Author Archives: Timmy Tan

Michael Jackson: Remember the Time

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Michael Jackson, 1984. Photo taken by Lynn Goldsmith. This 16” by 20” archival digital print was valued at between US$2,200 and US$2,800 and sold for US$2,375 including premium at Antiquorum’s October 2013 auction in New York. Photo: Antiquorum.

It would have been the 59th birthday for the King of Pop on 29 August 2017. We thought it would be interesting and good to honour the late Michael Jackson (29 August 1958 to 25 June 2009) by recalling what took place to commemorate his birthday a year ago, between July and August 2016, as well as to take a look at his achievements.

The events last year included birthday celebrations by Michael Jackson ONE and the Estate of Michael Jackson at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, USA.

Michael Jackson ONE is an ongoing musical production by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay in partnership with the Estate of Michael Jackson.

In July 2016, Michael Jackson’s HIStory statue, on loan from the Estate of Michael Jackson, was unveiled at the main lobby of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The statue stands at the height of 10 foot (3.05 metres) with Michael Jackson wearing bandoliers. Photo: LVCVA

In July 2016, cast members of Michael Jackson ONE performed to his song, “Scream”, at the main lobby of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino after unveiling Michael Jackson’s HIStory statue.

The statue stands at the height of 10 foot (3.05 metres) and is on loan from the Estate of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson’s HIStory statue depicts him wearing bandoliers.


Video courtesy of LVCVA

The image of the statue was used for his album HIStory: Past, Present & Future, Book I that was released in 1995. “Scream” is the first single from the HIStory album. It is said that 20 million copies of this album were sold.

Michael Jackson, New York City, 1994. This image, taken by Timothy White with a RZ67 camera using Tri-x B&W negative film, was shot for Michael Jackson’s HIStory album cover. The 20″ by 24” archival digital print was valued at between US$1,500 and US$2,400 and sold for US$1,625 including premium at Antiquorum’s October 2013 auction in New York. Photo: Antiquorum.

By far, the most popular Michael Jackson album is Thriller, released in 1982. Guinness World Records states that Thriller is the world’s best-selling album with more than 65 million units sold. This number is based on an article written by Matt White of Guinness World Records (1984: Best-selling Album of All Time, 18 August 2015).


Source: YouTube

White adds that Thriller sold 1.27 million copies in the United States in 2009 alone, the year Michael Jackson passed on, “proving beyond doubt that Jackson’s music lives on in the hearts and minds of his adoring fans.”

“There will never be another performer like Michael Jackson, and on a number of levels, there will surely never be another like Thriller,” he concludes.

Michael Jackson’s songs and legacy also explain the Michael Jackson ONE musical production.

Five years after Thriller, there was Bad (1987), of which 30 million copies were reportedly sold. Not bad, considering that it is one of Michael Jackson’s top 5 albums.


Source: YouTube

Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, produced in 1979, was his fifth solo album album and is said to have sold more than 20 million copies.

In 1974, Michael Jackson (seen opening a birthday card) celebrated his 16th birthday in Las Vegas, after a performance by the Jackson 5 at the MGM Grand. Photo: Herb Herpelsheimer/Las Vegas News Bureau

Speaking of the 1970s, it was in 1974 that Michael Jackson celebrated his 16th birthday in Las Vegas. This was after a performance by the Jackson 5 at the MGM Grand. The black and white photos of Michael Jackson with his birthday cake together with his sisters and brothers, were taken by Las Vegas News Bureau photographer Herb Herpelsheimer.

In 1974, after a performance by the Jackson 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Michael Jackson celebrated his 16th birthday together with his sisters and brothers. Photo: Herb Herpelsheimer/Las Vegas News Bureau

Yes, this article’s headline was inspired by Michael Jackson’s 1992 single “Remember the Time” from his eighth studio album, “Dangerous”.


Source: YouTube

Franck Muller Harimau: Let the Tiger Roar

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Franck Muller Vanguard “Harimau” Limited Edition in brushed titanium, commemorating Malaysia’s 60th year of independence (1957 to 2017). Photo: © TANG Portfolio / TimeWerke. Elfa / Timmy.

What came rushing into our minds when Franck Muller’s Vanguard Hairmau was first sighted were images of military patches.

For example, the “Flying Tigers” of the 1st American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force which operated between 1941 to 1942 during the Second World War (their flying tiger insignia was designed by the Walt Disney Company)

Then came William Blake’s (1757 to 1827) poem, The Tyger. Next up was the Katy Perry song “Roar”.

Then came the questions: Is this a symbol for a particular military unit? Did Franck Muller partner a military unit for this timepiece?

The answer is none of the above. The name “Harimau” is the clue as that is the Malay word for “tiger” when translated to English.

Franck Muller’s Vanguard Harimau Limited Edition is actually a commemorative piece specially produced to mark Malaysia’s 60th year of independence (1957 to 2017).

It was on 31 August 1957 that the Federation of Malaya became independent at the stroke of midnight. At that time, it was reported by BBC that young members of the Malay, Chinese and Indian parties that formed the government, stood in darkness for two minutes at midnight to mark the official handover.

As the flag was raised, they shouted “Merdeka” seven times.

Merdeka in either Malay or Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian language) means “freedom” or “independence” when translated to English.

The declaration of independence was read out to the public by Tunku Abdul Rahman (1903 to 1990), the first Chief Minister of Malaya, at the Merdeka Stadium at 9.30am on 31 August 1957.

The Yang-di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Malaya’s first monarch and head-of state), Malay rulers, government officials, British officials such as Prince Henry, Duke Of Gloucester, Sir Donald MacGillivray (the British High Commissioner of Malaya) and other foreign dignitaries were among those present to witness the historical ceremony.

A summary of the 31 August 1957 proceedings can be viewed thanks to this YouTube video with English subtitles.

Tunku Abdul Rahman was the Chief Minister of Malaya from 1955 to 1957 who then became the first Prime Minister of Malaysia following its independence. He served as Prime Minister from 1957 till his retirement in 1970.

Harold Macmillan (1894 to 1986) was the British Prime Minister at the time. Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman (1903 to 1990) led the negotiations with the British for the handover of power and became known as the country’s “Father of Independence”.

How is the tiger symbol related to Malaysia’s 60th year of independence?

Malaysia’s coat-of-arms (Jata Negara) was the inspiration for Franck Muller as there are two tigers (supporters) beside the escutcheon (shield). The Malayan tigers symbolize strength and courage.

Franck Muller Vanguard “Harimau” Limited Edition in blackened titanium. Featuring the Malayan Tiger in the centre of the dial, this is a commemorative timepiece celebrating Malaysia’s 60th year of independence (1957 to 2017). Photo: © TANG Portfolio / TimeWerke. Elfa / Timmy.

The two captivating tigers are pillars to the shield on the coat-of-arms and capture the “essence of Malaysia”, the brand explains.

Indeed, what must also be noted is that the Malayan tiger or Panthera tigris jacksoni is so-named because it is a subspecies unique to the Malay Peninsula.

However, the Malayan tiger is an endangered species. The IUCN or International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Malayan Tiger as being critically endangered.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Malaysia had as many as 3,000 tigers in the wild in the 1950s.

The current official estimate is between 250 and 340 Malayan tigers, resulting from the loss of habitat from development and agricultural expansion including hunting.

The Malayan tiger’s habitats are now within four states (Pahang, Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu) that still have a substantial amount of rainforest cover.

Worldwide, only 3,200 tigers remain in the wild as their numbers have declined by 97% over the past 100 years. Three sub-species have become extinct, the Bali tiger, Caspian tiger and Javan tiger and a fourth has not been sighted for more than 25 years. Only six living sub-species of the tiger remain.

Therefore for us, Franck Muller’s Vanguard “Harimau” is much more than a commemorative timepiece; it is also a symbol for tiger conservation, a “shout out” or “roar” to protect the beautiful Malayan tiger.

This Vanguard watch can also serve as a symbol of strength, power and courage. For the Chinese, this timepiece can also be the “king” or wáng.

All these explain why the tiger symbol on Franck Muller’s Vanguard “Harimau” Limited Edition makes it an even more interesting and alluring wristwatch.

Franck Muller’s Vanguard “Harimau” is therefore not a raw deal; it is a roaring deal (pun intended).