The Michael Jackson Fan Club

February 26, 1999

Vibe Magazine April '99 Issue

By Elysa Gardner

Album review of Ginuwine's latest CD....
.....................  But 100% Ginuwine doesn't reach  it's emotional climax until the singer gets back in touch with his softer, more tender feelings. The album  closes with a cover of the heart wrenching  ballad " She's Out of My Life," a hit for Ginuwine's idol, Michael Jackson, two decades ago. While Ginuwine's version  of this repentant cad's lament is technically  a bit flashier than Jackson 's ---- it's strikingly similar in tone. If anything, Ginuwine's reading is even more unabashedly sentimental; where as Jackson's quivering vocal didn't collapse into choked sobs until the very end.

Source: New York Daily News - Mitchell Fink's Column

Grammy Maestro Mottola See's a Jax Comeback

It was a big night for Tommy Mottola, and the Sony honcho could not contain his excitement as he waited at Jimmy's in Beverly Hills for the arrival of his three biggest Grammy winners - Lauryn Hill, Celine Dion and Will Smith.

" We won 24 Grammys, " an elated Mottola said proudly. " This is the biggest year in the history of Sony."

And he's even managed to achieve this with nary a contribution from Sony's most reclusive star, Michael Jackson. But that's about to change.

" Michael has been recording in New York and Los Angeles, working with producers like David Foster and Rodney Jenkins, " Mottola says. " I 've heard some of the music, and it's unbelievable. This is some of the best music Michael's ever made." The Jackson album will be released this Christmas, he added.

Mottola was basking in the Grammy glow Wednesday night, seemingly happy with single life.
He said he spends his working days living in Manhattan and his weekends in Bedford, in Westchester County, where he resided with Mariah Carey until their break up in 1997.

Mottola said he feels very grateful to be past that period of his life, and the media attention that accompanied the divorce. " I don't want to be in the papers anymore, " he said. " That was then. This is now. Today I have a life."

February 17, 1999

Jackson Hires Super-producer For New CD

Michael Jackson has enlisted the talents of super hot producer Rodney Jenkins for his upcoming album, the first since his 1995 " HIStory " CD. Jenkins who's nominated for four Grammys, is the mastermind behind Brandy and Monica's megahit " They Boy is Mine," as well as Monica's single " Angel of Mine", currently the No.1 song in the country. We 're told that Michael and Jenkins are racing to put the finishing touches on the Jackson disc.

Source: New York Daily News - HollyWood Column

February 15, 1999

Jackson On A 'Quest' For Millennial Anthem

Michael Jackson is working with David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager, Oscar nominated for The Prayer, on a millennium-themed anthem for his new album.

A song to take us into the year 2000 with hope," Bayer Sager said Monday. But they won't do it "if the three of us can't come up with a song that is truly, truly good, beyond good."

Jackson called Bayer Sager after he heard she and Foster had won a Golden Globe for The Prayer, a duet by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli from The Quest for Camelot. Bayer Sager hadn't spoken with him in a couple of years, and she didn't believe it was Jackson until he sang a duet they had done for her album with Burt Bacharach in 1991.

Bayer Sager had hooked up Jackson with producer/songwriter Rodney Jerkins (The Boy Is Mine), but Jackson wanted to try for the anthem with her and Foster. They've had two sessions, and Bayer Sager has hopes their song will be a reality by next month.

Jackson has kept a low profile in this country lately. Bayer Sager attributes this to his being "very involved as a father. His 2-year-old (Prince Michael) is so adorable, he didn't want to leave his side. Michael was very wise, he took a rest, he's gathering himself together. When he comes back, it'll be in a way that's undeniable. There's not a radio station in the country that can not play him. He left as the king of pop, he faded out a little, but he'll come back as the king of pop. He didn't lose that title."

Jackson, she said, is "looking for some peace in his life, and I think he's found it. He seems much more content and at ease with himself," and she attributes this to being a dad of two.

Bayer Sager, who also is producing an album with Carole King, says, "Just when you think you've kind of done it (all), out of the blue comes Michael. It gets your juices going, to try to do a better job."

Source: USA Today - People

February 14, 1999

Bono Plans Lending A Hand To Third World

Bono still believes that pop music can change the world--specifically, the Third World.
Focusing on the issue of the huge sums owed the World Bank by Third World countries for development loans, the U2 singer is trying to organize a massive event to draw attention to a proposal that those debts be forgiven or restructured, allowing impoverished developing nations to devote more resources to the needs of their populace and less to loan repayments.

The rocker has been personally contacting the pop elite--his wish list includes Madonna, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, the Beastie Boys and R.E.M.--to join U2 in Cologne, Germany, on June 19, where the G8 (the heads of state of the eight wealthiest nations) will be meeting to address the proposed economic plan, among other issues.

Bono is envisioning a series of unique performances in unusual settings (train stations, public squares, cathedrals, army barracks) that would be broadcast in a live, three-hour television special around the globe. The result, he believes, would be a public groundswell of pressure on the global leaders to relieve the heavy financial burden crippling poorer nations.

"He's been trying to enlist other artists in support of Jubilee 2000, a group of charities that have come to the conclusion that there are many countries in the world who have huge debts that they cannot completely pay off," says one person close to U2.

Bono had originally floated an idea for a huge New Year's Eve concert in Dublin supporting the same cause. But though liking the symbolism of having the event coincide with the new millennium, he decided action was needed sooner if it was to have an impact on the proposal's progress.

One potential hitch is that a series of Beastie Boys-spearheaded Tibetan Freedom Concerts is also being scheduled for June, with five all-star concerts to be held in a two-day period in Amsterdam, Chicago and Sydney.

Source: Los Angeles Times

February 13, 1999

Michael Jackson Wants To Fund New African Universities

Singing star Michael Jackson may donate up to $120 million to create four African universities which could be named after him, a British newspaper reported on Sunday.

The American pop star is negotiating with a consortium led by a Malaysian entrepreneur, Abdul Rahman, and the multinational Kvaerner, which plans to spend 300 million pounds on the project, said the Independent on Sunday.

Four institutions in Tunisia, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa would be established to cater for 32,000 students, primarily in business related courses, it said.

Rahman told the newspaper that the universities would be non-profit and would equip young Africans to take "an influential role in their countries' development as entrepreneurs, policy makers and marketeers."

Jackson, whose wealth is estimated at 490 million pounds, would be a venture partner and figurehead.

"Michael is very much involved in humanitarian projects in Africa so when I mooted this idea with him he was very positive about going ahead," Rahman told the newspaper.

The amount Jackson put in would depend on how much is raised from other sources, including investment and donations from companies with interests in Africa, bank loans and educational grants, said the Independent on Sunday.

Source: Nandotimes

February 5, 1999

MICHAEL JACKSON SCORES ANOTHER VICTORY: JUDGE AWARDS JACKSON $200,000 FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES IN COPYRIGHT CASE

Press Release From MJJ Productions

A Denver Federal Judge has awarded Michael Jackson $200,000 in attorney's fees as the prevailing party in a copyright infringement case brought by Crystal Cartier. The award came five years after a Denver federal jury ruled that Jackson did not steal the hit song "Dangerous." The federal Judge found that the plaintiff's case was "implausible and objectively unreasonable."

Eve Wagner, who represents Jackson, along with local attorneys in Denver, commented on the victory: "We are delighted with the fee award. Successful artist are often forced to spend significant dollars defending against baseless lawsuits, such as the one brought by Crystal Cartier. Unfortunately, with the contingency fee system, many plaintiff's pay nothing; if they win, they hit the jackpot. In this case, the judge specifically acknowledged that the fee award was appropriate to deter lawsuits against defendant Michael Jackson, who because of his fame and wealth, attracts lawsuits and threats thereof with regularity. Hopefully, the judge's order will send a message that will deter plaintiffs and lawyers from filing frivolous lawsuits."

Wagner also remarked, "Jackson has now won four out of four copyright infringement lawsuits brought against him." Previous cases include a 1984 suit involving the Jackson "The Girl is Mine" and a 1994 action involving Jackson hits "Thriller","We Are The World" and "The Girl is Mine." The most recent victory, in 1998, was the case brought in Italy involving the hit song, "Will You Be There."

Source: MJJ Productions - press release

February 1, 1999

Mistaken Identity

When Michael Jordan was introduced at the recent Bob Hope Classic gold tournament, the tee announcer said: "Ladies and gentlemen, one of the greatest athletes in the world-Michael Jackson." Jordan raised his left hand and said, "Must be the one glove."