1968 Conqueror of American Rock - Chapter 147



Only Noblemtl

147. Save the King of Pop (1)

– Wow, that’s really great! I personally got much more immersed in it than in the movie. Did you guys find me in the video? Yes, that’s right. I volunteered to be the villain. I think the viewers will know better why I am the villain, not Hyde, right?

The Tonight Tonight Show premiered our new music video for ‘Jekyll & Hyde’. Jack added to the importance of personal drink management in the club.

– Next corner is time to look at the Billboard Hot 100 chart! The Jackson 5, who have been dominating the year, are on the verge of reaching #1 for five consecutive weeks with ‘I Want You Back’, ‘ABC’, ‘The Love You’, and ‘I’ll Be There’. I really don’t need my explanation anymore. Michael Jackson, the youngest of the five brothers, is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest singer to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart!

Jack introduced a live video of the Jackson 5 from the Ed Sullivan Show.

“Aww, Michael is so cute!”

Annie and Angela especially liked Michael Jackson among the Jackson Five. Although Michael was the youngest, he was the main vocalist and, compared to his brothers, he captured the hearts of the entire nation with his singing and dancing skills.

But I know his untold hurt and trauma, which is revealed in his autobiography, Moonwalk, and the documentary, Living with Michael Jackson.

On stage, he always dances and sings with a bright expression, but behind him, there is always a fear of his father and older brothers.

After Michael Jackson became the King of Pop, he bought a huge farm and turned his house into an amusement park, where he spent time playing with his children.

He first appeared in public at the young age of five. He had no friends, no parties, no Halloween parties, and no Christmas. Perhaps he created his own Neverland to compensate for his lost childhood, and became Peter Pan there.

For him, who had lived in the cutthroat world of show business since childhood, music and children were his only love. But the saddest thing was that the world did not allow him and children to become friends.

Even after his death, the scarlet letter of ‘pedophile’ was engraved on him, and he was continuously sued for ‘child molestation’.

As a huge fan of his, I wonder if his father Joseph Jackson’s ambition and greed, along with the rumors created by the public, may have led to Michael Jackson’s death.

Just as Dr. Jekyll tried to divide human nature into good and evil, could we prevent Michael Jackson’s death if we could separate him from his family?

* * *

Ding dong.

“Come on in, James.”

“I’m sorry, Jack, it’s a rare holiday.”

“What are you talking about, between us? Come in, haha.”

Jack was happy to give me his one afternoon off a week.

“It’s okay, I go to see my mother every week. I should also rest comfortably at home for a day or so.”

He brought me two glasses of coconut juice, perhaps thinking of Hawaii.

“This music video also got a huge response. Annie could really be an actress. How can she act so well?”

“Jack, by any chance······.”

“Why are you hesitating so much? It’s okay, just talk.”

“Would it be rude to ask about Jack’s childhood?”

Jack ran away from home because of his father. I wondered how bad it had to be for him to decide to run away. Was he perhaps being abused?

“Um······ It’s okay. I have a strong mentality, so I didn’t just sit by and take it even when my father cursed at me and beat me with a club. I also grabbed a baseball bat and smashed all of my father’s favorite liquor bottles. I was a really bad guy, hehe.”

But Michael Jackson was small in stature and had a very timid and delicate personality.

“Jack, what happens in America when parents abuse their children?”

“First of all, in the US, the laws are a little different from state to state, but generally, child abuse is punished very harshly. But I wasn’t a child at the time, and I rebelled, so I chose to run away.”

“Then, can we separate the child from the abusive father?”

“Of course. It depends on the trial results, but in severe cases, they will definitely be isolated. But is that what you came here to ask?”

“Oh, I was just reading a novel and suddenly got curious.”

“You used to hang out with that friend with the gravelly voice, you seem to be reading a lot of books these days, haha.”

Umm······Isn’t there a way? It’s not like I can just report it anonymously.

“Oh, James. Diana Ross is coming to our show next week. Isn’t that awesome?”

Diana Ross is currently a key member of the popular black female group ‘The Supremes’. She will also become known as a singer-songwriter and actress. She was close to the Jackson Five, even inviting them to stay at her house.

In particular, Michael Jackson, who was fourteen years younger than her, recalled that Diana Ross was his first love.

Later, Michael Jackson even stated in his will that, “If I die before my children reach adulthood, Diana Ross will be given custody and management of my estate, second only to my mother, Katherine.”

Among the Jackson Five, she was particularly fond of Michael, the youngest, and they had a special relationship, even teaching him how to draw.

What if she found out that Michael was being abused? She would never stay silent.

I have to make her aware of this somehow.

“But you know what’s even more awesome? Diana Ross wanted to invite Annie and Stella to the show. Of course, Annie and Stella are famous now, haha.”

“Huh? How is that······.”

“It seems that Diana became a fan after seeing them perform in Las Vegas a while back.”

At the time I saw Annie perform, it was before we even debuted in the US, and Stella was a vocalist in a big band.

This show is your chance.

* * *

“Diana Ross us?”

“huh.”

Sister Stella was puzzled,

“Did you see that Anis Joplin concert again? Hehe.”

Annie shrugged.

“I think there’s some conflict within the Supremes right now.”

I told them both what I had heard from Jack.

“It’s understandable that the other members would be jealous since people are crazy about Diana Ross. It’s also true that Diana is the best singer.”

“Annie, but the company went too far in changing the team name to Diana Ross & the Supremes.”

“But if we get along better with Diana on the show, won’t the Supremes break up? Haha.”

“Oh, Annie, don’t say things like that so carelessly.”

“I’m joking, sis. Hehe.”

Okay, now it’s time to throw some bait.

“Annie, did you know that Diana Ross and the Jackson 5 are really close friends?”

“Really? So if I become friends with Diana, I can meet the cute Michael Jackson too?”

“I don’t know about that, but I heard that Diana invited the Jackson Five to her house and they stayed for a few days.”

Okay, ask.

“No matter what happens, I have to become close with Diana and get invited too. You and I must make a pact~”

Annie has been really into the Jackson 5’s song ‘I’ll Be There’ lately. The song she sings sounds just like Mariah Carey singing in the future.

“Annie, you have to go on the show and sing that song. Okay?”

“I’m fine. I already have a bit of an extreme image these days, like Jekyll and Hyde, so I should change that image a bit with a soft song like this.”

I put a guitar overdrive on the vocal mic when Annie sang Hyde’s part to create a monster voice. I think it was quite shocking for people who saw the music video at first.

First of all, the fact that she wants to appear with the two of them is definitely a good sign. If Annie sings a Jackson 5 song, there could definitely be a connection.

Annie, I only trust you.

* * *

A week later at the KMTV studio.

Today is finally the day to record the Diana Ross episode of ‘The Tonight Tonight Show.’ I decided to sit in the monitor room with the producer and watch the show.

The house band began to play lively, the curtains opened, and Jack ran out to announce the start of the show.

– Hey everyone, how’s your week been? It’s the Tonight Tonight Show! Today we finally get to welcome the Supremes, or rather, the lead singer of Diana Ross & the Supremes, Ms. Diana Ross!

As the pop superstar came out waving, the audience greeted her with thunderous cheers and applause.

– Hello, everyone. Nice to meet you. I’m Diana Ross.

– I can’t believe I’m meeting Diana Ross in person. Nice to meet you. It’s Jack White!

Jack’s mouth was wide open as he shook her hand.

– Diana, is there anyone you’d like to join us in particular today?

– Yes, there were some people I wanted to see, so I asked the PD for a special favor.

– Come on, come on! These two are Annie Kim, the main vocalist of Sparkling Ripple, whom you all already know! And Stella Jin, famous for Magic Cookies!

The studio heated up when Annie and Stella appeared. Diana Ross stood up and greeted them by shaking their hands.

– I feel like I won the lottery today, hosting a talk show with these three beautiful guests, haha!

Jack skillfully asked Diana what had prompted her to invite the two of them.

– I’ve seen these two perform at the Kings Theater in Las Vegas, so I knew they had a connection with Kings, but I recently saw the movie and became a fan of Annie and Stella. So I asked them to do it, despite the rudeness, and I’m really grateful to them for coming out.

Her humanity shined through even in her polite speech.

With Jack’s encouragement, the three women naturally began talking about scenes from the movie.

– I was really impressed by the stage where Annie Yang and Stella Jean sang Ella Fitzgerald’s song as a duet. I think they would have been great if they had formed a band together.

– Stella is like my real sister to me. I can sing with her anytime. But her voice suits jazz and pop, and I······ Hehe, I really like rock festivals.

– Well, Annie Yang’s voice is the most powerful voice I’ve ever heard. But how did you create that monster voice in the ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ music video a while ago? I was so surprised when I heard it.

– Oh, that’s James putting some kind of guitar effect on my voice. He’s totally crazy, haha. Oh, sorry. Please edit that out.

– Hahaha, Annie is really cute and funny.

Good job, Annie.

Diana was falling more and more for Annie.

– The song I’m going to play this time is ‘I’ll Be There’ by The Jackson 5, which has been at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five consecutive weeks.

Diana looked at Annie, smiled brightly, and gave her a round of applause.