A decade of being with Michael and with you has passed...
For all of the world, Michael Jackson is a hero, a music idol, a symbol of fame and popularity; and for us, he is a member of the family. Children as young as five and people as old as 95—ordinary people and great artists alike—know him. They have heard his name and his songs many times, but perhaps not everyone knows his story. That is why sometimes the deep love we have for him is not so easily understood by some. But we—who know his name, have seen his art, and have read and heard his story—know that the love he has spread throughout the world is worth far, far more than all the energy and time that we have spent over these years spreading and introducing the truth about him to other people. We have always been, and will always remain, indebted and loyal to Michael.
Today, on the occasion of eMJey.com turning 10, we invite you to read a brief history of this website.
Establishment
- The website eMJey.com was founded on Michael’s birthday, August 29, 2003 / 7 Shahrivar 1382, and officially began its work from the morning of 8 Shahrivar.
- It was the first specialized Persian website dedicated to supporting an artist in the history of Iran’s internet.
- The news of the site’s launch was announced the day after Persian BBC Radio.
Site collaborators
- The eMJey website was formed by combining the blog پیام michaeljackson.persianblog.ir and the website of حمید mjfan.web۱۰۰۰.com, which were the first online Michael sources in Persian, dating back two years earlier.
- After the site was established, the most popular and active part of the website was the eMJey radio, run by پیام and his brother پویا. The first podcast in the history of Persian-language websites was also launched by پیام on this same site. Also, سامان, another member, worked in the audio-visual archive section and downloads.
- In the winter of 82, the site was closed for a few months, and in تیرماه 83 it resumed its work, with new members joining. الناز took charge of translation and news, and the archive section for news from the past months was gradually completed. بیتا began her work in banner design, the image gallery, and the English section of the site. رضا took over the management of the Speakers’ Corner.
- Over the past years, پیام stepped away from the site’s executive tasks, although he occasionally collaborated on the site. Almost his last serious activity was the last radio broadcast he prepared for the site. The English section, which was managed by بیتا, was also stopped after Michael’s passing. However, حمید continued his work as a programmer, site and banner designer; الناز continued as a reporter and translator; and رضا continued in the Speakers’ Corner. بیتا also represents the site in fan projects held in America.
Records and achievements of the site
- In 2004 / 1383, the cartoon Jacksons was downloaded from the site in less than 4 hours—over 7 gigabytes (even with the dial-up internet of those days)—which caused the site to crash.
- In the days after Michael’s passing, on June 25, 2009 / 4 Tir 88, the number of visitors to the site was close to 80,000 people—about the population of Azadi Stadium!
- The new Persian events section, up to today, has included nearly 4,500 news titles and has always been up to date in delivering news.
- eMJey has experienced four generations of the Speakers’ Corner so far.
- This website has provided its visitors with the most complete translated biography of Michael Jackson in Persian. This biography was translated by الناز and is still ongoing. Also, the Persian-translated interviews alongside the biography are useful sources for getting to know Michael Jackson’s events and activities.
- Other items include the English songs section of Michael, which was collected by رضا, and the “Today in Michael Jackson’s Life” section, which was created by سامان.
Meeting Michael and receiving his confirmation seal
- The arrangement of a private meeting with Michael’s friend and hairstylist, Ms. Karen Faye (November 27, 2004 / 6 Azar 83), and more importantly, the meeting with Michael Jackson (April 4, 2005 / 15 Farvardin 84), and having the messages from Persian-language fans delivered to him by بیتا—are among eMJey.com’s always-cherished honors.
At that time, Karen Faye had written on Michael’s official website, MJJSource:
"I received a package full of letters and handmade items from Iran and delivered it to Michael. Michael read all of them and enjoyed them. He told me to thank all of them and to say that he loves you."
- Another honor for the site was receiving Michael Jackson’s confirmation seal, which—during the 2005 trial—was given to websites that defended and supported him by his official website. This confirmation seal was a guarantee that the mentioned websites would take steps in Michael’s best interests. MJJSource had announced that Michael was aware of the granting of these credibility badges, and that the websites receiving this seal are approved by MJJSource and therefore approved by Michael Jackson. In site news, Michael Jackson’s confirmation seal was referred to as a badge of honor and credibility for the approved and trusted websites. These sites were recognized for their activities in Michael Jackson’s interests and goals. To read an article about this confirmation seal,
click.
Projects
- The first Michael Jackson film dubbed into Persian by حمید (Ghosts) will be released today on Michael’s birthday anniversary by eMJey.com. The production of this film, which took months, was carried out through the collective cooperation of well-known Persian dubbing volunteers in Iran. After that, Persian special effects (along with the restoration of the film’s colors and lighting) were added to Michael Jackson’s songs in the film. The final editing and sound stages were secretly done in one of Tehran’s most reputable studios in Shahrivar 1391, but despite this, due to security problems that arose for the dubbing team, the release of the Persian version of Ghosts was delayed by one year.
- On several occasions, the site took steps to publish works to commemorate Michael, prepared by الناز. The Michael Jackson memorial magazine in the first anniversary of his passing and the
memorial video in the second year were among these projects. In both of these works, fan artworks and letters were used. Other projects included the Persian translation of the book “Dancing the Dream” (a collection of Michael Jackson’s poems and writings), released alongside its English version. Michael’s interview book with Oprah, and the Persian and English versions of Ebony’s interview with Michael were also among the projects. (
Download books). It’s also worth mentioning that we had informed Michael’s foundation about the memorial video as well, and they appreciated them for sharing the video.
You can read a more complete version of this history at
here.
Final words
Over the past decade, we tried to provide our audience with the smallest and biggest details and news about Michael Jackson with the utmost accuracy and honesty, and to build a home for Persian-speaking fans of Michael. As a result of these efforts, Persian BBC in several cases linked to eMJey in news related to Michael Jackson, and on a few occasions, interviews were conducted with site members in the media. Many of the site’s articles were used in the Persian Wikipedia about Michael Jackson, and the website has also been a source for many other blogs and various websites, as well as a large number of Michael Jackson pages on Facebook.
Along this path, there have certainly been shortcomings and mistakes, but we are grateful that we have always been met with kindness and support from you dear friends. We are happy that we were able to accompany Michael during his lifetime, even if for a short period, and to bring the voice of his fans in Iran to his ears. Michael knew what loyal fans he had in Iran and loved them dearly. After his passing, although we were hurt deeply, we continued our path and tried to remain faithful to the confirmation seal he gave us years ago—so that as the main source of Michael Jackson among Persian speakers, we can once again inform everyone about events related to him, and together with you, protect his legacy and keep his memory alive.
We thank all of you loyal friends who supported us throughout all this time, and we hope you forgive us for our shortcomings and support us even more so that we can better fulfill our duty to Michael than ever before.
eMJey.com
A decade of being with Michael and with you has passed...
For all of the world, Michael Jackson is a hero, a music idol, a symbol of fame and popularity; and for us, he is a member of the family. Children as young as five and people as old as 95—ordinary people and great artists alike—know him. They have heard his name and his songs many times, but perhaps not everyone knows his story. That is why sometimes the deep love we have for him is not so easily understood by some. But we—who know his name, have seen his art, and have read and heard his story—know that the love he has spread throughout the world is worth far, far more than all the energy and time that we have spent over these years spreading and introducing the truth about him to other people. We have always been, and will always remain, indebted and loyal to Michael.
Today, on the occasion of eMJey.com turning 10, we invite you to read a brief history of this website.
Meeting Michael and receiving his confirmation seal
- The arrangement of a private meeting with Michael’s friend and hairstylist, Ms. Karen Faye (November 27, 2004 / 6 Azar 83), and more importantly, the meeting with Michael Jackson (April 4, 2005 / 15 Farvardin 84), and having the messages from Persian-language fans delivered to him by بیتا—are among eMJey.com’s always-cherished honors.
At that time, Karen Faye had written on Michael’s official website, MJJSource:
"I received a package full of letters and handmade items from Iran and delivered it to Michael. Michael read all of them and enjoyed them. He told me to thank all of them and to say that he loves you."
- Another honor for the site was receiving Michael Jackson’s confirmation seal, which—during the 2005 trial—was given to websites that defended and supported him by his official website. This confirmation seal was a guarantee that the mentioned websites would take steps in Michael’s best interests. MJJSource had announced that Michael was aware of the granting of these credibility badges, and that the websites receiving this seal are approved by MJJSource and therefore approved by Michael Jackson. In site news, Michael Jackson’s confirmation seal was referred to as a badge of honor and credibility for the approved and trusted websites. These sites were recognized for their activities in Michael Jackson’s interests and goals. To read an article about this confirmation seal, click.
Projects
- The first Michael Jackson film dubbed into Persian by حمید (Ghosts) will be released today on Michael’s birthday anniversary by eMJey.com. The production of this film, which took months, was carried out through the collective cooperation of well-known Persian dubbing volunteers in Iran. After that, Persian special effects (along with the restoration of the film’s colors and lighting) were added to Michael Jackson’s songs in the film. The final editing and sound stages were secretly done in one of Tehran’s most reputable studios in Shahrivar 1391, but despite this, due to security problems that arose for the dubbing team, the release of the Persian version of Ghosts was delayed by one year.
- On several occasions, the site took steps to publish works to commemorate Michael, prepared by الناز. The Michael Jackson memorial magazine in the first anniversary of his passing and the memorial video in the second year were among these projects. In both of these works, fan artworks and letters were used. Other projects included the Persian translation of the book “Dancing the Dream” (a collection of Michael Jackson’s poems and writings), released alongside its English version. Michael’s interview book with Oprah, and the Persian and English versions of Ebony’s interview with Michael were also among the projects. (Download books). It’s also worth mentioning that we had informed Michael’s foundation about the memorial video as well, and they appreciated them for sharing the video.
You can read a more complete version of this history at here.
Final words
Over the past decade, we tried to provide our audience with the smallest and biggest details and news about Michael Jackson with the utmost accuracy and honesty, and to build a home for Persian-speaking fans of Michael. As a result of these efforts, Persian BBC in several cases linked to eMJey in news related to Michael Jackson, and on a few occasions, interviews were conducted with site members in the media. Many of the site’s articles were used in the Persian Wikipedia about Michael Jackson, and the website has also been a source for many other blogs and various websites, as well as a large number of Michael Jackson pages on Facebook.
Along this path, there have certainly been shortcomings and mistakes, but we are grateful that we have always been met with kindness and support from you dear friends. We are happy that we were able to accompany Michael during his lifetime, even if for a short period, and to bring the voice of his fans in Iran to his ears. Michael knew what loyal fans he had in Iran and loved them dearly. After his passing, although we were hurt deeply, we continued our path and tried to remain faithful to the confirmation seal he gave us years ago—so that as the main source of Michael Jackson among Persian speakers, we can once again inform everyone about events related to him, and together with you, protect his legacy and keep his memory alive.
We thank all of you loyal friends who supported us throughout all this time, and we hope you forgive us for our shortcomings and support us even more so that we can better fulfill our duty to Michael than ever before.
eMJey.com