There are moments when an artist lets the world see more than just the music. In 1987, Michael Jackson sat down with Molly Meldrum during the height of the Bad era. Away from the lights and the stage, he opened up about the forces that shaped him, the weight of fame, and the dream that music could carry something greater than entertainment. This was the Ebony Jet Interview.
Listening to Michael talk felt very different from watching him sing and dance. His words were soft at times and strong at other times. He said that mean stories about him made him sad, but when he talked about making music, he sounded full of hope. He told how James Brown and Sammy Davis Jr. taught him about rhythm, and how songs came to him like little gifts he could share. It felt part secret and part prayer.
Michael Jackson – Ebony Jet interview (September 1, 1987)
Fans who look back at that time say it was very rare to see him so calm. There were no dance steps, no bright lights, only a man speaking from his heart. One fan said he sounded like “a man who wanted peace more than fame.” That kind of truth stays with people. It showed that under all the glitter, Michael was just a person trying to find meaning, like everyone else.
From that conversation, you can trace a line into his music. The words about faith, struggle, and hope lived inside the songs that followed. Out of reflection came melodies that carried tenderness. Out of conflict came a need to create light. That connection becomes especially clear when listening to I Just Can’t Stop Loving You.
Michael Jackson At The 1984 American Music Awards | MJ Video Archive Project
The duet with Siedah Garrett felt like a vow set to music. The arrangement was simple, leaving room for two voices to tell the story. Michael sang softly, with the kind of certainty that comes when a promise is spoken from the soul. Siedah’s harmonies wrapped around his voice, and together they created something intimate. It was not about grandeur. It was about closeness.
Taken together, the interview and the song show what made Michael unforgettable. He could be vulnerable without losing strength, spiritual without losing warmth, and simple without losing depth. His music and his words carried the same truth: healing, connection, and hope. Follow Michael Jackson on Facebook, Instagram,
and YouTube the next song might be exactly what you need.