MJ in bahrein new article

POP superstar Michael Jackson's arrival in Bahrain has delighted fans who adore him and his music.He is here as a private guest of Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to "rest and relax among friends".

 

What he may not realise is that those friends number in the thousands, in the shape of fans who have grown up with him.

 

The superstar is expected to be here for a week to 10 days and though his privacy is paramount, fans can't help hoping for a glimpse of him.

 

Electrician Steve Pacheco, a die-hard fan, forgot about work at Mina Salman for a while when he found out that the singer was in the country.

 

"What? Isn't he in Europe somewhere? That's what it said in the news this morning. France, I think that's what the news item said," he gasped.

 

Steve has idolised Michael for as long as he can remember.

 

"I remember watching my very first Michael Jackson concert, which was the Off the Wall concert, when I was five year old in Los Angeles," said the California-native.

 

"I used to moonwalk and backslide all over the place!"

 

He was such a huge fan that when he was 12 he begged his father to buy him a replica of the red leather jacket (complete with silver zippers) that Michael wore in his Thriller video.

 

"That jacket was the coolest thing ever, but it did cost my dad about $200 (BD75.6)," recalled Steve.

 

"I also wore a glitter glove on my left hand all the time and was even Michael Jackson for Halloween."

 

Steve, who has every single Michael Jackson album, said he didn't expect the star to visit Bahrain - ever.

 

But now he is desperately hoping to run into him.

 

"I gotta show him my moves!" he said.

 

"Knowing he's here has definitely made my day!"

 

But DJ Damian D'Costa was not so surprised, since Michael's brother, Jermaine, has long-standing links with Bahrain and is a regular visitor.

 

"Everyone knows that Jermaine has many friends in Bahrain," he said.

 

Damian, who has been a DJ for 16 years and currently performs at Likwid, grew up listening to the star's records.

 

"I remember the moonwalk and break-dancing days!" he said.

 

"I think Michael is the only artist that has outlasted many major artistes. Despite everything, he's remained very strong in the business.

 

"I don't think past situations have damaged him. I think they've made him stronger.

 

"I think whenever you go through a big ordeal, you always turn to God.

 

"Michael is probably looking to his religious brother, that's possibly why he's come here."

 

Filipino Ryan Rene Advincula, 26, literally broke into a song with delight.

 

"I love Michael Jackson. I even remember the cartoons I used to watch of the Jackson Five when I was a little kid," he said and then started singing the cartoon's theme song.

 

"I remember my friends and I liked that song so much we used it as part of our exercise drill in school in the 80s."

 

Ryan, who is a musician and the Diplomat Radisson SAS Hotel's public relations co-ordinator and graphic artist, said that he was very surprised to learn that the singer was here.

 

"Bahrain is such a small country, but I think that for him to be here is just wow!

 

"You'd never think he'd come here."

 

Ryan hopes that the star will one day give a show in the country and maybe help raise funds for charity.

 

"Everyone knows Michael Jackson has a big heart," he said.

 

Indian Sunil D'Souza is not a die-hard fan, but has a huge appreciation for the artiste's work.

 

"I really like some of his earlier work," said the Delmon International Hotel front office manager.

 

"I loved Off the Wall, which he and Quincy Jones co-produced," he said.

 

"I like the music but what I don't like is the amount of hype that follows Michael Jackson.

 

"I think the hype tends to overshadow the music that he makes, which is a pity because he is a very talented man and brilliant musician.

 

"In a way, Michael Jackson has redefined music in the 80s and 90s.

 

"He's a pop icon and you can't get away from that."

 

When Sunil found out the star was here, his first reaction was disbelief.

 

"Of all the places to go to! I don't mean that in a bad way, it's just that when you're Michael Jackson you wouldn't really expect him to come to Bahrain," he said.

 

"You'd think he'd go to an island somewhere in the Pacific, where no one would worry him."

 

Sunil hopes the superstar soon gets get back to doing what he does best - making music.

 

 

source:http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=115976&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=28104

Edited July 2, 200521 yr by xSamZieMJJx