Michael Jackson's favorite song in his life - Smile

"Smile" was Michael Jackson's favorite song in his life, said one of Michael's closest friends Brooke Shields at his Memorial Service. The song "Smile" was the theme music for Charlie Chaplin‘s final silent picture Modern Times in 1936, composed by Charlie Chaplin.

Chaplin was one of the most famous actors as well as a notable filmmaker, composer and musician in the early to mid "Classical Hollywood" era of American cinema.
Chaplin acted in, directed, scripted, produced and eventually scored his own films as one of the most creative and influential personalities of the silent-film era. Not unlike Michael Jackson, Charlie Chaplin had a rough childhood, with his half-brother, he spent most of his chidhood in orphanages where they were often hungry and beaten. He barely knew how to read and write. But he rose to become the greatest entertainer at his time that brought pleasure, relief, entertainment, joy and hope to so many human beings through his art, and his unique, provocative perspectives over politics, and the ironies in life and in societies, all expressed in amusing ways in his films with an undercurrent of bitterness and sadness. In a review of the book Chaplin: A Life (2008), Martin Sieff writes: "Chaplin was not just 'big', he was gigantic. In 1915, he burst onto a war-torn world bringing it the gift of comedy, laughter and relief while it was tearing itself apart through World War I. Over the next 25 years, through the Great Depression and the rise of Hitler, he stayed on the job. It is doubtful any individual has ever given more entertainment, pleasure and relief to so many human beings when they needed it the most."

I can see how Michael Jackson shared Chaplin's view on life, and the attitude of "Smiling through fear and sorrow" all their lives and then you'd "find that life is still worthwhile". From Michael Jackson's footage I can see Michael has such admiration and respect for Charlie Chaplin, and their positive attitude towards all the hardships in life is definitely something that we can all learn from. Both great, extremely gifted men fought their life battles through countless hard times to become whom they became. The song simply represented how they really thought and felt about life. I have fallen in love with this song and tears always well up in my eyes every time I listen to this song. The lyrics is so beautiful it makes my heart ache.

Right after Brooke Shields spoke of this very song, Jermaine Jackson sang 'Smile' and created a moment so touching and heartbreaking that we all shared. The melody and especially the lyrics of the song are so beautiful, inspiring and touching I was deeply moved and shed a tear. Jermaine seemed to hold it together even though he was obviously overwhelmed by strong emotions singing his baby brother's favorite song and started weeping towards the end of the song.

Jermaine Jackson sings "Smile" at Michael Jackson's Memorial Service

Michael Jackson's most beautiful smiles ever - "Smile"

Charlie Chaplin "The Kid" footage - "Smile"

Lyrics of "Smile"

Smile though your heart is aching;

Smile even though it's breaking.

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by.

If you smile through your fear and sorrow,

Smile and maybe tomorrow,

You'll see the sun come shining through for you.

Light up your face with gladness,

Hide every trace of sadness.

Although a tear may be ever so near,

That's the time you must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile,

If you just smile.

Instrumental Interlude

That's the time you must keep on trying,

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

The Very Best of Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was not just the world's best entertainer, but a man that broke many boundaries, changed the music world, and inspired us to look at the world from a different perspective. Michael Jackson's greatest legacy lies not only in his famous Moonwalk, but in his spirit and his strength to fight for his dream. Regardless of the scandals and rumors that surrounded him, and the fact that Michael Jackson had always remained controversial, he did bend many rules, and he did break many boundaries in good and inspiring ways that no one else dared or tried to. Regardless of how people thought about him when he was still alive, regardless of how people think about him now, one thing for sure is he will always be remembered, and this is not only for the fact that he rocked the music world and did a wonderful job as an entertainer. He will always be remembered because something about him stirred us. It is clear to the world that he was a man that believed in his dream, and held his dream so dearly to him that he fought every battle necessary to protect his dream, to chase his dream, until his very last breath on earth. His whole life journey was a journey of a personal fight and victory for one thing - his dream.

Here is Michael Jackson's final rehearsal for "This Is It" Tour.

Michael Jackson's Final Rehearsal Photos *Exclusive*

Take a look at the Jackson family where the legend started - a black working class family in Gary Indiana, mother and an abusive father with nine children - they had nothing but talents, and a dream. Michael Jackson was just a poor black kid when black people were not always featured in the mainstream American popular culture. He rose from that poor black kid that was pressured to work regardless of his young age, to become the unquestioned, irreplaceable King of Pop not only in America, but in the whole world. He took the world by storm with his unique work, way of dancing, fashion and became an icon that many have tried to imitate, but no one ever could replace. No one believed in those days that this kind of wild dream could come true. But Michael Jackson had never let the world turn him around from his dreams, despite the hardship in his early days, the physical and emotional torment he had experienced in his childhood, and criticism that had always followed him for whatever reasons. How many in this world could really still hold on to their dream so dearly and make the dream come true in his situation? This spirit of fighting for one's dream is absolutely admirable.

The Jackson Five - ABC

Michael Jackson did not just bring entertainment to the world. He brought revolutions on many levels that few can achieve. He changed the face of mainstream American Culture. He had tried to wake us up and ask us to care for each other and the world with his music that very few other singers or entertainers had. Despite the fact that there would be countless debates and rumors on his skin color, his plastic surgeries, and other scandals, he inspired people to pay less attention to race and skin color, but more attention to what they really liked and be all that they want to be regardless of background, culture, and limitation. Whether we agree with him or not, one thing he clearly demonstrated and inspired us on is that he never allowed himself to be confined by limitations, be them limitations from one's social background, education, the society, culture, or even limitations coming from himself. He never backed down in the face of limitations. Instead, he went right ahead to challenge them, to break them. After he broken them, he would go on to break some more for reasons he believed in. He never let anyone or anything to stop him from chasing his dream and pushing his dream higher. Breaking boundaries and limitations is risky and it takes a lot of courage. It is like climbing up steep mountain. Along the way, we might scar our knees, we could get wounded, there would be a lot of resistance and criticism from family and society. I wonder how many of us can honestly say we always stay true to ourselves and continue to fight to be who we want to be. But Michael Jackson reminded us to not focus on the scars. Focus on the journey instead. Michael Jackson showed us that we should what we are fighting for and why we are fighting for it regardless of the pain as long as we still believe in the reason of the fight.

Michael Jackson fought a life-long battle and he rose to the top. He got scarred and wounded many times since his childhood, but he did not spend too much time in self-pity licking his wound. Instead he went ahead and used his energy to create something new, create something positive, and eventually he created something so spectacular that "wowed the world". That fighting spirit and the strength to overcome all odds to continously chase and defend his dream was probably the very best of Michael Jackson that touched our hearts and inspired us. Even though Michael Jackson's glory was short lived, it will always be remembered, missed and celebrated. Michael Jackson is gone too soon.

Tribute to Michael Jackon - Gone too soon

Lyrics of Gone too Soon:

Like A CometBlazing 'Crossing The Evening Sky. Gone Too Soon

Like A RainbowFading In The Twinkling Of An Eye. Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly, And Splendidly Bright, Here One Day, Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight On A Cloudy Afternoon. Gone Too Soon

Like A CastleBuilt Upon A Sandy Beach. Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower That Is Just Beyond Your Reach. Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight, Here One Day, Gone One Night

Like A Sunset Dying With The Rising Of The Moon. Gone Too Soon.

Gone Too Soon