ge ù, r’oitland Observer, October 21. 1987
EE
11
Act One
by Ken Covington
People Who Need People
(The Saga of Michael J.)
It s incredible! For three generations we have been moved by the
dancing, singing, captivating, voice from Gary, Indiana. From I Want
fou Back" to ' Billy Jean", he has motivated and captivated millions world
Aide with his God given talent. Awesome might be a word not too large to
¡escribe the enigma known as Michael Jackson.
As a child, I learned to both love and hate Michael Jackson - love him
,nd his brothers for the countless hours they spent transforming my child
hood record player from something used for playing childhood fairytale
ecordings to "that darn humpin' and bumpin' music", according to Mom
rnd Dad
I'll never forget the day my ears received the initial shock of Jackson
Five mania I walked into my counsin's house, and there he was, filing
every crack and corner of the house with that smooth, high-pitched
dancing voice. Ducking, dodging and sailing up and down the scale effort-
•ssly backed by sizzling bass lines, snare accents and smooth back-up
vocals I paused in the doorway of his bedroom and just grinned and
stened listened and grinned. "Yes, I doo, naaa ohhh, ohhh, babybee..."
Who s that man?" I asked. The whole house grew quiet. Then, in
etween laughs shared by the whole family, my cousin answered, "Ken,
veiybody knows who that is! That's The Jackson Five!"
That was one side - the "love" one. The hate one developed from all
the attention that the girls showered on him. Heck, I can remember the
tckson Five posters on alt the girls' rooms that I visited in my pre-teen
lays the lunchroom discussions at the girls' table about bow cute and fine
be was how he could dance, how "b a d" his 'fro' was, etc. All the guys
,, my table agreed that we all hated him, and he wasn't nothin' but a regu-
ar dude with a big 'fro' and flashy clothes.
But, you can sure bet, we all oiled our 'fros' religiously at night and told
or parents absolutely, under no condition, were we to visit the barber shop
iny more in life! Ever! "Nothing but balloon sleeve shirts and bell bottoms,
Mom! You know, like Michael Jackson!" I'm sure a lot of moms can relate
o that line then and now.
Well, times have changes, and so has our friend Mike: The rise and
’ all of The Jackson Five mania; cartoons and TV specials: albums — some
iood and some great
until one day the great rumor that "The Five" were
io longer a reality and had gone their separate ways.
By that time, I wasn't into them enough to really be concerned. This
..as just another indication that my childhood days were gone forever.
In 19/9, the album "O ff the W all” hit the market like a ton of gold
Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale
This year's Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale is located at the Multnomah
County Exposition Center, near Jantzen Beach. Sale times and dates are
triday, November 6 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Saturday, November 7,
U:00am to 9:00 p.m ; and Sunday, November 8 10:00 a m. to 3:00 p.m.
in Thursday, November 5, there is a special Pre Sale from 6:00 p.m. to
) 00 p.m. (25% mark up) Admission is free.
a*on9 w.th cakeface make-up. n,s
In the beginning, Michael just the way God made you forget t ere a ever
made him: 1979
Michael Jackson look.
bricks. No one was happier than I that he still had the "magic . The album
was produced by my idol, Quincy Jones, and had some of the best musi
cians and songwriters the business had to offer. It was truly one of the
type of albums that one had to have.
The winter of 1982 was graced by a song penned by ex-Beatle Paul
McCartney and Michael Jackson, duly named "The Girl Is Mine". It didn't
particularly appeal to me, with the bubble-gum sound and lyrics. However,
with persistent airplay, the darn thing became a hit, and I used to shudder
when people would request it. The single was the first release from a forth
coming album named "Thriller". "Yeah." I thought, "named like a kiddy
matinee. Betcha the albums junk!" Boy, was I wrong! Once again, I was
to be stunned.
One day looking at Black Entertainment Television, my boy Donnie
Simpson announced they were about to show M.J. s lastest video, Billy
Jean". When the video when off, I was stunned, mesmerized, sprung,
even. On top of being danceable music, Michael had steps that set the
world on fire, and tFe rest of the album . cuts for days! Once again pro
duced by Quincy
d including the best musicians and songwriters in the
world, the album went on to make world history: The largest amount of
albums ever sold in the history of man.
Along with this phenomenal success came the first bitter taste of mass
media overkill
Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson.
Along with the media overkill, came exposure of a different kind. I started
to notice the cakeface make-up, the nose ;ob and the fact that my boy in
no way was grasping manhood in the same way as real people. Hanging
out with babies at a miniature zoo and amusement rides in his back yard
(I went to Encino to see for myself! Shhhhhhh!), soft, feminine-speaking
voice, Mike was definitely of a different world.
At first, my reaction was to rationalize and understand. After all, from
the age of 10 he was running from fans; but, on the other hand, so were his
brothers. They seemed normal. But if there was a star of the show, it was
Mike. Maybe that's why: The "Momma's Boy" syndrome. There’s one
in every crowd, but too much of anything isn't good.
I just couldn't figure it; but the more I tried to understand, the sorrier
I felt for him. Something was missing. What, I didn't know.
The Victory Tour: Michael didn't really want to do it with his brothers.
Preceding the tour, there were new videos from the reunion album. We
hardly saw or heard from Mike on any of the new projects. Funny.........
In the meantime, Mike had fallen out with old friends. Why? That's
his business. But when you alienate old friends, it signals change. The
a proper title fo, even more
r cosmetic
n e m o tir n
h a rtn A ft F
ro m R
a d t to
o WOP'S©-
changes.
From
Bad
Worse
quotes I've read from his old friends seem to say that they feel sorry for
him, too. Maybethat's why hegotnew ones: Escape.
The new album "B ad": Michael's new look is terrible, looking like the
darkest white guy I've ever seen, or, on the other hand, maybe a masculine
Diana Ross. Taking a purely soulful look at the new album, I don t like it
much. No excellent songwriters like Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder
James Ingram or Paul McCartney - the best in the business Quincy
Jones produced the album, but I can't really hear his touch. I had to listen
to the album over and over again until I found a few cuts I kind of liked
When I have to do that, it indicates no magic. That is what I have come to
expect from Michael: Pure Magic - produced by Michael and ihose who
work with him.
But looking closely at the facts, Michael keeps on shutting on, those
around him that help him stay real and, instead, he keeps putting those
around him who probably help keep his head in the clouds and away from
the real world. Let's check it out. First, no more Jackson Five - just
Michael. Then no more Joe Jackson (management - his father), no talk
shows and very few interviews. No more Jehovahs Witnesses (religion),
and the list goes on.
What I'm trying to say, using Michael J. as an example, is what puce
does success really cost? We've seen him achieve the unachievable and,
at the same time, lose his masculinity, lose touch with his family, his free
dom, even his looks that used to drive his fans crazy.
Looking at what's left of him makes me know that money isn t every
thing and, if I had to choose the most valuable thing in the world, it would
be people - even the ones I don't particularly like. People really do need
people to be close to them. With out that one on one, we are truly lost
Michael Jackson has eliminated himself from the world around him,
and I, for one, hope that someday his feet will touch the ground; that he II
grow up and once again the magic will flow.
"I'm goin back to
Indeee-aaaana...........
Emerald Awards Banquet
Zeta Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc is
proud to present the 1987 Emerald Awards Banquet Saturday, Oc, 24th at
the Red Lion Lloyd Center. These awards will recognize and honor out
standing Black men throughout the community. The men being honored
are. Dr. Edward Ward, medicine; Jimmy Walker, father; Thomas Vickers,
education; Carl Talton, corporate; Antoine Stoudamire, youth; Roosevelt
Robinson, law; E. Shelton Hill, senior citizen; George Hendrix, community
service; George Bell, government.
The banquet address will be delivered by Regina Tyner, the NW Public
Affairs Director of Contel Business Networks in Seattle, Washington
The Emerald Awards program provides a unique opportunity to iden
tify and applaud positive role models of the community.
The vening begins with a cocktail hour at 6:00 p.m. followed by dinner
and the program. Tickets are $25 per person and are available by calling
288 1925.
• NOW OPEN1
Coast Seafood —Deli
5626 N E - Union Avenue and Church
(One block north of Killingsworth)
‘x r
DELI MENU EAT IN OR TAKE OUT
Lunch...................... $3.85
D in n er......................$4 85
Lunch or Dinner includes House Fish, cole slaw
and a choice of potato salad, fries or spicy yams.
CHOICE OF
CHOICE OF
Buffalo
Gar
Catfish............................. . . $4.35
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Zeta Sigma Omega Chapter
presents the
CHOICE OF
Oyster
S h rim p ........................... . $4.95
282 8825
PHONE ORDERS
Mon —Thurs.
Fri — Sat
Sunday *
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Per P ou n d
Prie«
Per Pounc
B u ffa lo .................................$2.29
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Ling C od..............................$2.69
Red S na p pe r...................... $2 69
Shrimp 21 /2 5 ..................... $9 4£
Shrimp 2 6 /3 0 ..................... $8 3£
Louisiana Catfish Filet.
$4.5£
Oysters................................ $4.9£
S callops............................. $8 9£
You
.
ITEM
Portland s Largest Dance Floor
Phone 235-0027
Advance Tickets on Sale Now! Usual Outlets
Date: October 24, 1987 Place: Red Lion Lloyd Centei
Donation: $25.00 per person
Time: 6:00 Cocktails • 7:30 Dinner
. $6.85
Shrimp/oyster/scallops/fish and choice of:
French fries, potato salad, cole slaw or spicy yams.
Saluting Our
Black Men
Commitment,
Community”
$5 85
Combination . . . $7.95
1987 Emerald
Awards Banquet
“Character,
Buffalo
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Catfish
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CHOICE OF
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