Happy Birthday Michael ...

Michael, I can never seem to find the right words to express how much I love and appreciate you. Thank you for sharing your gifts with this world. Thank you for being an inspiration and real-life hero to me when I really needed one.
____________________________________

Every year for Michael's birthday I manage to find my way to the annual Brooklyn Loves MJ party. For the first time, I couldn't make it and I was obviously pretty bummed. But, I feel like God knew my heart was really yearning to be there or at least, experience some part of it. Well guess what!? Last night I ran into Spike Lee in Brooklyn.

I shook his hand and told him how much of a Michael Jackson fan I am. I also thanked him for throwing that annual block party each year, on behalf of the fan community. He smiled and laughed a little... I know it was probably not what he was expecting to hear but, I hope he remembers what I said and continues to celebrate Michael's life on an annual basis. I appreciate you Mr. Lee!

Although, I’ve been super busy in life lately, here is an MJ related thing I’ve been totally obsessed with this week:  MJ’S MOONWALK LEGACY! This page was created with the HOOP Mobile app. If you haven’t heard of it already, HOOP is an app that allows you to create video chains with strangers.

Someone actually created one for Michael’s birthday. It features fans moonwalking in honor of his 58th!  How cool is that?!

Check it out here: MJ's MOONWALK LEGACY Video Chain

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3 Reasons Why I Loved Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil - Fan Review

When I saw on Facebook Events that the Michael Jackson Estate was holding a fan event at Mandalay Bay for his birthday this year, I realized that I still hadn't up my personal review of the show.  Seeing this show was many, many years in the making for me and I want to take the time out to document my "journey" there, my experience at the show, and of course, a couple of photo memories from my time there. 

Let's start at the beginning.... with Michael Jackson Immortal.

I went to go see the Michael Jackson Immortal show in New York City when it came to MSG in 2011. I enjoyed because it was my first Cirque Du Soleil show, it was set to Michael Jackson music and to be totally honest... I was still very much grieving the loss of Michael. There were moments where I laughed, I cried, and even got out of my seat and danced. In spite of this, I didn't feel quite connected to Michael during the show. Fans tend to agree that there's a great sense of Michaels energy surrounding you when you hear his music loud and in the presence of other fans. For me, Immortal missed the mark.

When I heard about Michael Jackson One, I was not very interested to go see it because my hopes were just not all that high. Most of my fan friends had been to the premiere and simply raved about it. From the paparazzi element, to the music choices, to the imagery of Michael that they chose- my friends had all painted the picture that MJ One was everything MJ Immortal was not. I vowed to make it back to Las Vegas to go and see the show to be able to decide for myself.  

After a busy few months into 2016, I found my way back to Michael this summer and also back in Las Vegas.

Why I Loved Michael Jackson ONE 

1. The Set-Up:

First, let's talk about the set-up. A special corner near the entrance of the show has been decorated with Michael Jackson merchandise, from handwritten notes, to autographed VHS tapes, and even the infamous AMA red and gold jacket. If you are a fan who has never seen Michael memorabilia up close, make sure you carve out at least twenty minutes to fully look around and experience the magic in just seeing some of these items in person. Oh... And did I mention there's a Michael Jackson STORE with all types of merchandise?! (I promise to do a dedicated post to my mini haul from my visit to the Michael Jackson One store sometime soon.)

2. The Message:

Seeing this show was one of the most emotional experiences I've had (post 2009) as a fan. Michael Jackson One truly captured the essence of Michael's message, his music, and his heart .... His heart... an element significantly contributes to the reason mega-fans exist  (and yet is often overlooked).

I can generally say that I am a fan of any tribute to Michael Jackson because I believe every effort is something that contributes to keeping his legacy and memory alive. In spite of this, I am admittedly critical of most projects because so many in the past seven years have missed the mark. 

Michael Jackson One nails it.

3. The Music and The Emotion

Even before it begins, you are immersed in Michael's world. From tabloids to the flashing lights of paparazzi cameras, even the casual fan gets a glimpse into the intensity of Michael Jackson's stardom. The storyline is clever and four main characters are witty but for me, they came secondary to the amazing selection of music and videos of Michael that accompanied the dancers and performers on stage. The song selection is very similar to what was used in the "Michael Jackson Immortal" show but, the usage is better executed this time around. Particularly during the performance of "Man in the Mirror," is when I found myself especially emotional and overwhelmed by Michael's energy. 

Although, some parts of the story are slower than others, I found there were enough moments of Michael Jackson One that make it a must-see show for both casual and mega-fans like myself.

Anddddd mega fan moment in 3...2...1...

I couldn't resist!

GO SEE MICHAEL JACKSON ONE, y'all! 

Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil® at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino 

And share this post with the image below, if you have friends that are interested in seeing this show while in Las Vegas. :)

Have you seen Michael Jackson One? 

How did it compare to Immortal for you?

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"i don't need no dreams when i'm by your side...

every moment takes me to paradise..."

"Baby Be Mine" has totally been my SONG lately! I feel like it's got that perfect "end of summer love" vibe. I always equate this song with the seasons changing and young love. I think if I were to fall in love again, I would want to feel all of what Michael is singing about in this song. 

With the temperature cooling down in New York City, I have been really making the switch from sleeveless to cardigan, from sandals to shoes, and even my choices in music have changed. 

I have been thinking of curating a couple of mood lists on Spotify for Michael Jackson fans. 

The songs I would want to listen to while driving, would be totally different than those I would listen to on public transportation, or while working out. Am I the only one who feels this way?

What are some of the moments you have specific playlists for?

Do you have a must-listen to song during your morning commute to work or school?

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REPOST- 5 Easy Ways to Make Michael Jackson Fan Friends

I have been blogging here on and off since 2011. 
One of the most poignant posts I have made to date has been the "How to Make MJ Fan Friends" that I did in 2013. I thought it might be a good idea to repost it with a few updates but, I will just repost it as is. I find that most of what I wrote is still very relevant.

Check out the original post below...




For a while now I have been talking about how much my MJ fan friends mean to me. We have a special bond because we are so closely connected to Michael, that the way we connect to each other is THROUGH his music, his love, and his overall message. 

Here are some of my personal tips and recommendations for finding and making lifelong friends within the Michael Jackson community.

(Me with some of the THIS IS IT background dancers.)

1. Find Fans! 

In my years of making Michael Jackson fan friends, I have found that the most surefire way to find like-minded individuals has been on online Michael Jackson fanclubs and forums. Some of my favorites back in the day were MJJForum (now MJJCommunity), the Michael Jackson chatroom on America Online, and believe it or not- just using yahoo.com to do random searches for Michael's lyrics and upcoming events, which would lead me to lots of those homemade Angelfire and AOL Hometown fan sites. Those were the ways that worked the best for me in finding other Michael Jackson fans in my age group. 

Now there are so many more options! With the introduction of social media, one can use Facebook, Twitter, fan forums, and even Instagram as tools to help connect with other Michael Jackson fans. I would recommend singing up for one of my favorite forums - MJJCommunity and creating a Twitter account. MJJCommunity is not as active as it used to be pre-June 2009 but, there are many threads (hundreds of them) and thousands in the archives, that will expose you to some of the pointed and intricate conversations that other MJ fans are having.  If you are a Facebook lover,  there are several groups for MJ fans that you can find by doing a simple search of MJ Fans, Dangerous Album, Michael Jackson Fans, or even Michael Jackson's smile. By writing on the wall or just reading what others are talking about, you can choose to participate in some really great and fun convos. Lastly, Twitter is helpful because it literally provides minute to minute updates on what is going on in the Michael Jackson community and if you're more into the gossip/scandal/latest happenings type of convo- this is definitely for you. I tend to stay away from the drama on Twitter but, find it to be easy to make friends because other fans are always talking about what songs they are playing, what Michael-related Youtube videos they are watching etc.

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Michael Jackson's secret letter and how he inspires me.

"I know who I am inside and outside, and I know what I want to do. 

And I will always go with my dreams". 

~ Michael Jackson

One of the things I learned from Michael Jackson was to always believe in your dreams and work hard towards achieving them. Earlier this year, I had the honor of attending a pre-screening of the Michael Jackson Off The Wall documentary by Spike Lee. I know that a lot of you reading this have probably already seen it but, for those of you who haven't- go buy it now! (link to buy).

In the documentary, there was a moment where a handwritten letter that Michael wrote to himself in 1979 was revealed. In typical and recognizable penmanship, he wrote on the back of a Destiny Tour itinerary:

"'MJ will be my new name. No more Michael Jackson. 
'I want a whole new character, a whole new look. I should be a tottally [sic] different person. 
People should never think of me as the kid who sang ABC, [or] I Want You Back. 
I should be a new, incredible actor/singer/dancer that will shock the world. I will do no interviews. I will be magic.  

I will be a perfectionist, a researcher, a trainer, a masterer [sic]. I will be better than every great actor roped into one."

There was more to the letter but, when I saw this part, I was sitting between two of my closest fan friends... bawling my poor little eyes out! Thinking back, I am shocked at how touched I was during that moment.

I was overcome with emotion. How could it have been that 21 year old Michael Jackson, spoke his future and accomplishments into existence?

If it was one thing that being a fan taught me, it's always been to believe and work towards your wildest dreams. Of course, Michael worked hard and arguably harder than any other enertainer out there. But there's that element of magic in him... and it's the magic of taking the gifts you have been given and taking whatever it is that you desire to the NEXT LEVEL.

So inspirational.

Was anyone else inspired by this moment in the Off The Wall documentary? 

I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on this and how MJ might have influenced you to chase your own dreams.

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The Michael Jackson Fan Tag!

One day I randomly came across a series of videos titled "The MJ fan tag". Although, it would be amazing to create a vlogging presence, I am not sure I am quite ready to completely expose myself to the internet... So, I decided to answer the questions here!

1- When did you become a MJ fan?

I grew up listening to Michael's music in my household. As a child, I remember a Billie Jean poster being on the back of my door. When I would wake up from nightmares or have anything troubling me, I always remember being able to look up and look at that poster- for some reason it helped comfort me back to sleep! I became a huge fan in middle school though, if I were to be more specific...

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why i want to come back to blogging.

When I first started blogging, I was super into building some sort of a brand. I figured that I went to enough Michael Jackson fan related events, most of my friends were fans- why not blog about it?

Then came real life. 

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