Michael Jackson is the King of Pop.
He was an ambiguous personality, with his oddities and fears, but it is simply impossible to deny his influence on the entire show business.
Michael Jackson brought pop music to the standards that are still used today; he first began to gather thousands of audiences and arrange shows, not just concerts; his albums sold the largest circulations. His music conquered the whole world.
The biography of Michael Jackson is both exciting and frightening, his music conquered the world, and the details of his personal life shocked him.
Biography of Michael Jackson
1. Difficult childhood
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in a large family of Joseph and Katherine Jackson in the city of Gary (Indiana, USA).
In addition to Michael, nine more children were brought up in the family, and all of them suffered from their father's bullying. Joseph was cruel and had rather unusual views on raising children, so Michael got a lot from his father, like his brothers and sisters.
Having already become popular, pop singer Michael repeatedly spoke about his father's abuse and childhood fears due to bullying and nightmares at night. The father later admitted to reporters that he was cruel to his children.
2. King
Michael Jackson received the title of "King of Pop" with the light hand of his girlfriend, actress Elizabeth Taylor. She first named him "the king of pop" in 1989 at the Soul Train Music Award, and the title has stuck with him ever since.
In 1992, during his visit to Africa, Michael was also crowned "Sled King."
3. Ritual before the performance
To improve the sound of his voice, Michael drank Ricola caramel dissolved in hot water before the performance.
4. Achievements
Jackson's career was full of ups and downs, and he was a controversial personality. But few will argue that Michael Jackson not only influenced the world of show business but also made it completely different.
He became the most successful pop music performer, received 15 Grammys and more than 100 other awards, and got into the Guinness Book of Records 25 times.
In total, more than 1 billion artist albums have been sold worldwide.
He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a solo artist and a member of The Jackson 5.
5. "Oscar"
In 1999, Michael Joseph Jackson bought David Selznick's Oscar for $1.5 million, which he received in the Best Picture nomination for Gone with the Wind.
6. Egyptian sculpture
One of the users of social networks noted that one of the Egyptian sculptures in the Chicago museum is very similar to pop singer Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson career
7. The Jackson 5
The Jackson family was famous for its talent even before Michael started performing. The Jacksons, which included three older brothers - Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine, were already known in certain circles, and in 1964 Michael and his other brother, Marlon, joined them. The group was renamed "The Jackson 5", and Michael, taken initially to play the Congo, first switched to backing vocals and then became the main vocalist.
In 1969, the musicians signed a contract with the recording studio Motown Records. The team became increasingly popular, and some songs were on the top lines of the American charts.
Later, the musicians re-signed a contract with another studio, changing the name to The Jacksons. Until 1984, 6 more discs were recorded.
Already an established performer, Michael said that his Jackson 5-era voice sounded too much like Mini Mice.
The Jackson 5 experienced both ups and downs, and Michael began to pursue a solo career in parallel.
8. The role of the Scarecrow in the film "The Wiz."
The young boy was invited to play the role of a scarecrow in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical The Wiz. Diana Ross and Richard Pryor also took part in the filming. It was on the set that Michael met music director Quincy Jones, his future producer.
9. The beginning of a solo career
While still performing in a family band, Michael recorded songs such as "Got to Be There," "Rockin' Robin," and "Ben." The last song took first place in the charts in 1972, and the singer was noticed from that moment.
Having recorded several solo songs, the artist met producer Quincy Jones; this event became a landmark in Michael's career. It was with the help of Johnson that the first known albums "Off the Wall" (released August 10, 1979) with such hits as "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough" and "Rock With You" were recorded.
10. Record "Thriller."
The Thriller album (released November 30, 1982) can be considered the best music album of that time and the entire history of music. This is the sixth studio album by Michael Jackson with more hits:
11. "The Girl Is Mine."
The composition was recorded with Paul McCartney. Critics called it too sugary and not deep enough, which did not prevent the design from taking the second line of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and topping the Hot Black Singles chart.
The song is about a dispute between two men over one girl.
It is noteworthy that they tried to sue Jackson twice for plagiarism because of this composition. First, Fred Standford 1984 accused the artist of copying his song "Please Love Me Now," and then in 1993, Robert Smith, Reynold Jones, and Clifford Rubin accused Michael of copying their songs "Don't Let The Sunshine Catch You Crying" and Happy Go Lucky Girl. Jackson won both lawsuits.
12. "Billie Jean."
One of the most famous and recognizable compositions in the world. It is enough to hear the first couple of drum beats, and you already know what the song will be now.
The composition is dedicated to groupies - girls who constantly accompany famous groups and performers during tours. Michael had known groupies since the time of The Jackson 5; the girls repeatedly accused his older brothers of fathering their children, constantly harassed the musicians, and threatened them.
Michael Jackson admitted that Billie Jean is a collective image of a groupie and did not want to offend anyone with the composition. By the way, the song could have been called “Not My Lover” so as not to be associated with the then-famous tennis player Billie Jean King.
The video for this song revolutionized the US music world. Firstly, it was one of the first clips with a straightforward story, not just a performance of a piece with many special effects. Secondly, this video was the first in MTV rotation with a black performer.
In the early 80s, the MTV channel was just beginning to gain popularity, but its leaders had a little "fad" - they did not accept black music videos into rotation. Then the president of CBS Records, Walter Yetnikoff, threatened MTV to bring them no longer a single video and tell the whole world about discrimination against the black population. On March 2, 1983, the video got into rotation on MTV.
It was from the song "Billie Jean" video from the album "Thriller" that the tradition began that a big-budget tape should accompany every single release. By the way, Jackson's video was recorded for $75,000.
13. "Beat It"
Another composition of the musician became known all over the world. The song was taken into rotation on MTV without any wrangling, and it also became the first song by an African American that appeared regularly on American radio stations.
The song was received positively by critics and numerous awards, including two Grammy statuettes and two American Music Awards.
The combination of rhythm, blues, and rock elements was unusual for that time, and the words were directed against violence and gangsterism. It is noteworthy that Eddie Van Halen, the leader of the rock band Van Halen, was invited to perform the guitar solo. He recorded the musical part for free.
Another notable fact about the guitar solo...
When Eddie Van Halen was recording his part in 30 seconds, a technician who didn't know it was being recorded knocked on the door. Jackson insisted that this random thud recording be used in the final cut.
The music video for the song "Beat It" has already been allocated $ 150,000, and the plot is quite simple - Michael, in his style, stops the showdown between two warring gangs.
It is noteworthy that natural gangster groups - Crips and Bloods - were involved in the filming. Eighty gangsters and 30 professional dancers took part in the filming.
In 1984, a parody of the clip from "Weird Al" Yankovic called "Eat It" was released. The director of the original video, Bob Giraldi, said that he hated this parody as it made fun of everything essential and dear to him in the video. But Michael, who had a good sense of humor, allowed the use of music to create a parody. It was this parody that made Yankovic famous.
The red jacket with 27 zippers has become a cult for many years. Paired with loafers, white socks, and cropped trousers, this jacket created Jackson's most iconic look.
14. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
The lyrics of the song are directed against the media and gossip. There was no official video for this song, but in 2012 a live recording from the Bad World Tour appeared on the pop singer's YouTube channel.
The singer was dissatisfied with the song's final version, which was included in the album.
15. "Thriller"
The track from the album of the same name has a 14-minute clip based on 1950s horror films. The clip won several MTV Video Music Awards and was entered into the National Film Registry in 2009, becoming the first clip to enter the Library of Congress.
$500,000 was allocated for the creation of the video clip; following the clip, which immediately hit MTV, a short 45-minute documentary was released about the design of the clip. The rights to show the film was purchased from MTV for $250,000, Showtime paid $300,000 for the show, and Vestron Video paid another $500,000 for the rights to release the documentary on VHS.
16. Lucky year
1984 can be called the peak of Jackson's career - he received 8 Grammys at once; no one has ever received so many awards in one year.
17. Facial injuries
In 1984, Michael suffered a second-degree facial burn while filming a Pepsi commercial. The accident occurred due to the explosion of pyrotechnics next to the artist; as compensation, Pepsi paid Jackson $ 1.5 million.
How Michael disposed of the money and whether there were lawsuits with Pepsi, you will find out below ...
After this incident, the guy became more attentive and meticulous about his appearance.
Michael Jackson broke his nose while performing another trick at one of the rehearsals. After that, he began complaining of shortness of breath, and the doctors advised him to undergo plastic surgery to correct the defect.
In numerous interviews, he only admitted that he had nose surgery to restore breathing, although his appearance changed seriously throughout his career.
18. Michael Jackson's illnesses and appearance
It is believed that Michael was ashamed of his origin and tried to change his image all his life. He had plastic surgery on his face, but most skin color changes are due to a rare disease.
Until the mid-80s, the artist's skin was dark, but later, many noticed that Michael was getting lighter every year. Naturally, he was immediately accused of using skin whitening procedures.
In 1986, Jackson was diagnosed with lupus and vitiligo almost simultaneously. Potent remedies were used to combat the first disease, but vitiligo manifests itself in the form of light spots on the skin that loses pigment. At first, a few weak spots were easy to mask, but Michael began to hide the dark areas of his face and body when the sites covered most of his body.
There is an opinion that the artist's desire to change his appearance became addicted, which was superimposed on childhood psychological trauma.
Skin cancer was added to numerous diseases, information about which the producers carefully concealed.
19. Moonwalk
Contrary to popular belief, Jackson did not invent the moonwalk. Something similar has already been performed in live performances and films, but Michael popularized it, making it the most famous dance move.
Jackson first demonstrated the moonwalk during the song "Billie Jean" performance on March 25, 1983, on the anniversary show "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever". The audience liked it very much, and the performance was subsequently called one of the most significant on American television.
20. Autobiography of Michael Jackson
In 1988, the autobiography "Moonwalk" (Moonwalk) was also published, in which the artist talks about his father's bullying, plastic surgery on his nose, and other personal facts.
21. Collaboration with Pepsi
Michael suffered head burns on January 27, 1984, while filming a Pepsi commercial. This significantly influenced his attitude toward his appearance but revealed him as a person even more. With the compensation received from Pepsi, he, together with the company itself, invested in a children's burn center named after him.
Until the end of his life, Michael was involved in charity work, including with the help of this burn center.
22. Did Michael Jackson sleep in a pressure chamber?
The artist's attitude to his appearance gave rise to many rumors. As soon as a photo appears in the press in which Michael lies in a pressure chamber, rumors immediately spread that they always sleep in it to preserve youth. Michael went into the pressure chamber only once out of interest.
It happened during the opening of the burn center, which Michael supported.
23. Buying the rights to the Beatles
In 1985, for $47.5 million, Michael bought Northern Songs, which owned the rights to most of the Beatles' songs. Shares also wanted to buy Yoko Ono and Paul McCartney. The singer even quarreled with Paul after buying shares.
In 1995, Michael Joseph Jackson sold Sony's rights to the Beatles' songs for $95 million.
24. Album "Bad."
Album release date August 31, 1987. In total, 65 million copies were sold worldwide, and it became the first album in history, five songs from which hit first place on Billboard.
The tour in support of the new album lasted from September 12, 1987, to January 14, 1989, and during this time, the concerts were visited by 4.4 million spectators. A total of 123 shows took place in 15 countries, bringing in 125 million dollars.
During the "Bad Tour" at a concert in London, a record was set - 504 thousand spectators at one performance.
Martin Scorsese directed the video for the album.
25. "Speed Demon."
The song was written after Jackson himself was fined for speeding. The song's lyrics are about a car chase, while the drums and synthesizer, as conceived by the singer, imitate the sound of a motorcycle gear shift.
26. "Liberian Girl."
One of the first compositions that simultaneously celebrated the beauty of an African woman and became popular in pop culture.
An unprecedented number of stars of that time were attracted to the shooting of the video: John Travolta, Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Spielberg, Olivia Newton-John, Quincy Jones, Virginia Madsen, David Copperfield, Danny Glover, and Dan Ackroyd.
27. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."
Barbara Streisand could have participated in recording the song, but she simply did not appear at the scheduled recording time. Michael also invited Whitney Houston, but she refused without explanation. As a result, the song was recorded with the participation of Saida Garrett.
It is noteworthy that the song was recorded in English, Spanish, and French.
28. Dirty Diana
Another song about a groupie girl. This time, the love story unfolds in a classic love triangle pattern between a star, his girlfriend, and a groupie girl.
29. "Smooth Criminal."
A whole series of Michael Jackson gangster songs can be associated with this song. In 1985, he recorded "Chicago 1945", and she pushed the pop singer to record "Al Capone." But the music about the famous gangster eventually transformed into "Smooth Criminal."
The track begins with the heartbeat of Jackson himself. It was recorded by Dr. Eric Chevlen and processed on the Synclavier.
The video for the song was part of the musical film "Moonwalk." Initially, the idea was to make a video in the style of the Wild West. Still, in the end, Jackson chose the gangster style of the 1930s, significantly since the history of the composition contributed to this.
Because of the video's filming, Jehovah's Witnesses organization kicked Jackson out of their ranks.
30. The story of Michael and Jehovah's Witnesses
His mother raised Michael as a Jehovah's Witness and strongly encouraged him to study the Bible. But the artist did not work out with religion.
Until 1984, he continued to preach as a Jehovah's Witness, attended various religious meetings, and refused to celebrate Easter, Christmas, and his birthday. But representatives of this movement have always been against Jackson's lifestyle.
In 1987, Michael's sister La Toya Jackson was expelled from the organization, and the family was forbidden to communicate with her on spiritual topics. Naturally, this did not please Michael himself.
In the same year, a shooting took place for the clip "Smooth Criminal," where, according to the plot, Michael is holding a weapon in his hands. Representatives of the organization said he chooses faith or a career as an artist. Michael did not abandon the planned plot and left the organization.
31. The film "Captain EO."
In 1986, Francis Coppola made a short film called "Captain EO" to be shown at Disney theme parks. The film spent $23.7 million on 17 minutes, making it the most expensive film in terms of cost per minute. George Lucas was the producer and co-writer of the story.
The film began showing at Disneyland in September 1986 and was offered until August 17, 1998.
After the death of singer Michael Jackson, interest in the film increased again, and it began to be shown in Tokyo and Disneyland Paris.
32. Michael Jackson's Anti-Gravity Shoes
In the song "Smooth Criminal" video, Michael and other dancers presented an unusual movement - they leaned forward at an angle of 45 degrees. It seems that Jackson breaks all the laws of physics.
For other artists, such a movement would have remained exclusively in the video, and its performance would have been written off as cunning editing, but not with Michael. He set himself the goal of repeating the movement at the concert. As a result, a unique shoe appeared, later patented by Jackson under the number US5255452 A.
Michael managed to hide the secret of performing a dance movement for a long time, until one day, his heel fell off at a performance in Moscow, and he almost collapsed onto the stage.
There is no special secret; the boots have a particular slot into which pins are inserted, which move out of the stage at a specific time. The moment of fastening the boots was always masked by extinguishing the light, and after the tilt, the performers deftly removed the shoes from the bindings.
By the way, a broken shoe from the Moscow performance was donated to the Moscow branch of Hard Rock Cafe, and after Michael's death, a pair of shoes was sold for $600,000.
33. Michael's diamond glove and attention to hands
Michael Joseph Jackson impressed everyone not only with his voice but also with the movements of his body. He loved to come up with something new to surprise and even shock the public.
During the dances, the artist considered drawing attention to his hands very important since he performed rather complex movements with them. On March 25, 1983, at the anniversary show "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever", Michael Jackson not only demonstrated the "moonwalk" for the first time but also put on a "diamond" glove to emphasize hand movements. The effect was unique, despite the glove being decorated with ordinary rhinestones.
Michael himself made the first white glove from an ordinary golf glove. After the performance, the glove was donated to a member of the Commodores music group, who put it up for auction in 2009 and raised $350,000.
Another technique to draw attention to the hands is a band-aid on the fingertips. During the “Smooth Criminal” performance, it was impossible to use gloves embroidered with rhinestones, as they did not fit the image. Still, the bright white adhesive plaster attracted the attention of the audience.
There are many other versions of the band-aid on the fingertips, from trying to stop biting your nails to hiding sudden vitiligo.
34. Neverland Ranch
In 1988, Michael purchased the Sycamore Valley Ranch in California and renamed it Neverland, after Peter Pan's country. The land area of 10.83 square kilometers cost Michael between 16 and 30 million dollars and subsequently became one of the causes of financial problems.
The fact is that a small amusement park was built on the ranch, and a private zoo was opened. All this required additional costs, so the monthly maintenance of the estate costs $120,000. Michael had no problems with money at the peak of his popularity, but when the money stopped flowing to him like a river, the ranch became too expensive for the artist.
In 2006, part of the ranch was closed, and several employees were laid off. In 2008, the American singer was forced to re-register the estate to Colony Capital LLC, a company owned by the Jacksons' close friend Thomas Barack.
After Michael's death, his relatives admitted that after all the litigation, Jackson hated the Neverland estate and did not want to appear there anymore.
35. Album "Dangerous."
In 1991, a new album called "Dangerous" was released with such hits as "Black or White," "Jam," "Who Is It," and "Remember the Time."
Scandals
36. Jordan Chandler Child Abuse Scandal
The children were frequent guests at Neverland Ranch, so it's no surprise that Michael ended up getting charged with child molestation.
In 1993, the singer was sued by the parents of 13-year-old Jordan Chandler. The singer was accused of forcing the boy to touch his genitals. The case ended with a settlement agreement in which Jackson paid $22 million to his parents.
It is unknown why Michael went to the world, but many years later, Jordan Chandler himself admitted that he had slandered Jackson under the onslaught of his father.
37. The Oprah Winfrey Show
In 1993, there was a big show with Oprah Winfrey about Michael Jackson. The artist shows his house, discusses various topics, and discusses his life and problems.
With this show, Michael is trying to justify himself to the tabloids, who began to speculate too much on the topic of eccentricity in his life.
38. Gavin Arvizo child molestation scandal
It all started with the film "Living with Michael Jackson" by journalist Martin Bashir; he came into Michael's confidence and took a very frank interview in which Jackson admitted that he slept with little boys. But, emphasizing that there was nothing sexual about it, they just slept together. The journalist was surprised by this, but in the end, the film came out without any clippings, and the whole world learned that Jackson considered it normal to sleep in the same bed with children.
After the film's release in 2003, 13-year-old boy Gavin Arvizo and his parents accused Michael of pedophilia. The boy was a frequent guest at the ranch, Jackson helped him beat cancer, but Michael was not going to make concessions again.
The trial lasted two years, and Jackson spent almost $100 million on lawyers, but in the end, he proved his innocence.
Gavin's litigation and betrayal undermined Jackson's psychological and financial condition.
39. Strange things in the house
During the second scandal with allegations of pedophilia, a search was carried out at the Neverland Ranch, and he shocked the police a little.
Inside the house were many realistic child mannequins, some in revealing clothes and unusual poses.
An extensive collection of superhero figurines and a cardboard figure of little Shirley Temple were also found.
The evidence became the basis for the detention of a celebrity in 2003.
40. Friendship with Macaulay Culkin
One of Michael's frequent guests was little Macaulay Culkin, who became famous after the release of the movie Home Alone. Celebrities met before, but after the film's release, Jackson called Culkin and invited him to visit.
They became friends, spent a lot of time together, and later Macaulay became the godfather of Michael's children.
Neither during Michael's life nor after his death, Macaulay never accused the pop singer of molestation. He said that Jackson, at heart, remained a child who liked to help, play with, ride, and take care of them.
41. "Super Bowl."
In 1993 he was invited to Super Bowl XXVII with the singles "Jam" (with the beginning of "Why You Wanna Trip On Me"), "Billie Jean," and "Black or White."
For the first time in Super Bowl history, halftime ratings surpassed those of the game itself.
For his performance at the stadium, Michael received $ 1 million but spent some of the money on charity.
Jackson - performance at the stadium during the halftime of Super Bowl XXVII:
42. Performances in Moscow
With the tour supporting "Dangerous," the artist visited Russia for the first time and gave a concert in Moscow. On September 15, 1993, Michael Jackson performed at Luzhniki in the pouring rain.
The weather prompted him to write his "Stranger in Moscow" ballad about loneliness.
It is worth noting that in Moscow, Michael Joseph Jackson not only earned a fee but also visited an orphanage, talked with children, and donated money.
43. Persecution Mania
In 1995, he was hospitalized with a mental disorder. Against the backdrop of legal proceedings, he had an attack of persecution mania.
44. Album "HIStory."
On June 16, 1995, a double album called "HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I" was released: on the first disc - a greatest hits collection; on the second - 15 new songs.
There were plans to release two more such double albums.
45. "Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix."
Another non-standard remix album for Michael was released in 1997 - he wrote several new songs, but other artists prepared remixes.
In total, 6 million copies of the album were sold, and it became the best-selling remix album in the world.
46. Michael Jackson: Ghosts
In 1996, the 39-minute musical film "Michael Jackson: Ghosts" written by Stephen King was released. The film features compositions from the HIStory album and the then-unreleased Blood on the Dance Floor album.
The film entered the Guinness Book of Records as the most extended music video.
47. "Invincible"
The next full-length album "Invincible" was released only on October 30, 2001. It was Jackson's tenth and final lifetime album.
Listeners liked the album, but critics smashed it to smithereens. Ten million copies have been sold worldwide.
The album was dedicated to a 15-year-old Afro-Norwegian boy, Benjamin Hermansen, who was killed by neo-Nazis in Oslo on January 26, 2001.
48. 30th anniversary
In 2001, the 30th anniversary of his solo career was celebrated with a grand concert at Madison Square Garden (Madison Square Garden). The show was marked by Michael performing on stage with his brothers for the first time since 1984.
49. Concert 9/11
In the same 2001, he took part in the presentation United We Stand: What More Can I Give, dedicated to the victims of the September 11 attacks. The main song of the concert is "What More Can I Give" performed by Michael.
50. "Men in Black 2."
In 2002, Michael starred in the film "Men in Black 2" as a cameo. A celebrity is asked to join a secret organization.
51. Parody of Michael Jackson
One of the most extensive parodies of Michael is in the movie Scary Movie 3.
The parody plays on his "passion" for boys, his ability to dance well, and plastic surgery on his nose.
52. The last years of a career
In 2003, a compilation of Jackson's hits "Number Ones" was released, and in 2004 "Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection."
In 2008, Sony launched a global campaign and, after voting by listeners, formed its collection of Michael's hits for each country.
A new album was planned for release in 2009, featuring Will. I.Am, Kanye West, and R&B singer Akon.
A series of concerts in England were also scheduled for 2009, but the tour did not take place due to the performer's death.
Michael Jackson's personal life
53. First wife of Michael Jackson
Michael married in 1994 to the daughter of the "King of Rock and Roll" Lisa Marie Presley. Since this happened immediately after the scandal with the molestation of a minor, the media immediately dubbed this marriage a cover and a demonstration of Michael's "normality."
Jackson claimed that he had true love with Lisa Presley, but the marriage broke up two years later.
It is worth noting that the marriage was registered in the Dominican Republic. Still, it was "semi-fictitious" since, according to the laws of this country, a woman cannot marry if she was divorced less than three months before. Lisa Presley just got divorced from her ex-husband.
Two facts speak for true love: the newlyweds not only got married, but also held a wedding ceremony, and the very fact of the wedding was hidden for two months.
Jackson - biography:
Many years later, after the singer's death, Lisa Presley admitted that marriage to Michael was one of her happiest moments. She still regrets that she succumbed to the opinions of others, could not withstand the pressure of the press, and could not save the marriage.
In 2019, Presley announced a book in which she promised to reveal the secrets of her married life with ex-husband Michael Jackson and share new facts about her legendary father, the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley. The celebrity will receive $ 4 million for further revelations from the publisher.
54. Second wife of Michael Jackson
In 1996, the singer married Debbie Rowe, who had already given birth to Michael. The children were named Prince (Prince) Michael Jackson and Paris Michael Katherine Jackson.
After their parents divorced in 1999, both children stayed with their father. It later became known that Jackson paid Debbie Rowe $8.5 million to abandon the children.
After the tragic death of 50-year-old Michael Jackson, a real war broke out over the custody of his children. Debbie Rowe claimed that Michael's children were her and would do everything to reunite them.
55. Third child
In 2002, Michael had a third child named Prince Michael Jackson II. He was born to a surrogate mother, and after the death of the pop singer, his mother, Katherine Jackson, took custody of the children.
A scandalous situation happened to the third child when he was still very young. The media has always followed Jackson, and one day he either wanted to show them the child that the press was hunting for, or the singer lost his nerve. Michael carried his son to the hotel's balcony and showed it to reporters, but it looked like he had almost dropped the baby.
Naturally, photos from this incident were on the covers of many media outlets.
56. How did Michael Jackson protect his children?
Michael carefully hid his children from the public, so they wore masks when they were with him.
57. Friends of Michael Jackson
Michael was friends with many celebrities, and even after numerous scandals, most of these people remained faithful to the singer and defended him in the media.
Culkin has already been mentioned, but other friends are worth mentioning: Whitney Houston, Eddie Murphy, Diana Ross, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Brooke Shields, Elizabeth Taylor, Marlon Brando, Mark Lester, Chris Tucker, Omer Bhatti.
Other facts
58. Animals around the singer
Having his zoo, Michael always ensured that the animals in captivity felt good. After the musician's death, many animals dispersed worldwide, as no one could keep the zoo on the ranch.
One of Michael's favorite animals was Bubble, the chimpanzee. He was with Jackson from 1980 to 2002, accompanied him on tour, and lived on a ranch. During this time, the primate learned to eat with a spoon and fork, went to a unique toilet, and, according to Michael himself, helped clean up the house.
In 2002, the primate had to be given to a particular center as he became too aggressive.
Death of Michael Jackson
59. Place and time
Michael Joseph Jackson died on June 25, 2009, at a rented mansion in Los Angeles.
Previously, this mansion belonged to many celebrities, including Sean Connery.
60. Cause of death of Michael Jackson
Michael's death was due to an overdose of propofol. He was given an injection by Conrad Murray, his attending physician, and found the pop singer dead 2 hours later.
Konrad tried to resuscitate the patient himself and called an ambulance. Doctors tried to save Michael on the way to the University of California Medical Center for another hour after arrival, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
Murray was subsequently found guilty of manslaughter, sentenced to 4 years in prison, and had his medical license revoked.
61. Flurry of messages
Jackson's death became news #1 almost immediately. Several social networks and extensive Internet resources reported an unprecedented increase in traffic: Google, Yahoo!, Twitter and Wikipedia.
62. Michael Jackson's funeral
On July 7, 2009, a farewell ceremony for the singer took place in Los Angeles, which consisted of two parts. The family farewell was held at Liberty Hall at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills, followed by a public farewell at the Staples Center.
The public farewell was broadcast on television and the Internet and was watched by more than 1 billion people. At the same time, there was no exact information about the body's whereabouts.
On September 3, a funeral was held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in a suburb of Los Angeles.
But Michael Jackson's career is not over...
Posthumous albums
Sony has signed a 10-album contract with Michael's family, including re-releases of old hits and previously unreleased songs.
63. Album "Michael."
In 2010, the first posthumous and eleventh studio album was released. Most critics, fans, and musicians criticized the album, calling it "raw."
64. Immortal Album
In 2011, a more successful remix album, "Immortal" was released. It received positive reviews from critics, and a soundtrack compilation of the tracks was used in Cirque du Soleil's show tour called "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour."
65. Album "Xscape."
The second posthumous album of previously unreleased tracks was released in 2014. Critics noted the quality of the album's work but unanimously agreed that it cannot be compared with the best results of Jackson's lifetime.
66. Michael Jackson Hologram
At the television ceremony Billboard Music Awards in 2014, Pulse Evolution gave the world another performance of the famous singer. Michael Jackson's catchy number for the song "Slave to the Rhythm" shocked the world, and many guest stars cried when they saw Michael again on stage.
It was not a hologram but a 19th-century illusion technology. It consists of projecting an image onto glass or transparent plastic at 45 degrees to the stage.
But does that make the performance any less impressive?
67. Discography
Studio albums
Got to Be There (1972)
Ben (1972)
Music & Me (1973)
Forever, Michael (1975)
Off the Wall (1979)
Thriller (1982)
Bad (1987)
Dangerous (1991)
HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I (1995)
Invincible (2001)
Posthumous releases
Michael (2010)
Xscape (2014)
68. Filmography
Full-length movies
1978 - The Wiz - Scarecrow
1983 - The Making of 'Thriller.'
1988 - Moonwalker
1988 - Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues
1993 Dangerous: The Short Films
1995 - Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
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Taylor Swift is one of the famous, young, and talented country and pop singers. Her work is widely known worldwide and in just a few years.
She is beautiful, but her fans appreciate her unsurpassed talent, which is confirmed by many awards and nominations.
Her work is full of positive emotions and pictures. In poems and songs, she tells only what she has experienced or is experiencing herself, which is why the interest in her songs is so great. The charming blonde won the hearts of many young singers and actors, but the key to her heart does not yet belong to anyone. Facts about the life and work of the singer will tell an exciting story of the rise of a star.
Biography of Taylor Swift
1. Name
My full name is Taylor Alison Swift. Mom chose the name Taylor for her daughter because it suits both a girl and a boy.
2. Nicknames
Friends and fans call Taylor Swift affectionate nicknames - T-Swift, Swifty, Tay, Sweezy. But her brother hails her Butterscotch (eng. Toffee).
3. Where and when was she born?
The girl was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.
4. As a child, I helped my parents with housework.
The girl's parents were breeding Shetland ponies and horses. As a child, Taylor learned English riding and even competed.
Another life stage of the girl passed on a spruce farm, where she helped her parents.
She was too small to help load the trees onto the car, so she was assigned to be in charge of the beetles - a special knock drove the insects away. “Once I forgot to check her work, and all these insects got into the houses of people who bought food from us. There were thousands of insects; they were everywhere. Many families had children, but the parents could not kill the living creatures because then Christmas would be spoiled, ”says Jay Leno Swift.
5. Because of her, the family moved from their hometown
Watching the work of Faith Hill, the young singer decided that to realize her music dream, she needed to go to the state of Tennessee, the city of Nashville. She could approach the musical elite and show her abilities to a broader audience.
Believing in their talented daughter, the parents organize the move, and the whole family settles in Tennessee when Taylor turns 14. Being closer to the musical world, the girl has more chances for success.
6. Not only sings but also writes music herself
Taylor is highly educated musically; besides playing the acoustic guitar, she has mastered piano, electric guitar, and banjo. She also owns the technique of playing an exotic instrument - the ukulele.
7. Who inspired her creativity in her early years?
According to the artist, Shanya Twain, as a country performer, greatly influenced her work. But she calls Britney Spears the real inspiration.
It is worth noting the significant influence on her grandmother Marjorie Finlay, who was an opera singer.
8. What inspires her to write songs?
Swift is one of the few who write her songs. She has already created over 50 pieces, and their number is growing daily. All compositions are filled with deep meaning and emotions.
According to Taylor, she writes the lyrics under the impressions of her relationship and the events that happen to her. In each such novel or event, she finds new themes and emotions.
Many eminent composers and singers note that she succeeds in accurately conveying the plot, emotions, and feelings in texts and music.
9. Taylor has a younger brother, Austin.
The young man was born on March 11, 1992. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and pursued an acting career. His film debut has already taken place in the detective thriller I / T, where he plays a character named Lance; Taylor immediately noted the event on her blog.
Despite being busy, the singer constantly spends time with her brother and accompanies her at social events.
Before starting a career in cinema, the guy was actively involved in photography and even was a freelancer in one of the largest photo banks in the world - Gettyimages.com.
10. Friends with famous personalities
Taylor Swift is close friends with Selena Gomez, Karlie Kloss, Emma Watson, and Emma Stone. Girlfriends spend time together, shop, and go to the cinema.
Another close person is a cousin to whom the song "Never too far away" is dedicated.
Career Taylor Swift
11. Love for music, and the first song played
The girl realized at an early age that she wanted to write songs and perform them independently. One of the first songs she played on the guitar was Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer.
12. Winning a talent competition
When she was 11, she won a local talent competition by singing Leanne Rhimes' "Big Deal." It was a critical moment in the formation of the creative personality of the future star.
13. Career start
From age 10, Sweet performed at fairs, festivals, and sporting events in the city of Wyomissing, where the family of the future star lived then. At age 12, everyone loved her national anthem performance at the 76th Philadelphia Games opening.
14. Successful acquaintance and first singles
After moving with her family to Nashville, Taylor began performing in cafes, where she was once noticed by Scott Burchett, who had just created the independent label Big Machine Records. Under this label, all subsequent singles and albums of the singer were released.
And the very first single was the song "Tim McGraw," released on June 19, 2006. This was followed by "Teardrops on My Guitar," "Our Song," and many others.
15. Debut album
Taylor released her first album at the age of 16. In the first week, it sold 39,000 copies, then it received the status of five times platinum in the US and broke the decade record for the duration of stay on the American Billboard 200 album charts (234 weeks).
16. All albums by Taylor Swift
At the moment, the singer has already released six full-length albums:
Taylor Swift (2006)
Fearless (2008)
Speak Now (2010)
Red (2012)
1989 (2014)
Reputation (2017)
17. Taylor Swift in movies
A talented girl can be seen on stage and in the movies. She got her first minor role in the TV series C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation in 2009, then there were several cameo roles in the films: Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), Valentine's Day (2010), and The Dedicated ( 2014), as well as in the TV series New Girl (2013).
18. Voiced a cartoon
In 2012, Swift voiced the character in the animated film The Lorax, based on the work of her favorite children's author.
19. Awards and nominations
The singer is the owner of more than a hundred awards, including ten Grammys, 23 American Music Awards, 21 Billboard Music Awards, 11 Country Music Association Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, 10 People's Choice Awards, 1 Emmy, 1 Brit Awards and 25 Teen Choice Awards.
Of course, a more detailed list of her awards and nominations can always be found on the Wikipedia page.
20. Best Taylor Swift Songs
Her official Youtube channel has over 32 million subscribers, with the most popular clips having a billion or more views:
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off (2.7 billion views)
Taylor Swift - Blank Space (2.4 billion views)
Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar (1.2 billion views)
Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do (1 billion views)
Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me (1 billion views)
21. Taylor Swift's New Songs
Some of the latest songs and clips on Youtube:
Taylor Swift – End Game ft. Ed Sheeran, Future
Taylor Swift — Delicate
22. Million album sales
Taylor Swift albums invariably diverge in huge circulations. Already sold 40 million copies of her albums, and another 130 million were sold through digital downloads.
Other facts
23. Taylor Swift and the number "13."
Taylor herself considers the number "13" lucky for herself. She explains it this way: she was born on December 13th, she turned 13 on Friday the 13th, her debut album went gold in 13 weeks, and every time she received a prestigious award, she sat on the 13th row, on the 13th place or in the 13th section.
The singer often draws a number on her hand before performances - for good luck. However, this number, on the hand, can be replaced even in everyday life.
24. Attitude towards tattoos
In an interview, Swift claimed that she had not yet found a suitable pattern to decorate her body. When her friend Ed Sheeran persuaded the girl to get a tattoo in the form of her lucky number "13", she already came to the tattoo parlor but fled, fearing pain.
25. She wrote a novel herself
In addition to her musical talents, Swift drew well, and at the age 12, she wrote a 350-page novel. But the work was never published.
26. Wants to write her biography
Among the singer's ideas is the desire to write her biography. According to her, looking at how quickly an eventful life flies by, she wants to describe and fix on paper all the most critical moments before they are forgotten.
27. Interesting fact about Sony
Taylor Swift is the youngest composer ever hired by Sony/ATV Tree, at just 14 years old at the time of signing.
28. Favorite series
He is an ardent fan of the series Law & Order, CSI, and Friends.
The obsession with the Grey's Anatomy series led to the fact that after the death of Denny's character, the girl cried for several days. And she wants to name her daughter Izzy.
29. Favorite books
Her favorite books include To Kill a Mockingbird and Murder on the Orient Express. In general, she is very fond of mystical novels.
30. Earns a lot
Among songwriters, she earns the most, but not always.
Forbes shared the following statistics on Taylor Swift's income:
In 2016, I earned 170 million dollars (1st place);
In 2017, third place for the year and a total net worth of $280 million;
In 2018, she earned another 80 million (2 locations in the ranking of the highest-paid singers in the world-2018 and 320 million overall).
31. Has a private jet
According to Forbes, the singer owns a $40 million Dassault Falcon 900 private jet. The aircraft has a unique registration code3, "N898TS", where the last two letters stand for "Taylor Swift." On board, the plane also flaunts the lucky number of the singer - "13"
32. She wrote the script in the form of a song
Invited to appear on Saturday Night Live, Swift was the first to decide to prepare her monologue for her speech. For this, she wrote a song called "My Monologue." The song contains taunts toward the presenters, and at the end, there is a kiss with Taylor Lauter, who at that time was the boyfriend of the young singer.
33. Taylor Swift and the LGBT community
The girl fights discrimination against same-sex love, actively participates in actions that advocate for their rights, and supports organizations and communities in this direction. She was especially hurt by the incident in 2008 when a gay teenager was killed based on hatred.
34. Honorable Mention from Obama
In 2012, the first lady, Michelle Obama, presented a young benefactor for the Great Help award as someone who helps people and inspires others to do good.
35. Swift has her perfume line
Under the name of Taylor Swift, popular fragrances and perfume sets are produced that reflect the singer's style.
36. What's in the fridge?
Her refrigerator must contain eggs, orange juice, slices of ham and chicken, Parmesan cheese, and dough pieces in the form of small cookies or tubes. She has scrambled eggs with sausages, orange juice, and biscuits on busy tour days for breakfast.
37. Where does Taylor Swift live?
The primary residence of the singer is a penthouse in New York. She also owns:
- three-bedroom cottage in Beverly Hills, California;
- a penthouse located in Nashville, Tennessee;
- house with eight bedrooms, located in Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
38. Good daughter
Taylor is a loving and grateful daughter. For her parents, she bought a mansion in Belle Meade, Tennessee.
39. Insured her legs for $40 million.
When the girl thought about insuring her legs, she planned to receive a maximum of $ 1 million as compensation for an injury sustained during performances. But the insurance company valued the celebrity's legs at $40 million.
By the way, earlier, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo had already ensured their legs, but Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian considered it more essential to ensure their buttocks; Julia Roberts, in turn, ensured a smile.
40. Social networks
Taylor Swift's social media accounts are prevalent. On the social network, she ranks in the TOP 10 among celebrities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Selena Gomez, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Ariana Grande, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and others.
It is noteworthy that in 2017 the girl disappeared immediately from all social networks. On Twitter and others, as well as from the official website and Tumblr, all records and photos disappeared. But a few days later, the first entry with a snake's tail appeared.
41. Where else could you work?
According to Swift, if it were not for her career as a singer, she could very well work in the advertising business, coming up with slogans.
42. Bad habit
Often the girl twitches her leg when she sits. Many people think she is nervous, but it is a bad habit.
43. Her cats became popular too
Taylor Swift loves animals very much, but now her pets can argue who is more eminent of them. The fact is that the two cats of the singer - Olivia and Meredith appeared in the movie "Deadpool 2".
After the film's release, the girl posted photos of her favorites several times, talking about the fame that fell upon them.
44. Actively involved in charity
The girl not only earns a lot but also shares money with others.
It is known that she donated one million dollars to help flood victims in Louisiana. She has transferred 250,000 dollars to the singer Kesha, who lost the court to her producer. She gave $50,000 to one of her dancers to treat a sick nephew. Donated 25,000 books to New York schools, etc.
She often rewards her fans; for example, one got homemade cookies from Taylor, and the other received college pay.
One of the latest cases is the donation of $1989 (the year the celebrity was born and the name of her album) to a fan who decided to organize a charity dance marathon. All the money raised was then sent to children's hospitals.
45. Moved in a suitcase
It sounds ridiculous, but for some time the singer moved around the city in a large suitcase.
At first, fans noted that two guys were too gentle with Swift's one large suitcase, and the girl herself was not visible. There was a theory that Taylor was being carried in a large bag around the city to avoid persistent paparazzi (they constantly follow her).
Later, one of the girl's friends confirmed the fans' speculation.
46. What does the Satanist have to do with it?
In 2016, photos began circulating online in which Swift was compared to the famous Satanist Zeena LaVey. The girls are very similar, but some went further and accused Taylor of being a "reincarnation" of a Satanist or her very close relative.
At the same time, for some reason, no one was embarrassed by the fact that LaVey was still alive.
47. Taylor Swift Before and After
Many say that Taylor's appearance is gradually changing. And these are not age-related changes but the results of numerous plastic surgeries.
First, fans note the changed shape of the singer's nose. Compared with early youth, the bridge of the nose began to look thinner and straighter, and the tip of the nose became noticeably smaller and more elegant.
There are also changes in the middle third of the face, so it is possible that the girl removed the so-called Bish's lumps - encapsulated fatty formations located between the buccal muscle and the superficial muscles of the face on each side.
The forehead skin is unnaturally smooth and taut, where many experts lean toward botulinum toxin injections.
In 2016, several media outlets published their investigations into Swift's breasts. According to their information, the girl slightly enlarged her breasts with the help of surgery, and this is seen when comparing photos from 2015 and 2016.
48. Perfect lips
But what is naturally beautiful in a girl is her lips. No wonder they were recognized as ideal by a variety of fashion publications.
49. When did Taylor Swift get better?
For many years, Taylor was the owner of a perfect figure, but in 2017 she appeared on the scene clearly out of shape.
Then many fans noted that the girl should lose a few extra pounds and regain her impeccable appearance. Then she did not heed the advice, and in 2018, her forms became even more magnificent.
However, the photos of 2019 show that the girl began to monitor her weight more carefully.
50. Looks more natural without makeup
It's no secret that all the stars carefully monitor how they look when they go out into the "light." When some of them are suddenly photographed by the paparazzi without makeup, it becomes a real shock for girls and guys who are used to seeing stars exclusively on the pages of glossy magazines.
But in the case of Taylor Swift, we can say that she looks no worse than with him without makeup. Several times, persistent photographers caught the girl in everyday situations without makeup.
Personal life
51. Fickle Taylor
Rarely has Taylor Swift's relationship lasted more than a few months. In one of the interviews, the girl jokes that she has the same rich personal life as many other girls of her age, but because everything that happens to her is widely covered in the media, you might think that she is too .. frivolous in choosing partners.
However, the list of her guys is extensive:
2008 - a member of the Jonas Brothers group Joe Jonas;
2009 - Taylor Lautner, an actor known for his role in the movie "Twilight";
2010 - actor Jake Gyllenhaal;
2012 - politician Connor Kennedy;
2012-2013 - a member of the group "One Direction" Harry Styles;
2015-2016 - DJ Calvin Harris;
2016 - actor Tom Hiddleston.
52. Taylor Swift Orientation Questions
At the end of 2014, a natural sensation broke out on the network - the paparazzi were able to film Swift kissing her friend, Victoria's Secret Angel Karlie Kloss. And although rumors about the unconventional orientation of the girl have been circulating for a long time, all the official representatives of the singer deny this.
53. Who is Taylor Swift dating now?
He is currently in a relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn.
Scandals
54. Taylor Swift and Kanye West
The scandal erupted at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Swift deservedly won Best Female Video for "You Belong with Me" and came out to give her acceptance speech.
Before finishing his speech, Kanye West ran onto the stage, grabbed a microphone, and said Taylor's video was good. Still, in his opinion, Beyoncé's video "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," nominated in the same category, is "one of the best videos of all time." Afterward, he returned the microphone to Taylor, but the frustrated and discouraged girl could not complete the speech.
The audience negatively assessed West's antics, and the performer was kicked out of the ceremony.
A little later, Beyonce received recognition for her video - taking a prize in the nomination "Best Video of the Year"- more prestigious than "Best Female Video." The girl invited Taylor to the stage and allowed her to finish her speech.
West later apologized on social media, deleted the posts, and apologized again until he publicly apologized on The Jay Leno Show.
55. Taylor Sweet and Katy Perry
The girls have been friends since the late 2000s; they were often seen together not only at official events, they praised each other's work and supported in all endeavors.
The first sign of discord rang in 2012 when Perry began dating guitarist John Mayor, who had been spotted with Taylor Swift a couple of years before. Then Swift was not particularly embarrassed by choice of Perry, but the sediment remained - the girls began to communicate less.
A full-fledged conflict became known in 2015 after the release of the video for the song "Bad Blood." The song was dedicated to the spoiled relationship with Perry, which many guessed later. And the conflict itself occurred back in 2011 when the girls did not share the dancers for their tours. Several simply ran away from Swift's tour when Perry asked them to.
Quick Facts
56. Height - 178.
57. Weight - 53-56 kg.
58. Hair color - blonde.
59. Eye color - blue.
60. Zodiac sign - Sagittarius.
61. Style of her music: country, country-pop, pop, pop-rock, synth-pop.
62. The young performer's favorite pieces of clothing are a sundress and a pair of cool cowboy boots.
63. Favorite holiday: Christmas.
64. Taylor's favorite style is retro.
65. Favorite color: White.
66. Favorite season: Summer.
67. Her idols are Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bordeaux, and Jane Birkin.
68. A girl's favorite treat is cheesecake.
69. The first kiss was at the age of 15 years.
70. My Favorite drink is coffee.
71. Favorite cocktail - vodka with Cola Light.
72. My Favorite dish is the chicken fillet.
73. Favorite fast food dishes: cheeseburger, french fries, chocolate shake.
74. My Favorite movie is "Love."
75. Hobby - collecting snow globes.
The world-famous singer Beyoncé is the idol of many fans.
Many are interested in the details of the personal and professional life of the singer. Therefore we will lift the veil of secrecy by telling these exciting facts about the famous R'n'B performer.
Biography
1. Birth
Date of birth September 4, 1981. Place of birth, Texas, USA.
2. Name
Parents named the girl Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (Eng. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter).
The girl received such an exotic name from her mother, or rather, this is a derivative name from her last name before marriage.
3. Parents
Among her ancestors are the peoples of Africa, America, and the inhabitants of the former French colonies. On the maternal side, the singer is a descendant of Joseph Broussard.
The mother of the star girl is a hairdresser and stylist, Tina Beyoncé, and her father, Matthew Knowles, is engaged in document management.
4. Beyoncé's voice
The timbre of the singer's voice has a mezzo-soprano classification. Vocal capabilities demonstrate a 3.5-octave range.
5. Nicknames
Among her many nicknames, the most popular are Bey, B, Queen B, and pop princess.
Career
6. The first signs of talent
Little Beyoncé discovered her talent for singing at the age of 8. She effectively finished the song with the teacher at a dance lesson, powerfully and confidently taking the highest notes.
7. The beginning of a stellar career
Early in her career, Beyoncé, her classmate Kelly Rowland, and three other girls formed a teenage pop group that auditioned under Girl's Tyme.
Produced by Arne Frager. Focusing on the young age of the participants, he was convinced of the success of black girls performing rap.
In the process of performing in the talent show Star Search, the number was a failure due to an insufficiently developed song. Young Beyoncé survived a hard blow.
Her father advised reducing the number of participants and starting rehearsing in a specialized vocal camp.
The group's name changed several times: after Girl's Tyme, they were Something Fresh, Cliche, and the Dolls. By 1995, the recording resource Electra Records appeared on its way; the terms of cooperation included the requirement to change the name of the group of performers. So young stars turned into Destiny. But before work began, the contract was terminated by Elektra.
Beyoncé's father was forced to leave other projects to come to grips with producing. The group was renamed again - Destiny's Child.
As a result, the girls signed a cooperation contract with Columbia Records. By 1997, the song Killing Time was released and included in the action movie Men in Black soundtrack. Thus began the significant era of Beyoncé's career growth.
8. Destiny's child breakup
In 2000, Destiny's child team members decided to release a solo album.
In 2003, Beyoncé's solo album "Dangerously in Love" became four times platinum based on sales and received 5 Grammy statuettes. The most notable songs on the album are "Crazy In Love," a duet with rapper Jay-Z that topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two months, and "Signs," featuring Missy Elliott.
Destiny's child did not perform together for three years, but there was no official information about the breakup. At the end of 2004, the girls even got together again and released the album Destiny Fulfilled, but it was no longer as popular as the band's previous work. At the same time, the album became best-selling in 2005.
In 2005, the band went on tour to support the album, and during a concert in Barcelona, the girls announced that the band was breaking up.
In 2006, after the group's breakup, she received her star on the Walk of Fame as the best-selling girl group of all time.
The singer suffered from severe depression for almost two years when Destiny's child group fell apart. But she hid it since the group received a prestigious award, and this fact would not have been paid attention to anyway.
9. The beginning of a solo career
The debut album, with which she launched a solo career after the group's breakup, Dangerously in Love, brought the singer 5 Grammy awards.
10. New stage look
In 2003, a stage image was created for the singer - Sasha Fiers, which was supposed to help her suppress shyness on stage, and in 2010 the singer stated that she did not need an alter ego to feel relaxed during performances.
A distinctive feature of the image of Sasha Fiers was the "robotic glove" - with her Beyoncé first appearing on the MTV EMA-2008.
Later, Sasha Firs became the heroine of a clothing line that emphasizes the individuality of the singer's image and conveys this spirit to all her fans.
11. First solo tour
The singer's first tour as a solo artist took place in 2004.
12. Joint album with Shakira
In 2006, after the song's success, translated into Spanish by Irreplaceable, the singer decided to translate the entire album B'Day, which she worked on with Shakira.
13. Awards
In 2007, she became the first artist to be awarded the International Artist Award, which is presented as part of the American Music Awards.
In 2010, the singer became a record holder, receiving 6 Grammy awards in one evening.
Speaking of Grammy Awards, Beyoncé has the most extensive Grammy collection with 24.
14. Lemonade
The singer's album "visual" Lemonade, an hour-long film, made a splash in the press, many discussions, comments, and a lot of criticism. But at the same time, it became the best-selling album, a record holder that broke all previous sales records in the first 27 hours of release.
15. Filmography of Beyoncé
The career debut of the film actress was the hip-hopper Carmen, where the singer played the leading role.
In 2002, Beyonce played a minor role in the third part of Austin Powers - Goldmember. She played Foxy Cleopatra.
The singer performed as the talented jazz vocalist in the film “Fighting the Temptations.” This is a comedy on the music theme, where the singer looked very organic.
In 2004, Jay-Z made a film about Beyoncé, with her in the lead role - “Fade to Black.”
2006 is rich in films. The singer became a member of two movies - "Dream Girls," where she got the role of prima, and "The Pink Panther" (the character of Zanya).
The television project "My Night at the Grammys" is based on an autobiographical excerpt from the life of a star with her participation in the title role.
In 2009, the singer was entrusted with the leading role in the dramatic film Obsession.
Beyoncé portrayed herself in the story-biography "Life is like a dream." This film uses parts from the family video archive about the singer's childhood and moments about how she prepares for each performance, reading a prayer.
The character Shine sang in her voice in the TV series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! And voiced the character of Tara in the cartoon Epic.
In 2019, The Lion King was released, and Beyoncé voiced Nala.
16. Beyoncé now
Currently, Bea and her husband present the show as a duo called The Carters. Her solo albums have received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. They are reflected in the leading column of the national music chart.
The singer's last album was Everything Is Love (2018) with Jay-Z).
17. All studio albums
Dangerously in Love (2003)
B'Day (2006)
I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008)
4 (2011)
Beyonce (2013)
Lemonade (2016)
Everything Is Love (2018, with Jay-Z)
18. Best songs
- Halo
- Beautiful Liar
- Runnin' (Lose It All)
- Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
- Mi Gente
- Crazy In Love
- BLACK PARADE
- Perfect Duet
- Savage Remix
- Telephone
- If I Were a Boy
- Irreplaceable
- Sweet dreams
- Run the World (Girls)
Personal life
19. Failed the first relationship
Parting with a guy at the age of 19, with whom she maintained a relationship for several years before the break, led to a two-year depression in the singer.
20. Beyoncé and Jay-Z
For a long time, she hid her relationship with her future husband, rapper Jay-Z.
The couple officially sealed their relationship on April 4, 2008. The general public learned about the marriage of the rapper and pop diva only three weeks later; Beyoncé did not even put on a ring before the event at which the couple revealed the truth.
21. Children
At the end of August 2011, at the MTV Music Awards, the expectant mother announced her interesting position, effectively demonstrating her already prominent tummy.
This message got into the Guinness Book of Records for the number of reposts and the speed of distribution on Twitter.
On Christmas Eve 2012, Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.
There is a sad moment in the life of the eminent couple, which they told about much later than the incident itself. The singer survived a miscarriage, which prompted her to help women suffering from infertility or having difficulty conceiving.
Two days after the birth, the baby became the charts star. The young dad included a recording of the first cry of a newborn in his composition “Glory,” dedicated to the birth of his daughter.
Wanting to keep the moment of Blue Ivy's birth a secret, the expectant mother applied under an assumed name to a New York clinic.
In early February of this year, an official statement appeared in the media that the singer was pregnant again. This time the couple was expecting twins.
22. Danger during the second birth
During the second birth, the singer became a mother of many children. A son and a daughter were born. Only a year later, Beyoncé decided to reveal the details of the circumstances. As it turned out, the second birth was complicated and almost cost her her life: an emergency cesarean section was performed. During the operation, her internal organs were moved and even removed, which not everyone can survive.
On the kids' birthday, the woman weighed about 100 kilograms, had terrible tissue edema, suffered from toxicosis, and was on bed rest. Complications forced her to stay in the hospital for several weeks in intensive care with care for premature babies. The husband gave her maximum support, for which the star remained grateful to him from the bottom of his heart.
During the recovery period, Beyoncé admitted that she was in a state far from perfect, but this did not bother her at all. As she put it, each life period has its tasks. She is not ready to go to the gym at a time when her body is so much in need of rest. The star is happy that she has the opportunity to take care of her children. Later, the singer quickly found an excellent physical shape and set to work.
23. Cheating Jay Z
In 2015, Jay Z cheated on his wife, and the couple went through difficult times, being on the verge of a divorce. The heroine's feelings poured out in the creation of the album "Lemonade," where almost every song was dedicated to the theme of infidelity and pain. The rapper referred to a difficult childhood and forced closeness, expressed under challenging relationships with women, particularly in treason ... Creativity helped get out of the problem. The couple managed to gain strength and take a fresh look at their relationship.
Currently, the spouses pay enough attention to each other and their children. As Jay Z admitted in an interview, they made a joint effort, looking pain in the face, to avoid the standard exit, namely divorce.
Other facts
24. Deleted photo
The most "spectacular" photo-toad occurred with the singer's performance at the Super Bowl (2013). It was called "remote from the Internet." So there was a legend about the image seized from the network through the court. In reality, Beyoncé's publicist requested BuzzFeed asking them to remove the not-too-flattering photos from the web. Thus, her letter riveted the public's attention to the pictures, making them legendary.
Instead of complying with the request, the BuzzFeed editors published these pictures in a separate article with specific caustic comments about the PR woman not wanting to put them on public display. They supplemented the paper with a screenshot of the email. Photo-toads have spread through forums, imageboards, and social networks.
A little later, a Photoshop battle of the author's creation was released on behalf of Deadspin, after which the images topped the list of memes. Five of the seven shots have been removed from Getty Images. But they remained in the original BuzzFeed notes. In the future, publications such as Pikabu, YaPlakal, and JoyReactor periodically summed up "the lawyer's actions to remove the singer's photo," taking the opportunity to remind him again, which was ironic.
25. Rivalry between Beyoncé and Rihanna
It is difficult to say which of the two singers is more successful because each is talented and unique. Both artists have crowds of fans; their super attractiveness distinguishes them. According to some rumors, the singers cannot share something among themselves. Beyoncé suspects Rihanna has a very ambiguous relationship with her husband, Jay Z.
She extracts confirmation of this, in particular, from the lines of songs that allegedly mention the role of a rival in the life of a spouse. As it became known, Rihanna tried to convince the representatives of Roc Nation that she deserved a higher income. The question arises, what exactly is the rivalry of two talented stars: in welfare or recognition from a man?
26. Style and images
The " mermaid " silhouette suits the singer very well, drawing attention to her distinctive forms and magnificent hairstyle. Bodycon midi dresses - models on which the star emphasizes, as well as fitted and flared at knee level, look highly advantageous. Variegated, dark, metallic colors and the most unexpected combinations of shades suit the mulatto woman with her characteristics. She wore bright loose-fitting outfits during pregnancy and did not stop at the mini, even with weight gain.
Often, star bows cause frank controversy, which is more often about the combination of fabric textures: for example, lace, nude, fur, or fringe at the same time. The "gypsy" style is considered unsuccessful by critics: open shoulders, a long dress train, elbow-length gloves, and fabric boots - all in black and yellow.
Extravagance, and brightness, born of a creative impulse and charisma, are emphasized by the singer's dozens and hundreds of wigs, acquired throughout her performances and appearances in public. Their total cost is about a million dollars. Femininity, cheerfulness, and sexuality are the hallmarks of Bee's image, expressed in bold, large prints and colorful accessories.
27. In the style of Jennifer Lopez
The images of Beyoncé are often borrowed from Jennifer Lopez, as evidenced by the multiple coincidences of the outfits of both stars, photographed during celebrations and public appearances. The fact that B appears in similar businesses after J. Lo makes her a "follower." Viewers can track down specific dates when the style or design of the dress was precisely duplicated by Beyoncé, albeit at a decent interval - from a month to several years.
This was seen in the most varied but striking pieces, for example, a sheer long dress with lace, a dark sequined jumpsuit, a dress made of crystals, a sheath dress, and many other outfits combined with hair, and makeup, accessories borrowed from J. Lo.
28. Beauty and plastic
The attractiveness of Beyonce's body is due to the balanced ratio of volumes: with a height of 169 cm and a weight of 59 kg, the circumference of the chest, waist, and hips are 89, 66, and 102 cm, respectively.
On account of the singer are rhinoplasty, mammoplasty, liposuction, and skin whitening. The operation to correct the nose in 2004 allowed the artist to get rid of breathing problems. The nose began to look more elegant, while the face retained its individuality.
Beyoncé's lips have also been reduced, as a result of which they have become more defined, and the face as a whole has become more aristocratic. There is an assumption that in 2002 the singer's chest was enlarged with silicone implants, but it is possible that the star only corrected.
Compared to previous photos, the chest outlines have more bulges and roundness. Beyoncé's hips are only speculation. The buttocks look exceptionally natural, and if it were not for the silicone liners accidentally noticed by reporters at one of the performances, there would be no doubt at all.
The singer is making serious efforts to maintain fit forms. She struggles with impaired metabolism, goes in for fitness, and sits on diets. But some pictures clearly show the residual effects of liposuction - uneven areas in its relief.
29. Bite on the face of the singer
Not so long ago, it became known who bit Beyonce's face. The attacker turned out to be actress Sena Lathan. The incident happened at a party in Los Angeles in 2019. Before this, Tiffany Haddish revealed only some details of the conflict between the two celebrities, keeping silent about the second heroine. After the unpleasant facts surfaced, Father Lathan expressed fear that his daughter's career would decline due to publicity.
Others are sure that any rumors are only for the benefit of Latan's popularity. It all started with Sena flirting with Jay Z, after which Beyoncé told her everything she thought about her. Sena retaliated by biting the singer. According to Beyoncé, the actress was influenced by drugs and alcohol.
30. Charity
He is an active member of charitable organizations. Among them are those who are engaged in targeted assistance in the fight against infertility, general-purpose funds, and service to women in difficult life situations.
In 2012, the singer became an ambassador for the World Day of Aid campaign; on this occasion, a video was shot where she called for sympathy and charity. Help those in need whenever possible.
31. Creation of a perfume brand
Under the name Beyonce, a US perfume brand operates, which was launched after the conclusion of a contract with a celebrity. When creating a product under a well-known character from the sphere of arts, sports, and politics, an agreement of this kind is practiced. Coty Corporation copyrights the perfume brand. The Beyonce brand, since 2010, has been offering perfume connoisseurs over ten types of fragrances, distinguished by the classification and originality of compositions.
Most of the products made under the legendary name have acquired the status of bestsellers and received the highest rating from consumers. The Beyonce design house has collaborated with well-known contemporary perfumers, including Claude Dir, Olivier Guillotin, Carlos Vinels, Bruno Jovanovic, and others. Thanks to them, the commercial success of the brand has taken place. Top selling fragrances are Heat Kissed, Heat Seduction, Heat Ultimate Elixir, Heat Wild Orchid, Midnight Heat, Pulse NYC, etc.
32. Beyoncé in commercials
In the list of her advertising activities, multi-million dollar contracts with Pepsi, Loreal, and American Express.
33. Favorite number
The favorite number of the famous pop diva is 4. Her mother's birthday is the 4th; she got married on the 4th, and her and her husband's birthdays also fall on the 4th. Singers - September 4, husband - December 4.
34. Cosmetics
She loves light makeup, which consists only of touching up the eyelashes with mascara. In this way, she rests from the abundance of cosmetics and makeup at work.
35. Financial well-being of the family
Beyoncé, at the age 36, took first place in the Forbes income ranking. Her earnings in 2017 amounted to $105 million. Once again, the title of the queen of pop music, one of the three highest paid singers in the world, and a woman who earns more than others in the musical field, was confirmed.
Together with her husband, Jay Z, the singer records music and makes world tours. Before the birth of their children, she released the Lemonade album and attended the Formation tour, after which she went on a well-deserved rest with peace of mind. A significant part of the income is made up of advertising contracts. About 120 million people have subscribed to the star. Each post brings her about 700 thousand dollars. Brands with which the singer has established cooperation: Armani, L'Oreal, Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, etc.
The singer's assets amount to 350 million dollars. Her husband, Jay-Z, is $1 billion.
36. Recognition from a sports magazine
Sports Illustrated's published a photo of Beyoncé on the cover of their summer issue in 2007. This fact is noteworthy in that this is the first and only photograph of a non-athlete and non-professional model that graced the cover of this magazine.
Quick Facts
37. Beyoncé is one of the most hated stars of our time due to her complex nature.
38. The wax figure of the singer in London's Madame Tussauds cost $ 80,000, and the artist herself had to pose for the exhibit for more than 3 hours.
39. At school, the girl disliked history and mathematics.
40. In 2006, the celebrity presented the Diamond Award to Michael Jackson at the World Music Awards.
41. The star loves chicken legs, but she doesn’t know how to cook at all.
42. Bee received an unprecedented honor at the Oscar ceremony in 2005, performing 3 of her hits at once.
43. Barbie dolls were made for Destiny's Child - copies of the group members.
44. A celebrity wears wigs, but lately, at official events, he often appears with natural hair.
45. Beyonce's phrase "tired of being sexy" is the basis for the name of the Portuguese group Cansei de ser Sexy.
46. In 2007, for the first time in the history of Sports Illustrated magazine, a singer and not a supermodel appeared on the cover.
47. The singer has a hobby - drawing, but she does not plan to put her work on display.
48. Favorite show of the singer and actress - Jersey Shore (Beach).
49. She loves the movie A Star Is Born; it's her favorite movie.
50. Beyoncé considers actress and supermodel Kate Moss the style standard.
51. In her free time, she likes to spend time at home watching TV or watching the Brooklyn Nets game in the stadium in the front row with her husband.
52. People magazine declared her the most beautiful woman in the world in 2010.
53. From the real estate has a condominium in Miami and a house in the capital of Great Britain, London.
54. At a young age, the talented singer won a vocal competition with John Lennon's "Imagine."
55. Beyoncé's mother helps and supports her talented daughter from the beginning of her career. She designed the wardrobe for the young Destiny's child.
56. The design house Dereon was named after her grandmother.
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