Michael's Point Of View ~

Motown 25 Performance Night | Los Angeles, California

I turn to my brothers as each of them stand behind me.

"You ready? . . " I ask.

I receive a nod from Jermaine, a thumbs up from Tito and Jackie, and an excited but goofy smile from of course Marlon.

"Now ladies and gentlemen, here they are . . " 

"The original Jackson 5 . . "

"Jackie, Marlon, Tito, Jermaine and Michael! . . "

The announcement is made, the crowd seems to roar from the mention of us alone. All of us rush into the stage. And before we know it . . the music begins. We all walk forwards. I see many different people, many different faces, but then I finally see a handful of familiar ones that are in fact, right in front of me.

I see my mother and father, Janet.

And of course, my girl, Ariana.

'I Want You Back' playing and the crowd continues to cheer, to show so much love as we start to dance. I grab the microphone.

"Everybody clap your hands, come on . . " I say to the audience.

They do. Some even standing to clap. I love to see this. When people just enjoy the show.

I begin to sing, my brothers close with me.

"When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around . . "

"Those pretty faces always made you stand out from the crowd . . "

"But someone picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took . . "

"Now it's much too late for me to take a second look . . "

The chorus now, singing with my brothers.

"Oh, baby, give me one more chance . . "

"(To show me that I love you)" . .

"Won't you please let me (back in your heart)" . .

My feet dance.

"Oh, darlin', I was blind to let you go . . "

"(Let you go, baby) . . "

"But now since I see you in his arms (I want you back) . . "

This time, my entire body dances.

"Yes, I do now (I want you back) . . "

"Ooh, ooh, baby (I want you back) . . "

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (I want you back) . . "

"Na, na, na, na . . "

"(I want you back!) . . " My brothers sing altogether.

The song ends, but another one starts shortly afterwards. I feel so happy. It feels amazing to be back on stage again. The crowd is loving it. To see them smile, to clap along and join in . . it's a great feeling. I have a quick glance at Ariana. She looks so happy. God, I do hope she's enjoying the show. I could stand here and look at her all night but I can't, drawing my attention back to whole audience.

"Everybody, come on! . . " I speak into the microphone.

I am full of energy. Feeling the music in me, the crowd and being back on stage with my brothers . . how can I not be happy?

"Woo! . . "

'The Love You Save' playing now. Singing yet again.

"When we played tag in grade school . . "

"You wanted to be it . . "

"But chasing boys was just a fad . . "

"You crossed your heart you'd quit . . "

"When we grew up you traded . . "

"Your promise for my ring . . "

"Now just like back to grade school . . "

"You're doing the same old thing . . "

"Stop! The love you save may be your own . . "

"Darling, take it slow. Or some day you'll be all alone . . "

Ugh. I feel the music so badly. I can't seem to stand still no longer than a second. My feet having minds of their own. I can't help it. I must dance. It's only a subtle lift of my pants before I spin around with such power, I really hope so.

"Stop! The love you save may be your own . . " My brothers sing.

"Darlin' look both ways before you cross me . . "

"Heading for a danger zone . . " My brothers finish saying.

I look to my right. My brothers on either side of me, in position, Jermaine on my left and Jackie on my right . . just like we rehearsed. We dance altogether before my younger brother Randy, joins us all on stage also. The excitement of the crowd is empowering, it keeps me dancing. It keeps me loving what I do.

To perform.

To entertain.

The crowd continues to keep those smiles on their faces as we all remain still with the music stopped completely. It is at this time, where I have a glance down at Ariana. The glow in her face, the sparkle in her eyes. God. She is so beautiful. I can't help but to flash her the tiniest of smiles. I wish I could bring her on stage with me . . to hold her in my arms. But I can't. As the show is still commencing. I remember coming home after yet another day in the studio. I was so exhausted, but so happy to come home to her. She was pleased for me that my song was finished . . but then, her towel dropped. Like there was this sudden change within her that couldn't contain much longer. Her petite figure that I can't get enough of was right before me.

The kiss.

Wow.

She asked me to love her and of course, I wished to do just that. The feeling of her milk smooth thighs as I glided my fingers over them to bring them even closer to me . . to bring her even closer to me. It was a night full of passion. Such a loving yet hard night of passion. My eyes look away from Ariana. Back onto the large and still cheering crowd. For all it takes is a movement of my hand for the music to play once more.

"See if you can remember these songs . . "

I say in my microphone to the crowd, casually before I sing.

"I never can say goodbye . . "

"No, no, no, no . . "

"I never can say goodbye . . "

"(Say goodbye girl) . . " My brothers sing.

"Even though the pain and heartaches seems to follow me wherever I go . . "

This crowd. What a turn out, I must say. I look out to them and I can't but smile.

"Though I try and try to hide my feelings but they always seem to show . . "

"(Ooh) . . "

"Then you try to say your leaving me and I won't accept I say no . . "

"Tell me why . . "

"(Tell me why) . . "

"Is it so . . "

"(Is it so) . . "

"Don't wanna let you go, baby . . "

"I never can say goodbye, girl . . "

"(I never can say goodbye, girl) . . "

"Ooh baby aye . . "

"(Don't wanna let you go, girl) . . "

I can't help but point to Ariana. My face beaming.

"I never can say goodbye . . "

"No, no, no, no, no, no. hee-heeee . . "

My brothers and I can't contain our feelings of such joy. Feels just like back in Motown, performing and touring the world, all while singing such songs.

"I never can say goodbye, girl . . "

"(I never can say goodbye, girl) . . "

"Ah baby, yeah! . . "

"I never can say goodbye . . "

"(No, no, no, no, no, no) . . "

I spin but it's only short, only one. It's an indication to stop the music but to then play yet the final song of the Jackson 5. This song is such a special one to me. It's one that allows Jermaine to sing along side me. For my brothers and I to come close together and do what we do best, do what we love to do when together especially . . sing.

A song called 'I'll Be There' which tells us everything within it's name alone. My brothers back in position in front of their microphones. A song that is slow but one right from the heart. I stand still, at the front . . and then I sing.

"You and I must make a pact, we must bring salvation back . . "

"Where there is love, I'll be there . . "

"(I'll be there) . . "

"I'll reach out my hand to you, I'll have faith in all you do . . "

"(Ooooh) . . "

"Just call my name and I'll be there . . "

"(I'll be there) . . "

I look to my left as I know what's coming. Jermaine has his hand out, like he wishes for me to come closer to him. His microphone to his lips, but nothing comes out. There is no sound. I walk towards him, closer and closer to outstretch my microphone to him. He sings.

"I'll be there to comfort you . . "

"Build my world of dreams around you, I'm so glad I found you . . "

"(Oh oh)" . . I add with a smile.

My arm around him. I really do love my brothers so much.

"I'll be there with a love that's strong . . "

"I'll be your strength, I'll keep holding on . . "

Jermaine and I walk back, to the side, to allow the others to come forward - one at a time.

"(Holdin' on) . . " Marlon sings.

"(Holdin' on) . . " Then Randy.

"(Holdin' on) . . " Finally Jackie.

I come back to the front for the third verse. My brothers almost scattered behind and around me.

"If you should ever find someone new . . " I sing.

"I know he better be good to you . . "

My brothers and I huddle together. Our voices sing altogether. It's a great moment in the song that we all wanted and the crowd seems to agree, cheering and clapping from the moment. It's the last song for the performance, so I wish for everyone to be involved. For everyone's presence to be cared for.

"Cause if he doesn't, I'll be there . . "

"Come on, everybody sing! . . " I say.

"Don't you know, girl . . "

"I'll be there . . "

"Everybody! . . " I say even louder into my microphone.

"I'll be there . . " The entire crowd sings.

"Oh oh, yeah. Just call my name and I'll be there . . "

"Just look over your shoulders, honey . . "

"Ooh. I'll be there . . "

"Everybody singin! . . "

"I'll be there . . " The crowd sings yet again.

"Oh oh oh . . "

"Just call my name and I'll be there . . "

"Come on everybody. Put your hands up in the air like this. Come on! Hee-hee hee-hee. Look around! Everybody singin' . . "

I say.

"I'll be therrreeeee . . " I sing.

And what a sight. This is why I love to be on stage. It's a place that doesn't judge. A place where I feel most at home. Where I feel my absolute happiest. I look down at Ariana with such a smile on my face . . seeing her join in too with the same smile upon hers. The sight of the crowd and Ariana especially . .

"It's beautiful! . . " I say with a smile.

"And I'll be there . . " I sing.

Woo. That entire performance with my brothers was amazing. I love it when I feel on top of the world. The crowd cheers for us as the song has now ended. Our hands joined together, bowing and left thankful. Hugs exchanged before they leave the stage, but only I remain.

"Thank you. Oh your beautiful . . "

I say, so thankful. A few more words I speak. I talk about the good old days. How I love each one of those songs . . the magic moments of performing those songs and singing with my brothers. I walk back over to my microphone stand, placing my microphone back into its holder. And now, it's time. My new song is to be performed live for the first time since it's release only a few short days ago. I'm so nervous, but excited to finally show the world what I have been working so hard on.

To show Ariana.

Wardrobe change? No. Not this time around. My black glitter jacket and my two white glitter socks I will still wear along with a never-been-worn single white glitter glove that is on my left hand. Wearing this from a vision I had only last night as my mind was never failing to be thinking and thinking of this very performance.

"Especially, I like . . the new songs! . . "

I say. A black hat placed on the floor right by me as I bend down to quickly pick it up, placing it on my hand. The playback to 'Billie Jean' is heard and the crowd seems excited.

I pose.

And then, I dance.

https://youtu.be/xpN3GRFKb4w

Ariana's Point Of View ~

I feel as if I can't explain, yet I have so much to say. For what I am made to witness at this moment is simply spectacular. The shine of his jacket, the sparkle of his socks, glove . . his smile, his entire being is so strong. But even without such a display of ensemble, Michael still shines for his love of being on stage in front of thousands, millions is a gift given to him that he treasures and will continue to do so. 

I can't believe that this man is my boyfriend. 

That he is someone that loves me but never as much as I love him. This is the song, the dance rehearsal from that infamous studio night. As I am now fully aware that I was a witness to something that the world hadn't yet seen. It was nothing but an idea he had, bringing it to life with each and every move of his body. Ugh. That night . . in the studio when it was only us. It's a night that I won't forget, the way he kissed me, touched me . . the way he felt inside me. Hmm I had been starved of him for far too long but to have him back

My mind thinking back but my eyes looking at him right here and now. 

It's the way Michael moves . . it's the fact that Michael is such a meticulous performer. As he has the capacity for extreme control but also such quickness. I'm in complete awe. I watch him, with a smile, with a sense of disbelief that he is in fact real. The entire performance is flawless. Faults are no where to be seen, in my opinion. I can just feel the music running throughout him. I know Michael . . I know that's how he performs. And makes it incredible. 

Just like Michael, the crowd not seeming to stand still but wishing to join Michael. Some standing, clapping, smiling, cheers here and there. I am so proud of him. 

"Hee! . . " Michael sings. 

"Woo! . . " 

A walk of such slick perfection. The moonwalk. A walk that the world, including myself has never seen before if not for this moment. My bottom no more on my chair as I stand with my hands banging together time after time. The smile on my face never leaving as I watch my boyfriend finish such a memorable production, one that I feel will live on forever. 

Wow. Mind blown. 

So if someone is to ever ask me, have I ever witnessed something spectacular . . 

I can say . .

Yes I have.

to be continued.