The Legend: Unexpected Stories About Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is not just a pop star, but a true legend who changed the music industry. His name is familiar even to those who are not fans of pop music. Michael's life was full of bright moments, records, mysteries, and unique achievements. Here are some little-known and surprising facts about the "King of Pop".

He started his career at the age of five

Michael performed with his brothers as part of the Jackson 5. His talent was so obvious that he quickly became the main star of the group. Even as a child, he was called a "prodigy" and was predicted to have a great future.

The "Thriller" music video opened a new era of music videos

The music video for "Thriller" was revolutionary. It looked like a short film and set a new standard for the entire industry. This video is still considered one of the most influential in history.

He had his own patent

Michael received a patent for shoes that allowed him to perform the famous forward lean in the "Smooth Criminal" video. A special mechanism in the heel was fixed to the stage and allowed the artist to defy the laws of gravity during the dance.

He planted a tree for each million copies of the album sold

After the release of the album "Bad," the artist promised to plant a tree for every million copies sold. As a result, more than thirty million trees were planted around the world.

Michael's voice was high, but in real life he could speak much lower

There is evidence that in everyday life, Jackson could use a deeper voice, but preferred to speak in a thin voice - possibly due to his image or habit from childhood.

He was afraid of germs

Michael suffered from mysophobia - fear of germs. This is why he often appeared in a medical mask long before it became the norm. Some reports claimed that strict sanitary measures were in place in his home.

He loved to read and had a huge library

Jackson was an avid reader and collected books on a wide variety of topics - from history to philosophy. His personal library contained tens of thousands of volumes.

He kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles

The chimpanzee became not just a pet, but a true friend to Michael. Bubbles accompanied him on tours, sat with him at the table, and even wore clothes. Jackson treated him as a family member and said that the monkey helped him cope with loneliness.

He wanted to buy Spider-Man

Michael dreamed of playing the role of Peter Parker in a film and even tried to buy Marvel when the company was experiencing financial difficulties. He was so inspired by the character that he seriously considered the possibility of making a film with his own participation.

He could remain absolutely motionless in front of thousands of spectators

During his concerts, Michael could stand in complete silence and stillness on stage for up to two minutes. This caused a storm of emotions in the audience, and the public screamed even louder. This trick became his signature gesture before the start of the show.

He recorded music... using his own mouth

Michael didn't know musical notation, but he could compose entire compositions by singing each instrument with his voice - from drums to melody. He recorded everything on a tape recorder, and arrangers turned it into full-fledged songs.

He had vitiligo syndrome

Michael's skin lightened not because of plastic surgery, as