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News and Politics, The Talented but Tragic Life of Michael Jackson

The Talented but Tragic Life of Michael Jackson

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

Fans around the world are remembering the man who called himself the King of Pop. Michael Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles.

This was the emergency call from the house where he was living:

CALLER: "We have a gentleman here that needs help and he's not breathing. He's not breathing and we're trying to pump him but he's not - " OPERATOR: "OK, OK. How old is he?" CALLER: "He's fifty years old, sir." OPERATOR: "Fifty, OK." A personal doctor was with him at the house.

Michael Jackson would have celebrated his fifty-first birthday in August. He was just days from launching what he hoped would be a comeback - a series of fifty concerts in London.

More than seven hundred fifty thousand tickets sold out within hours of going on sale in March. The shows were set to begin July thirteenth. There were questions, though, about whether his health could handle the extended tour.

And after he died there were more questions - this time about his use of painkillers. Medical examiners did an autopsy on Friday, but tests for drugs in the body normally take weeks.

Around the world, fans like this one reacted to news of his death.

WOMAN: "Somebody like Michael Jackson who's done so much for the world and stuff, you think almost like he's invincible." "Thriller," his nineteen eighty-two album, earned a place in Guinness World Records as the best selling album of all time. It produced hits like "Beat It” and "Billie Jean." Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. He was five years old when he and his brothers began performing in the Jackson 5.

He was eleven when they had their first album. "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5" was released in nineteen sixty-nine. Their album "ABC" followed less than a year later. In nineteen seventy-one, Michael Jackson began his solo career. He went on to sell an estimated seven hundred fifty million albums. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - twice.

But as talented and successful as he was, he was also deeply troubled. His behavior and appearance grew increasingly strange. He was heavily in debt.

He was childlike. But in nineteen ninety-three, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him of child molestation. The case was settled out of court. Later, another accusation led to a criminal trial. But four years ago this month a jury cleared him of all charges.

Michael Jackson left his mark on popular culture. His music, his videos. His dance moves and moonwalking. The hand in a sequined white glove. The father of three was even married for a time to Elvis Presley's daughter. Now, he leaves behind family, friends and fans to mourn his death. In a sad way he did make a comeback. His death has pushed sales of his music back to the top of the charts again.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by June Simms. I'm Steve Ember. Transcript of radio broadcast: 27 June 2009

The Talented but Tragic Life of Michael Jackson Das talentierte, aber tragische Leben von Michael Jackson La talentosa pero trágica vida de Michael Jackson La vie talentueuse mais tragique de Michael Jackson La vita talentuosa ma tragica di Michael Jackson マイケル・ジャクソンの才能あるも悲劇的な人生 재능은 뛰어났지만 비극적인 마이클 잭슨의 삶 Utalentowane, ale tragiczne życie Michaela Jacksona A vida talentosa mas trágica de Michael Jackson Талантливая, но трагическая жизнь Майкла Джексона Michael Jackson'ın Yetenekli Ama Trajik Hayatı Талановите, але трагічне життя Майкла Джексона 迈克尔·杰克逊才华横溢但悲惨的一生

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

Fans around the world are remembering the man who called himself the King of Pop. Michael Jackson died Thursday in Los Angeles.

This was the emergency call from the house where he was living: Esta fue la llamada de emergencia desde la casa donde vivía:

CALLER: "We have a gentleman here that needs help and he's not breathing. LLAMADOR: "Tenemos un señor aquí que necesita ayuda y no respira. He's not breathing and we're trying to pump him but he's not - " No está respirando y estamos tratando de bombearlo, pero no está... OPERATOR: "OK, OK. How old is he?" CALLER: "He's fifty years old, sir." OPERATOR: "Fifty, OK." A personal doctor was with him at the house. Un médico personal estaba con él en la casa.

Michael Jackson would have celebrated his fifty-first birthday in August. He was just days from launching what he hoped would be a comeback - a series of fifty concerts in London. Estaba a solo unos días de lanzar lo que esperaba que fuera un regreso: una serie de cincuenta conciertos en Londres. A pochi giorni dal lancio di quello che sperava essere un ritorno: una serie di cinquanta concerti a Londra.

More than seven hundred fifty thousand tickets sold out within hours of going on sale in March. Más de setecientas cincuenta mil entradas se agotaron a las pocas horas de salir a la venta en marzo. The shows were set to begin July thirteenth. Los espectáculos estaban programados para comenzar el trece de julio. There were questions, though, about whether his health could handle the extended tour. Sin embargo, hubo dudas sobre si su salud podría soportar la gira extendida. Ci si chiedeva, però, se la sua salute fosse in grado di reggere un tour così lungo.

And after he died there were more questions - this time about his use of painkillers. Y después de su muerte hubo más preguntas, esta vez sobre su uso de analgésicos. Medical examiners did an autopsy on Friday, but tests for drugs in the body normally take weeks. Los médicos forenses realizaron una autopsia el viernes, pero las pruebas de detección de drogas en el cuerpo normalmente demoran semanas.

Around the world, fans like this one reacted to news of his death.

WOMAN: "Somebody like Michael Jackson who's done so much for the world and stuff, you think almost like he's invincible." MUJER: "Alguien como Michael Jackson, que ha hecho tanto por el mundo y esas cosas, piensas que es casi invencible". FEMME : "Quelqu'un comme Michael Jackson, qui a tant fait pour le monde, on a l'impression qu'il est invincible". "Thriller," his nineteen eighty-two album, earned a place in Guinness World Records as the best selling album of all time. It produced hits like "Beat It” and "Billie Jean." Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children. He was five years old when he and his brothers began performing in the Jackson 5. Tenía cinco años cuando él y sus hermanos comenzaron a actuar en los Jackson 5.

He was eleven when they had their first album. Tenía once años cuando sacaron su primer disco. "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5" was released in nineteen sixty-nine. "Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5" fue lanzado en mil novecientos sesenta y nueve. Their album "ABC" followed less than a year later. Su álbum "ABC" siguió menos de un año después. In nineteen seventy-one, Michael Jackson began his solo career. En mil novecientos setenta y uno, Michael Jackson comenzó su carrera en solitario. He went on to sell an estimated seven hundred fifty million albums. Continuó vendiendo aproximadamente setecientos cincuenta millones de álbumes. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - twice. Fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama del Rock and Roll, dos veces.

But as talented and successful as he was, he was also deeply troubled. Pero a pesar de lo talentoso y exitoso que era, también estaba profundamente preocupado. His behavior and appearance grew increasingly strange. Su comportamiento y apariencia se volvieron cada vez más extraños. Il suo comportamento e il suo aspetto diventavano sempre più strani. He was heavily in debt. Estaba muy endeudado. Il était très endetté. Era fortemente indebitato.

He was childlike. Era como un niño. But in nineteen ninety-three, a thirteen-year-old boy accused him of child molestation. Pero en mil novecientos noventa y tres, un niño de trece años lo acusó de abuso de menores. The case was settled out of court. El caso se resolvió fuera de la corte. L'affaire a été réglée à l'amiable. Il caso è stato risolto in via extragiudiziale. Later, another accusation led to a criminal trial. Más tarde, otra acusación condujo a un juicio penal. But four years ago this month a jury cleared him of all charges. Pero hace cuatro años este mes, un jurado lo absolvió de todos los cargos.

Michael Jackson left his mark on popular culture. Michael Jackson dejó su huella en la cultura popular. His music, his videos. His dance moves and moonwalking. Sus pasos de baile y el moonwalking. The hand in a sequined white glove. La mano en un guante blanco con lentejuelas. The father of three was even married for a time to Elvis Presley's daughter. El padre de tres incluso estuvo casado por un tiempo con la hija de Elvis Presley. Ce père de trois enfants a même été marié pendant un certain temps à la fille d'Elvis Presley. Now, he leaves behind family, friends and fans to mourn his death. Ahora, deja atrás a familiares, amigos y fanáticos para llorar su muerte. Aujourd'hui, il laisse derrière lui une famille, des amis et des fans qui pleurent sa mort. In a sad way he did make a comeback. D'une manière un peu triste, il a fait son retour. His death has pushed sales of his music back to the top of the charts again.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by June Simms. I'm Steve Ember. Transcript of radio broadcast: 27 June 2009 Transcription de l'émission de radio : 27 juin 2009