Mary - English: Change Your Ways

For English we were given this task where we had to listen to the song, Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. We had to identify what this song is about and how we can use it for ourselves to change our ways to make our World a better and brighter place.

What is the song about? It is about making a change and realising that it has to start with you.

Find 3 quotes from the song that talk about change? Explain what each quote means.

1. “I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat, who am I, To be blind, pretending not to see their needs...” It means that their are kids out there who are starving and poor, yet when it comes to seeing the homeless or poor, we act like there’s nothing wrong, we act like their not there.
2. “I’m starting with the Man in the Mirror, I’m asking him to change his ways…” It means that we need to realise that if we want this World to be brighter and better than it has to start with ourselves/you.
3. “It’s time that I realise that , that there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan, could it be, really me, pretending that they're not alone…” Just like the other quotes it means that we need to realise what’s really going on in this World, and what we can do to make it a better place.

What can people learn from this song? 4 sentences.

That we need to start realising the little and big things that are destroying this World. We need to change our ways to make the future brighter. Also that we should always be grateful for the things we get or lucky to have, even the little things count.

Who do you think the audience of this song is targeted to? To everyone around the World, especially those who turn a blind eye when it comes to the less fortunate and also to those who look down on people.

Find some background information about the artist - early life etc.

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29th, 1958 in Gary Indiana. He has Five Brothers(Tito, Jermaine, Randy, Jackie and Marlon) and three sisters(La Toya, Janet and Rebbie). His father, Joe Jackson was a crane operator at a Steel Mill and his Mother, Katherine Jackson took care of the family and took part time Jobs. When Michael Jackson was Five he belonged to a group called, The Jackson 5 with his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. They started off playing at Bars and clubs in the Midwest and also talent shows. As time went by they became more successful and also gained popularity, and because of this Michael couldn’t go to school, well he didn’t have a normal childhood. In 1978 Michael met music producer, Quincy Jones. He broke away from the Family band and worked on his first “grown up” album, Off the Wall. Which became a huge hit. After Off the Wall he wanted to make an even bigger album, he worked with Quincy Jones again and released the Album, Thriller, which was an even bigger success. It won eight Grammy Awards and is still to this day The best selling album of all time with an estimated 51 to 60(and still counting) million copies sold worldwide. Michael had now become the biggest star in the Music Industry. He is also known as the “King of Pop”.

Michael also supported a lot of charities, he was even listed in the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records for breaking the World record for Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star. Another fact about Michael Jackson is that he had a skin condition called, Vitiligo and that is why his skin colour went from Dark to White.

Michael Jackson sadly passed away on June 25th, 2009 from Cardiac Arrest.

Choose ONE quote from the song that best expresses the idea of ‘change’ and create a picmonkey collage with the quote on it. Please insert the image onto this document.