Michael Jackson: A National Treasure

We just witnessed over the last two weeks the world's outpouring of love for a National Treasure, an American Icon, musical Messiah, and now a Martyr. The world will never see another Michael Jackson.

HR 600

Congresswoman and long-standing member of the Congressional Black Caucus Sheila Jackson Lee (Tx) presented, with a world audience at the Michael Jackson Memorial, an honorary resolution - HR 600. HR 600 is an official proclamation that Michael Jackson is an American Legend, a Musical Icon, and World Humanitarian...in essense "A National Treasure". Rep. Jackson Lee has pledged that the resolution -- now before the House Foreign Affairs Committee where she is a member -- would come to the full House for debate. Such honorary measures normally move quickly from committee to the full House and pass on a voice vote. But Jackson Lee's resolution is already in trouble early. It drew only one co-sponsor, Rep. Diane Watson, D-Calif., and was 'not endorsed' by any other Black Caucus members.

To complicate matters more, the very next day after the Michael Jackson Memorial was seen around the world, including thousands of movie theaters, Speaker of the House Congresswoman from "California" (Michael Jackson's home state) Nancy Pelosi shut the door to the resolution honoring Michael Jackson because the debate on the symbolic measure could raise "contrary views" about the pop star's life. "Lawmakers are free to use House speeches to express their sympathy or their praise any time that they wish," said Pelosi, D-Calif. "I don't think it's necessary for us to have a resolution." What?

The world mourns Jackson's death in record numbers and Pelosi thinks it is not worth her time. Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., who posted a video on YouTube calling Michael Jackson a "pervert" and a "pedophile," has pledged to do all he could to block the resolution.

Unbowed, Jackson Lee said she will seek support from colleagues who thanked her when she introduced the measure June 26, one day after Michael Jackson died. She said honorary resolutions don't often 'pass the next day.' "On this floor we elevate people and doing that we have to work to tell your story," she said after a House vote. But she would need support from Democratic leadership for the resolution to advance to the full House from the committee where it is now.

International Respect

Michael Jackson's close friend England's late "Princess" Diana is the only human being ever that received a greater viewership for her Memorial. The world's love and adulation amounted for more than a billion people internationally that watched the Michael Jackson Memorial. Every major network carried Jackson's Memorial live without commercial interruption. Live clips of crowds watching the Michael Jackson Memorial on mega-sized exterior video screens and in thousands of movie theaters. Movie theaters here in 32 States showed the Michael Jackson Memorial. Twenty-four hour continuous news coverage (Internationally on CNN) enjoyed favorable ratings. Viacom's MTV played Michael Jackson's superb videos 24 hours a day. A multitude of radio stations worldwide played Michael Jackson songs for days. Satellite radio created a Michael Jackson channel. Major downloading, viewing, and social websites crashed, overloaded with people ordering Michael Jackson music, or viewing Jackson's videos, or posting billions of comments on social networks.

And why did President Barack Obama not make a public statement nor mention Michael Jackson in his past three Saturday weekly addresses? This also surprises me. In England, the Queen of England "respectfully" knighted Paul McCartney. Paul has a Sir as a surname, as in: Sir Paul McCartney.

Mainstream Media

What about the mainstream media? Despite Jackson being acquitted on 14 counts of Child Molestation charges, with the boy that accused Michael Jackson in 2003 of child molestation, re-canted, admitting that his father pushed him to "falsely-accuse" Jackson, yet the media continues its' onslaught of negative reporting calling Michael Jackson a pedophile, Child Molester, and consistently speaks of Michael Jackson as a drug attic complete with unsubstantiated accusations that Jackson had needle marks in his arm. Jackson's dermatologist stated publically on the popular Larry King show that just two weeks before MJ's death 'there was absolutely no needle marks.' A Kid recants; a dermatologist states no needle marks; and Jackson is acquitted in court by a mostly White jury of all 14 counts.

So what is going on here? Facts, the law, and overwhelming evidence no longer matter in the mainstream media? Why can't the news and entertainment media conclude that Michael Jackson really is innocent with the mountain of evidence to prove it, including one from the accuser? Maybe Michael Jackson 30-million dollars to mostly children's charities really means that he does care for children. Or is that nowadays all you have to be accused and no matter what a jury or judge concludes in court, a celebrity is guilty and not worthy of Congressional merits?

Michael Jackson's Lifetime of Fans

I can go on and on with proof on top of more evidence, but let's stop to ask: Why did the world stop and mourn in disbelief and respectful adoration when Michael Joseph Jackson died? What did Michael Jackson have where billions of people were glued for weeks to the news programs covering Michael Jackson's death, bought his music, and viewed his videos. Even moreso forty-eight of Billboards top 100 charted songs were Michael Jackson songs the week of his death, and record setting 68-thousand plays on US radio the week of Jackson's death, and more than a billion people worldwide watch the Michael Jackson Memorial? Why wasn't John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, nor Frank Sinatra reverred as highly as Michael Jackson.

The difference between Michael Jackson and the other music icons is that Michael Jackson "consistently" stayed on top of the charts for the duration of his 40 years in the business. Michael Jackson was also a much better entertainer. Elvis, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Louis Armstrong all had their prime time but rarely topped the charts ever again. Elvis was hot in the 50's, the Beatles had their big hits in the 60's, Frank Sinatra in the 40's, Louis Armstrong in the 20's and 30's. But Michael Jackson came out of the box in 1969 with four consecutive number one hits as lead singer of the Jackson Five: "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." And three decades later Michael Jackson in the 90's continued with international number one hits with "Black or White," "Heal the World," 'Jam", and "Scream" with accompanying memorable videos. That's Incredible!

During the early 70's the Jackson Five had a Saturday morning cartoon show to break their soon to be number on hits. Later in the 1970's decade it was "The Jacksons" variety television show. All of this un-paralleled success happened before Michael Jackson's first adult album "Off the Wall" with producer Quincy Jones (biggest selling R&B album at that point) dropped in 79. "Off the Wall" was the first of three Quincy Jones-produced albums. Again ten years after Jackson's first #1 song "I Want You Back". As in a Lexus after travelling 100-thousand miles, Michael was just getting started after a decade of many number one hits. Most recording artists careers are done, sharply declining, after ten years in the limelight.

Michael Jackson's ten year period that followed 1979's "Off the Wall" release, changed music and perception of how the world accepts black artists forever. The release of the "Thriller", "Bad", and "Dangerous" albums along with the eye-popping video, and the "Victory" tour with his brothers was a decade that will never be matched. To date the "Thriller" album is the number one selling album with 109 million albums sold internationally, more than twice the sells as the next album in line.

Michael Jackson - The Businessman

Micheal Jackson also found time to learn the business throughout his years in show business. In 1985, Jackson bought the publishing rights of the Beatles songs (and other acts in the same deal) for 47.5-MILLION dollars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Songs . For whatever reason, Paul McCartney of the Beatles refused to outbid Michael Jackson for the publishing of his music, though McCartney had close to a billion dollars in cash and assets. McCartney attempted to get Yoko Ono to join in the bid with him for his own songs, but Yoko Ono refused. Yoko Ono in fact stated after the sell was complete: "I just feel like a friend (Michael Jackson) has them and will do right for John." I guess the late John Lennon's wife had il feelings toward Paul McCartney.

Paul McCartney was asked how he felt about having Michael Jackson as his "boss" and "controller" of the song catalogue, McCartney replied, "I think he needs to give me a raise." McCartney reportedly did ask Jackson for a royalty increase, but Michael Jackson refused. McCartney further went on to say that, "Jackson pulled the rug from under his feet."

Privately, Mchael Jackson was reported to have expressed exasperation at McCartney's attitude; he felt that the musician should have paid for the songs he had written. At the time, McCartney was one of the richest entertainers in the world, with a net worth of $560 MILLION dollars and a royalty income of $41 MILLION annually. Jackson stated, "If Paul didn't want to invest $47.5 million in his own songs, then he shouldn't come crying to me now".

In an analysis of the acquisition, the Los Angeles Times noted that if "Yesterday" (a Beatles hit song) were to earn $100,000 a year in royalties, the Lennon estate and McCartney as writers would divide 50% of the income; $25,000 each. The publisher, Michael Joseph Jackson, would receive the other 50%; $50,000. Just that one song "Yesterday" would earn considerably more than $100,000 a year. The publisher would also control the use of the song in films, commercials and stage productions. Jackson went on to use the Beatles' songs in numerous commercials, feeling that it would enable a new generation of fans to enjoy the music.

Michael Jackson -- the Promotion Machine

During this spectacular Michael Jackson-time of the 1980's, not only did the kids (including my brother Kelly) -- and adults -- wear a Jackson-inspired glittered white glove on one hand, dark sunglasses, and the famed Michael Jackson red jacket all over the world, but Jackson also commanded that the best film makers create his incomparable videos/films. Michael Jackson's filmmakers included Steven Speilberg, Martin Scorcese, and John Landis, whom created those spectacular video/film presentations. The "Thriller" video for example played in movie theaters as a short film, and the video itself sold 9-million copies - a Guiness Book World Record http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/mediazone/pdfs/entertainment/061114_michael_jackson.pdf .
And to date after Michael Jackson's death, the "Thriller" video has been viewed by more than 55-MILLION people on http://www.youtube.com/. Also "Beat It" on youtube has 35-million views, "Can't Stop til' you get enough" 26-million views, "Smooth Criminal" 25-million views, "Billie Jean" 23-million, "Bad" 20-million, and "Black or White" 19-million views.

To say that Michael Jackson dominated the 80's is an understatement, he obliterated the 1980's - and any decade prior to and since the 1980's. Michael Jackson/Jackson Five dominated both the 70's and the 80's...And Michael Jackson was yet not finished!!!

In the 1990's Jackson performed at the SuperBowl; had a Captain EO ride at Disneyland/Disneyworld; erected Michael Jackson monuments throughout the world promoting the 1996 "HIStory" album release; and the very popular "Dangerous" album that came out in 1991 had transcending message songs like "Black or White", "Remember the Time", and "Heal the World" with memorable videos....of course.

In the 1990's, we get back to the Beatles catelog. While the media and Michael Jackson critics grinned at the fact that Michael Jackson was rumored to have to sell the Beatles catelog, Jackson silenced all by selling just half of his publishing of the Beatles (and the many other acts part of the same publishing deal) catelog for 95-MILLION dollars. I think he made his money back, yet still retained fifty percent of the Beatles music ownership.

Michael Jackson as a brilliant businessman is rarely mentioned. Oh, by the way, what are the other acts besides the Beatles catelog that Jackson owns, you may have asked yourself. Are you ready? The Sony/ATV partnership with Jackson as co-owner, is the third largest music publisher in the world, spelled W-O-R-L-D!!! The Sony/ATV partnership owns the music of not just the Beatles, but also Elvis Presley, Akon, John Mayer, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Eminem, Wyclef Jean, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, Sly and the Family Stone, Barry White, all of writers/producers Lieber and Stoller songs. Jackson also owned Little Richard's songs, but Jackson gave Little Richard his songs to him, due to a lifetime of being snubbed.

Michael Jackson is a National Treasure

Neither the media nor the United States Political Leaders can tell us differently.

Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: "Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences."