by While Michael Jackson is best known worldwide as the “King of Pop” for his groundbreaking music and iconic performances, he had a wide array of interests and talents that extended far beyond his musical genius. Throughout his life, Jackson poured tremendous time, energy, and resources into cultivating an array of hobbies and passions outside of his music career. These pursuits demonstrated Jackson’s insatiable curiosity and multifaceted creativity across many artistic domains. This article will explore five of Michael Jackson’s most notable hobbies and how they helped shape his eclectic personality.
Movie Buff
Michael Jackson had a deep and lifelong love of film. He was particularly enamored with classic Hollywood musicals from the Golden Age like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” which greatly influenced his own artistry and performances. Jackson even starred in his own 1978 musical film, “The Wiz,” which was an adaptation of the Broadway hit of the same name. While “The Wiz” was not a critical or commercial success, it allowed Jackson to fulfill his dream of bringing the land of Oz to life on the big screen. Throughout his life, Jackson continued collecting memorabilia from his favorite films and was known to watch movies constantly. His passion for cinema helped inspire Jackson’s own elaborate, cinematic music videos that pushed boundaries and defined a new art form. It’s clear Jackson drew tremendous creative inspiration from the magic of movies that stayed with him from his childhood through his entire career.
Animal Lover
Jackson’s deep love and compassion for animals was also well documented. His 2,500 acre Neverland Ranch became a sanctuary for all sorts of exotic and endangered animals that Jackson rescued. Some of the species Jackson housed at Neverland included chimpanzees, tigers, giraffes, elephants, and even a pet llama named Louis. Jackson formed especially close bonds with his chimpanzees, most notably his pet Bubbles. Spending time with and caring for animals was one of Jackson’s favorite stress relievers and ways to unwind outside of work. However, Jackson’s keeping of large exotic animals at Neverland was also controversial and criticized by animal rights activists. Regardless, Jackson’s affinity for animals was an enduring part of his personality and creative spirit. He even wrote the song “Childhood” reflecting on his love for animals from a young age.
Magic Enthusiast
Jackson held a lifelong fascination and passion for magic and illusion. From a young age, he collected magic memorabilia, books, and watched magic specials constantly to study tricks and techniques. Jackson even incorporated magic into his performances, such as appearing to levitate during his moonwalk or making parts of his costume disappear. He formed close friendships with famous magicians like Siegfried & Roy, learning secrets directly from the masters. Jackson was said to be in awe of magic’s ability to create wonder and believed magic could bring people together. His interest in magic likely stemmed from his natural curiosity and desire to create the impossible through art. Magic became another creative outlet and inspiration for Jackson to push boundaries through illusion and spectacle. It’s clear magic played a big role in cultivating Jackson’s showmanship and helping him develop some of his most iconic dance moves and stage moments.
Videogame Aficionado
In addition to his love of movies and magic, Michael Jackson was also an early adopter and passionate fan of video games. He had arcade machines and gaming systems installed at Neverland Ranch so he could play with children visiting the estate. Jackson particularly enjoyed fighting and beat ’em up arcade games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, as well as early console games. Spending hours gaming helped Jackson bond with kids over their shared interest. It also allowed his own childlike sense of wonder and competitiveness to shine through. Jackson understood the power of games to bring people together and provide an escape. His interest in gaming, which continued even into his later life, demonstrated Jackson’s desire to stay current with youth culture and constantly learn. It’s clear video games brought Jackson joy outside of his music career and allowed another avenue to nurture his playful, fun-loving spirit.
Art Collector
Michael Jackson had exquisite taste and was a serious art collector throughout his life as well. He amassed a vast collection of pieces by renowned artists like Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Van Gogh, and Picasso. Jackson had a particular fondness for modern and contemporary art that spoke to his creative soul. He loved discovering new artists and supporting emerging talent. Jackson’s art collection, which was displayed prominently at Neverland Ranch, reflected his free-thinking approach to self-expression. It also demonstrated Jackson’s deep intellectual curiosity and appreciation for diverse forms of artistic expression. Collecting art became another lifelong passion project for Jackson outside of his music career. His discerning eye and patronage of the arts helped shape Jackson’s worldview and reinforced his identity as a multifaceted creative visionary.
In Conclusion
While Michael Jackson will always be remembered first and foremost for his groundbreaking music and iconic performances, he truly lived an eclectic life full of diverse interests and passions. Through his hobbies like film, animals, magic, gaming and art, Jackson was able to nurture his boundless curiosity, creativity and joy outside the constraints of being a global pop star. These pursuits demonstrated Jackson’s multidimensional talents and reinforced how he saw himself as an artist. They also provided Jackson an escape from the pressures of fame and performance. Most of all, Jackson’s hobbies showed his playful, fun-loving spirit and desire to constantly learn through discovering new interests. Even beyond his music career, Michael Jackson lived an extraordinarily rich life full of wonder, exploration and self-expression through diverse artistic avenues. His multifaceted pursuits are a testament to the depth, complexity and endless curiosity of this singular creative genius.
