Michael Jackson's Unparalleled Musical Legacy
Media frenzy. Pop icon Michael Jackson left us the same way he came to us.
But as rumors and conjecture about his financial situation, the welfare of his children and his past eccentricities swirl around the media universe, here's hoping the media follows the lead of his legion of fans. Let's shine a proper light on Jackson's unparalleled musical legacy.
Jackson flashed onto the scene in late 1969 when he and older siblings Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon, billed as the Jackson 5, claimed their first No. 1 R&B and pop hit with the debut single "I Want You Back." Eyes were glued to television sets across America when the group appeared that December on Ed Sullivan's Sunday night variety show, especially in the African-American community, where seeing fellow black people on television was still a rare, exciting novelty and heartwarming accomplishment.
From that point forward, all eyes focused on the 11-year-old diminutive dynamo who stole the spotlight from his brothers with his expressive tenor/falsetto, electric dancing and natural charisma. Even at that young age, Jackson possessed that elusive "it" factor. Who else could sing a song about a rat, "Ben" (Jackson's own 1972 No. 1 R&B/No. 5 pop hit), and turn it into a compelling ballad?
A child of television's burgeoning global impact, Jackson embraced the tenets of that exposure and teamed it with other lessons gleaned from sitting backstage at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater, watching legends like James Brown and Smokey Robinson do their thing. All of which set the stage for the intuitive singer's next explosion centered at the crossroads between the video and CD revolutions.
Catapulting Jackson into the eye of the maelstrom was his explosively creative pairing with another multi-faceted industry legend, Quincy Jones. It was Jackson's own "control" moment; the chance for him to formally step out of the Jackson 5/Jacksons shadow and define who he was becoming as an artist. The first result of that epic pairing was 1979's "Off the Wall."
Fans would always savor the bubblegum and later dance-edged pop of the Jacksons. But "Off the Wall" found Jackson sonically bridging the rock and soul realms in a pulsing concoction of beats, rhythms and memorable hooks/lyrics.
The Jackson/Jones partnership reached its zenith on the singer's 1982 mega-selling "Thriller." And it brought together the total package: a cutting-edge melding of pop, rock and soul; a memorable pairing of old and new school (Jackson's duet with Beatle Paul McCartney on the No. 1 "The Girl Is Mine") and, most important, expanded the boundaries of the video art form. Jackson single-handedly demonstrated how videos could be used to tell a cohesive short story, tied together by strong melodies and visually rich lyrics. "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" (which jump-started Jackson to new heights with his moonwalk performance of the song on the TV special "Motown 25") paved the way for such eye-arresting videos for subsequent hits as "Smooth Criminal," "Man in the Mirror," "Black or White" and "Remember the Time."
Yes, Jackson's next several albums never approached the sales stratosphere of "Thriller." But there's still no denying his enduring legacy. His influence and consummate showmanship are reflected in such contemporary artists as Kanye West, Usher, Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown. And who else musically in this day and economic climate could have sold out 50 concerts as fast as Jackson did‹without a current hit single to lean on?
Jackson embodies what every music artist hopes to attain: outside-the-box creativity, longevity and global impact. Unfortunately, there will never be another like him.
For full ongoing coverage of Michael Jackson's life and legacy, including his full chart retrospective, visit Billboard.com.
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I love this story at Entertainment Weekly about Michael's lasting impact on the world of dance. Who else has inspired so many of us to such heights of controlled abandon?
http://www.ew.com/ew/package/0,,20288349_20289412,00.html
Michael Jackson was the single best lead entertainer the world has ever known. And by the looks of whats out there now, always will be.
He changed people, he changed us, he changed whole industries, show business, music, dance, world politics and philanthropy. He took all of these things to higher levels.
He demanded artistry and truth in his music and he never yielded to a musical lie.
He gave the world a new rythmn of poetry to enjoy our lives.
He had problems, he had disorders, he had flaws in his behavior but he was not one of us he was different. He wasnt better he was the best he could be and we knew he was struggling. He gave us all those things and did with a gentle touch. And when his flaws became fodder for the media we ripped him apart and cast him aside as a whacko. We should cautious never to treat people or our chosen artists with such vulgar disdain again. Let Mike be the last. Lets cherish them and take care of them, and maybe we'll get more for a longer period of time. Mike sure gave alot. He gave so much it would take decades for anyone to come close.
He was different he was enigmatic and the only human phenomena we'll ever see with such art pouring out of their soul and body.
He's gone now, lets offer our best in appreciation and leave the pain behind where it belongs.
"Michael Jackson was the single best lead entertainer the world has ever known. And by the looks of whats out there now, always will be."
"He changed people, he changed us, he changed whole industries, show business, music, dance, world politics and philanthropy. He took all of these things to higher levels."
Sir, you're deluded, he wasn't and he did none of those things, you can't tell me that even someone as obviously smitten as yourself, sincerely believes that MJ "took world politics and philanthropy to higher levels".
I would agree on the music, dance and philanthropy. He is in the Guiness Book of Records for giving more than any entertainer in history. I am a fan, but not an idol-worshipper. Many detractors want to paint every fan as disillusioned. That I am not. I simply am appreciative to the gifts he gave.
"The tears that you spill, the sorrowful, are sweeter than the laughter of snobs and the guffaws of scoffers."
Michael Jackson."You are not alone." Not anymore. I believe you are now, the angel in heaven you sought so hard to be here on earth. You were so misunderstood, vilified, and beat upon. There was so much mockery and hatred of you, for only one reason. You"re goodness; your luminosity into the beautiful heart you believed could be in every man. You had such generosity, and tried so hard to teach others, to look into the soul. And to not judge based on color, creed or class.
But darkness, doesn"t like beauty to shine. It detracts so much from what it is trying to do. Create dark human less souls of us all. To replace the radiance that was born within all of us, by God. You spoke of nothing, but love and peace. Your light through your words, and music shone so bright. You"ve brought so much too so many, but only sought pure love for yourself. Your sensitivity brought ridicule. When all you wished most of all was to be embraced and understood.
I think what personally stood out to me most of all; was your tender nature. Envy in other people mistook that for weakness, when in reality it is strength. The force of who you were was so strong. Many people wish to have that, but could never achieve it.
We are all afforded different opportunities in life. Instead of being envious, they should have rejoiced with you, in your life.
Lovely.
MJ has sold out completely in 20 countries around the world in the few days since his death. He is creating sales records in death that living contemporary artists are not coming close to.
Yes, and the same thing happened after Elvis and Lennon died, and I'm sure it will also happen after McCartney dies. This is not a new phenomenon.
It certainly is not a new phenomenon; hower what is new is the fact that his after-death sales have already exceeded those of Elvis and Lennon. Check your facts.
Never gonna say good- bye, and I will always remember the time. I feel like I lost a family member, and it hurts. My heart is heavy. I've been a fan of MJ for 35 years, through the ups and downs. Oh how I was wishing for one more chance for him with these concerts in London, but I guess it was not meant to be. The Lord had other plans. Fame and fortune is not everything, but I rather had alittle piece of Michael Jackson, then to have none at all. R.I.P MJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I feel like I lost a family member, and it hurts.."
June 25, 2009 we lost the greatest entertainer ever. He was not perfect, he had his faults, like we all do, but I still believe Michael was a good person. I will not focus on his problems, but I will focus on the joy he brought to his fans. I can't believe he is gone. He will be miss.
Or, fortunately there will never be another like him.
Jackson's unparalleled POP musical legacy. You can't compare him to Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin or Louis Armstrong.
Louis Armstrong was a "pop" performer in his time, and what a time it was.
The author mentioned none of these people. Louis Armstrong is the most important musician in the history of modern music. But who acknowledges or comprehends that? If you cannot appreciate the accomplishments of MJ, you likely do not appreciate the accomplishments of the other individuals you mentioned.
And Bach was just popular entertainment in his day. That's all.
I'd like to think that Bach was popular in his day, but he wasn't. Bach was pretty much was as invisible a performer as he could manage for most of his life. He never performed in any sort of "Pop Music" venue, writing mostly for the church with a few commissions for royalty. Sexyrexy [below] cites Liszt as the first rockstar and she's pretty much on-point.
One could make a very convincing argument that Louis Armstrong was the most important and influential musician of the twentieth century. Although there's others one could mention in the same breath---Al Jolson had an immeasurable impact on popular musical culture in his time, let's hear it for Stravinsky's Rocking "Le Sacre du Printemps"---I'd give Satchmo the nod.
"The author mentioned none of these people."
The author works for Billboard, what did you expect?
they were the pop musicians of their time !!!
what do you think Mozart was d oing?? he was a considered a 'servant' the entertainer the ESTHERHAZY nobility of that time.
Beethoven had a benefactor.
the first real ROCK STAR WAS FRANZ LISZT.. women swooned and fainted when he performed in their drawing rooms standing on chairs !
Michael Jackson specialized in disposable pop.
If you want to talk about an Unparalleled Musical Legacy, try Bach.
"for every thing there is a time and a season... Bach was then, he does not translate emotionally to many present day music lovers... with time comes an evolution of our personal taste... doesn't take away anything from the genius of Bach but it doesn't make him globally connective to who we are as today... just the way it is...
And there's billions of people who do not respond to hysterical pandering, MJ's stock in trade.
Bach wrote, orchestrated and performed over a thousand compositions. If it's just the nuts and bolts of music making you're interested in---facts on the ground, so to speak---there's more sheer talent on display in the Goldberg Variations or the "48" than in the entirety of Michael Jackson's musical output.
Don't forget how communal an enterprise "Thriller" was, how much of the musical talent on display is the work of Quincy Jones [who has a greater musical legacy than MJ ever will] and how much of what made "Thriller" work was due to Bruce Swedien's incredible work as an audio engineer. And don't forget that "Thriller" represented Michael Jackson'e high-water mark as a musical performer. The Gloved one's Magnum Opus is the apotheosis of producer-dominated dance music, the absolute standard for disposable pop. We're talkin' about the Moonwalk here. No point in confusing such obviously dated material with a lasting musical legacy.
That's stupid. If you dig Bach, then do so. Clearly you don't get MJ, and that's no big thing either. Funny how that elitism crap works. All you have demonstrated is ignorance and no real appreciation of art. Ever hear the poem "Miniver Cheevy"?
It's not elitism. The author indulges in hyperbole. It's not that I don't appreciate disposable pop. It's highly probable that some of Michael Jackson's sounds and moves will be with us for some time to come. But if you want to use a phrase like "Unparalleled Musical Legacy" you can expect some of us who actually listen to the stuff to get out of our closets and speak our peace. Obviously Michael Jackson learned a thing or two from Irving Berlin, like "Popular music is popular because a lot of people like it." If a the musical legacy is a popularity contest, than Gail Mitchell is right.
I'd say a really "Unparalleled Musical Legacy" is more like Nick Drake or Robert Johnson, where no-one heard of you while you were alive and no one can stop talking about you after your dead. Or the Last Poets, who basically invented Rap while no-one was listening. Being the product of a 24/7 hype machine while you're alive makes you more like Rudy Vallee or Doris Day---omnipresent in their own time, not so influential later.
Oh, PLEASE!
no one can dismiss 100 mil discs sold( & counting) of THRILLER alone disposable!!
BAch should be so lucky.. what's more Bach gets no royalties!
Sales and popularity do not equal quality. How hard a concept is this to grasp?
thank you!!
yes.. personally, I do believe it's high time to re-visit HISTORY cd.. mainly panned by critics on it's first release. From MJ's own voice.. hear his anguish & pain.. FURY and angst.. it's all here... and this haunting LITTLE SUSIE.. and his version of SMILE.. how fitting..
crtics & public were expecting another THRILLER. and shunned this. but how could he?? his first release after those allegations.MJJ always revealed himself best in his work.
MJ was a one of a kind talent. In a society known for eating up and spitting out that type, he managed to create astonishing art that transcended all the world's cultural barriers. Before the internet. He created an amazingly thorough synthesis of the great art that preceded him and never lost contact with or respect for those sources.
Pop icon Michael Jackson left us the same way he came to us."
I am sorry Gail I disagree with you on that statement and it is the very reason why I seem to be so troubled by Michael's passing. it is not his death in particular as I am one of those who know energy transforms not dies... Michael will always be ... but what really bothers me is, I cannot get that face, that look out of my head - the 11 year old on the Sullivan show - the bright shining eyes, the smile peering through his singing and the unabashedly gliding across the floor - pure joy, pure delight oozing from every pore in his body and then, I see MJ the way he left us, eyes revealing a vacant and sad glimpse into his soul, a body frail from carrying the burdens of his fame and stardom, a man who tried to shield himself from a cruel world that never understood his innocence and sensitivity.
The Heavens sent us a glorious child to serenade us with countless moments of joy and by the callous and shallow nature of what we have become sent him back wearing the mask of our ugliness... Today, I mourn not for Michael, but I mourn for what we have become as human beings...
Beautifully said.
standing ovation....wow, that was spot on. The thing that I have been mourning is the pure unneccessary pain he went through. first from his father, then from himself through his self esteem anguish, and then the media slaughtered him....truly a sad representation of our society when news and tabloid are one and the same and truth is an inconvenience. Not saying that he never did anything wrong or made a bad/stupid decision, but it should have all turned out so differently and the media is largely to blame.
Great post.
Thanks Gail, well said
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