Michael Jackson: A Retrospective Look into the Life of an Amazing Musician
Finding the words to praise him are hard to come by – especially when the proof lies in his body of work. Listing off his awards and merits feels too easy, but it goes without saying that he accomplished every last thing he set his heart on. And trying to locate a proper place to start feels nearly impossible because who knows where he actually feels it all began. But knowing that it ended too soon is something we can all agree on. With a career that began at such a young age, emulating James Brown, to the soaring highs he achieved in the 80s, to his immeasurable work with charity, to the impact and influence he left on anyone that listened to him – and a moonwalk somewhere in there – Michael Jackson was distinguished by his supreme ability.
In so many ways, I feel unworthy writing all of this. His music, alone, was such a thing of beauty that adoring it like I do, there is nothing I could say to properly describe its magnitude. And moreso, I wasn’t privileged enough to witness firsthand the impact songs like “Never Can Say Goodbye” and “I’ll Be There” presented. And undeniably, being alive when Thriller was released in the winter of 1982 must have been a tremendous feeling. But I do know that he was the first artist to resonate a bonding presence on me and it was one that would only grow with time.
I was only two years old when Bad was released but by the age of five, I knew very well who Michael Jackson was. By this time, while other children in my area were being influenced by their parents’ own tastes in country music and Spanish rock, watching Martin Scorsese’s video for “Bad” was an exhilarating experience in it of itself. And by the time I was six, watching anything Michael Jackson-related provided an exciting adventure.
Super Bowl XXVII Halftime Show
When I was old enough to know what was going on, I had heard that Michael Jackson was going to perform at the Super Bowl. At this point in my life I can say that I am a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. but back then I could care less who was playing on the football field. The first super bowl where ratings actually rose during halftime, Jackson stimulated with his dramatic opening and delivered a breathtaking performance. The culmination lying somewhere in between the incarnation of his “Billie Jean” dance and “Black or White”‘s powerful message.
By the time I was ten years old, at the top of my Christmas list for 1995 was Michael Jackson’s HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1. Usually, for kids my age, there were some games, maybe a bike or even a football but my mom actually saved my list and in plain writing, is a ten-year old’s wish for Jackson’s double-disc album. Michael loved children and he wanted them to have the love and care he lacked when he was a child. I hope he knows just how much comfort and happiness his music brought to many children around the world, including yours truly.
Young Michael Jackson
The seventh of nine children, Jackson took to music at a very young age. He won a talent show at the age of five. His voice was always there, some considered him to possess the voice of an angel and even that feels like an understatement. Flawlessly delivered and magically unique, Jackson was on a whole other level. He would later credit his father’s strict discipline to help in the growth of his dancing but Jackson would be the first to admit that he was trying hard to capture James Brown.
The music of The Jackson 5 was an astounding collection of disco, R&B and pop all rolled up into one ball of mesmerizing music. Michael hadn’t even reached double digits when he was performing, singing and dancing with his brothers. But yet, he grasped a musical prowess unlike the rest and shined in the spotlight. Singing about tough adult themes didn’t faze him and it appeared as if this was what he was meant to do.
The Jackson 5 - ABC
Between the span of four years, 1969-1972, the quintet released seven albums and in those seven albums were standouts ABC, their Christmas album and the challenging, Lookin’ Through the Windows. Where the former was about enjoying the bubblegum pop they had richly decorated, the latter reveals a maturing and clashing group. Tangling with both the direction he wanted to go in and what was best for his brothers, it’s obvious that the group could not control Michael’s rising star.
Jackson 5 - Lookin' Through the Windows
After 1972, the group’s albums did not succeed as well as previous efforts but this was not just due to Michael’s enhancing ability. The group fought with Motown and the direction they wanted to pursue and even more with their father, who also played the role of manager. At this point, Michael’s solo career was just beginning to take off and with the surprisingly touching “Ben,” the rise of his career was just a few years away.
Off the Wall
Playing the role of the scarecrow, Jackson would co-star alongside Diana Ross in The Wiz, a funky remake of The Wizard of Oz. It was during this film that he met Quincy Jones and the two became friends. Knowing that his time to truly shine was imminent, Jackson convinced Jones to work with him on his next studio album. The result was a stark departure from Jackson’s work with Motown and Off the Wall went on to become one of the best albums of all time. Not only was this a funkier, more soulful album than his previous releases but it felt like Jackson had finally honed in his strengths. Developing his trademark swagger, voice hiccups and that unforgettable style, Jackson transcended genres.
Taking the second half of Off the Wall off the record player and transitioning to Thriller, as soon as the needle strikes onto the beginning of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” it’s strikingly obvious what a different sound this is. Stronger, harder, grittier and with much more confidence, Michael Jackson was out to prove his immense worth to everyone. And feeling as if Off the Wall wasn’t as highly regarded as he felt it should have been, I’m not sure anyone expected what Thriller was about to deliver.
Thriller
There’s so much one could say about this album: it’s construction and sequencing is flawlessly ordained, it’s book-ended by two of the best openers and closers of all time, it features, arguably, the best back-to-back-to-back tracks of all time, with “Thriller,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean” in order, or maybe, we can just agree that it is, easily, one of the top ten albums of all time. Jackson channeled Stevie Wonder’s grace and Prince’s 1999 onto Thriller but he brought his own flair and strengths, combining elements of pop and rock and even showcasing that he wrote all of the album’s best songs, himself.
At this point, Jackson had turned the music video into a true art form and used it as a marketing tool to catapult his albums into the homes of America and those around the world. Not only did he blow down the doors for African-Americans to appear on MTV but he broke down racial barriers in terms of what people felt socially comfortable with. And every chance he could, he donated millions and millions to several charities. One of his highest honors has to be for setting the Guinness World Record for most associated charities. He wasn’t just doing this for himself but for everyone in the world.
By the time Bad came out, Jackson was battling within himself to keep up. It was a worthy follow-up and anything he did would be seen as a lesser effort, but nonetheless, Jackson pushed himself to continue crafting uniquely layered and rendered music. Endlessly touring and defying all odds by attempting to re-create more of the amazing music he had perfected, Jackson’s music took a sharp decline from here. It was around this point that I, in a sense, caught up with what Jackson would do from here on out. Sure, Invincible had its high points but nothing compared to the lightning Michael had caught on his previous albums.
Performing in "Thriller"
Ultimately, there is nothing Michael Jackson couldn’t do. He tirelessly worked himself into a pale skeleton with his work ethic. And he constantly changed his sound and altered his style to fit what his music was expressing. His work with other artists was such a noble feat, everyone from Paul McCartney to Diana Ross to co-writing “We are the World” with Lionel Richie. And on the topic of being a good person, his own children can poignantly tell you what kind of father they had.
He was able to introduce the world into a whole different kind of music making, the kind that could entice and sensationalize most, if not all, of your senses. Just think back and remember how he looked, as a crazed werewolf, dancing around with a bunch of zombies. I’ll never forget hearing his version of “My Girl” as a young boy and thinking to myself, “Wow, this is so much better than the original.” Or remember his performance on “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” where he premiered the moonwalk for the first time.
His talent was unmatched, his skill was singular, his style was paramount, his musicality was superb but most of all, Michael Jackson was an exceptionally remarkable musical artist. To borrow from The New York Times, “in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else.” It’s succinctly frank but honestly, it’s downright truth. Realizing that there will never be anyone like him is a hard pill to swallow but remembering the countless gifts he left behind provides some solace. So here’s to you Michael, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
