Reading Michael Jackson

As we progress toward the end of Dancing the Dream, this week's episode covers, "Magical Child," the first piece in the remarkably short "Part 2" of the collection. Calling back to the first "Magical Child" piece featured in episode 3 of Reading Michael Jackson, this piece offers perhaps an even stronger statement about what it means to be a "magical child" in a cruel, or unforgiving world, than its predeccessor.

Join me this week for a discussion of Michael's self-identity and purpose-driven life, his belief in destiny, and relationship to an unrelenting media.

For questions or comments, feel free to email me at [email protected].

As one of Michael's greatest songs, and one of his most notable foray's into Gospel music, "Will You Be There" is a profound plea to God, and all of those in heaven and earth, to recognize his humanity, and to reassure him that they will be there for him in his time of greatest needs. A chillingly prophetic piece, both the song and poem beg the question of what rock bottom moment Michael may have reached that would ultimately inspire these words. Join me for this emotional discussion, as well as some personal sharing about recent Michael Jackson experiences I have had in the world.

Note: The official reading and discussion of "Will You Be There," that begins around the 16 minute mark.

For questions or comments, please email [email protected].

With only 10 pieces left in Dancing the Dream, this week's poem "Child of Innocence" offers an honest portrait of Michael's own loss of innocence and effort to reclaim it, perhaps offering some perspective on why these themes continue to come to light throughout the book. Join me this week for an emotional discussion about Michael's own struggles with childhood trauma and the struggle to be seen clearly in the world.

For any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected]

In this special bonus episode of Reading Michael Jackson, join me for a fun, lighthearted discussion centered around celebrating all things MJ on his special day!

Starting with a review of where Michael stands in 2025 in terms of global popularity and relevance, continuing with a DJ-esque exploration of some of my favorite (lesser known) MJ songs, continuing with interview and book recommendations, and a brief personal reflection on my fandom 4 years later, this episode has a little bit of everything. So tune in today if you would like to celebrate Michael Jackson's 67th birthday and revel in all the things that make him such a force in the world to this day!

There are many sources and songs references in this episode. For a partial list, see below:

Understanding the TikTok ‘Man in the Mirror’ Trend
https://screenrant.com/michael-jackson-man-in-the-mirror-social-media-trend-reason/
Chartmasters study conveying Michael’s global artistry: https://chartmasters.org/the-60-most-global-artists-of-all-time/

Some of Forbes’ Hugh Mcintyre’s latest coverage of Michael’s chart success:
 https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/08/18/michael-jacksons-classic-reaches-a-new-peak-on-multiple-charts/?ctpv=searchpage

Michael Jackson Diane Collins interview (1983) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVZCmZRuUXg&t=870s

Michael Jackson Jesse Jackson (2005) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6kg2CCschI&t=825s

I can’t Help It (demo) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Qm9pd4xAk

Human Nature - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElN_4vUvTPs

Monkey Business - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpL0gzU2giw

Cheater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGcWrDyHPWo

I’m So Blue - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhZT7uEPjaE

Days in Glousterschire - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQ92T1b1gA&t=5s

Beautiful Girl - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pLgP7z7rA0

If You Don’t Love Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXmeyOI5cQ8

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please email me at [email protected].

Michael's creative philosophy offers fascinating insight into who he was as a person. In this unique essay, Michael explores the ways in which music is all around us, within our body, and requires nurturing, much like a child. But how does this connect to his actual style of creating music (including vocal performance and production)? In what ways are his beliefs about music "within us" reflected in his spiritual evolution and how can we benefit from sitting with these ideas?

For questions or comments, please email me at [email protected].

As mentioned in the episode...

Chris Liepe's Reaction to Blood on the Dance Floor Multitracks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGoilE9ZJB0

Michael Jackson spoke often about his unique childhood, but in our essay this week "I Searched for My Star," he reflects on a surprisingly normal childhood memory - stargazing. Told in a short essay form, Michael invites us into the world of his child self when he once hoped to befriend the stars in the sky, before growing up and out of such innocent fantasies. But in sharing this story, he offers a tale for our consideration. In what ways does our loss of innocence contribute to our loss of caring about the world around us? How can harnessing the wonder we once felt as children help us to protect the world for future generations?

Tune in for this week's in-depth review of another beautiful piece from Dancing the Dream.

For questions or comments, email [email protected].

Though Michael Jackson's religious affiliations are well-documented, his ongoing pursuit of spiritual knowledge is less so. In his short essay "Angel of Light," Michael details his study of "angels" and what he has learned about them so far, ultimately reflecting on his introspective meditation to discover his own "angel within." This piece provides so much to consider about Michael's spiritual journey, lending to a discussion about not only Michael's views of angels themselves but of women and men, the existence of the soul, and his own desire to "find himself."

As mentioned in this episode, you may have an interest in exploring Howard Bloom's comments about Michael Jackson. His book Einstein, Michael Jackson, and Me: A Search for Soul in the Power Pits of Rock and Roll is available online and in stores. Bloom has also given several interviews with MJ content creators such as The MjCast and The Michael Jackson Book Club, both of which are available on YouTube.

To contact me, please email [email protected].

Though Michael Jackson didn't discuss much about his romantic life in the public eye, his short essay "I You We" demonstrates some of his thought process about what makes a relationship work. Positioning a relationship as a three way dynamic between the individual "I" and "you" and the constructed "we," Michael explores the power of having a strong foundation in order to make a relationship work. What can we learn about Michael's relationship history and emotional intelligence when we deep dive into this piece?

For questions and comments, please reach out at [email protected]

As mentioned at the start of the episode, consider checking out the audio of the 1988 Bad tour rehearsals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-4g20-boFI&t=3366s

If you are interested in finding incredibly rare live footage and audio of Michael's tours, consider following the "MJ Live & Rare Videos" Youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@mjlarv?si=E1kfrcLZzFbVwn2C

In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson, we read and discuss the Michael's short essay "Wise Little Girl." As a reflection on the inspiration he felt meeting with a young disabled child, Michael explores what we can learn from observing and internalizing the resilience and innocence of children. However, this piece also offers fans additional insight into how Michael's frequent humanitarian efforts impacted him on an emotional and spiritual level.

As mentioned in the episode, if you are unfamiliar with Paul Dwyer's work on Michael Jackson's humanitarian legacy, please check out his book, podcast, and documentary linked below!

Documentary - "Humanitarian: The Real Michael Jackson"

Podcast - "Humanitarian: The Real Michael Jackson"

Book - "Humanitarian: The Real Michael Jackson"

For any questions or feedback on Reading Michael Jackson, please don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

In this week's episode of Reading Michael Jackson we discuss the piece, "Mother Earth." As a reflection on humanity's toxic relationship with the natural world, Michael calls out the often exploitative way we treat the earth, likening our dismissal of it's preciousness to a tenant trashing a rental apartment. Culminating with a call to action for us to reignite our commitment to caring for the plant, this piece demonstrates Michael's consistent messaging throughout this book, as well as his career.

I hope you enjoy this week's discussion! If you have any comments or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out at [email protected]