In his own words
The Voice Behind the Music
Beneath the spectacle was a thoughtful, often wistful man. These are his own words — each one verified against a primary source: his autobiography Moonwalk, the 1993 Oprah interview, his 2001 Oxford address, and documented speeches.
On the childhood he lost
“I am the product of a lack of a childhood, an absence of that precious and wondrous age when we frolic playfully without a care in the world… I wanted to build tree houses, have water balloon fights, and play hide and seek with my friends. But fate had it otherwise.”
Michael Jackson — Oxford Union address, 2001
“There was a park across the street from the Motown studio, and I can remember looking at those kids playing games. I'd just stare at them in wonder — I couldn't imagine such freedom, such a carefree life — and wish more than anything that I had that kind of freedom.”
Michael Jackson — Moonwalk, 1988
On music & creation
“I wake up from dreams and go, ‘Wow, put this down on paper.’ … That's why I hate to take credit for the songs I've written. I feel that somewhere, someplace, it's been done and I'm just a courier bringing it into the world.”
Michael Jackson — Rolling Stone, 1983
“Consciousness expresses itself through creation. This world we live in is the dance of the Creator. Dancers come and go in the twinkling of an eye but the dance lives on.”
Michael Jackson — “The Dance,” Dangerous liner notes, 1991
On dancing
“On many an occasion when I am dancing, I have felt touched by something sacred. In those moments, I felt my spirit soar and become one with everything that exists.”
Michael Jackson — “The Dance,” Dangerous, 1991
On loneliness
“I used to be very lonely, painfully lonely… I would walk up to them, strangers, and say, ‘Will you be my friend?’”
Michael Jackson — television interview, 2003
On children & healing the world
“Love, ladies and gentlemen, is the human family's most precious legacy, its richest bequest, its golden inheritance… To heal the world, we first have to heal ourselves. And to heal the kids, we first have to heal the child within.”
Michael Jackson — Oxford Union address, 2001
“The magic, the wonder, the mystery, and the innocence of a child's heart are the seeds of creativity that will heal the world.”
Michael Jackson — Grammy Legend Award speech, 1993
On race & identity
“I am a Black American. I'm proud to be a Black American. I am proud of my race, and I am proud of who I am.”
Michael Jackson — to Oprah Winfrey, 1993
On hope
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
Michael Jackson — written statement, 2003 (read at his 2009 memorial)
What others said
In their words
“You're a hell of a mover. You really put them on their asses last night.”
Fred Astaire — to Michael the day after the Motown 25 moonwalk, 1983
“We call Michael ‘Smelly’ because he's so polite and proper we can't even get him to say the word ‘funky.’ … I love Smelly.”
Quincy Jones — producer of Thriller, Rolling Stone, 1984
“He is the least weird man I have ever known.”
Elizabeth Taylor — to Oprah Winfrey, 1993
“I think he is simply the greatest entertainer that ever lived.”
Berry Gordy — Motown founder, eulogy, 2009
“This boy cannot possibly be ten years old. I wanted to see his birth certificate.”
Smokey Robinson — on first hearing young Michael sing
He didn't crown himself. The title “King of Pop” was bestowed by Elizabeth Taylor as she presented him an award at the 1989 Soul Train Awards — and the public and press did the rest.