31 May 2011
21 May 2011
legend of mana
Legend of Mana, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana (聖剣伝説 LEGEND OF MANA?, lit. "Holy Sword Legend: Legend of Mana"), is the fourth game in the Mana series. The game was released for the PlayStation in Japan on July 15, 1999 and in North America on June 7, 2000, with a delayed release in Canada. While Legend of Mana was the fourth installment released in the series, the next console-based Mana game, Dawn of Mana, is the official fourth game (in Japan, it is known as Seiken Densetsu 4).
While incorporating action role-playing elements from the three games which preceded it, Legend of Mana has its own distinct style of gameplay. Most notably, it gives the player the ability to shape the game's world of Fa'Diel according to his or her desires, a system which was incorporated through the use of "artifacts," which are gained as the player progresses through the game. The player uses the artifacts to create different towns, dungeons, etc., called "Lands", to venture to and explore. This creates a non-linear gameplay, since the game is driven by a series of what would be considered side-quests in other games. Legend of Mana features three different plots which can occur simultaneously, and which do not necessarily need to be completed for the player to finish the game.
Legend of Mana was a financial success in Japan & North America. While the game garnered considerable praise for its graphics and presentation, many critics disliked the game's unclear main storyline.Contents [hide]
Gameplay
Legend of Mana features a unique "Land Make" system in which the player chooses plots of land to organize various locations within the game. The game world is divided into an isometric series of empty square plots of ground from which there are 36 possible in total. Depending on the Artifact (AF) which is placed on the plot, a different Land is generated on it. Each area placed on the map contains at least one quest within it, which upon completion rewards the player a new Artifact, and the process is repeated. Lands can be revisited, which is sometimes necessary to initiate more quests. Each Land has a certain level of strength in each Spirit of Mana on a points scale of zero (no presence) to three (strong presence). A high number of points on one square can add points to adjacent squares. The spirits—excluding Shade and Wisp—each represent a day on which the coordinating element becomes more powerful. Also, placing locations in given places affects the spirit rating of that particular area. Within each Land, players can explore numerous locations including towns, dungeons, and ruins. Many locations have non-player characters (NPCs) for interaction such as progressing the story or buying equipment. Other areas feature enemies and bosses with which the player can battle.
Screenshot of the player battling two Rabites
Legend of Mana features several role-playing elements as well. The main character and sidekicks each have their own set of numerical attributes including HP, strength, and luck. These stats grow whenever the player gains a level, after meeting a set experience point requirement. By defeating enemies in battle, the player can collect experience point crystals that spill out. The main character can equip a variety of weapons, armors, and accessories. Weapons grant the player the ability to perform abilities in combat. Referred to as "STs" (Special Techs) in the game, these are the powerful attacks of the main characters and NPC sidekicks that can be used once the special move meter is filled. Each weapon has a set number of special attacks to learn, ranging from single-target to area to the full field. The player is able to customize his or her attack repertoire by assigning them to certain buttons.
Legend of Mana offers the option for the player to have two sidekicks—characters which are controlled either by the game's AI or by another player using the second controller. These sidekicks serve the purpose of making the game multiplayer to a degree by helping the main character while in battle, and also indirectly enhance the gaming experience if a human player takes control over the sidekick. Sidekicks consist of support characters, demi-humans, pets, and golems. The support characters include the Jumi Elazul and the merchant Niccolo. Demi-humans are monsters that have the ability to speak, and appear in certain areas, willing to join the player on his or her quest. Pets and golems can also accompany the protagonist, but cannot be controlled by a second player. Using a memory card, it is possible for two players to play together simultaneously using their main characters, but there are some limitations to this. The game also has an arena for two people to fight against each other in.
After certain quests are completed, Legend of Mana gives the player the option to delve into optional gameplay aspects centered around the hero or heroine's house. While weapons, armor, and accessories may be bought from stores, the player also has the option of forging or improving them using raw materials found throughout the game. Tempering occurs when any of the game's items is combined with the equipment, cumulatively raising or lowering its power or adding special effects. In the backyard of the players house is a small orchard, where the player is able to give some seeds to the orchard keeper, Trent, to grow fruit. What grows depends on the number of seeds previously given to him, the Mana levels of the Home Land and the kinds of seeds given him. The player can also unlock the monster corral, which can be used to raise pets via feeding them, letting them graze, or taking them out adventuring. They gain levels only if they are taken out with the hero, or if they are left to graze. They can also be raised using the Sony PocketStation, a peripheral only released in Japan. Finally, workshops can be used to create instruments and build golems. Instruments are created using elemental coins and raw materials (such as metal, wood, or bone), while utilizing the Mana power of a specific region. Different types of instruments, as well as different tunes, can be made depending on materials, as well as the melody and harmony gameplay mechanics of the workshop. Golems are built using weapons and armor as parts. The golem's attacks are determined by logic blocks, which are created in an urn in the workshop. It is done by combining two items, and the blocks are placed in a grid. All of the blocks must fit in, and for the golem to use attacks, the attack's respective logic blocks must be in the grid.
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Plot
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Setting
Legend of Mana is set in the fictional world of Fa'Diel. The Mana Tree, the giver of mana and life for the world, burned down nine centuries prior to the events of the game. A war erupted between faeries, human, and others seeking the scarce power of mana that was left. When the war concluded, the drained Mana Tree slept and the many lands of the world were stored in ancient artifacts. A hero, controlled by the player, is self-charged with restoring the world, and its mana, to its former self. The Lands of Fa'Diel are populated with a large number of different creatures, including humans, faeries, demons, the jewel-hearted Jumi race, plant-like Sproutlings and Flowerlings, miner bears called Dudbears, and shadowy beings of the Underworld known as Shadoles. Fa'Diel is also the home of a host of anthropomorphic animals and objects, as well as monsters from other Mana titles such as Rabites, Chobin Hoods, and Goblins.
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Characters and story branches
The player can choose to be either a male or female silent protagonist. The gender has no actual bearing on gameplay, other than humorous comments made by NPCs regarding the fashion sense of the character. It is not really explained who either protagonist actually is or what their past was like before their Home became an Artifact, as their history and personality is meant to be determined by the player.[3] A myriad of characters meet the hero or heroine during the course of the game's numerous quests; these characters join the player on more than one occasion and drive the game's split storyline, which is divided into three main plot branches. Each branch holds a series of related side-quests, which compose a part of Legend of Mana's story. Upon completion of any of these branches, the player is given the choice of finishing the game, even if quests from other branches have not yet been started or completed. There are 67 quests in total (excluding the final quest).
Jumi Arc
The first is the story of the Jumi, a dying race of people who have external jewel hearts which are considered valuable. The Jumi have apparently long been a persecuted people, as many magic characters in this game refer to them as "dirt"—a nasty comment on their jewel cores. This branch focuses on Elazul and Pearl, who are among the few survivors of the Jumi. Elazul is a Jumi Knight, and the mission of his life is to protect the Jumi Guardian Pearl at any cost, even in the face of the jewel hunter, Sandra.
Dragon Arc
The second is the story of Larc and Sierra—brother and sister dragoons who serve different dragon masters and fight on opposite sides of the same war for power. Larc, who serves the dragon Drakonis, blackmails the game's protagonist to help him in his quest to kill the other three dragon masters, so that his own master may have his power unlocked and rule the world. Sierra, a dragoon for Vadise the White Dragon, wants to stop Drakonis without hurting her brother Larc. In the end, Drakonis is defeated again, banished once more to the underworld.
Faerie Arc
The third is the complicated love story of four childhood friends: Matilda, Irwin, Daena and Escad. Irwin, a half-demon dissatisfied with the rules that society imposes on him which prevented him from being able to have a relationship with the holy leader Matilda, seeks to destroy the world in retribution, while Escad seeks to destroy him and Daena tries to act as a mediator between all parties. The conflict eventually escalates into a war between humans and faeries. Depending on the choices of the player, either Daena or Escad will die, the latter dying before your final confrontation with Irwin at Lucemia (should you not ask him to join you on your journey to fight him).
The remaining adventures concern the rest of the game's considerably large cast, including such stories as:
The adventures of the unscrupulous rabbit merchant Niccolo
The melodrama of the troubadour centaur Gilbert who seeks love in mostly the wrong places
The sisterhood of the two sirens and a mermaid: Elle, Monique and Flameshe (a story often in relation to Gilbert's)
Treasure hunting with boisterous pirate penguins and their walrus captain;
The escapades of Diddle and Capella, two itinerant entertainers
The story of Rachel, an angsty teenager who resents her parents' treatment of her
The studious journey of the young rascal Bud, who wishes to meet all of the "Seven Wisdoms"
Regardless of which path the hero decides to take, the game's final story is called "Legend of Mana." It concerns the re-appearance of the Mana Tree. As such, this story seems more fitting with the series than any other, as the Mana Tree is a central icon of the Mana games. Once the hero scales the Mana Tree, he or she must fight the Mana Goddess. The tree, quoting the game, is "rotten with evil." Nonetheless, a Sproutling plants itself in the Mana Tree's rotten trunk after the Goddess falls. Calling upon the other Sproutlings, the Mana Tree is restored and what was wrong is righted.
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Development This section requires expansion.
Legend of Mana was directed by Mana series creator Koichi Ishii. It was produced by Akitoshi Kawazu, the director and producer of many games in Square's SaGa series. The game's character designs and illustrations were done by Shinichi Kameoka, who would later design characters for his company Brownie Brown, including the next game in the Mana series, Sword of Mana.
Legend of Mana was first announced by Square in March 1999 just before its debut at the Tokyo Game Show.[4] The game was released in Japan with considerable hype, packaged with demos of Square's future releases Vagrant Story, Chrono Cross, Front Mission 3, and Threads of Fate.[5]
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Music
Main article: Music of the Mana series
The game features music composed by Yoko Shimomura. She had previously composed for several Square games including Live A Live and Parasite Eve. A soundtrack was released under the name Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana OST in 1999 by DigiCube with a later reprint in 2004 by Square Enix. It includes Song of Mana, sung by Swedish vocalist Annika Ljungberg, credited on the CD simply as Annika. The song was later made available on the Square Vocal Collection album in 2001. Four of the game's non-vocal tracks were released as part of Drammatica: The Very Best Works of Yoko Shimomura, an arranged album highlighting the composer's work.[6] Shimomura carefully chose the songs to be included on the album based on their apparent popularity among fans and how suitable they are for orchestra.[7] The game's title theme was also performed by the Australian Eminence Symphony Orchestra for its classical gaming music concert "A Night in Fantasia 2007."[8][show]
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana OST tracklist
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Merchandise
Upon the game's Japanese release, several promotional items were made available from Square. They include rabite plushie dolls, a necklace, and lighters, among other products.[9] As a promotion for Square's "Summer of Adventure" release schedule in 2000, those who preordered the game in North America were given a free music CD with select tracks from the game.[10] As part of the Square Millennium Collection, Legend of Mana was re-released at a budget price and included a special music box and two character figurines.[11] A companion book titled Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana Ultimania was released as part of Square's Ultimania series. It was published by DigiCube in 1999 and later reprinted by Square Enix in 2004 after the subsidiary's closing. Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana: Making of Mana, an artbook, was also published.
Shiro Amano, best known for his popular manga and novel adaptations of the Kingdom Hearts series, created a five-volume manga adaptation of Legend of Mana. The main character in the story is named Toto, a very brave yet foolish hero. Amano also included the female main character named Imu, though she was not involved in the first three volumes' story. The manga, published by Enterbrain, started in the year 2000 and ended in 2002.
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Reception[hide]
Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 73 of 100[12]
Review scores
Publication Score
Electronic Gaming Monthly 6 of 10
Famitsu 31 of 40[5]
GameFan 84 of 100
GamePro 4 of 5
Game Revolution C+
GameSpot 7 of 10
IGN 83 of 100
Official PlayStation Magazine (US) 2.5 of 5
RPGamer 97 of 100
Awards
Japan Game Awards Graphics Award (1999)[13]
PlayStation Gold Award (2000)[14]
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Sales
In Japan, Legend of Mana sold over 400,000 units in its first week alone[15] and sold over 706,000 copies by the end of 1999, making it the 12th best-selling game of that year.[16] Passing the half-million unit sales mark earned Legend of Mana a Gold Award at the 2000 PlayStation Awards.[14] According to IGN, it was the top selling PlayStation game during the week of its release in North America.[17] The game was re-released on February 21, 2002 as part of the PSone Books best-sellers series in Japan, in 2006 as part of Square Enix's Ultimate Hits collection[18][19], and re-released on the PSN Store as part of the PSone Classics series on March 22, 2011.[20]
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Reviews
Critically, the game overall received mixed reviews. Legend of Mana currently holds a 73% on Game Rankings, based on 23 media outlets.[12]
The game's use of vibrant and colorful hand-drawn graphics were almost universally praised. RPGamer noted that game boasts visuals that "may be the most impressive 2-dimensional graphics ever to grace an RPG."[21] RPGFan likened the graphics to Disney animation for having "a very storybook, cutesy cartoony feel to them."[22] Legend of Mana even won the 4th annual Japan Game Awards "Graphics Award" from the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association for the year of its release.[13] The music in Legend of Mana was also a high point in many reviews. IGN stated that the soundtrack is "as good as any you'll hear today" with a correct mix of intensity, suspense, and subtle nuance.[23] Honest Gamers stated that diverse musical score is what will drive the player forward to want to experience all the game's locales.[24] In November 2000, Legend of Mana was ranked number 48 on Weekly Famitsu's top 100 PlayStation games of all time.[25]
Much of the game's criticism stemmed from its substitution of mostly unrelated quests over a main storyline. GamePro found that the "focus of Legend of Mana is obscured by the over-abundance of subplots."[26] Similarly, Game Revolution comments that the game lacked depth, while GameSpot noted that the game's use of miniquests will likely disappoint those seeking an action-RPG classic.[27][28] The Land Make system within the game also drew disapproval from critics, such as Gaming Age, which calls the mechanic a novelty.[29]
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PSN
On July 28, 2010, Square Enix released Legend of Mana on the Japanese PlayStation Network.
On December 29, 2010, Square Enix announced that Legend of Mana will also be released for the PlayStation Network in North America in 2011. It was released on March 22, 2011.[30]
20 May 2011
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
| Michael Jackson | |
|---|---|
 Michael Jackson pada tahun 1984 dengan menunjukan tangannya | |
| Latar belakang | |
| Dilahirkan dengan nama | Michael Joseph Jackson |
| Meninggal | 25 Juni 2009, Los Angeles, California/7 Mei 1988 karena dibunuh(masih issu) |
| Genre | Pop R&B Rock Soul |
| Pekerjaan | Penyanyi Penulis lagu Produser rekaman Komponis Penari Koreografer Aktor Pengusaha |
| Instrumen | Vokal Multi-instrumentalis Perkusi |
| Tahun aktif | 1967–2009 |
| Label | Motown Epic Sony |
| Dipengaruhi oleh | The Jackson 5 / The Jacksons |
| Situs web | www.michaeljackson.com |
Pada awal tahun 1980-an, dia menjadi figur yang sangat dominan dalam musik pop and musisi Afrika-Amerika pertama yang mempunyai crossover kuat di MTV. Popularitas dalam musiknya menanjak saat ditayangkan di MTV, antara lain "Beat It", "Billie Jean" dan Thriller dianggap telah mengubah video klip menjadi sebuah bentuk karya seni dan sebagai alat promosi untuk memopulerkan sebuah channel tv. Video-video seperti "Black or White" dan "Scream" membuat Jackson menjadi andalan utama MTV pada tahun 1990-an. Lewat penampilan panggung dan video-video klipnya, Jackson memopulerkan sejumlah teknik menari seperti robot dan moonwalk. Suara dan gaya vocal Jackson memengaruhi dan diikuti oleh banyak penyanyi hip hop, pop dan R&B.
Penghargaan - penghargaan yang telah dia raih termasuk beberapa kali Guinness World Records—termasuk thriller sebagai album terlaris di dunia— 13 Grammy Awards, 13 buah single nomor 1 dalam solo kariernya dari musisi pria lainnya dalam Hot 100 era—dan penjualan 750 juta unit di seluruh dunia. Hidup Jackson sangat terkenal di seluruh dunia, didampingi dengan kariernya yang sangat sukses, membuatnya menjadi bagian dari kebudayaan pop selama 4 dekade. dalam beberapa tahun dia sering disebut-sebut sebagai salah satu pria paling terkenal di dunia.
Kehidupan dan karier
1958—75: Masa kecil dan The Jackson 5
Michael Joseph Jackson lahir pada tanggal 29 Agustus 1958 di Gary, Indiana, sebuah daerah industri di pinggiran Chicago. Ia adalah keturunan seorang Afrika-Amerika Joseph Walter "Joe" Jackson dan Katherine Esther Scruse. Ia adalah anak ke-7 dari 9 bersaudara. Saudaranya antara lain Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy, dan Janet. Joseph Jackson pernah bermain di sebuah band R&B bernama The Falcons, bersama saudaranya Luther.Jackson pernah menyatakan bahwa sejak kecil ia mengalami kekerasan dari ayahnya, baik secara fisik maupun mental, seperti latihan yang tak henti-henti, cambuk, dan memanggilnya dengan panggilan kasar. Namun demikian, ia juga mengakui bahwa kedisiplinan yang diterapkan ayahnya membawa pengaruh besar bagi kesuksesannya. Marlon Jackson menceritakan, pernah dalam suatu perselisihan, Michael diangkat terbalik kemudian dipukuli di punggung dan pantatnya. Pernah pula di suatu malam, ketika Michael sedang tidur, Joseph memanjat dari kamarnya ke pintu kamar Jackson. Dengan mengenakan topeng menakutkan, ia masuk ke kamar, berteriak keras menakut-nakuti Michael. Joseph mengatakan bahwa ia melakukan itu untuk mengajarkan anak-anaknya agar tidak membiarkan jendela kamar terbuka ketika tidur. Selama bertahun-tahun setelah peristiwa tersebut, Michael sering mengalami mimpi ia diculik dari kamarnya. Pada tahun 2003, Joseph mengakui pernah mencambuk Michael ketika iamasih kecil.
Jackson pertama kali membicarakan masalah kecilnya ketika ia diwawancara oleh Oprah Winfrey pada tahun 1993. Ketika itu ia juga berkata bahwa pada saat kecil, ia sering menangis kesepian dan kadang-kadang muntah ketika melihat ayahnya. Pada acara Living with Michael Jackson (2003), Michael terlihat menangis menutupi wajahnya ketika ia menceritakan tentang masa kecilnya.
Jackson menampilkan bakat musiknya di usia belia ketika ia menyanyi di depan teman-teman sekelasnya pada resital Natal di usia lima tahun. Pada tahun 1964, Michael dan Marlon bergabung dengan the Jackson Brothers—sebuah band yang didirikan oleh saudara-saudaranya: Jackie, Tito, dan Jermaine—sebagai musisi pendukung, Michael memainkan congas sementara Marlon tambourine. Beberapa lama kemudian, ia mulai mengambil peran sebagai penyanyi latar dan ikut menari. Dan akhirnya pada umur 8 tahun, ia dan Jermaine menjadi penyanyi utama, dan nama kelompok musik ini diganti menjadi The Jackson 5. Band ini melakukan tur di bagian tengah Amerika Serikat secara ekstensif pada tahun 1966 hingga 1968. Pada tahun 1966, mereka memenangi beberapa acara pencari bakat tingkat lokal.
The Jackson 5 telah merekam berbagai lagu, termasuk "Big Boy", untuk label rekaman lokal Steelwotn di tahun 1967 dan menandatangani kontrak dnegan Motown Records di tahun 1968. Majalah Rolling Stone ketika itu menggambarkan Michael sebagai "sebuah keajaiban" (prodigy) dengan "bakat musik yang luar biasa". The Jackson 5 mulai masuk pada chart ketika empat single pertamanya ("I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save," dan "I'l Be There") menempati tangga pertama pada Billboard Hot 100. Pada masa awal The Jackson 5, bagian relasi publik Mowton mengklaim bahwa Michael berumur 9 tahun, meskipun sebenarnya ia berumur 11 tahun ketika itu. Mulai tahun 1972, Michael merilis empat album solo dengan Motwon, di antaranya Got to Be There dan Ben. Penjualan band ini menurun pada tahun 1973.
1975—81: Pindah ke Epic dan Off the Wall
The Jackson 5 menandatangani kontrak baru dengan CBS Record pada bulan Juni 1975, dalam divisi Philadelphia International Records, yang kemudian diubah namanya menjadi Epic Records. Nama grup ini pun diubah menjadi The Jacksons dan menghasilkan enam album antara tahun 1976 hingga 1984, di mana sebagian besar lagunya di tulis oleh Michael Jackson. Hits yang dilahirkan oleh band ini antara lain "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel" dan "Can You Feel It." The Jackson juga memiliki acara TV sendiri di CBS, The Jacksons, yang mengudara dari tahun 1976 hingga 1977.Pada tahun 1978, Jackson berperan sebagai Scarecrow pada film musikal The Wiz. Musik dalam film ini diaransemen oleh Quincy Jones, yang kemudian menjalin kerjasama dengan Jackson untuk membuat album solonya, Off the Wall.
Penulis lagu di album ini antara lain Jackson, Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder, dan Paul McCartney. Dirilis pada tahun 1979, empat lagu dalam album ini menempati peringkat pertama tangga lagu di Amerika Serikat termasuk "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" dan "Rock with You." Off the Wall menempati peringkat ketiga dalam Billboard 200 dan terjual 7 juta kopi di Amerika Serikat dengan total penjualan di seluruh dunia mencapai lebih dari 20 juta kopi.
Pada tahun 1980, Jackson memenangi tiga penghargaan di American Music Awards untuk penampilan solonya: Favorite Soul/R&B Album, Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist, dan Favorite Soul/R&B Single untuk "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". Di tahun yang sama, ia juga memenangi Billboard Music Awards untuk kategori Top Black Artist dan Top Black Album serta sebuah Grammy Award untuk Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (untuk lagu "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough") Meskipun sukses secara komersil, Jackson merasa Off the Wall belum memenuhi harapannya untuk menciptakan album yang luar biasa. Pada tahun 1980, Jackson menjadi musisi dengan penerimaan royalti tertinggi di industri musik: 37% dari keuntungan album secara keseluruhan.
1982—83: Thriller dan Motown 25
Pada tahun 1982, Epic merilis album kedua Jackson, Thriller. Kemunculan album ini dianggap sebagai puncak karier Jackson. Album kedua ini bertahan di 10 besar Billboard 200 selama 80 minggu berturut-turut. Tujuh lagu dari album ini secara bersamaan masuk dalam sepuluh besar Billboard Hot—100, tiga di antaranya "Billie Jean," "Beat It," dan "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'."Periode ini adalah periode yang luar biasa menguntungkan bagi Jackson. Melalui pengacaranya John Branca, Jackson berhasil mendapatkan royalti tertinggi dalam industri musik, sekitar $2 per album. Di saat yang sama, ia juga meraup keuntungan dari The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, sebuah film dokumenter yang dibuat oleh Jackson dan John Landis yang terjual lebih dari 350.000 kopi.
Pada 25 Maret 1983, Michael Jackson tampil live dalam acara televisi spesial Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. Pada acara inilah ia pertama kali menampilkan gerakan tari nya yang terkenal, moonwalk. Penampilannya di acara ini ditonton oleh sekitar 47 juta orang, dan hanya dapat disamai oleh penampilan Elvis Presley dan The Beatles danam The Ed Sullivan Show. The New York Times menulis, "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk requires perfect timing." (Indonesia: "Moonwalk yang telah membuatnya terkenal adalah perubahan yang tepat dalam gaya menarinya. Bagaimana dia melakukannya? Sebagai seorang teknisi, ia adalah ilusionis yang hebat, badut (mime) yang sesungguhnya. Kemampuannya untuk membuat satu kaki lurus sambil menggesernya, sementara satu kaki lainnya menekuk, membuatnya terlihat berjalan, membutuhkan ketepatan waktu yang sempurna."
1984–85: Pepsi, We Are the World, dan karier bisnis
Jackson mengalami kecelakaan pada 27 Januari 1984. Dalam proses pembuatan iklan Pepsi Cola di Shrine Auditoriam, Los Angeles, ia mengalami luka bakar tingkat dua di kulit kepalanya setelah rambutnya terbakar akibat sebuah kecelakaan. Kejadian ini segera menjadi perhatian publik dan mendatangkan banyak simpati. Pepsi kemudian menyelesaikan tuntutan hukum di luar pengadilan. Untuk mengobati luka bakarnya ini, Jackson memberikan $1,5 juta kepada Brotman Medical Center di Culver City, California, sehingga rumah sakit itu dapat membeli peralatan penyembuhan luka bakar berteknologi paling tinggi ketika itu; Brotman kemudian mengubah nama kamar perawatan luka bakarnya menjadi "Michael Jackson Burn Center" untuk menghormati Jackson. Setelah kejadian ini, Jackson mulai memperhatikan penampilan dan mengoperasi plastik hidungnya.
Jackson, bersama Lionel Richie, juga membuat single "We Are the World" yang dirilis ke seluruh dunia untuk tujuan amal, yaitu membantu rakyat miskin di Afrika dan Amerika Serikat. Single ini dinyanyikan oleh 39 selebritis, termasuk Jackson. Single ini juga menjadi single dengan penjualan terbaik sepanjang masa, dengan total penjualan 20 juta kopi.
Saat bekerja bersama Paul McCartney dalam dua hit singlenya, "The Girl Is Mine" dan "Say Say Say", keduanya mulai menjalin persahabatan dan saling mengunjungi satu sama lain. Pada suatu diskusi, McCartney menceritakan kepada Jackson bagaimana ia mendapatkan jutaan dolar dari katalog musik; ia mendapatkan sekitar $40 juta pertahun dari lagu yang dinyanyikan orang lain. Jackson pun tertarik dan mulai menjalani karier bisnisnya dengan membeli, menjual, dan mendistribusikan hak penerbitan dari banyak artis. Tak lama kemudian, ATV Songs—sebuah katalog musik yang berisi ribuan lagu, termasuk lagu-lagu besutan Lennon-McCartney yang ditulis antara tahun 1963 hingga 1973—mulai dijual.
1986—87: Penampilan, tabloid, Bad, otobiografi, dan film
Berat badan Jackson turus drastis di awal tahun 1980-an. Hal ini disebabkan karena diet dan keinginan untuk mendapatkan "tubuh pedansa" ("dancer's body") Beberapa saksi mengatakan bahwa seringkali Jackson merasa pusing dan menduga dirinya menderita anorexia nervosa; gejala medis kehilangan nafsu makan. Beberapa ahli mengatakan bahwa Jackson menderita body dysmorphic disorder, kondisi psikologis di mana penderita merasa kurang suka dengan penampilannya. Tahun 1986 ia mengoperasi lagi hidung dan dagunya.
Selama tahun 80-an ini kisah Jackson semakin menjadi perhatian publik. Pada tahun 1986, The National Enquirer mempublikasikan beberapa foto yang menggambarkan Jackson sedang tidur di hyperbaric oxygen chamber, dan mengatakan bahwa Jackson tidur di situ untuk memperlambat proses penuaan. Jackson membeli seekor simpanse bernama Bubbles dari sebuah laboratorium, dan pada tahun 2003 ia mengklaim bahwa Bubbles bisa menggunakan toilet dan membersihkan kamarnya sendiri. Jackson juga dikabarkan menawar tulang Joseph Merrick, si "Manusia Gajah", seharga $1 juta. Laporan itu melekat dalam ingatan masyarakat, dan menginspirasi nama panggilan "Wacko Jacko" (Jacko Sinting), yang kemudian sering disingkat sebagai "Jacko" di headline tabloid. Seorang biografer pada tahun 2004 mengatakan bahwa rumor-rumor tersebut di ciptakan oleh bagian publikasi Jackson sendiri untuk tujuan promosi.. Jackson mengatakan kepada reporter:
| “ | Mengapa Anda tidak melaporkan saja ke masyarakat bahwa saya adalah alien dari Mars. Bilang kepada masyarakat bahwa saya memakan ayam hidup-hidup, dan melakukan tarian voodoo di malam hari. Tentu masyarakat akan percaya dengan yang Anda katakan karena Anda adalah seorang reporter. Tetapi bila saya, Michael Jackson, yang mengatakan, "Saya adalah alien dari Mars, saya memakan ayam hidup-hidup, dan saya melakukan tarian voodoo di malam hari," masyarakat akan berkata, "Ya ampun, Michael Jackson sudah gila, dia hancur. Lebih baik kamu tidak mempercayai ucapannya." | ” |
Pada thaun 1987, Jackson menyatakan diri keluar dari agama yang di anutnya, Saksi-saksi Jehovah, sebagai respon dari ketidaksetujuan agama tersebut terhadap video klip Thriller. Pada tanggal 12 September, Jackson memulai Bad World Tour hingga tanggal 14 Januari 1989. Di Jepang saja, tur ini berhasil menarik 570.000 penonton. Ia juga memecahkan Guiness World Record ketika 504.000 orang menghadiri shownya di Wembley Stadium. Secara total, ia tampil di 123 konser, di hadapan 4,4 juta orang, dan memecahkan Guinness World Record lainnya ketika tur tersebut memberikan pendapatan senilai $125 juta. Selama perjalanannya, ia mengundak anak kecil yang berasal dari keluarga ekonomi lemah untuk menonton konsernya secara gratis, dan memberi donasi ke rumah sakit, yayasan yatim piatu, dan badan amal lainnya.
Autobiografi, perubahan penampilan dan Neverland
Pada 1988, Jackson merilis autobiografi pertamanya, Moonwalk, yang membutuhkan 4 tahun untuk menyelesaikannya. Jackson menulis tentang masa kecilnya, The Jackson 5, dan perlakuan kejam yang dideritanya. Dia juga menulis kalau dia hanya menjalani dua operasi plastik pada mukanya. Jackson kemudian merilis film yang disebut Moonwalker yang berisi kumpulan rekaman - rekaman dan film pendek yang dibintangi Michael Jackson sendiri, dan Joe Pesci. Pada bulan Maret 1988, Jackson membeli tanah di dekat Santa Ynez, California untuk membangun Neverland Ranch dengan harga sebesar $17 juta. Dia memasang berbagai atraksi permainan dan sebuah Teater. Disana juga terdapat 40 staf keamanan yang selalu berpatroli. Pada 1989, pendapatan tahunannya dari hasil penjualan album dan konser - konsernya, diperkirakan mencapai $125 juta hanya untuk tahun itu sendiri. Michael Jackson dilantik sebagai King of Pop. Nama panggilan tersebut dipopulerkan oleh Elizabeth Taylor. Dari tahun 1985 sampai 1990, Jackson telah mendonasikan $500,000 ke United Negro College Fund. Pada saat ini juga Michael mulai menjalin persahabatan dengan aktor cilik, Macaulay Culkin.Kematian
Michael Jackson meninggal dunia di rumahnya di Los Angeles pada hari Kamis, 25 Juni 2009, Pukul 14:26 Waktu setempat. Ia tidak sadarkan diri setelah mengalami gagal jantung (cardiac arrest). Ia diduga mengalami gagal jantung sesaat setelah diberi suntikan demerol. Berita kematian Michael Jackson tersebar cepat di internet. Banyak situs web yang kewalahan menangani pengguna internet yang ingin mencari Informasi tentang kematian Jacko. Google sempat mengalami gangguan karena begitu banyaknya kata kunci "Michael Jackson" yang dimasukan. AOL Instant Messenger juga sempat mengalami gangguan selama 40 menit karena banyaknya pengguna yang menginformasikan kematian Jacko lewat AOL Instant Messenger, dan dikabarkan juga Jacko hanya perpura - pura mati karena hutang semasa hidupnya dan ada video Jakco turun dari sebuah suatu ambulans.18 May 2011
Sahabat is everything for me
Sahabat
who make ma feel good
kalian adalah yang terbaik
aku tidak akan melupakan kalian
suatu hari aku akan menceritakan kisah persahabatan kita ke anak ku
betapa baiknya kalian kepada ku
kalian is the best
kalian tak kan tergantikan oleh siapa-pun
selain waktu yang menggantikan
NB : INGAT JAGALAH PERSAHABATAN
MUDAH MENCARI PACAR SUSAH MENCARI SAHABAT
who make ma feel good
kalian adalah yang terbaik
aku tidak akan melupakan kalian
suatu hari aku akan menceritakan kisah persahabatan kita ke anak ku
betapa baiknya kalian kepada ku
kalian is the best
kalian tak kan tergantikan oleh siapa-pun
selain waktu yang menggantikan
NB : INGAT JAGALAH PERSAHABATAN
MUDAH MENCARI PACAR SUSAH MENCARI SAHABAT
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