Taiwanese fans mourn death of Michael Jackson

Notable music personalities and local friends alike hailed the star as an unparalleled performer with child-like innocence.

“Michael was an international superstar yet had the innocence of a child,” said Yu Guang, who arranged for Jackson's stop in Taiwan during his 1993 Dangerous tour.

On June 1993, Jackson became the biggest star to ever visit Taiwan, and performed “Thriller” from the world's best-selling album of all-time with the same title. The intensity of his stage presence from that concert still excites local fans.

October 1996 marked Jackson's only return to Taiwan. In the “HIStory” concert he exploded onto the stage like an astronaut and thrilled audiences with his trademark Moonwalk.

This visit, however, was plagued by reports of Michael being difficult to please, like requiring imported mineral water for grooming and bathing, asking for a toy store to be cleared of other guests, bodyguards roughing reporters and delayed starts for concerts.

However, Yu said that many of the reports were the result of a marketing scheme by Jackson's managers and that the Jackson he knew was not demanding but very friendly.

Michael was not a businessman. He was supposed to be protected by the group of people that surrounded him but they did not,” said Harris Galani, a Taiwanese resident who met Jackson in 1993 and had since remained friends.

In recent years, the entertainer's reputation was marred by judicial troubles, especially those involving child abuse. “Nonsense...Michael did not have much of a childhood, so he liked to make children happy. He felt happy from making children happy,” said Galani.

According to Galani, one of Jackson's dreams was to turn his compound in Los Angeles, Neverland into a hospice for children suffering from terminal illness. “There were special facilities for sick children.”

Jackson's friend also championed him as the ever “humble, polite, generous and gentle person who respected people and their religions.” In a 1997 note to Galani, Jackson expressed his love for the Taiwanese people, “I truly love all you Taiwan peoples.”

The star's outward appearance has also been the subject of controversy, as his skin color lightened through the years. His facial features had also altered as he underwent numerous and what some people thought excessive cosmetic procedures.

Local disc jockey Ken Wu lamented Jackson's pursuit of whiter shades of skin, “Michael who debuted as a member of the Jackson 5 received his musical talent from his black bloodline.”

Jackson was at the height of fame in the 1980s and 1990s. His influence on Western pop music is indelible. “Many world-renowned artists have come to Taiwan, but none have surpassed Michael in his superstar status. He has been immortalized as a legend,” said Wu.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email