It was supposed to be the year of his greatest comeback and maybe in some ways it was. But along the way, the saga of Michael Jackson’s tragic demise became the biggest showbiz story of 2009.
It was a Hollywood parable of excess and eccentricity, of genius and weakness. But most of all it was the sad tale of a strange but brilliant man-child trapped in the glare of a celebrity-obsessed world.
Jackson started 2009 a shadow of his former self – a man who many believed was on an irreversible downward spiral. It had been years since he had released any significant music. But he still made headlines with reports of his impending financial ruin and bizarre state of mind.
All that changed in March when Jackson, 45, announced that he would perform an unprecedented 50-appearance comeback engagement at London’s 02 Arena.
If it went well, the London gig would solve all the problems and dispel all the doubts about the former King of Pop. But few outside his most loyal circle of fans and advisors believed he had the mental and physical strength to complete the arduous challenge.
So when the first reports came in June 25 that Jackson had collapsed at his rented Bel Air mansion and been rushed to hospital, initial speculation was that it was a Jackson gambit to extricate himself from a challenge he was too frail to meet.
But within hours those suspicions turned to shock when it was revealed that Jackson was dead. In Los Angeles thousands of fans gathered at the hospital where Jackson’s body lay, at the house where he collapsed and at his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Across the world millions of other fans took to the streets to mourn. All were asking the same questions: How did he die? Was he really set to perform in London? And was the former King of Pop really on the verge of bankruptcy?
By now many of those questions have been answered. The coroner’s report found that Jackson’s death was caused by an overdose of the hospital anaesthetic propofol administered to him by his personal physician Murray Conrad. The case is still under investigation.
The release of the documentary movie “This Is It”, gleaned from rehearsal footage for the London tour, appeared to corroborate the assertions of his advisers and producers that Jackson had created an amazing show and that he seemed energized and capable of handling the gruelling schedule.
Information about his estate revealed meanwhile that despite a mountain of debt, the Jackson business empire was a financial powerhouse that was generating huge amounts of cash – for example, from the rights he held to much of The Beatles repertoire.
Ironically, with the huge public interest that followed his death, Jackson’s business empire became even stronger. The three best-selling albums in the US in the weeks after his death were all Michael Jackson CD’s. Demand was so strong that many stores ran out of stock.
Meanwhile “This Is It” was one of the most successful movies of the year, and one of the most successful concert movies of all time, earning some $200 million at the worldwide box office.
If Jackson’s death marked the emotional low point of the entertainment year, the box office and Oscar victories for “Slumdog Millionaire” were surely the high points. Director Danny Boyle’s Indian rags-to-riches tale won eight Oscars and earned over $350 million at the worldwide box office in what was widely seen as a unique achievement for world cinema.
Otherwise, it was a humdrum year for Hollywood as most of the biggest movies of the year were sequels, headed most famously by “The Twilight Saga: New Moon”, which earned a whopping $140 million on its opening US weekend.
It remains to be seen whether the movie “Avatar” can claim the top box office spot of the year. The long-awaited film from Titanic director James Cameron, released Dec 18, was 14 years and a record $300 million in the making – investments of time and money into a brand new 3D camera and screening system.
Movie studios are touting the new system as a paradigm-shifting cinematic moment, on par with the introduction of sound and colour. If they are right, “Avatar” may even eclipse Michael Jackson to become the most significant entertainment story of 2009.
i am big fan of mr.jackson
i miss you
i love his dance
he is rock dancer
he,is a legend of all dancing stars….. i am speechless about his moonwalk, what dedication he have………
i love his dance
i miss you Mr.Jackson
I like your dance. so u come back again
hi is dance superstar of world i want see him again in live but it is not pasble,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
i love michal jackson. he is a good dancer an good pop singer.and i expecting that his son’s will become like him
i miss you Mr.Jackson
I Like you Jackson Come Back Agian
I like Mr. jackson dancing staps and moves
I like to say 1 thing about MICHEL JACKSON.
He is a very brilliancy on the world, so he was in more talent,becaus of different stylle dances.
Hi ! it was very sad time when i came to know mr. jacson has left us.
i love michal jackson he was one of the big dancer & pop singer in the world its was very sad insidence when he go to leave us
i have purchesed all his CD to lestion his songs i like he
areeeeeeeeee michel i am waiting 4 u r next dangerous
i am a great fan of MJ …………..
ONE YEAR ,12 MONTH,365 DAYS,8760 HRS,525600 MINTUES,3153600 SECONDS i miiss him.
I LIKE MICHAL JACKSON DANCING . I LIKE HIS WAY OF DANCING.WE MISS GREAT DANCER.
I like michal jackson
He is No.1 Rock star Danser.
I am one of fans
I LOVE M.JACKSON VERY MUCH..HE ALWYS IN OUR HEART & WILL BE
i am a fan of Michel jackson.he is a good dancer an good pop singer.
MJ.REALY I MISS U
ONE YEAR ,12 MONTH,365 DAYS,8760 HRS,525600 MINTUES,3153600
SEC.
EVERYDAY,
EVERYNIGHT,
EVERYTIME,
I AM ALWAYS MISS U DEAR MICHEL JACKSON
PLS COME BACK TO TIS EARTH AGAIN
I LOVE U MICHEL
I LIKE HIM SO MUCH AS FOREVER…
CZ I LIKE HIS BLOWING STEPS N SONGS……..
I AM STILL ONE OF HIS GREAT FAN….
Miche is the most precious singer n pop star………..
Nobody will fill his position.
We miss U Mr Jackson.
l love
michel
jecksen
ilike michel
I LOVE MICHEL HE IS KING OF POP WORLD.BUT I MISS MICHEL;
NOT COPARE ANETHER PURSEN
i am a fan of Michel jackson.he is a good dancer an good pop singer.
MJ.REALY I MISS U
ONE YEAR ,12 MONTH,365 DAYS,8760 HRS,525600 MINTUES,3153600
SEC.
EVERYDAY,
EVERYNIGHT,
EVERYTIME,
I AM ALWAYS MISS U DEAR MICHEL JACKSON
PLS COME BACK TO TIS EARTH AGAIN
I LOVE U MICHEL
U R D BEST KING OF POPS
LET UR SOUL BE IN PEACE
PLS COME BACK TO TIS EARTH AGAIN
come back MICHEL plzzzzzzzzzzzz.
where r u yaar.
i am a fan of mikel jackson.he is a good dancer an good singer.
MJ was good dancer
MJ is an king of pop and king of fasion,no end to mj ,he is rest in our heart and everyons heart
i love u Michal Jackson
He is No.1 Rock star Dander.
I AM MR LONLY (really)
i like michal ..he is best…
hi im big fan of mikel jackson
MJ was good dancer & creater, still he is leave in the minds & hearts of his fans. I like MJ always.
michal lives life long in our hearts,so michal never death
i like michal jackson
i like dancing
and my idal
I like michal jackson
He is No.1 Rock star Danser.
I am one of fans.
Raees khan
good storry
wts a wonderfull pictures.verry nice
I like michal jackson
michal lives life long in our hearts,so michal never death
Godbless !gora ho ya kala hona chahiye har koi dilwala
hey,michal
you always being in our hearts like heart king.
hi i just wanna say i love u si
i love u michal jackson who sas that u have gone from the world no will be alws alive in our heart & ur dance will alwys make us remember that u r with us
i like michal jackson reall much . i have never seen such kind of dancer & nobod can be like him. he is the dancing ideal 4 the whole world
i m 1 of ur greatest fan & i will be
hi i just wanna say i love u mj
no body knw that Michael expted ISLAAM,,after becm muslim michael faced so many problems…why nt his last time pictures publish becous he was torcherd so much…
i like Michael Jackson songs very much. i am one of is fans