Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California), was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He was also known for his philanthropy, charitable fundraising, and lifestyle, residing in a private amusement park he called Neverland Ranch and often becoming the focus of tabloid scrutiny. Jackson's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Through his group, solo, and family work, he became one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Jackson's other achievements include 39 Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, 16 World Music Awards and the estimated sale of up 750 million units worldwide. Winning countless awards for his humanitarian endeavors, the singer has been honored by two Presidents of the United States. He has also been named as the artist of "the Decade", "Generation", "Century", and "Millennium" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Jackson has also won hundreds of other awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He is also credited for popularizing many physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, and has influenced and spawned a whole generation of a wide variety of artists including Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and The Weeknd, among others.

Jackson's musical career began in 1967 as lead singer of The Jackson 5, when the group made their first recording with a local label before signing up with Motown Records in 1968. He made his first solo recordings in 1971 while still a member of the group. But it was Off the Wall (1979) which marked the start of his full-fledged solo career, and he formally parted with his siblings in 1984. In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller (with worldwide sales over 100 million), received thirteen Grammy awards and charted thirteen #1 singles in the U.S. Throughout his four-decade career, Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors, including the World Music Awards Best-selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium. He is also a double-inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997, and in 2002 as a solo artist. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, TIME magazine described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley". He has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing down racial barriers and paving the way for modern pop music.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, on which he built an amusement park and private zoo for the enjoyment of economically disadvantaged and terminally ill children. In 1993 and 2003, separate accusations of child molestation that allegedly occurred in Neverland were made against Jackson, which drew intensely negative media coverage. While he was never charged for the first case, Jackson was tried and vindicated in 2005 of the latter allegation, but moved out of the US shortly thereafter. He later returned to Las Vegas in early 2007.

In the years following his acquittal, (2005-2009) Jackson made numerous public appearances including MTV Japan's VMA awards where he accepted the legends award; the World Music Awards where he accepted the Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records; James Brown's funeral where he paid tribute and delivered a sermon; and a fan appreciation event in Tokyo, Japan, where he greeted troops at US Army base Camp Zama. In early 2008, Jackson issued Thriller 25th Anniversary, a critical and commercial success that was the second-biggest selling album of 2008 with over 2.1 million copies sold worldwide.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death is currently believed to be cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. During a press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.

In the hours following Jackson's death, his record sales increased dramatically. His seminal album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, while another eight made it into the top 40. In the UK, where Jackson would have performed less than three weeks after his death, fifteen of his albums occupied the top 15 spots on the Amazon music chart. Social music network website Last.fm also saw a dramatic increase in Michael Jackson plays per hour after the announcement of his death.

On December 10, 2010, a compilation album of previously unreleased material, simply entitled Michael, was released posthumously. Featuring guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz, the album was certified Platinum in 18 countries but received mixed reviews from most critics. This was followed in November 2011 by Immortal, a remix album; in September 2012 by Bad 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's 1987 hit album Bad; and by Xscape, a second compilation album released in May 2014.

Official Website: http://www.michaeljackson.com

Best of Joy
Michael Jackson Lyrics

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I am your joy, your best of joy
I am the moonlight
You are the spring, ours life's a sacred thing
You know I always will love you, I am forever

I am the one who came when you feel down
I was the only one around (the only one)
When things were hurting you

I am forever
Wasn't it I who said that you are free?
When living seemed so hard to be
When things would hurt you

I am forever (I am forever)
We are forever (we are forever)

I am your friend, through thick and thin
We need each other
We'll never part, pur love is from the heart
We never say I don't need you
We are forever

I am the one who said that you are free
When living seemed so hard to be (the only one)
And nothing would cheer you
I am forever,
Wasn't it I who carried you around?
When all the walls came tumblin' down
When things would hurt you

I am forever (I am forever)
We are forever (we are forever)

You are the sun that lights up the sky
When things are shady
Let come what may we do get by

I was the only one around (the only one)
When things would hurt you

We are forever (I am forever)
We are forever (I am forever)

We are forever (what you live for?)
We are forever
(What you live for? Our love is strong)
We are forever, oh right
We are forever, alright
I am forever
I am forever (alright)
We are forever
We are forever

I am forever
I am forever

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michael Jackson's song "Best of Joy" seem to be a message of unwavering love and support between the singer and the person they are addressing. The first few lines establish the idea that the singer is the "best of joy" to the person and that they are always there for them, even in the darkest of times. They seem to be speaking from a place of deep emotional connection, calling themselves the moonlight and the other person the spring, symbolizing a natural balance and harmony between them.

As the song progresses, the lyrics reinforce the idea of an unbreakable bond between the two. They are each other's friends through thick and thin, needing each other and never parting. The repetition of "we are forever" serves as a reminder that their love and friendship is eternal.

The final lines of the song suggest that the person addressed is the source of light in the singer's life, giving them hope during difficult times. The lyrics convey the idea that they have been through trials and tribulations together, but they have come out stronger and will continue to support each other for eternity.

Overall, "Best of Joy" seems to be a song about a deep, unshakable connection between two people that provides them with hope, love, and stability throughout their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I am your joy, your best of joy
I bring joy to your life and I am the best source of it.

I am the moonlight
I am a source of light in your life, like the moonlight shining in the darkness.

You are the spring, ours life's a sacred thing
You are like the spring, a symbol of renewal and growth, and our life together is something that we cherish and hold sacred.

You know I always will love you, I am forever
My love for you is eternal and will never fade, I will always be there for you.

I am the one who came when you feel down
I am always there for you when you are feeling low, I am the one who lifts you up.

I was the only one around, (the only one) When things were hurting you I am forever
When you were in pain or distress, I was the only one there for you and I always will be, my love for you is eternal.

Wasn't it I who someday you are free Wonder if it seems so hard to be, And things would hurt you I am forever,
When you were feeling trapped and helpless, I was the one who showed you the way to freedom and happiness, my love for you will never die.

We are forever, we are forever
Our love is eternal and will never fade, we are always together.

I am your friend, through thick and thin We need each other, We'll never part, Our love is from the heart
I am your friend for life, no matter what happens, we need each other and we will never be apart, our love is genuine and comes from the heart.

We never say I don't need you, We are forever
We never say that we don't need each other, our love is forever and unbreakable.

You are the sun that lights summer sky, When things are shaded Let go and then we do get back, I was the only one around When things would hurt you
You are the source of light in my life, even when things are dark and gloomy, we go through ups and downs but we always find our way back to each other, and I am always there for you when you are in pain.

We are forever (what ya doing to me boy) We are forever (what ya doing to me boy, I believe its strong) We are forever, we are forever, oh right
Our love is eternal and unbreakable, it is strong and unshakable, and we will always be together.

I am forever, I am forever, alright We are forever, we are forever I am forever, I am forever.
My love for you is eternal and unchanging, we are forever together and I will always be there for you, no matter what.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Jackson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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