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Michael Jackson
Background information
Birth name Michael Joseph Jackson
Born August 29, 1958 (1958-08-29) (age 48)
Gary, Indiana, United States
Genre(s) Pop, R&B, rock, soul, disco, dance
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, actor
Instrument(s) Singing, piano/keyboards, guitar, drums
Years active 1968–present
Label(s) Motown, Epic, Sony, The Michael Jackson Company, Inc.
Associated
acts The Jackson 5
Website michaeljackson.com
Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well
as the "King of Pop", is an American musician, entertainer, and global icon
whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of
pop culture for almost 40 years.
Michael Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers and
most popular recording artists in history, displaying complicated physical
techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk, that have redefined
mainstream dance and entertainment. His achievements in the music industry
have included a revolutionary transformation of music videos,[1]
establishing high-profile album releases and sales as a new trend for record
companies to generate profits,[2] dominating pop music during the 1980s,[3]
and becoming the first black entertainer to amass a strong following on MTV
while leading the relatively young channel out of obscurity.[4] His
distinctive style, moves, and vocals have inspired, influenced, and spawned
a whole generation of hip hop, pop, and R&B artists. He has been
symbolically named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by Guinness
World Records.[5]
Jackson began his musical career at the age of seven as the lead singer of
The Jackson 5. He released his first solo recording, Got to Be There, in
1971, while remaining a member of the group.[6] In his solo career, Jackson
recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, which
has worldwide sales exceeding 104 million.[7] After Thriller, Jackson
continued to release internationally chart-topping albums like Bad (1987),
Dangerous (1991), HIStory (1995), and Invincible (2001), his latest album of
fully original material. Michael Jackson has received thirteen Grammy
Awards[8] and charted thirteen #1 singles in the United States, more than
any other male artist in the Hot 100 era.[9] In November 2006, the World
Music Awards announced that Michael Jackson had sold over 750 million units
worldwide,[10] making Jackson one of the best-selling music artists of all
time.
From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, where he
built an amusement park and private zoo that was frequently attended by
disadvantaged and terminally ill children. Rumours of sleepover parties
received negative media coverage after it was revealed that children
frequently slept in his bed or bedroom. These first came to light when he
was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993. Michael Jackson's relationship
with children was brought into the spotlight again in 2003 when the TV
documentary Living with Michael Jackson aired. This resulted in Jackson
being tried, and later acquitted, of more child molestation allegations and
several other charges in 2005. Since then, Michael Jackson has lived in
countries such as Bahrain and Ireland, but has since returned to the United
States. Jackson is putting the "finishing touches on his new music" to be
released this year.
Career
1958–1979: Early life and career
Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana to a working-class family. He was
the second-youngest brother of seven and the eighth of ten children of
Joseph (Joe) and Katherine Jackson. Katherine, a Jehovah's Witness, raised
the children in that faith, while Joe, who initially started studying with
the Witnesses, eventually decided not to join. Jackson's father, a steel
mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with
his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson
children recall being spanked or whipped by their father for
misbehaving.[11] Jackson showed musical talent early on and joined his
brothers when they formed a group in 1964.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a
major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My
Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago,
Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string
of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit," and
the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts
in order to earn money.[12] The young Jackson had taken co-lead singing
duties with brother Jermaine when the group's name changed from "The Jackson
Brothers" to "The Jackson 5" in 1966.
The group eventually auditioned for, and signed a contract with, Motown
Records in 1968.[13] They hit stardom with their first four singles, "I Want
You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There", which charted at
#1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time ever a group had pulled off that
feat.[12]As a solo artist, Jackson released a total of four studio albums
with Motown, among them Got to Be There in 1971 and Ben in the following
year. These were released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise and produced
successful singles such as "Got to Be There", "Ben", and a remake of Bobby
Day's "Rockin' Robin".
The group's sales declined after 1973 and they chafed under Motown's strict
refusal to allow them creative control or input. In 1976, the group signed a
new contract with CBS Records (first joining the Philadelphia International
division and then Epic Records).[14] When this became apparent to Motown
Records, they sued the group for breach of contract.
As a result of the legal proceedings, which were complicated further by the
fact that Jermaine Jackson was married to the daughter of Motown president
(Berry Gordy), the Jacksons lost the rights to use the "Jackson 5" name and
logo. Jermaine left the group, choosing to stay at Motown.[15] They changed
their name to "The Jacksons", featuring youngest brother Randy in Jermaine's
place, and continued their successful career, touring internationally and
releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984, with Jermaine eventually
re-joining in 1983, making them a sextet. From 1976 to 1984, Michael was the
lead songwriter of the group, laying down such hits as "Shake Your Body
(Down to the Ground)", "This Place Hotel", and "Can You Feel It". In 1978,
Jackson starred as the scarecrow in The Wiz with former-label mate Diana
Ross playing Dorothy.[16] The songs for the musical were arranged by Quincy
Jones, who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's
production and agreed to produce his first solo album in four years.
1979–1982: Off the Wall era
Off the Wall, released in 1979, was a worldwide success story that made
music history, becoming the first album ever to spawn four top-ten hits,
including the number-one hits, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock
with You".[6] It reached #3 in the Billboard album charts, spending 48
consecutive weeks inside the Top 20.[17] Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson
jointly produced the album, with lyrics and music by Jackson, Heatwave's Rod
Temperton, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney, among others. The album
signaled the arrival of a new Michael Jackson, one not reliant upon his
brothers to further his career.[18] Off the Wall, buoyed by its catchy dance
rhythms and avoidance of the "shallow excesses...of the period's disco,"[18]
eventually sold some 20 million copies worldwide.[19] Despite its commercial
success, Jackson felt the album should have made a much bigger impact and
was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.
In January 1980, Jackson won his first awards for his solo efforts at the
American Music Awards. He won "Favorite Soul/R&B Album" (for Off the Wall),
"Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist" and Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for "Don't
Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[6] Later that month, he also won two Billboard
Awards (for "Top Black Artist" and "Top Black Album").[6] On February 27,
1980, Jackson won a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" (for
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[6]
More than twenty-five years after its release, Off the Wall remains one of
the defining moments in Jackson's music career as it began his domination as
one of pop music's leading artists. In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Off
the Wall the thirty-sixth greatest album of all time.[20] Rolling Stone
ranked it #68 in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[21]
1982–1986: Thriller era
In November 1982, the storybook for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was released.
It included Jackson reading the story as well as one original song ("Someone
in the Dark"). The album later won a Grammy for "Best Album for Children".
On the first day of the following month, Jackson released his second Epic
album, Thriller. Thriller became by far the biggest selling album of all
time with worldwide sales reaching over 104 million copies.
The album also became the first in history to spawn seven top-ten Billboard
Hot 100 hit singles, including "Billie Jean", which was the first music
video by a black artist to receive regular airplay on MTV, "Beat It", and
the album's title track, which was accompanied by a revolutionary music
video. The thirteen-minute "Thriller" was critically acclaimed and massive
airplay lead to it being packaged with the featurette Making Michael
Jackson's Thriller on VHS, where it became the best-selling music home video
ever.[22] Thriller spent 37 weeks at #1 and remained on the Billboard album
chart for 122 weeks. It was eventually certified 27x Platinum in the
U.S.[23]
In 1983, while performing "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today,
Forever concert, Jackson debuted what can be regarded as his signature move:
the moonwalk.[22] The performance sparked a new wave of interest in
Thriller, which continued to sell well throughout the year. In 1983, he
started a sponsorship deal with Pepsi-Cola, and, as part of the deal, he
agreed to star in a commercial. While filming the commercial in front of
3,000 fans the following year, a fireworks display behind him malfunctioned,
shooting a shower of sparks down upon the singer’s head and setting fire to
his hair. He suffered second-degree burns and later wore a hairpiece when
collecting Grammys that year.[24]
In February 1984, Jackson was nominated for twelve Grammy awards - of which
he won eight[22] - breaking the record for the most Grammy awards won in a
single year.[25] Seven were for Thriller and the other for the E.T.: The
Extra-terrestrial storybook. In 1984, he also won eight American Music
Awards and the "Special Award of Merit" and three MTV Video Music Awards.
Thriller was a gigantic hit that made Michael Jackson the seminal icon of
American culture at the time. At the age of 25, the New York Times called
him a "musical phenomenon", further commenting that "in the world of pop
music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".[26] Time
magazine explained that "the fallout from Thriller has given the [music]
business its best years since the heady days of 1978, when it had an
estimated total domestic revenue of $4.1 billion."[27] Thriller also helped
to bring music from African-American artists back into mainstream radio for
the first time since the mid-1970s.[27]
The album dominated much of the world's conscience in its heyday; as one
Soviet high school senior put it, "[Michael Jackson's] music is
electrifying. His beat is the music of today."[27] The Kremlin disagreed
with their citizen, denouncing Michael Jackson as a "great show-biz swindle
known as 'The Thriller'" and accusing the singer of serving the Reagan
administration by taking the American people's minds off the country's
problems.[28] In May 1984, stores across the country started selling dolls
of the superstar, who also became something of a sexual symbol, as he was
described by TIME magazine: "Undeniably sexy. Absolutely safe. Eroticism at
arm's length".[27] Additionally, Michael Jackson's rhinestone glove and
Thriller jacket became iconic aspects of his outfits which American youth
sported all too eagerly. As a sign of his stature at the time, Republican
officials considered inviting Jackson to their national convention, in 1984,
where they would renominate Reagan, but a change of plans left Ron Walker,
the convention manager, stating that "We never thought we had a ghost of a
chance."[29]
After reuniting with his brothers, he helped to write the Victory album. He
then performed and starred in the Victory Tour, which started on July 6,
1984 and lasted for five months.[22] That year, Jackson was invited to the
White House and was thanked by President Ronald Reagan at a White House
ceremony for allowing the song "Beat It" to be used in drunk driving
prevention television and radio public service announcements.[30]
Jackson continued his charity work in 1985 by co-writing with Lionel Richie
the hit song "We Are the World", and singing a featured solo on the charity
single. The record helped to raise money and awareness for the famine in
East Africa and was one of the first instances where Jackson was seen as a
humanitarian. The song also won a Grammy for "Song of the Year".[22] "We Are
the World" became one of the top five best-selling singles of all time,
selling over 20 million copies worldwide.
Controversy began when Jackson purchased shares in ATV Music Publishing (a
company which owned the publishing rights to most of the Beatles' songs),
making himself the majority shareholder. This move angered close friend and
songwriter Paul McCartney, who had also made a bid for the company.
Ironically, it had been McCartney who advised Jackson on the merits of song
ownership.[31] Their creative co-writing ended after this event. Following
this controversial business deal, tabloid stories of Jackson sleeping in a
hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stall the aging-process, and an allegation
claiming Jackson attempted to purchase the bones of the Elephant Man
inspired the pejorative sobriquet "Wacko Jacko". The name "Wacko Jacko,"
first used by British media, would come to be detested by Jackson.[32]
In 1986, Jackson starred in the George Lucas-produced, Francis Ford
Coppola-directed 3-D film Captain EO. The film lasted 17 minutes but had
costs estimated at $17 million.[33] At the time, it was the most expensive
film produced on a per-minute basis. In the U.S., the Disney theme parks
hosted Captain EO. Disneyland featured the film in tomorrow-land from
September 18, 1986 until April 7, 1997. It was also featured in Walt Disney
World in Epcot from September 12, 1986 until July 6, 1994. Two new songs
featured in the film. These were "Another Part of Me", which later appeared
on Bad, and "We Are Here To Change The World", which was officially released
in 2004 as part of Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.
1987–1990: Bad era
Michael Jackson in 1988 during the Bad era. Bad was probably the most
anticipated album of all time, coming on the heels of Jackson's monster
success with Thriller. It did not reproduce the achievements of Thriller,
but it was still a major commercial success around the world, at one point
becoming the second biggest selling album of all time.
Michael Jackson in 1988 during the Bad era. Bad was probably the most
anticipated album of all time, coming on the heels of Jackson's monster
success with Thriller. It did not reproduce the achievements of Thriller,
but it was still a major commercial success around the world, at one point
becoming the second biggest selling album of all time.
In 1987, Jackson released Bad; his third album for the Epic record label,
and final album with producer Quincy Jones.[22] He initially wanted to make
the album 30 tracks long, but Jones cut this down to 10. According to Jones,
Jackson wanted the title track to be a duet with Prince who later declined
the duet. Jones said the reason given by Prince was that he thought the song
would be a hit whether he was in it or not.[34] With the industry expecting
another monster hit, the release was heavily anticipated as it was Jackson's
first album in five years.[35] The album had over two million advance
orders.[35]
Bad had lower sales compared to Thriller, but it was still a huge commercial
success. In the U.S. it spawned seven hit singles,[22] five of which went to
#1: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man
in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". Two decades after it was released, Bad
still holds the record for generating more #1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100
charts than any other album. It went on to sell over 32 million copies
worldwide and the RIAA certified Bad at 8x Platinum.[36] Musically, Bad
featured ballads and light-hearted songs combined with a panoply of
darker-themed and somber material, epitomized by the last track on the
album, "Leave Me Alone", which has Jackson venting against the attention he
received from the press.[35]
In September 1987, Jackson embarked upon his first solo world tour, the Bad
World Tour, which was greeted with worldwide mania and record-breaking
attendance figures. In Japan alone, Jackson had 14 sellouts and drew 570,000
people, demolishing the previous record of 200,000 in a single tour.[37] The
tour lasted sixteen months and saw Jackson perform in 123 concerts to over
4.4 million fans worldwide. Jackson insisted on a personal bus, plane, and
helicopter to be available to him all at the same time throughout the
tour.[38]
Jackson hired film director Martin Scorsese to direct the video for the
album's title track.[39] When the 18-minute music video debuted on TV, it
sparked a great deal of controversy as it became apparent that Jackson's
appearance had changed dramatically.[40]
The success Jackson achieved during this period in his career led to him to
be dubbed the "King of Pop",[41] a nickname which he continues to be
referred to by fans and the media.[42] The nickname was allegedly conceived
by actress and friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an
"Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop,
rock and soul." In 1990, recognizing Michael Jackon's musical influence in
the 1980s, the White House presented the singer with its own special "Artist
of the Decade" award, delivered to Jackson by President George H. W. Bush,
who commended Jackson for acquiring a "tremendous following", among other
things.[43] This period saw Jackson enjoy "a level of superstardom
previously known only to Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Frank Sinatra."[44]
1991–1994: Dangerous era
In November 1991, Michael Jackson released Dangerous, which, at roughly 30
million copies worldwide,[19] registered sales figures similar to those of
Bad and became one of the most successful New jack swing albums of all time.
Dangerous featured several major worldwide hits, including "Black or White",
"Remember the Time", "In the Closet", "Give In To Me", and "Heal the World".
Dangerous was heavily anticipated, as highlighted by an incident at the Los
Angeles International Airport that witnessed a group of armed robbers
stealing 30,000 copies of the new album before its official release.[45]
The biggest hit single in the United States from the album was "Black or
White", which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for
seven weeks, with similar performances around the world. The single was
accompanied by a controversial video, premiering as a simulcast on the Fox
network, MTV and BET, which featured scenes construed as having a sexual
nature as well as depictions of violent behavior. The offending scenes in
the final half of the fourteen minute version of "Black or White" were
edited out to prevent the video from being banned.[41] On November 14, 1991,
the video for "Black or White" simultaneously premiered in 27 countries with
an estimated audience of 500 million people, the largest viewing ever for a
music video.[9]
On February 10, 1992, MTV kicked off its first global sweepstakes with "My
Dinner with Michael". Winners from around the world attended a dinner party
hosted by Michael Jackson on the set of his "In the Closet" music video.
Later that year, a biopic, The Jacksons: An American Dream, debuted on ABC;
it was based on the true story of the rise of The Jackson 5.
The year 1992 also witnessed one of Jackson's most high-profile
international visits: a trip to Africa in which he visited several
countries, among them Gabon and Egypt.[46] This was the singer's second
arrival on the continent, his first having occurred as a 14-year-old with
the Jackson 5.[46] His first stop to Gabon was greeted with a sizeable
reception of more than 100,000 people in "spiritual bedlam", some of them
carrying signs that read, "Welcome Home Michael".[46] In his trip to the
Ivory Coast, Jackson visited the gold-mining village of Krindjabo, populated
by the Agni tribe and located near the capital of Abidjan, and was crowned
"King Sani" by a tribal chief.[46] He then thanked the dignitaries in French
and English, signed official documents formalizing his kingship, and sat on
a golden throne while presiding over ceremonial dances.[46] Jackson finished
his stay in Africa by going to Egypt and promoting the Dangerous album. In
January 1993, he performed during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. It
drew one of the largest viewing audiences in the history of American
television.[47]
1995–2000: HIStory era and Blood on the Dance Floor
In June 1995, Jackson released HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book
I,[48] which went on to sell 18 million copies (36 million units)
worldwide,[19] making it the greatest selling multiple-disc album of all
time.[9] To promote the album, Jackson embarked on the successful HIStory
World Tour,[48] which was attended by more than four and a half million
people, a record for concert attendance outside of the United States that
still stands.
The first disc, HIStory Begins, was a fifteen-track greatest hits album
(this disc was later released as Greatest Hits - HIStory Vol. I, in 2001
selling an estimated 3 million copies).[49]. The second disc, HIStory
Continues, contained fifteen new songs. The first single released from
HIStory was "Scream," sung and performed with his sister Janet Jackson. The
single had the best ever debut at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music
video for "Scream" is currently the most expensive music video ever
made.[50] "You Are Not Alone" was the second single released from HIStory
and would become the first song ever to debut at #1 on the Hot 100, beating
his previous single "Scream". It reached #1 in various international
markets, including Britain. The video caused mild controversy in the U.S. as
a result of media skepticism regarding the relationship between Jackson and
his wife Lisa Marie Presley as well as displays of semi-nudity.
"Earth Song" was the third single released from HIStory and was accompanied
by one of the most expensive and lavish videos of Jackson's career. The song
topped the U.K. singles chart for six weeks over Christmas in 1995 and sold
one million copies there, making it his most successful U.K. single,
surpassing the success of Billie Jean. At the 1996 BRIT Awards, Jackson
performed the track "Earth Song", dressed in white and surrounded by
children and an actor portraying a rabbi. During the performance it was
alleged that Jackson was making Christ-like poses while being lifted into
the air by a crane. Pulp lead singer Jarvis Cocker and his friend Peter
Mansell mounted a stage invasion in protest. Cocker leapt onstage, pretended
to expose his rear and danced around. In the ensuing scuffle to remove
Cocker from the stage, it was claimed that up to three children received
minor injuries.[51] The British Phonographic Industry (BPI), who ran the
awards, qualified this by stated that "We are extremely concerned that
Jarvis Cocker's actions last night resulted in injury to three children who
were performing with Michael Jackson".[51] Cocker responded, "My actions
were a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind
of Christ-like figure with the power of healing".[51] A spokesperson for
Jackson and Sony said that "Michael feels sickened, saddened, shocked,
upset, cheated [and] angry".[51] Cocker's actions were met with mixed
reactions from the British press.
"They Don't Care About Us" was the fourth single released from HIStory and
caused controversy over anti-Semitic lyrics. The song contained the lyrics
"Jew me, sue me" and "kick me, kike me." After significant pressure from the
Jewish community, later releases changed the verse to the same-sounding "do
me, sue me" and "kick me, hike me" or censored it with a thumping sound.
In 1997, Jackson released an album of new material titled Blood on the Dance
Floor: HIStory in the Mix with remixes of hit singles from HIStory;[48] it
sold six million copies worldwide and became the greatest selling remix
album ever, reaching #1 in Britain. The album's five original songs were
named "Blood On The Dance Floor", "Is It Scary", "Ghosts", "Superfly
Sister", and "Morphine". Of the new songs, three were released globally: the
title track, "Ghosts", and "Is It Scary". The title track reached #1 in the
UK. The singles "Ghosts" and "Is It Scary" were based on a film created by
Jackson called "Ghosts".[52] The short film, written by Michael Jackson and
Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston, features many special effects and
dance moves choreographed to original music written by Jackson.[53] The
music video for "Ghosts" is over 35 minutes long and is currently the
World's Longest Music Video.[54] Jackson dedicated the album to Elton John,
who reportedly helped him through his addiction to painkillers, notably
morphine.
2001–2003: Invincible era
In October 2001, Invincible was released[55] and debuted at number-one in
thirteen countries.[47] Invincible went on to sell nearly 8 million copies
worldwide.[19] The album spawned three singles: "You Rock My World," "Cry,"
and "Butterflies." Around the same time that Invincible came out, Jackson
and 35 other artists recorded a charity benefit single entitled "What More
Can I Give", designed to raise money for 9/11 victims, which was never
released.
Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony
Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was not going to renew his
contract;[41] the contract was about to expire in terms of supplying the
label with albums of full-new material for release through Epic Records/SME.
In 2002, all singles releases, video shootings, and promotions concerning
the Invincible album were cancelled. As a result of this, Jackson made
allegations about Mottola not supporting its African American artists.[41]
Jackson referred to Mottola as a "devil" and a "racist" who used black
artists for his own personal gain.[41] He cited that Mottola called
Jackson's colleague Irv Gotti a "fat nigger".[56][57] Sony issued a
statement stating that they found the allegations strange since Mottola was
once married to biracial pop star Mariah Carey. Carey herself seemed
nonchalant about Jackson's claims when asked about them by Larry King on
Larry King Live.[58]
On September 7 and September 10, 2001, Jackson organized a special 30th
Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden for his 30th year of being
a solo artist. Later, the show aired on November 13, 2001.[55] It featured
performances by Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, 'N Sync, the Jacksons, Slash,
and a number of other artists.[59]
In wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson helped organize the
United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in
Washington D.C.. The concert was aired on October 21, 2001, and included
performances from dozens of major artists, including Jackson, who performed
his song "What More Can I Give" as the finale.
2003–2006: Trial, acquittal, and aftermath
In November 2003, Michael Jackson and Sony Records released a compilation of
his number-one hits on CD and DVD titled Number Ones. The compilation has
sold over six million copies worldwide.[60] On the album's scheduled release
date, while Michael Jackson was in Las Vegas filming the video for "One More
Chance" (the only new song included in the Number Ones compilation), the
Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department searched the Neverland Ranch and issued
an arrest warrant for Jackson on new charges of child molestation.[61]
Jackson was accused of sexual abuse by Gavin Arviso, who appeared in the
Living with Michael Jackson documentary earlier that year.
After being acquitted of the allegations, Jackson relocated to the Gulf
island of Bahrain, where he reportedly bought a house formerly owned by a
Bahrain MP.[62] Jackson allegedly spent his time in the Gulf writing new
music. In September 2005, Jackson's spokesperson Raymone Bain announced that
Jackson was busy producing an all-star charity single—called "I Have This
Dream"—to help raise relief funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some of
the artists initially announced by Bain as involved were never confirmed,
and were omitted from later mentions of participants.[63]. After many
delays, the single remains unreleased.
2006–present: Visionary and new album
In February 2006, Jackson's label released Visionary: The Video Singles, a
box set made up of twenty of his biggest hit singles, each of which were
issued individually week by week over a five-month period.[64]
Sony officially released the Visionary box set in the US on November 14,
2006.[65] Jackson also visited the London office of the Guinness World
Records. There, he received eight awards, among them the "First Entertainer
to Earn More Than 100 million Dollars in a Year" and the "First Entertainer
to Sell More Than 100 Million Albums Outside the US".[66]
Michael Jackson was awarded the Diamond Award on November 15, 2006, for
selling over 100 million albums, at the World Music Awards. This was his
second public appearance at an awards show since the trial of 2005.[67]
Despite tabloid rumors prior to the event,[68][69][70] he did not perform
"Thriller", instead joining a choir on stage for a verse of "We Are the
World".
Following the death of James Brown, more than 8000 people – including
family, friends and fans – watched as several artists, including Jackson,
paid tribute to the 'Godfather of Soul' during his public
funeral-turned-concert on December 30, 2006.[71] Reverend Al Sharpton, who
was close to Brown, delivered his sermon at the funeral, in which he stated
that in the last conversation he had with Brown, he had said that artists
like Jackson needed to continue to make positive music for all people.[71]
In the fourth quarter of 2007, Jackson is expected to release a comeback
album. There have been reports of collaborations with will.i.am (of The
Black Eyed Peas),[72] Teddy Riley,[73] DJ Whoo Kid,[73] Akon,[72] Chris
Brown and 50 Cent.[72] Initially, it was thought that the Bahrain-based
label Two Seas would release the album, but, in September 2006, it was made
apparent that Jackson and Two Seas were no longer affiliated with each
other.[74] Consequently, Jackson formed The Michael Jackson Company which
will oversee both his finances and the release of his new album.[74] There
may also be plans for a world tour to support the album.[75] This would be
his first tour since 1997. Work began on the album in May of 2006.
Influence
As the biggest solo star since Elvis Presley,[27] Michael Jackson has had a
notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing
down social barriers and paving the way for modern pop music and the concept
of the modern pop star in his own country.[76] He has been described as an
"extremely important figure in the history of popular culture."[77] a person
with "planetary influence,"[76] and is one of the most famous living humans.
Music videos and MTV
Michael Jackson is widely regarded as being the first artist to elevate
music videos to a meaningful art form,[76] setting off new trends of
story-telling, mini-movies, and choreographed dance sequences that dominate
the genre to this day. The concept of the short film, epitomized by 1983's
"Thriller" but also seen in other Jackson videos such as "Ghosts", "Bad",
"Smooth Criminal", and "Remember the Time", would largely remain unique to
him, but the group-scene dancing pioneered by "Beat It" and popularized by
"Thriller" has been a staple of music videos ever since. The dance sequence
from "Thriller" has captivated popular culture worldwide, being replicated
everywhere from Indian movies to Western wedding ceremonies.[78][79]
Central to Michael Jackson’s success with music videos was the relatively
young music channel MTV, created in 1981, which put Jackson’s videos in
heavy rotation throughout the 1980s. Before the fruitful relationship
materialized, however, Jackson struggled against the channel just to have
his videos aired. In 1983, when Jackson came out with "Billie Jean", his
first video from Thriller, MTV rarely aired videos by African-American
performers and promptly refused Jackson’s requests for a running.[80] Upon
hearing the news, CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff went livid,
denouncing MTV and warning, "I’m pulling everything we have off the air, all
our product. I’m not going to give you any more videos. And I’m going to go
public and fucking tell them about the fact you don’t want to play music by
a black guy".[80] Yetnikoff's harsh stance and rhetoric worked; MTV
retreated and started giving "Billie Jean" heavy coverage, laying the
groundwork for a dynamic partnership with Jackson that would last for years.
When the 14-minute long music video for "Thriller" came out in December
1983, it took MTV by storm, running as often as twice within an hour at its
height. True to its name, the video also had the feeling of a psychological
thriller, reportedly scaring viewers across the United States, especially
young children. "Thriller" marked the beginning of a new era in music videos
and is often cited as the greatest music video of all time.[1]
Michael Jackson is often credited for putting MTV, initially a struggling
cable channel, on the map "with pioneering videos such as "Thriller",
"Billie Jean", and "Beat It"."[4] In response to Jackson's influence, MTV
shifted its musical focus as time went on, going from rock videos to more
and more pop and R&B showings.[81]
Legacy of Thriller
Released in 1982, Thriller became the most commercially successful album of
all time and one of the most critically acclaimed, single-handedly
transforming Jackson into his generation's Elvis or the Beatles and making
him the "late 20th century's pre-eminent pop icon".[80] It remains Jackson's
most celebrated musical achievement and has acquired a prominent position in
American culture. In the 1980s, it was an indelible part of American life,
as described by TIME magazine, "The numbers, which are incredible, are also
becoming indelible. How many Beatles were there? How many homers did Babe
Ruth hit? How many Grammy Awards did Michael Jackson win on Feb. 28? How
many copies of Thriller have been sold? Well, the Grammys are easy".[27]
The second track released from the album and Jackson's highest-selling
single ever, "Billie Jean", has been described as "one of the most sonically
eccentric, psychologically fraught, downright bizarre things ever to land on
Top 40 radio".[80] Jackson's earlier solo work in Off the Wall had revealed
a disco-funk combination, but "Billie Jean," edged onwards by a "pulsing,
cat-on-the-prowl bass figure, whip-crack downbeat and eerie multi-tracked
vocals ricocheting in the vast spaces between keyboards and strings",[80]
featured a new and revolutionary sound, one that made Jackson's
idiosyncratic vocals a staple of pop music and established a sleek,
post-soul tune "whose echoes can be heard to this day".[80] Apart from the
title track and the accompanying music video, the album's other memorable
single was "Beat It", which Jackson described as "the type of rock song that
I would go out and buy, but also something totally different from the rock
music I was hearing on Top Forty radio".[82] The song was a crossover hit,
buoyed by a "watch-my-fingers-fly guitar solo provided by Eddie Van Halen".[82]
Apart from establishing Jackson's iconic status and a new pop sound,
Thriller revolutionized the music industry, which was watching in
anticipation as the juggernaut comfortably and steadily broke record after
record. Gil Friesen, President of A&M Records, stated that "the whole
industry has a stake in this success".[27] At its height, Thriller was an
industry in and of itself, with the Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, a
videotape describing the secrets behind the new music video that was
released in the Christmas of 1983, going on to sell 350,000 copies by March
1984.[27]
The main influence Thriller had on the industry involved raising the
importance of the album as a means of musical distribution. After Thriller,
which, by posting seven top ten Hot 100 hits, had shattered traditional
notions of how many singles an album could release before falling in
popularity,[1] record companies took an interest in following Michael
Jackson's approach of releasing high-profile albums once every few years.
Although the importance of singles relative to albums had started to wane
before the 1980s, Thriller firmly established the album as the dominant
force in the music industry, a status it retains to this day.
TIME magazine summed up the impact of Thriller as follows: "For a record
industry stuck on the border between the ruins of punk and the chic regions
of synthesizer pop, Thriller was a thorough restoration of confidence, a
rejuvenation. Its effect on listeners, especially younger ones, was nearer
to a revelation".[27] Additionally, Thriller marked the return of black
music to commercial radio for the first time in years, leading Quincy Jones
to the following characterization of the doors opened by Michael Jackson:
"No doubt about it, he's taken us right up there where we belong. Black
music had to play second fiddle for a long time, but its spirit is the whole
motor of pop. Michael has connected with every soul in the world".[27] By
overcoming what some have called the "apartheid of pop", Jackson paved the
way for the success of future acts, most immediately and notably Prince, who
had been confined to low levels of airplay before Thriller opened the
floodgates.[83]
Style and performance
Among the most celebrated aspects of Michael Jackson's career have been his
dance, fashion, and vocal styles, which have given rise to impersonators all
over the world. In 1984, TIME magazine wrote the following on the singer's
notable style: "His high-flying tenor makes him sound like the lead in some
funked-up boys choir, even as the sexual dynamism irradiating from the arch
of his dancing body challenges Government standards for a nuclear meltdown.
His lithe frame, five-fathom eyes, long lashes might be threatening if
Jackson gave, even for a second, the impression that he is obtainable".[27]
Jackson's dancing abilities were always an important part of his life, and
ones that he honed through constant training and dedication, manifested,
according to TIME, by "[shutting] himself up at the house in a room that has
no mirrors—"Mirrors make you pose," he has said—and [cutting] loose to his
own music or to the Isley Brothers' Showdown, practicing what Dancer Hinton
Battle calls "moves that kill. It's the combinations that really distinguish
him as an artist. Spin, stop, pull up leg, pull jacket open, turn, freeze.
And the glide, where he steps forward while pushing back. Spinning three
times and popping up on his toes. That's a trademark, and a move a lot of
professionals wouldn't try. If you go up wrong, you can really hurt
yourself".[27] Jackson has been described as an "avant-garde dancer" that
allowed his techniques to acquire meaning through the "theatrical context"
surrounding them.[84] His dancing abilities, sometimes compared to past
greats like Fred Astaire and Rudolf Nureyev,[77] have contributed strongly
to his perceived status as one of the greatest performers of all time.
Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" outing at Motown 25 on May 16, 1983 is
widely regarded as one of the greatest performances of all time, despite the
fact that Jackson lip-synched the song. More than 50 million viewers tuned
in to see the special and Jackson perform his most popular song at the
time.[80] It marked a new height in his popularity, pushed forward by the
publicly-dubbed "moonwalk," an illusory move designed to create the
impression that the dancer is walking backwards. The moonwalk became
Jackson's signature dance move and he would replicate it in all future
performances of "Billie Jean." Jackson did not invent the move, but he was
responsible for perfecting it, making it a household name, and enshrining it
into the psyche of American culture, which witnessed kids and people of all
age groups trying to do the move after the Motown special as well as earning
a fitting peroration from the New York Times: "The moonwalk that he made
famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a
technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep
one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk
requires perfect timing".[84]
Michael Jackson's outfits, everything from the sequined white glove, which
has led to some dubbing him as "The Gloved One", to the jacket in the
"Thriller" music video, have been essential components of his image and
performance. The "Jheri-curled hair and single-gloved, zippered-jacket look"
became a favorite for many people across the United States in the 1980s.[85]
Jackson has also made the fedora hat something of a trademark in his
exhibitions, and many modern artists pay tribute to the look.
Themes and genres
Michael Jackson's musical palette has covered everything from disco and pop
to rock and R&B. Jackson's musical themes have been equally varied,
featuring material on typical pop subjects like love and joy as well as more
mature works on social justice and his convoluted relationship with the
media. Jackson's solo career with Motown in the 1970s was largely
unimaginative, dominated as it was by label-backed songwriters and producers
intent on giving the young performer typical ballads and other
similarly-styled melodious tracks. In his two-decade career with Epic,
however, Jackson displayed extensive creativity, gradually evolving from
compositions with mild, non-controversial messages to songs dealing with
increasingly solemn and darker themes, a reflection of his personal
struggles and his status as an international icon.[86]
Off the Wall and Thriller showcased a Michael Jackson primarily focused on
making dance hits and ballads with catchy tunes and rhythms. While this
preoccupation would continue in his future work, it would also be colored by
various shifts and improvisations. Even in this early material, however,
Jackson displayed notable paradoxes, mixing the melodious and comfortable
sounds of "Lady in My Life" with the haunting and terrorized environments of
"Billie Jean" and "Beat It", where women accused him of fathering their
children and the outside world seemed strange and hostile.[87] Bad was
accused by some of not delivering the exciting lyrics evident in Thriller,
being more intent on consolidating a traditional pop sound and defeating the
records of Jackson's previous releases.[87] The album left clues for future
projects, however, mentioning in the tense intro to "I Just Can't Stop
Loving You" that "A lot of people misunderstand me....because they don't
know me at all".[87] Bad included Jackson's first major inspirational song,
"Man in the Mirror", which was praised for its message and captivating sound
and also criticized as, among other things, "pure pabulum."[87]
Jackson's work in the 1990s was characterized by more introspective
material. Some have argued that the Dangerous album represented Jackson at a
"near peak" in terms of musical quality and creativity.[88] Several things
remained the same, with the title track to Dangerous ensuring another song
about a "predatory lover",[89] but more and more of Jackson's music in the
decade, like "Black or White", "Heal the World", "They Don't Care About Us",
and "Earth Song", started addressing sociopolitical issues around the world.
The music in Dangerous, described as a "a sonic machine world" with
"synthetic basslines, swooshing scratched records, [and] clanking metallic
noises", reflected old influences while absorbing new trends, made all the
more pressing by Jackson's habit of releasing albums once every four or so
years, time periods that allowed for significant development in the sound of
pop music.[89]
HIStory, arguably Jackson's most conflictive album, revealed a "furious" pop
icon worn by years of superstardom,[86] with Jon Pareles of the New York
Times writing that "It has been a long time since Michael Jackson was simply
a performer. He's the main asset of his own corporation, which is a
profitable subsidiary of Sony".[86] The album featured Jackson using
profanity and other controversial lyrics, which forced him to modify some of
the words to "They Don't Care About Us". Edged onwards by a quasi-messianic
flair, he also railed against the media in "Tabloid Junkie," singing, "With
your pen you torture me/You'd crucify the Lord" and that "Just because you
read it in a magazine/ Or see it on a TV screen/ Don't make it factual".[86]
HIStory mostly encompassed reflective compositions, presenting only one
conventional love song, "You Are Not Alone".[86]
Recognition, influence on other artists
Michael Jackson holds the world record as the most awarded recording artist
in history. Throughout his four-decade career, he has received numerous
honors and awards, including the World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male
Artist of the Millennium, the American Music Award's Artist of the Century
Award,[90] and the Bambi's Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.[91] He is a
double-inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (once as a member of The
Jackson 5 in 1997 and as a solo artist in 2001)[44] and an inductee of the
Songwriters Hall of Fame.[92] At his height, he was characterized as "an
unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts
seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves,
stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power".[1] In 1990,
Vanity Fair magazine named him the "Most Popular Artist in the History of
Show Business".[93] Jackson's work has influenced a wide variety of artists,
including Mariah Carey,[94] Usher,[95] Britney Spears,[94] Justin
Timberlake,[96] Omarion,[97] Ne-Yo,[98] and Chris Brown,[99] among others.
Personal life
Michael Jackson's personal life has been under the spotlight for decades.
His marriages and children, his physical appearance, his humanitarian
efforts, and accusations of child molestation have all witnessed a variety
of media coverage all over the world.
Marriages and children
Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, in 1994.
Presley maintained during their marriage that they shared a married couple's
life and were sexually active.[100] They divorced less than two years later,
although still remain friends.[101] Jackson's second wife Debbie Rowe spoke
about the couple's post-marriage friendship amidst "stories about Michael
having an affair with his ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley",[101] saying that:
"They have a relationship, and what people don't understand is his
relationship with her is separate from his relationship with me. They're
friends, they're very good friends... [and] I am glad that they have a
relationship together. I am glad to see them together; they have a lot in
common."[101]
On November 14, 1996, during the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour,
Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he
fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a
daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson. Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999.
Jackson later said that Rowe wanted him to have the children as a
"gift".[102] The paternity of Michael Jackson's children has been heavily
debated by the public. Both Jackson and Rowe have always maintained that his
first two children were conceived naturally.
In November 2002, Jackson travelled to Berlin to accept an award for his
humanitarian efforts. He was surrounded by fans outside his room at the
Hotel Adlon who were chanting in approval of the singer. According to the
pop star, they also called out to see his baby. In response, Jackson brought
his son onto the balcony, holding him in his right arm with a cloth loosely
draped over the baby's face in order to protect his identity from the media.
Jackson briefly extended the baby over the railing of the balcony. This
raised concern as some perceived his actions as child endangerment, although
Jackson has vehemently denied these tabloid rumours, saying that he was
holding the baby tightly. Jackson said that the media was wrong in their
comments about him being irresponsible with his children, "I love my
children," he explained. "I was holding my son tight. Why would I throw a
baby off the balcony? That's the dumbest, stupidest story I ever
heard."[103]
The controversial documentary Living with Michael Jackson aired in February
2003 in the UK (on the 3rd) and in the US (on the 6th). The documentary
included interviews with Jackson which included information on his private
life.[104] British journalist Martin Bashir and his film crew filmed Jackson
for 18 months, also capturing his controversial behavior in Berlin. One
particular part of the documentary, which stirred controversy and raised a
significant level of concern, showed Jackson holding hands with a then
13-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arviso, and admitting to sharing his bedroom
with him (but not in the same bed) as well as sharing his bed (non-sexually)
with other children.
Jackson felt betrayed by Bashir and complained that the film gives a
distorted picture.[105] In response to the media scrutiny, two specials were
aired: Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See and Michael
Jackson's Private Home Movies.[106] Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were
Never Meant to See which aired later in February showed uncut footage of the
Living with Michael Jackson documentary. The Michael Jackson's Private Home
Movies aired in April was a 2-hour special with footage of Michael Jackson's
home videos and included commentary by Jackson.
Humanitarian efforts
In 1992, Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" (named after his
humanitarian single "Heal the World"). The charity organization brought
underprivileged children to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, located outside Santa
Ynez, California, to go on theme park rides which Jackson had built on the
property after he purchased it in 1988.
In late 2002, Jackson's Heal the World Foundation had net assets of just
US$3,542 and reported $2,585 in expenses, mostly for management fees. The
foundation was suspended in California since April 2002 for supposedly
failing to file annual statements required of tax-exempt organizations,
according to John Barrett, spokesman for the state Franchise Tax Board. The
"Heal the World Foundation spread millions of dollars around the globe to
help children threatened by war and disease," thanks to the efforts of
Michael Jackson, but the forced closure of the Foundation leaves many of
these children without aid.[107]
Physical appearance
Jackson's skin color was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his
youth; his skin had been becoming paler gradually since 1982. This change
became so noticeable that it gained widespread media coverage, with some
tabloids claiming that he was bleaching his skin. The structure of his face
has changed as well, and a number of surgeons claim that Jackson had
undergone multiple nasal surgeries as well as a forehead lift, thinned lips
and cheekbone surgery.[108]
However, on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1993, Jackson revealed that the change
in his skin color was due to the disease vitiligo.[109] In the interview,
Jackson became quite emotional, saying that: "I'm a black American, I am
proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and
dignity... I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin,
it's something that I cannot help, OK? But when people make up stories that
I don't want to be what I am it hurts me... It's a problem for me that I
can't control."[109] Jackson also responded to tabloid rumors about the
amount of plastic surgery he had had done, saying that he's had "Very, very
little. I mean you can count on my two fingers," and furthermore said that
"I've never had my cheekbones done, never had my eyes done, never had my
lips done and all this stuff, they just go too far."[109] Further, Jackson
wrote in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk that he only had two rhinoplastic
surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, while
attributing the noticeable change in the structure of his face to puberty
and diet.[110]
Child molestation charges
Jackson was reported to be allowing children to sleepover at his Neverland
ranch. This practice came under much media and public scrutiny, in 1993,
when allegations of child molestation were brought against Jackson by a
child who had stayed with him on several occasions. That year, Jordan
Chandler, the son of former Beverly Hills dentist Evan Chandler, represented
by civil lawyer Larry Feldman, accused Jackson of child sexual abuse. On
December 22, Jackson responded to the allegations via satellite from his
Neverland compound and claimed to be "totally innocent of any wrongdoing."
On January 25, 1994, Jackson settled out of court with the accuser for an
undisclosed sum, reported to be US$20 million, and was not charged.[111]
On December 18, 2003, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child
molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order
to commit that felony, all regarding the same boy, (Gavin Arvizo), under 14.
The felony complaint stated that Jackson had committed seven lewd acts and
two acts of administration of an intoxicating agent to enable the former
accusations. Jackson denied these allegations, saying that the sleepovers
were in no way sexual in nature. Jackson's friend, Elizabeth Taylor,
defended him on Larry King Live, saying that she'd been there when they
"were in the bed, watching television. There was nothing abnormal about it.
There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children, and we watched
a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it."[112]
The People v. Jackson trial began in Santa Maria, California, on January 31,
2005, and lasted until the end of May 2005, with Jackson being acquitted on
all counts in June. It was one of the largest and most documented trials in
world history. About 2,200 media credentials to over 30 news organizations
from around the world were issued to cover the trial, more than what was
given for the trials of O. J. Simpson and Scott Peterson combined.[81]
Jackson's popularity outside the United States ensured a distinctly
international crowd of reporters.[81] On top of the media, Santa Maria was
also flooded with Jackson fans, 1,200 of whom heard and celebrated the ten
not guilty verdicts right outside the courthouse.[113]
The District Attorney of Santa Barbara County in California, Tom Sneddon,
has led two efforts against Jackson involving child molestation.[114] The
first incident, in 1993, resulted in no charges and the second, at the end
of 2003, culminated in a trial two years later in which Jackson was
acquitted on all counts. These repeated prosecutions have led some to
believe that Sneddon was motivated by a "mission" against Jackson, which had
no relevance to either case.[114]
Discography
U.S. number one singles (13)
* 1972: "Ben"
* 1979: "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
* 1980: "Rock with You"
* 1983: "Billie Jean"
* 1983: "Beat It"
* 1983: "Say Say Say" (with Paul McCartney)
* 1987: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
* 1987: "Bad"
* 1987: "The Way You Make Me Feel"
* 1988: "Man in the Mirror"
* 1988: "Dirty Diana"
* 1991: "Black or White"
* 1995: "You Are Not Alone"
Number ones in selected countries
* Spain (20)
* Zimbabwe (10)
* France (7)
* United Kingdom (7)
* Canada (5)
* Australia (4)
Studio albums
Motown releases
* 1971: Got to Be There
* 1972: Ben
* 1973: Music and Me
* 1975: Forever, Michael
Epic releases
* 1979: Off the Wall
* 1982: Thriller
* 1987: Bad
* 1991: Dangerous
* 1995: HIStory
* 1997: Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
* 2001: Invincible
The Michael Jackson Company, Inc. release
* 2007: TBA
Notable music videos
* 1983: "Billie Jean"
* 1983: "Beat It"
* 1983: "Thriller"
* 1987: "Bad"
* 1987: "The Way You Make Me Feel"
* 1988: "Smooth Criminal"
* 1989: "Leave Me Alone"
* 1991: "Black or White"
* 1992: "Remember the Time"
* 1992: "In the Closet"
* 1995: "Scream"
* 1995: "Earth Song"
* 1997: "Blood on the Dance Floor"
* 2001: "You Rock My World"
Films
* 1978: The Wiz
* 1986: Captain EO
* 1988: Moonwalker
* 1997: Ghosts
* 2004: Men in Black II (Cameo appearance)
* 2004: Miss Cast Away (Cameo appearance)
Videos/DVDs
* 1984: Making Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
* 1988: Moonwalker
* 1993: Dangerous - The Short Films
* 1995: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory
* 1997: HIStory on Film, Volume II
* 2003: Number Ones
* 2004: The One
* 2005: Live In Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour
Television
* The Jacksons TV Show was a variety series that first aired on June 16,
1976 and last aired on March 9, 1977. It starred Jackie, Tito, Marlon,
Michael, Randy, Rebbie, LaToya, and Janet Jackson.[115]
* The Simpsons, Season 3 Episode 1, "Stark Raving Dad". The episode first
aired on September 19, 1991. He was credited as John Jay Smith.[116]
Video games
* Michael Jackson's Moonwalker is an arcade game that was ported to the Sega
Mega Drive/Sega Genesis and Sega Master System and various 16-bit home
computers, including the Amiga, which sported more levels and better
graphics.
* Sonic the Hedgehog 3 features sampled noises from Jackson and his
instrument players who worked for him at the time. Due to his 1993 scandal
some songs written by him were removed; however the original game still
contains some content from him and his team although Jackson is uncredited.
New Sega PC "retro" versions do not contain any of the material from Jackson
or his team.
* Space Channel 5 for the Sega Dreamcast featured Michael Jackson in the
later levels.
* Space Channel 5: Part 2, a dance game for the PlayStation 2 and Sega
Dreamcast also featured Michael Jackson in the later levels.
* Ready 2 Rumble Round 2 is a fighting game for the PlayStation 2 and Sega
Dreamcast featuring Michael Jackson as a hidden character.
* Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for the PS2, PC, and Xbox includes two songs
by Michael Jackson: "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".
Further reading
* Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. ISBN 0-434-37042-8.
* Taraborrelli, J. Randy (1991). The Magic and the Madness. Headline. ISBN
1-55972-064-6.
* Jackson, Michael (1992). Dancing The Dream. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-40368-2.
* Grant, Adrian (1994, 1997, 2002 and 2005). Michael Jackson: The Visual
Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-432-2.
* Noonan, Damien (1994). Michael Jackson (Audio book), Carlton Books. ISBN
1-85797-587-1.
* Jackson, Michael (2006). My World, The Official Photobook, Vol. 1. Triumph
International. ISBN 0-9768891-1-0.
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