on stage and that it sharpend one's craft. Michael didnt just look happy when he sang and danced, he was happy...because that's what he loves. But what he didnt like was having to go all out every night for 50 shows, that's all. Especially since he was older and had suffered several injuries including a serious back injury back in 99. But as things rolled along and the pieces came together he got more excited about it..which is natural..and thats what we see in the movie, pretty much the last two nights, so its not surprising the he's happy and excited. What he looked like or said the other 3 months prior to those two nights, we don't know. But in my opinion, the important thing is that he died quite literally doing what he loved..the last thing he ever did was dance and sing on stage..mere hours before he died..and it was heal the world too..to add the cherry on top...so i think michael went out well and in full glory. No one should feel bad, i dont think it couldve ended any better given the circumstances...

Given the choice i think mj would have much preferred to watch his children grow up. They were his priorities, not performing on stage.

 

[Maria MJ]

I am not even sure Paris even said that. Also, Paris knew the family man MJ. She was too young or not born so is unable to remember the practicing and performing all the time MJ. What may have been a normal way for him to work when performing would seem excessive to her as that was beyond her world of knowledge.

I agree Paris had never seen him getting prepared for a concert,however kids do possess this sense of danger when something is wrong. Anyway, these are Paris' words (unless it's all Latoya's):
http://entertainment.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=491402&showcomments=true

 

[Popescu]

Sometimes we think we say one thing but instead we say another thing.
We know that Michael wanted to please his fans,why would he complain for fans that he didn´t want to do concerts for them ?
Especially when he knew there was so many fans who wanted to see him.
Maybe he thought he said he only wanted to do 10 concerts in London, not 50.
Maybe he wanted to do concerts on 4 other places in the world and together it woud be 50.
I understand he was upset when he talked to the fans about the concerts but even if the video is found we don´t know for sure what he really wanted.

Michael went to more rehearsals last weeks of his life = he lost weight.
He probably had to work harder then before on rehearsals and used more energy then he could get from what he ate.
I´ve read about that he barely was eating at all,they had to feed him and such stuff but maybe he ate like he used to, but he needed to eat much more than that.
And the rehearsals was long, I read about 8-10 hours and every day.
In London he only had to work for 2 hours and not every day.
He had to work 100% those hours but we don´t know how many % he used in rehearsals.

I've searched the net for a quote from Michael, he confessed to a friend, a few years ago about touring, saying that he won't tour again, EVER, because it would kill him. He said that he could'n eat, could't sleep, and that he would never ever tour again. Unfortunately, I can't find that article, since I don't remember that name of his friend or the exact quote.

I also remember the story about the trip to the moon. I know it's from a tabloid and that the story comes from Uri, but the phone convo is on youtube, so it's real. I'll quote this here : "My astronaut friend Edgar Mitchell - the sixth man to walk on the moon - told me many a time how difficult the training was to go into space. I asked Michael if he was up for it and he said 'are you kidding? A concert is more difficult than a flight to the moon.' "

Like someone said here, I choose to believe Michael.

 

[Maria MJ]

Could it be his confession to Akon a year ago?

http://www.gigwise.com/news/48222/Akon-Michael-Jackson-Will-Never-Tour-Again

 

[ginvid]

I remember the exact quote. it was from the interview of the two former Sony execs. I will see if I can find the link. I know they spoke about it on the main forum page.

Here is the quote:

"CR: “This was years ago. I’m going to go back probably eight years ago and Michael told me, ‘Cory, I can’t tour anymore. I’m not gonna tour anymore. Ok?’ I said, ‘why Mike?’ He said, ‘Because it will kill me.’ That’s what he said to me. He said, ‘It will kill me.’ Why would you say something like that? He said, ‘Well, remember when I was preparing for my concert and I passed out at the Sony Studio?’ He said, ‘Well, it’s because when I get ready for a tour I get dehydrated. I don’t eat. I don’t drink. I don’t sleep. I put so much of myself into preparing for a tour.’


He said, ‘I’m not doing it on purpose. This is just something I don’t think about anymore. You understand? I’ve just become so driven that I can’t even think about these things anymore. They made me walk around with an IV last time. He said, ‘So I just decided, my doctors decided that maybe you shouldn’t do this anymore. He said he wanted to make the Invincible album work to the point where that was it. He’s done with the tour. He’s gonna do this Invincible album. He wanted to continue to put out albums. He said, ‘I’ll do albums till I can’t do it anymore, but I just can’t tour.’”

http://thesportsinterview.com/mjackson.html

 

[gerryevans]

Given the choice i think mj would have much preferred to watch his children grow up. They were his priorities, not performing on stage.

Most definitely. He wanted to watch his children grow up, BUT also in a lifestyle they were accustomed to and he quite frankly LOVED.

But the world was in a financial crisis, and he was even moreso. Returning to work on stage was a solution for him (as apparently he wanted to keep that catalogue).

He knew exactly what touring would do to him, and that's exactly why he had a supposed specialist hired to help him come through it all.

I'd loved if he would have just released some albums, but Akon and many others have said MJ had lost his confidence. That's why in 8 years, despite his constantly working on his music, he never released anything. He was always a perfectionist, but all the crap he'd endured had severely crippled him and now nothing was good enough.

Besides, the residency would have generated over a $150 million and provided more ready cash than an album. He was already planning to buy a sprawling new mansion.

No doubt about it. He would have been perfectly happy continuing to be Mr. Mom and working on music. But to do that. He had to tour.

 

[Ramona122003]

Most definitely. He wanted to watch his children grow up, BUT also in a lifestyle they were accustomed to and he quite frankly LOVED.

But the world was in a financial crisis, and he was even moreso. Returning to work on stage was a solution for him (as apparently he wanted to keep that catalogue).

He knew exactly what touring would do to him, and that's exactly why he had a supposed specialist hired to help him come through it all.

I'd loved if he would have just released some albums, but Akon and many others have said MJ had lost his confidence. That's why in 8 years, despite his constantly working on his music, he never released anything. He was always a perfectionist, but all the crap he'd endured had severely crippled him and now nothing was good enough.

Besides, the residency would have generated over a $150 million and provided more ready cash than an album. He was already planning to buy a sprawling new mansion.

No doubt about it. He would have been perfectly happy continuing to be Mr. Mom and working on music. But to do that. He had to tour.

Michael did not need to tour to keep his catalogue. He had it setup in 2007 that his entire debt would had been paid off in 2011. He sent all his earnings from the ATV directly into his debt. So even though he would only get money from his own music, he was financially stable. He was cash poor, which is not uncommon for a person who has alot of investments over pure cash.

The tour was never about money. If he wanted some quick cash, he could had released an album or do other projects. He was doing them for his own reasons, which he himself stated in TII.

Also, he was going to be working on new music while he was doing the London shows, which is why Kenny wanted him to wait to go to London before working on anymore music. If you think about, it is a financially a smart business move.

Michael had no label and since no one knew how marketable he was after the trail, he may not have gotten a contract that he liked. If he did those shows in London and they were a smashing success, then record companies from all over the world would be knocking down his door trying to get him sign, since it would show he was still a huge seller. Michael can then have his pick of any contract he wanted and get exactly what he wanted. So, doing the shows before a new album was very clever on his part.

However, Michael was not broke and it is a myth the media made. He had debt, that is beyond a doubt, but he was not close to filing chapter 11.

 

[gerryevans]

Michael did not need to tour to keep his catalogue. He had it setup in 2007 that his entire debt would had been paid off in 2011. He sent all his earnings from the ATV directly into his debt. So even though he would only get money from his own music, he was financially stable. He was cash poor, which is not uncommon for a person who has alot of investments over pure cash.

The tour was never about money. If he wanted some quick cash, he could had released an album or do other projects. He was doing them for his own reasons, which he himself stated in TII.

Also, he was going to be working on new music while he was doing the London shows, which is why Kenny wanted him to wait to go to London before working on anymore music. If you think about, it is a financially a smart business move.

Michael had no label and since no one knew how marketable he was after the trail, he may not have gotten a contract that he liked. If he did those shows in London and they were a smashing success, then record companies from all over the world would be knocking down his door trying to get him sign, since it would show he was still a huge seller. Michael can then have his pick of any contract he wanted and get exactly what he wanted. So, doing the shows before a new album was very clever on his part.

However, Michael was not broke and it is a myth the media made. He had debt, that is beyond a doubt, but he was not close to filing chapter 11.

We'll do an agree to disagree on this one. Michael was adamant about not wanting to ever tour again, and I will always believe he went back on stage because of financial reasons first. He didn't even employ his usual documentary camera caliber process for his rehearsals because of finances.

Here's a link to what the Sony executives said about him that's referenced above, not only how he felt about touring, but why he went back. And these guys loved him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9NPz9xZB0

(go to 1:45)


ETA: He didn't have to be close to filing a Chapter 11 but being cash poor when you have the kind of lifestyle MJ had requires a cash influx. He would have gotten that ready cash from touring. Trying to liquidate other assets at this time in this economy would not have been as prudent or as cost effective. I do NOT believe he had any $400 million dollar debt, but he had a sizeable one that was not being wholly eliminated by royalties and catalogue revenues.

 

[gerryevans]

I've searched the net for a quote from Michael, he confessed to a friend, a few years ago about touring, saying that he won't tour again, EVER, because it would kill him. He said that he could'n eat, could't sleep, and that he would never ever tour again. Unfortunately, I can't find that article, since I don't remember that name of his friend or the exact quote.

I also remember the story about the trip to the moon. I know it's from a tabloid and that the story comes from Uri, but the phone convo is on youtube, so it's real. I'll quote this here : "My astronaut friend Edgar Mitchell - the sixth man to walk on the moon - told me many a time how difficult the training was to go into space. I asked Michael if he was up for it and he said 'are you kidding? A concert is more difficult than a flight to the moon.' "

Like someone said here, I choose to believe Michael.

Here's the link (also included in above post). It was an interview with two music reps who knew him, one more than the other, but both had great respect for him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9NPz9xZB0

1:45 is when he speaks of touring.

 

[Popescu]

Yes, this is the quote I was reffering to! Thanks ginvid and gerryevans :flowers:

 

[Autumn II]

I remember the exact quote. it was from the interview of the two former Sony execs. I will see if I can find the link. I know they spoke about it on the main forum page.

Here is the quote:

"CR: “This was years ago. I’m going to go back probably eight years ago and Michael told me, ‘Cory, I can’t tour anymore. I’m not gonna tour anymore. Ok?’ I said, ‘why Mike?’ He said, ‘Because it will kill me.’ That’s what he said to me. He said, ‘It will kill me.’ Why would you say something like that? He said, ‘Well, remember when I was preparing for my concert and I passed out at the Sony Studio?’ He said, ‘Well, it’s because when I get ready for a tour I get dehydrated. I don’t eat. I don’t drink. I don’t sleep. I put so much of myself into preparing for a tour.’


He said, ‘I’m not doing it on purpose. This is just something I don’t think about anymore. You understand? I’ve just become so driven that I can’t even think about these things anymore. They made me walk around with an IV last time. He said, ‘So I just decided, my doctors decided that maybe you shouldn’t do this anymore. He said he wanted to make the Invincible album work to the point where that was it. He’s done with the tour. He’s gonna do this Invincible album. He wanted to continue to put out albums. He said, ‘I’ll do albums till I can’t do it anymore, but I just can’t tour.’”

http://thesportsinterview.com/mjackson.html

Thanks for posting this. I remember this, exactly. He really, truly, didn't want to tour again. He said, "Because it will kill me." That's pretty clear?

 

[bubbyduck4MJ]

"CR: “This was years ago. I’m going to go back probably eight years ago and Michael told me, ‘Cory, I can’t tour anymore. I’m not gonna tour anymore. Ok?’ I said, ‘why Mike?’ He said, ‘Because it will kill me.’ That’s what he said to me. He said, ‘It will kill me.’ Why would you say something like that? He said, ‘Well, remember when I was preparing for my concert and I passed out at the Sony Studio?’ He said, ‘Well, it’s because when I get ready for a tour I get dehydrated. I don’t eat. I don’t drink. I don’t sleep. I put so much of myself into preparing for a tour.’


He said, ‘I’m not doing it on purpose. This is just something I don’t think about anymore. You understand? I’ve just become so driven that I can’t even think about these things anymore. They made me walk around with an IV last time. He said, ‘So I just decided, my doctors decided that maybe you shouldn’t do this anymore. He said he wanted to make the Invincible album work to the point where that was it. He’s done with the tour. He’s gonna do this Invincible album. He wanted to continue to put out albums. He said, ‘I’ll do albums till I can’t do it anymore, but I just can’t tour.’”

Argh.

 

[bubbyduck4MJ]

I agree where you said this is not simple. Almost any angle can be plausible. I am a sucker for conspirqacy theories. However, no matter how much I want to believe them, I understand that the most simple answer is usually the most probale. Yet, as we just said nothing with MJ is simple.

I think it is best to keep putting out there anything that is found. I think eventually, we will start to see more and more how things are connected. And what seemed impossible before becomes clearer.

Yes. Agreed. And I hope so!

 

[StephluvsMJ]

I know this is a little off topic, but since people are talking about whether MJ was capable of doing these shows, I thought this question might fit well in this thread.

In 1987 Michael was scheduled to do the Bad tour. 123 shows, back-to-back-to-back, and close to 3 years on the road. He was extremely thin. I'm just wondering were any fans worried at the time? Was anyone here fans at the time that could tell us? Were people seriously worried saying "OMG, if he does this he's going to kill himself" or was everyone like "Well, he's skinny but he could get through it 'cause he's Michael Jackson"?

I'm just wondering because it seems like in the past, fans weren't really worried. All of Michael's previous tours Michael was in a different city every night, playing shows one night after another. But back then his weight never concerned anyone? I'm just trying to understand why the fans were so concerned this time around, when he had much more gruelling tours in the past without a problem. What was it about Michael that made the follower fans jump back and say "I'm scared this is going to kill him"?

 

[artik]

I think the main concern was not that Michael was thin but that he was loosing weight dramatically and looking gaunt. It would make people be worried. Remember how everyone was worried about him when he lost a lot of weight during the trial even though he "has always been thin". Moreover he was not as young as he was in 1987. This is how it looks in my opinion.

 

[gerryevans]

I'm just wondering because it seems like in the past, fans weren't really worried. All of Michael's previous tours Michael was in a different city every night, playing shows one night after another. But back then he's weight never concerned anyone? I'm just trying to understand why the fans were so concerned this time around, when he had much more gruelling tours in the past without a problem. What was it about Michael that made the follower fans jump back and say "I'm scared this is going to kill him"?

At that time, fans weren't aware of the grueling effect it all had on him. I'm not sure, but I don't think there had been any reports of him falling out or being hospitalized during shows or preparations for them in '87. It definitely happened afterward.

Plus...in those intervening 20 years, we'd seen him brutalized to the point that we worried about him in general. The fact that he had lost weight during the trial was another sign to us of its detrimental effect on him. So if it's happening during the preparation of TII, too, it's normal to equate the weight loss as a negative.

When I went with a casual fan to see TII, I remarked on how skinny he was. And she looked at me quizzically and said what are you talking about? He's always been real skinny. Of course, she's right. When I see him in the Victory tour, he looks even skinnier and that was in '84. However, the big difference then is that he was in his 20's and also looked healthy.

While I'm not one that thinks he did not look healthy in TII (in fact, I thought he looked great!) since I did know he had health issues now and he himself said if he toured again it'd kill him, his loss of weight did concern me. Even though it was a less grueling touring schedule.

 

[Mechi]

I know this is a little off topic, but since people are talking about whether MJ was capable of doing these shows, I thought this question might fit well in this thread.

In 1987 Michael was scheduled to do the Bad tour. 123 shows, back-to-back-to-back, and close to 3 years on the road. He was extremely thin. I'm just wondering were any fans worried at the time? Was anyone here fans at the time that could tell us? Were people seriously worried saying "OMG, if he does this he's going to kill himself" or was everyone like "Well, he's skinny but he could get through it 'cause he's Michael Jackson"?

I'm just wondering because it seems like in the past, fans weren't really worried. All of Michael's previous tours Michael was in a different city every night, playing shows one night after another. But back then he's weight never concerned anyone? I'm just trying to understand why the fans were so concerned this time around, when he had much more gruelling tours in the past without a problem. What was it about Michael that made the follower fans jump back and say "I'm scared this is going to kill him"?

Last time I saw him live was during HiStory concerts in Bremen and Cologne and in Cologne we were so close to the stage... I remember I said something to my friends like: OMG was he always this thin??? (and that was the beginning of the tour!) but my friends told me that he was just looking normal.
Still I've thought (and lots of ppl jumped on me for my of cuz subjective impression) that Michael lost lots of energy between Dangerous (which I attended in Munich) and HiStory. Not saying the show of HiStory wasn't incredible good, it was... but it was different to me.

I think I was constantly worried about him and his health since he broke down that time in New York before the 'one night only' show.
Yes he was always thin... but then again it seemed something in his face was different also. Not talking about plastic surgery here, noooo more about a special shining somehow... to me honestly it was gone since Dangerous.

Then I hoped and it looked as if it could and would come back with having the children. You can clearly see it back in his face with the first pictures of him and baby Prince. And when I heard that he would do TII and heard he'd do it for his children I really hoped he'd make it.
But when I heard about 50 shows it was clear to me something would happen. I didn't count with something this bad and I didn't want to spy in the soup of others... but I wish I would/could have done something when thinking the first time... 50 concerts? never!
That's the reason why I didn't watch TII and it will take me still some time to be able to... means if I will ever reach that point.

 

[gerryevans]

Still I've thought (and lots of ppl jumped on me for my of cuz subjective impression) that Michael lost lots of energy between Dangerous (which I attended in Munich) and HiStory. Not saying the show of HiStory wasn't incredible good, it was... but it was different to me.

Yes he was always thin... but then again it seemed something in his face was different also. Not talking about plastic surgery here, noooo more about a special shining somehow... to me honestly it was gone since Dangerous.

The wind had been knocked out of him during the History period. It was post Chandler, he and Lisa were married, but already having difficulties. And he really really wanted children now. When I look at the MTV 1995 clip where he absolutely performs his heart out, I too noticed that "shine" was gone. There was definitely a sadness about him--although that MTV performance IMO was one of his very best ever.

Then I hoped and it looked as if it could and would come back with having the children. You can clearly see it back in his face with the first pictures of him and baby Prince. And when I heard that he would do TII and heard he'd do it for his children I really hoped he'd make it.

The children definitely brought it back. After the 2005 trial, I was really afraid for him mentally and physically. But in 2006 when he appeared at WMA, he was positively luminous. He didn't really perform, but god he looked great and healthy. Thank goodness he had his 3 children. They really were his salvation.

But when I heard about 50 shows it was clear to me something would happen.

How I wish you were wrong. I still can't believe he's actually gone.

 

[Autumn II]

I think I was constantly worried about him and his health since he broke down that time in New York before the 'one night only' show.

As was I. That was in 1995. He was terribly ill, and I remember seeing on CNN that there was some question as to whether or not his heart would have to be shocked into a normal rhythm. I think he was in the hospital for about a week? That show was never rescheduled. Michael, himself, has said that he was "fragile." His history of illnesses, accidents, and cancellations, plus the fact he went on record saying he never wanted to tour again. . makes me not quite understand the fans who are completely convinced he was in tip-top shape and ready for the TII concerts? I guess people believe what they have to believe for emotional well-being?

And when I heard that he would do TII and heard he'd do it for his children I really hoped he'd make it.
But when I heard about 50 shows it was clear to me something would happen. I didn't count with something this bad and I didn't want to spy in the soup of others... but I wish I would/could have done something when thinking the first time... 50 concerts? never!
That's the reason why I didn't watch TII and it will take me still some time to be able to... means if I will ever reach that point.

It was clear to me, too, that something would happen and I had a feeling of great dread when the fifty shows were announced. I told close friends about it, and felt badly for those who were getting tickets and making arrangements. I KNEW it would never happen. I just. . . knew. I thought even ten shows was too much, since he hadn't performed a concert in 12 years! And since he was in a wheelchair in the summer of 2008? And then fifty shows? I would have expected that he'd test the water first, with a one-time tv special. The risk to him, and to AEG, in scheduling these shows was absolutely enormous. I am still not convinced if they actually expected that he'd be able to do them? I think he probably didn't know, either. How could he?

I saw TII -- once. I felt I had to, to be able to do "investigations." He still "had it" in terms of vocals. His voice sounded great. The dance clips we saw were short. He looked terribly thin to me. He sometimes smiled, and I guess he was happy to be back on stage again? He was very beautiful. I didn't like how Kenny Ortega was treating him, at all. I thought he was condescending. It looked like Michael wasn't the one in charge -- not really -- and he always had been before. It was rough seeing the movie. I went alone, and took a box of tissues.

Sometimes I think the world has gone entirely mad! People can look at exactly the same image, and see such different things, or explain things away? There is one photo from TII of Michael in a white t-shirt. He had never, EVER been so thin. He always tried to gain weight before tours, because he lost so much from the effort. But for this one? He was starting with NOTHING. No extra weight, at all. He was tiny. He'd always had relatively broad shoulders, but his shoulders were quite narrow. His. . uhm. . booty . . . was entirely gone! (compared to how he was in the HIStory tour?) He wore sunglasses nearly all the time -- which I'd never seen him do in rehearsals. Why? We've all seen the same photos, but people see what they must see?

If he was physically unable to do the fifty shows, he was truly worth more dead than alive. And now he's dead. .. . . . .

That is my opinion. I don't "require" that others share it. . . . .

 

[Harmony]

Thank-you Danae85, it must have taken a lot for you to divulge what you heard, I believe that you were told what you were told, you know it's never easy being the bearer of truth.

 

[Limonali]

Still I've thought (and lots of ppl jumped on me for my of cuz subjective impression) that Michael lost lots of energy between Dangerous (which I attended in Munich) and HiStory. Not saying the show of HiStory wasn't incredible good, it was... but it was different to me.
[...]
Yes he was always thin... but then again it seemed something in his face was different also. Not talking about plastic surgery here, noooo more about a special shining somehow... to me honestly it was gone since Dangerous.

I saw TII -- once. I felt I had to, to be able to do "investigations." He still "had it" in terms of vocals. His voice sounded great. The dance clips we saw were short. He looked terribly thin to me. He sometimes smiled, and I guess he was happy to be back on stage again? He was very beautiful. I didn't like how Kenny Ortega was treating him, at all. I thought he was condescending. It looked like Michael wasn't the one in charge -- not really -- and he always had been before. It was rough seeing the movie.

I just quoted parts that ring true to me.
I do agree with the shining, light in his face, having been gone since Dangerous not to get back really...
At least not in public. It's very visible.

Plus I agree with with Victoria. Good vocals. In terms of dancing... he wasn't quite himself for me during TII...
something was missing for me in his moves. I know, it's just rehearsals, but still...
And I also did not like at all the way Kenny spoke to him, that was my first impression.
I talked about it with some people later on, most said 'no, he was just direct' - but I did not like it.

 

[Maria MJ]

I was able to see TII only once myself.
My heart still hurts at how painfully thin he was.
I felt like hugging him and generate a river of light from my heart to his for protection.
Every time I go over and over the nightmare hoping that something will change,but it doesn't.

 

[Moddie777]

Thanks for posting this. I remember this, exactly. He really, truly, didn't want to tour again. He said, "Because it will kill me." That's pretty clear?

I had almost forgotten about this quote until now...


Makes the hairs on the back of the neck stand up, especially now.

Chillin and heartbreaking.

 

[ensleyave]

As was I. That was in 1995. He was terribly ill, and I remember seeing on CNN that there was some question as to whether or not his heart would have to be shocked into a normal rhythm. I think he was in the hospital for about a week? That show was never rescheduled. Michael, himself, has said that he was "fragile." His history of illnesses, accidents, and cancellations, plus the fact he went on record saying he never wanted to tour again. . makes me not quite understand the fans who are completely convinced he was in tip-top shape and ready for the TII concerts? I guess people believe what they have to believe for emotional well-being?



It was clear to me, too, that something would happen and I had a feeling of great dread when the fifty shows were announced. I told close friends about it, and felt badly for those who were getting tickets and making arrangements. I KNEW it would never happen. I just. . . knew. I thought even ten shows was too much, since he hadn't performed a concert in 12 years! And since he was in a wheelchair in the summer of 2008? And then fifty shows? I would have expected that he'd test the water first, with a one-time tv special. The risk to him, and to AEG, in scheduling these shows was absolutely enormous. I am still not convinced if they actually expected that he'd be able to do them? I think he probably didn't know, either. How could he?

I saw TII -- once. I felt I had to, to be able to do "investigations." He still "had it" in terms of vocals. His voice sounded great. The dance clips we saw were short. He looked terribly thin to me. He sometimes smiled, and I guess he was happy to be back on stage again? He was very beautiful. I didn't like how Kenny Ortega was treating him, at all. I thought he was condescending. It looked like Michael wasn't the one in charge -- not really -- and he always had been before. It was rough seeing the movie. I went alone, and took a box of tissues.

Sometimes I think the world has gone entirely mad! People can look at exactly the same image, and see such different things, or explain things away? There is one photo from TII of Michael in a white t-shirt. He had never, EVER been so thin. He always tried to gain weight before tours, because he lost so much from the effort. But for this one? He was starting with NOTHING. No extra weight, at all. He was tiny. He'd always had relatively broad shoulders, but his shoulders were quite narrow. His. . uhm. . booty . . . was entirely gone! (compared to how he was in the HIStory tour?) He wore sunglasses nearly all the time -- which I'd never seen him do in rehearsals. Why? We've all seen the same photos, but people see what they must see?

If he was physically unable to do the fifty shows, he was truly worth more dead than alive. And now he's dead. .. . . . .

That is my opinion. I don't "require" that others share it. . . . .

I saw one of the announcements when the announcer said at least twice 10 shows then Mike came out said his few words. I know he said ten shows.

 

[Autumn II]

I saw one of the announcements when the announcer said at least twice 10 shows then Mike came out said his few words. I know he said ten shows.

Do you mean the announcements at the 02, or some other announcement? I didn't tape it, but I guess it's on Youtube?

I highly doubt that Michael was "surprised" that his shows would sell out. Of COURSE Michael Jackson concerts would sell out! If he cried at fifty shows, I'm sure it was that he was horrified that he'd have to do so many, and not tears of joy.

 

[souldreamer7]

Do you mean the announcements at the 02, or some other announcement? I didn't tape it, but I guess it's on Youtube?

I highly doubt that Michael was "surprised" that his shows would sell out. Of COURSE Michael Jackson concerts would sell out! If he cried at fifty shows, I'm sure it was that he was horrified that he'd have to do so many, and not tears of joy.

here in another thread in IU
http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2524167#post2524167
I posted a few YT videos I found and perhaps a way to find older things from the internet I wished someone knew how that worked.

 

[ensleyave]

Do you mean the announcements at the 02, or some other announcement? I didn't tape it, but I guess it's on Youtube?

I highly doubt that Michael was "surprised" that his shows would sell out. Of COURSE Michael Jackson concerts would sell out! If he cried at fifty shows, I'm sure it was that he was horrified that he'd have to do so many, and not tears of joy.

Yes at the O2. It was on youtube they had several but this was the one when the emcee said ten shows before Mike came out.

 

[souldreamer7]

Yes at the O2. It was on youtube they had several but this was the one when the emcee said ten shows before Mike came out.

they are posted in that link I embedded them into the thread do u knnow how to get screen shots from websites using those links in that thread? perhaps if so ppl may find things that have gone missing

 

[ensleyave]

Yeah I saw but it was one were the announcer guy with the short choppy blonde hair also said ten shows. Thank You. Because Randy Phillips keep saying originally it was 15 or thirty some shows. That is untrue because everything in the beginning says 10. I don't know.

 

[callmerose]

Kenny and Travis didn't lie for heaven's sake. The fact is, Michael himself told us before that he didn't want to do tours anymore in the ebony magazine interview, but that he really enjoyed being on stage and that it sharpend one's craft. Michael didnt just look happy when he sang and danced, he was happy...because that's what he loves. But what he didnt like was having to go all out every night for 50 shows, that's all. Especially since he was older and had suffered several injuries including a serious back injury back in 99. But as things rolled along and the pieces came together he got more excited about it..which is natural..and thats what we see in the movie, pretty much the last two nights, so its not surprising the he's happy and excited. What he looked like or said the other 3 months prior to those two nights, we don't know. But in my opinion, the important thing is that he died quite literally doing what he loved..the last thing he ever did was dance and sing on stage..mere hours before he died..and it was heal the world too..to add the cherry on top...so i think michael went out well and in full glory. No one should feel bad, i dont think it couldve ended any better given the circumstances...

Thank you for this logical, thoughtful post! I would add that Michael was also was very excited about his children seeing him on stage.

The part about the concerts not making any money....

Billboard magazine has estimated that $85 million in tickets were sold for the concert series. Additional packages, merchandise and secondary market sales could have raised the total to $115 million. Michael Jackson himself was expected to earn $50 million from the shows. In order to make no money on the O2 concerts, they would have to have cost over $115 million dollars to produce. In other words, your friend either doesn't know squat or was confused.