--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid." description: "\"I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.\" — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg" --- # I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid. ![“I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.” quote by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg) > “I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.” [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Expresses childhood admiration for a pop icon, reflecting aspirational dreams. **In simple terms:** Childhood admiration for a pop icon. Key Takeaway Channel inspiration into personal goals. Themes celebrity admiration aspiration identity Mood nostalgic inspired Type reflective motivational When to use this quote - entertainment - public speaking - creative arts Key Concepts pop culture personal development Questions to Reflect On - What qualities did you admire? - How can you embody those traits? A Different Perspective May set unrealistic standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I really wanted Michael Jackson to be in the first Men in Black, but he didn't want to be considered as an alien!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-sonnenfeld/i-really-wanted-michael-jackson-to-be-in-the-first-men-in-black-but/) [Barry Sonnenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-sonnenfeld/) > [Everybody wanted to be Michael Jackson. That's how Will and I got to know each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apl-de-ap/everybody-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-that-s-how-will-and-i-got-to/) [apl.de.ap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apl-de-ap/) > [When I was growing up, I wanted to be Michael Jackson. I used to sing and dance and perform with my sister at parties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lammy/when-i-was-growing-up-i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-i-used-to-sing/) [David Lammy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lammy/) > [My whole world changed when Michael Jackson brought out the Bad album when I was about eight or nine. He took over my whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/my-whole-world-changed-when-michael-jackson-brought-out-the-bad-album/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [Michael J. Fox was my idol. I always wanted to be Michael J. Fox.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-annable/michael-j-fox-was-my-idol-i-always-wanted-to-be-michael-j-fox/) [Dave Annable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-annable/) > [I have always admired Michael Jackson, and he's the one I get most inspiration from. I hope to become an artist like him as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-tae-min/i-have-always-admired-michael-jackson-and-he-s-the-one-i-get-most/) [Lee Tae-min](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-tae-min/) > [There were three people I always wanted to meet: Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, and Nelson Mandela.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-prince-boateng/there-were-three-people-i-always-wanted-to-meet-michael-jackson/) [Kevin-Prince Boateng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-prince-boateng/) > [Oh, Michael Jackson is Michael Jackson. And no matter if he sold 40 million records off of one record and sold 15 off his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tito-jackson/oh-michael-jackson-is-michael-jackson-and-no-matter-if-he-sold-40/) [Tito Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tito-jackson/) > [When I was very little, I was into Michael Jackson. At six or seven, it was Madonna, but she's not what she used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lykke-li/when-i-was-very-little-i-was-into-michael-jackson-at-six-or-seven-it/) [Lykke Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lykke-li/) > [Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/michael-jackson-is-the-reason-why-i-do-music-and-why-i-am-an/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Michael Jackson was not an artist who comes along once in a decade, a generation, or a lifetime. He was an artist who comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berry-gordy/michael-jackson-was-not-an-artist-who-comes-along-once-in-a-decade-a/) [Berry Gordy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berry-gordy/) > [Michael Jackson is part of my heart. We would do anything for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/michael-jackson-is-part-of-my-heart-we-would-do-anything-for-each/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [I remember I heard it in an interview with Michael Jackson one day, saying the art is gone, everybody makes records just to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-remember-i-heard-it-in-an-interview-with-michael-jackson-one-day/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/the-theme-of-the-party-was-neverland-ranch-so-guests-were-asked-to/) [April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/) > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) ## More by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II > [I had taken an acting class at Berkeley - I was on the track team, and a friend of mine on the team said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-had-taken-an-acting-class-at-berkeley-i-was-on-the-track-team-and-a/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm so thankful every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-so-thankful-every-day/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm from a place where young people traditionally do not have resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-from-a-place-where-young-people-traditionally-do-not-have/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [For the things that I've been involved in, most of it has really been - it's been a mixture of action and then drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/for-the-things-that-i-ve-been-involved-in-most-of-it-has-really-been/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I think that everybody likes the bad guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-think-that-everybody-likes-the-bad-guy/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [When I think about it, I was working very hard the summer before I applied to graduate school. I was going to the library…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/when-i-think-about-it-i-was-working-very-hard-the-summer-before-i/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > ['Baywatch' was terrifying. I could feel the financial stakes, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/baywatch-was-terrifying-i-could-feel-the-financial-stakes-you-know/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [Acting was always in the back of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/acting-was-always-in-the-back-of-my-head/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I surprise myself by the things I get excited by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-surprise-myself-by-the-things-i-get-excited-by/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [When I was in college, it was on the recommendation of a friend of mine. He recommended that I take an acting class, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/when-i-was-in-college-it-was-on-the-recommendation-of-a-friend-of/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I did not sit down and watch 'Baywatch' growing up. But I do specifically remember it coming on, and I remember it going off.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-did-not-sit-down-and-watch-baywatch-growing-up-but-i-do/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I'm not very excitable as a person. What I say is, I'm always chillin', I'm always chillin'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-m-not-very-excitable-as-a-person-what-i-say-is-i-m-always-chillin-i/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I kind of assumed all of Australia was like the Gold Coast - so I was telling people Australians just work out and go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-kind-of-assumed-all-of-australia-was-like-the-gold-coast-so-i-was/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [I have a lot of fun playing quote unquote villains because I think the bad guys get to have more fun, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-have-a-lot-of-fun-playing-quote-unquote-villains-because-i-think/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) > [My father was Muslim, and my mom is Christian, and we moved from New Orleans to Oakland, so I always had this appreciation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/my-father-was-muslim-and-my-mom-is-christian-and-we-moved-from-new/) [Yahya Abdul-Mateen II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) [Explore all 25 Yahya Abdul-Mateen II quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/) ## More Jackson quotes > [After we first met, Prince told me Graham Central Station was one of his biggest influences - then he went back and listened to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-graham/after-we-first-met-prince-told-me-graham-central-station-was-one-of/) [Larry Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-graham/) > [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/) Deke Richards > [Michael Jackson has a new baby boy; no word yet who the father is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/michael-jackson-has-a-new-baby-boy-no-word-yet-who-the-father-is/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I have a gut instinctive feeling that I will be as massive as Madonna, as massive as Michael Jackson... Whitney Houston, sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-trent-d-arby/i-have-a-gut-instinctive-feeling-that-i-will-be-as-massive-as-madonna/) [Terence Trent D'Arby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-trent-d-arby/) > [When children see Michael Jackson they see a human being. When adults see him they see money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/when-children-see-michael-jackson-they-see-a-human-being-when-adults/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [It's absolutely fun to walk around and have people respect you. When Michael Jackson did Thriller, I was in the park one day, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/it-s-absolutely-fun-to-walk-around-and-have-people-respect-you-when/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) > [The theme of the party was Neverland Ranch, so guests were asked to come as anyone or anything associated with Michael Jackson. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-winchell/the-theme-of-the-party-was-neverland-ranch-so-guests-were-asked-to/) [April Winchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-winchell/) > [I was born in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1969, in a time and place where no one was saying, 'Look how far we've come,' because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-stockett/i-was-born-in-jackson-mississippi-in-1969-in-a-time-and-place-where/) [Kathryn Stockett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-stockett/) > [ Michael \[Jackson\] had paintings of himself at Neverland depicting himself as a knight and surrounded by cherubs and angels. People might think he's an… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lachapelle/michael-jackson-had-paintings-of-himself-at-neverland-depicting/) [David LaChapelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lachapelle/) > [I injured myself politically when I took on Jesse Jackson' in the 1988 presidential campaign. I was too strident. I didn't recognize the emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-koch/i-injured-myself-politically-when-i-took-on-jesse-jackson-in-the-1988/) [Ed Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-koch/) > [Greg Jackson is a sport killer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-white/greg-jackson-is-a-sport-killer/) [Dana White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-white/) > [I remember I heard it in an interview with Michael Jackson one day, saying the art is gone, everybody makes records just to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raekwon/i-remember-i-heard-it-in-an-interview-with-michael-jackson-one-day/) [Raekwon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raekwon/) > [Michael Jackson is part of my heart. We would do anything for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/michael-jackson-is-part-of-my-heart-we-would-do-anything-for-each/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, that's what I grew up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/stevie-wonder-and-diana-ross-and-the-jackson-5-that-s-what-i-grew-up/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Michael Jackson was not an artist who comes along once in a decade, a generation, or a lifetime. He was an artist who comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/berry-gordy/michael-jackson-was-not-an-artist-who-comes-along-once-in-a-decade-a/) [Berry Gordy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/berry-gordy/) Browse all 730 Jackson quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Jackson" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-23757_jackson_i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid_2733410.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wanted to be Michael Jackson as a kid.” — Yahya Abdul-Mateen II", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wanted to be Michael Jackson...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yahya-abdul-mateen-ii/i-wanted-to-be-michael-jackson-as-a-kid/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```