staywild23
Premium Member
Yesterday I was gifted the March 19, 1984 issue of TIME magazine featuring a cover story about Michael. It was a really wonderful gift to receive yesterday of all days and the articles were pretty fascinating. As someone who was not alive during the height of Michael's popularity, I have always been so curious about how people thought of him and talked about him back then. There were, essentially, two separate articles in this issue.
The first is sort of...idk...just cultural commentary on Michael, I suppose. What struck me most was how it seems like the media NEVER knew how to talk about Michael. They absolutely did not know how to pin him down, categorize, or understand him. I went back and forth as I read this wondering if it was positive or not, but what I concluded is that the writer may not have even been sure about what they are trying to get across. I wouldn't say I necessarily learned anything about Michael here, but I just found the commentary so interesting. If anything, this all (to me) really speaks to his magic. Idk why I expected a traditional cover story like I might read about anyone else. I'm left with more questions and curiosities after reading this and I don't feel I know him any better, but somehow I love him even more. That was the brilliance of Michael I suppose.
The second is an interview with Joseph Jackson and that whole thing...eh, idk how I felt about it. Basically Joseph agreed to talk about Michael and give a tour of Hayvenhurst. At one point he knocks on Michael's door and Michael is hanging out with a friend (would love some idea of who this was lol) and Michael was very shy and it is described as an awkward exchange. Although when the author shakes Michael's hand, they describe it as feeling like a cloud, which is a description I love. Anyway, the vibe of Joseph interviewing about Michael when Michael didn't agree to an interview made me feel kind of gross. But would be curious what others think of that.
Anyway, I scanned the pages with my iphone and dropped a PDF into this Google folder: Time Cover Story
Here is the cover and some inside photos not included in the PDF:
The first is sort of...idk...just cultural commentary on Michael, I suppose. What struck me most was how it seems like the media NEVER knew how to talk about Michael. They absolutely did not know how to pin him down, categorize, or understand him. I went back and forth as I read this wondering if it was positive or not, but what I concluded is that the writer may not have even been sure about what they are trying to get across. I wouldn't say I necessarily learned anything about Michael here, but I just found the commentary so interesting. If anything, this all (to me) really speaks to his magic. Idk why I expected a traditional cover story like I might read about anyone else. I'm left with more questions and curiosities after reading this and I don't feel I know him any better, but somehow I love him even more. That was the brilliance of Michael I suppose.
The second is an interview with Joseph Jackson and that whole thing...eh, idk how I felt about it. Basically Joseph agreed to talk about Michael and give a tour of Hayvenhurst. At one point he knocks on Michael's door and Michael is hanging out with a friend (would love some idea of who this was lol) and Michael was very shy and it is described as an awkward exchange. Although when the author shakes Michael's hand, they describe it as feeling like a cloud, which is a description I love. Anyway, the vibe of Joseph interviewing about Michael when Michael didn't agree to an interview made me feel kind of gross. But would be curious what others think of that.
Anyway, I scanned the pages with my iphone and dropped a PDF into this Google folder: Time Cover Story
Here is the cover and some inside photos not included in the PDF: