Michael Jackson also known as the king of pop was a worldwide musical sensation. Jackson was born in Indiana and began his music career at the young age of five. Jackson and his siblings started a music group called ‘The Jackson 5’, although Jackson was the youngest, he was the best singer out of the group. While performing, the audience began to notice the vocal range he had which eventually led to multiple record deals.
Jackson’s music videos were like mini movies. He spent millions of dollars and hours producing the videos, which have all topped the charts. He earned multiple Grammy Awards. Jackson collaborated with director John Landis to create a Halloween masterpiece. ‘Thriller’ went platinum in the U.S. and triple platinum in Australia. It became one of Billboard’s ‘Top 10 Halloween Songs’, and one of the Guinness World Records ‘Most Successful Music Videos’. It was the beginning of a new era for artists around the world.
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‘Thriller’ was recorded at Westlake Audio in LA, where all the magic happened. “The room you record in is just as important as the mics. When I record somewhere, I have a collection of 105 microphones - every microphone in there I bought new and no one else has ever used it. That protects my sonic integrity. I got used to that incredible sound. One thing with Westlake Audio was that they knew the value of maintaining the gear” (Light, 2018).
Jackson and Quincy Jones the producer of the ‘Thriller’ album, butted heads a lot in the studio. During the seven months of production Jones and Jackson tried a bunch of new things in order to record Jackson's hit record. Together the duo was unstoppable working night and day with no sleep. From drums to zippers and speakers getting caught on fire from being overworked they knew the album would be something special. It was late October 1982, and a bunch of musicians and technicians were working twenty-four sevens at Westlake Recording Studios putting the finishing touches on Jackson’s new album.
Jones explained how it took a team to create the album. Of course, Jackson could sing his heart out, but everyone else’s role was just as important. During production Jackson wanted his album to sound different. He began taking sounds and beats from different cultures such as an African chant. Steve Lukather, a guitarist explains how crazy the making of ‘Girl Is Mine’ was. It was like a circus show. Nobody made it in the studio that night, it was very intense. Lukather recalls Jackson’s energy during the album’s creation. “Michael was very focused, he knew what he wanted”, he says. “When he’d start dancing to a groove, that’s when we knew we were playing the right shit. He wasn’t, like, moonwalking across the room, but the hands and feet were going, he and Quincy were bopping. That would create a whole other vibe, and you’d really want to kill it. It was a great working environment” (Light, 2018).
‘Thriller’ expanded the world of music videos, transforming the world right before our eyes. Jackson’s passion was to make music everyone could vibe and move to. He would speak about police brutality and segregation which was a touchy subject for some. In the end he brought black and whites closer and opened new doors for the colored people. Black entertainers and white ones, had now been given the same opportunities.
Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ was the biggest selling album of all time with worldwide sales of 105 million as of June 1, 2016 and in December 2015 became the first album to be awarded triple diamond status. The ‘Thriller’ single reached number one in four countries in 1984, topping the chart. Jackson also topped charts in Spain, France and Belgium.
Jackson’s influence worldwide was remarkable besides being a great hit maker he also shed light on world issues and donated to organizations that support research for cancer and aids. He was considered a humanitarian by many, because he was using his fame for good. Reaching out to every corner of the world to bring peace. After listening to the album, I can say that it is musically great. With a taste of R&B and Rock it was a well composed album. The songs are very relatable and make me think about the bigger picture. Everyone needs to love each other. How can we change the world without love?
Jackson’s burning accident while filming a Pepsi commercial that left him scarred for life, came near the beginning of 1984. Which turned out to be the midpoint of his life. Even though he looked like a freak show he did not let his accident stop him from becoming great. Jackson's drive and influence is what sets him apart from every artist today. It was never about the looks he genuinely cared about making the world a better place. Jacksons passing in 2009 shocked the world. There will never be another like him. His legacy will live on for years and years to come. Janet Jackson Michel’s sister stated: “I love it when I see kids imitating him, when adults still listen to his music. It just lets you know the impact that my family has had on the world. I hope I’m not sounding arrogant in any way – I’m just stating what is” (Bleznak 2018).
As we can see, Michael Jackson influenced many people today. His work and work ethic are unmatched. His impact on the music industry was something we had never seen before. Not only did he influence other great artists like Justin Bieber and Beyonce, he also shed light on racism and police brutality. Life wasn’t always as perfect as it seemed, Jackson too had his fair share of media madness. “I have been forced to submit to a dehumanizing and humiliating examination by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this week (Light, 2018). All odds were against him during the time he was accused of child molestation, Jackson almost gave up. He had to maintain a low profile which was pretty easy since Jackson was suffering from health issues at the time. Through all the drama, Jackson never gave in. He stood his ground and continued to fight for his image. Jackson’s life ended in 2009. The whole world stopped. Everyone was in disbelief he was only 50 years old. Many celebrities shared their condolences the day the young legend died June 25, 2009. Star Jones, an American actress and lawyer said: “Death comes to all. But great achievements build a monument. He IS and WAS the greatest entertainer of all times…Peace to you brother” (Us Weekly, 2017). Will there ever be another star that was as vibrant and influential as Jackson?
Even though I was only nine at the time of his death I understood the impact he had left on the world. I started to listen to R&B because of him and I wanted to know how successful he was. A true star.
Works Cited
- Bleznak, Emma. ‘Michael Jackson Made Some of the Most Expensive Music Videos of All Time’. Showbiz Cheat Sheet, 25 June 2018, www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/michael-jackson-made-some-of-the-most-expensive-music-videos-of-all-time.html
- Light, Alan. ‘'Thriller': How Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones Made the Bestselling Album of All Time’. Rolling Stone, 25 June 2018, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/thriller-how-michael-jackson-and-quincy-jones-made-the-bestselling-album-of-all-time-199391/
- ‘Michael Jackson’. Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 13 Jan. 2020, www.biography.com/musician/michael-jackson
- Music, Future. ‘The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller’. MusicRadar, MusicRadar, 1 Oct. 2009, www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-making-of-michael-jacksons-thriller-222109
- Staff, Us Weekly. ‘Celebs React to Michael Jackson's Death’. Us Weekly, 7 Dec. 2017, www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/celebs-react-to-michael-jacksons-death-2009266/
- http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/the-making-of-michael-jacksons-thriller-222109
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