I was listening to a Michael Jackson track that I really like. It’s called “Will You Be There”. You can watch in on Youtube if they have not removed the link.
All my working life, I’ve been a brand guy. I’ve often related my opinion that some artists (writers, songwriters, singers, actors) become famous because they were at the right place at the right time. Or, they marketed themselves well. Or perhaps, they had prominent patrons who made their fame.
I’ve read blogs with brilliant writing, visited galleries with inspired art – but these people are not rich and famous. Not yet, anyway.
I’ve always wondered if fame is accidental or driven by talent.
But for some individuals, my personal opinion is that their fame is totally warranted.
Michael Jackson is one of them.
I’ve watched him. I’ve been to his concert. He was a brilliant talent. No doubt in my mind. He deserved his fame.
But did he deserve his life?
Fame and fortune are not everything. In fact, often, it is nothing.
Michael probably lacked real friends. I mean real friends. If I knew him, I’d have spoken to him differently. Why am I sure of that? I’m a friend of the most powerful person in the world so yeah, I’d have treated Michael as a brother.
The song I made reference to upfront is a beautiful song – “Will You Be There”.
Pay careful attention to the lyrics that Michael penned. There are a lot of Biblical undertones, interestingly. I’ve bolded the bits that stood out for me:
Hold Me
Like The River Jordan
And I Will Then Say To Thee
You Are My Friend
Carry Me
Like You Are My Brother
Love Me Like A Mother
Would You Be There?
Mary
Tell Me Will You Hold Me
When Wrong, Will You Scold Me
When Lost Will You Find Me?
But They Told Me
A Man Should Be Faithful
And Walk When Not Able
And Fight Till The End
But I’m Only Human
Everyone’s Taking Control Of Me
Seems That The World’s
Got A Role For Me
I’m So Confused
Will You Show To Me
You’ll Be There For Me
And Care Enough To Bear Me
(Hold Me) show me
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
told me
(Softly Then Boldly)
yeah
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human
(Lead Me)
hold me
(Love Me And Feed Me)
yea yeah
(Kiss Me And Free Me)
yeah
(I Will Feel Blessed)
I’m Only Human
(Carry)
Carry
(Carry Me Boldly)
Carry yeah
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
yeah
(Carry Me There)
I’m Only Human
(Save Me)
save me
(Heal Me And Bathe Me)
lift me up, lift me up
(Softly You Say To Me)
(I Will Be There)
I Will Be There
(Lift Me)
i’m gonna care
(Lift Me Up Slowly)
(Carry Me Boldly)
yeah
(Show Me You Care)
Show Me You Care
(Hold Me)
whoooo
(Lay Your Head Lowly)
i get lonely some times
(Softly Then Boldly)
i get lonely
(Carry Me There)
yeah yeah carry me there
yeah yeah yeah
[Spoken]
In Our Darkest Hour
In My Deepest Despair
Will You Still Care?
Will You Be There?
In My Trials
And My Tribulations
Through Our Doubts
And Frustrations
In My Violence
In My Turbulence
Through My Fear
And My Confessions
In My Anguish And My Pain
Through My Joy And My Sorrow
In The Promise Of Another Tomorrow
I’ll Never Let You Part
For You’re Always In My Heart.





