When Stars Fall to His Many Fans

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Page 4 August 2009 The School Times PEOPLE IN THE NEWS deaths of Elvis Presley, POPULAR MUSIC John Lennon and Diana,

Princess of Wales, also

stunned people in much the same way. And so the news of Jackson’s death, at the age of only 50, came as a complete shock When Stars Fall to his many fans. It is a moment that many of them will remember for the rest of their lives.

If mystery surrounded much of Michael Jack- son’s life, then even more mystery surrounds his death. Video recordings of concert rehearsals made shortly before he died show Jackson fit and well. And doctors who examined him after his death could not say for certain what killed him. They would have to wait for several weeks as they tested blood samples for drugs or other poisons.

There are already rumours of a dark side to Michael Jackson’s use of medicine and drugs. He had private doctors Michael Jackson should have been performing concerts at the O2 Arena in London whose job it was to this summer as part of his comeback tour keep him as healthy as possible, especially for his comeback concerts. Centre. There he was they said that he was not But did these doctors MP3 AUDIO TEXT remembered by family, breathing, and in spite of give him something that friends and more than the efforts to save his life, they shouldn’t have 17,000 fans. They all paid Jackson had died. given him? Something T should have been tearful tributes to the that could have caused Michael Jackson’s dead entertainer. There is something about his death? These are I comeback year. the death of well-known questions that are still A new concert tour was The first reports that public figures that brings being investigated. But a planned, tickets sold, and something was wrong with people together in grief. former bodyguard has his new show was well- Jackson appeared on Many people alive today come forward to say that rehearsed. But instead of television and radio still remember exactly Jackson used to take a comeback his fans were programmes. But the news where they were and many different types of suddenly faced with a was confusing. It said that what they were doing medicine and that he had final farewell. On the 7th the singer had been rushed when they first heard been warned by friends of July 2009 the pop star to hospital. Then he was that President Kennedy about the dangers lay in a golden coffin at reported to have suffered a had been assassinated in involved. the Los Angeles Staples heart attack. And finally, 1963. The news of the continued on page 5

© The School Times International 2009 Tel: +45 4913 3394 Fax +45 4971 7755 Internet: www.schooltimes.com The School Times August 2009 Page 5 PEOPLE IN THE NEWS However, the rumours and that she loved him

about drug abuse were not very much. It’s hard to see The Pop Music Puzzle the only dark stories about how anyone will ever pay Michael Jackson. In the a better or more touching 1 2 3 4 5 6 1990s he was accused of tribute to a great enter- having had improper tainer who died too young.

relationships with young 7 8 9 10

children. Although Jack- 661 words son was found not guilty 3,054 characters 11 12 (2¼ DK normalsider) the stories would not go 13 14 15 16 away. His reputation was For more on pop stars, see damaged. And when he The School Times Century 17 18 19 English Reader and Workbook, decided to ‘settle out of Chapter 16 20 21 22 23 court’ with some of the children’s parents WORDS 24 comeback – return, usually from suspicions grew about a long break or retirement 25 26 27 28 29 his innocence. dark stories – negative rumours entertainer – performer 30 31 farewell –goodbye Many of Jackson’s fit and well – healthy 32 33 friends believe that he improper – wrong; indecent liked the company of investigated – looked into; examined ACROSS in the maths class you learn to …, children because he him- public figures – well-known 1 US music legend who died young subtract, divide and multiply! self was a child at heart. people 4 Doctors are still testing Jackson’s rehearse – practice; run through blood for ‘… or other poisons’ DOWN Being a child entertainer reputation – his god name and 7 There have been other … stories 1 In the text, Jackson is described as character about Jackson’s private life a ‘great …’ with his brothers in the 10 Past tense of ‘send’ 2 He looked fit and well in the … rumours – gossip Jackson Five he missed 11 His daughter said he was ‘the recordings of his rehearsals saint or a sinner – good person best father you could … imagine’ 3 A special title for a man (from the out on the chance to or a bad person 12 He died, … spite of efforts to save Queen of England) enjoy a normal child- stunned – shocked his life 4 Michael really wanted to … his suspicions – in the text, doubts 13 Word that means sign or ‘warning’ comeback tour hood. And at his home 15 His fans … remember the 5 His friends were worried about his at the Neverland ranch moment when they heard the news … of medicine and drugs of his death for a very long time 6 To ‘… out of court’ he created a fantasy land Questions on the text 17 Michael was planning ... do a lot 8 You have one on each shoulder! of childhood. It was a of comeback concerts in Britain 9 You family are also called your ‘…’ 1 What sort of year was 2009 20 Are there … MIchael Jackson 14 The London O2 Arena is in … mini Disneyland! fans in your class? 16 Frozen water supposed to have been for 22 He was put in a … coffin 18 Jackson’s memorial service was Michael Jackson? 24 He had fans … over the world broadcast … television There’s no doubt that in 25 The comeback concerts were 19 An internet ‘diary’ is called a ‘...’ going to give his career a … start 21 A person who is very tired usually the years to come much 2 How old was Jackson when 26 Part of the name of a US city … a lot will be written about he died? mentioned in the text 23 His children now … their mother 30 ‘Were you a Michael Jackson 27 A negative answer Michael Jackson’s life and 3 How did he look in the fan?’ ‘…, I wasn’t’ 28 At the age of only 50 his life came his death. And people 31 Present tense of ‘did’ to an … recordings that were made 32 Many people were … to hear the 29 His … is called ‘Prince Michael’ will probably continue to of his concert rehearsals? news of his death disagree as to whether he 33 In this class you learn English, but was a saint or a sinner. But 4 Why did Michael Jackson have private doctors? no matter what people think of him, it’s difficult 5 What did Jackson’s friends Unjumble the Jumbled Words not to be moved by the warn him about?

memory of his daughter Name of a ‘center’ in Los Angeles: E S P S L A T speaking about her father 6 What rumours during the 1990s damaged Michael

at the memorial ceremony Jackson’s reputation? on the 7th of July. In front Jackson’s ranch: D L V E A N R N E of an enormous crowd, 7 How do you think Michael Jackson will be remembered? and with hundreds of millions watching on tele- Another pop star mentioned in the text: O H N J O N L N E N vision, she broke down in tears as she said that ‘Daddy was the best father Michael had four of these: RO B E R T S H you could ever imagine’,