Michael Jackson: Man in the Music, Part 1

That's what makes greatness. You have to have that tragedy, that pain to pull from. That's what makes a clown great. You can see he's hurting behind the masquerade. He's something else externally. -Michael Jackson

"I know the creator will go. But his work survives. That is why to escape death I attempt to bind my soul to my work." -Michelangelo, quoted by Michael Jackson in a 2007 interview with Ebony

For the past few years, I have been working on a book exploring Michael Jackson the artist (entitled Man in the Music: An Album by Album Guide to Michael Jackson). As a cultural critic and music aficionado, it has been a fascinating process of discovery. Overshadowed by his eccentricities, his legal battles, even his commercial success, few people have explored what made Michael Jackson a star in the first place: his staggering artistic talent.

Just two days ago, in fact, I was up late polishing the chapter on his first solo album, Off the Wall (an oft-overlooked masterpiece that set the stage for Thriller).

Like many others, I also anxiously looked forward to his sold-out concert series in London at the O2 Arena, which Coldplay singer Chris Martin described as "the biggest comeback since Lazarus" as well as his highly anticipated new album, which would be his first new material since 2001's Invincible).

Then last night the tragic news.

Like millions of others from my generation, Michael Jackson has been a part of my life the way the Beatles were to a previous generation. I remember the first time I saw him dance on Motown 25, the hundreds of times I popped Thriller or Bad or Dangerous into my Sony Walkman, wearing out my VHS of "The Legend Continues," watching the worldwide premier of the "Black or White" video, practicing the moonwalk on my kitchen floor. So many of us growing up in the Eighties have memories like this.

(One amazing note about Michael Jackson, however, in comparison to other musical icons like John Lennon and Elvis Presley is that Jackson essentially spanned three decades (the 70s, 80s, and 90s) in very distinct incarnations as a major figure in popular music. He is therefore remembered culturally by people across the age spectrum. Due in part to globalization and technology he also spanned the globe like no other recording artist before him.)

As I grew older, many of my musical interests changed. But Michael Jackson remained. Even as he hid behind walls and masks, even as he was reduced to a freakish caricature by the media, his complex mixture of joy, sadness, innocence, exhilaration, anger, paranoia, wonder, social concern, suffering, loneliness, and transcendence came through in his songs. They reminded us that, after all, he was a human being.

Today I grieve with millions of others around the world. The news of Michael Jackson's death is not only shocking as many journalists are saying. It is devastating on so many levels. The "King of Pop" is, as he once sung, gone too soon. But he lives, as he always did, in his art.

Over the next few days, since I can't yet release the entire book, I will share excerpts from each album (chapter) of Man in the Music that hopefully opens new windows into his remarkable talent, career, and creative life.

Comments

[Madmac]

I would like to get this book. Where can I pick it up

[divakarssathya]

Any consideration of Michael Jackson's awesome oeuvre has to include his angelic triumph over his brutal childhood.

Clearly, his music was his triumph. A writing in the sky iteration of his love and sanity.

No question, Michael Jackson was one of the sanest human beings of the 20th century.

What about the allegations of child molestation ?

First, I never believed them.

Second, remember they were brought to you by the same wonderful folks who gave you Saddam Hussein's Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Third, the world over children, women and others who are not certified members of the power structure are treated with varying degrees of brutality. Those in power are quickly handed a cloak of invisibility by the media.

A case in point.

How many in India know that the Vatican has paid out close to a hundred million dollars to compensate for victims of child sexual abuse by albeit "a small minority" of priests.

The Indian media has barely reported that story.

Was the media's heinous silence an act of concern for Indian children or a hideously wrongheaded act of "secularism" ?

Michael Jackson, there are many in India, who rooted for you since your Jackson Five days.We are shocked and grieve your untimely passing.

But you will always be with us.

Welcome to : Hemanta Da! Madan Mohan! Michael Jackson ! Amar Rahe !
Narcissistic India's Gratitude Deficit.
http://spriteleesathya.blogspot.com/2009/06/hemanta-da-madan-mohan-saab-michael.html

[Tivo]

How can you possibly compare Michael Jackson to Paul McCartney, James Walley?

Joe, beautifully stated, but I have come to expect nothing less from you. I look forward to reading your book. My thoughts and prayers are with Jackson's children and family.

[James Walley]

"One amazing note about Michael Jackson in comparison to other musical icons like John Lennon and Elvis Presley is that Jackson essentially spanned three decades, not just one, as a major figure in popular music--the Seventies, Eighties, and Nineties."

Uh...Elvis Presley spanned the period from the Fifties through the Seventies -- three decades.

John Lennon (and why just Lennon, instead of the Beatles as a whole?) spanned three decades as well -- the Sixties through the Eighties. It's hard to remember that, at the time of Lennon's murder in December of 1980, he'd just released his "comeback" album that was climbing the charts. And he had several other songs and one album released posthumously, which did the same.

If one wants to use number of decades as a standard, keep in mind that Paul McCartney has spanned FIVE decades, from the Sixties to last year's "Electric Arguments." (And for how many decades was Frank Sinatra a presence on the musical scene?)

[aztecdiva]

Out of all your comparisons only one can still be heard at night clubs and mixed with Hip Hop, R&B and Rap music.

Elvis stole music from black musicians and re-recorded it as his own. Often not paying royalties to the artists or producers who created the originals. Elvis took from one group, passed it off as his own, which paved the way for radio stations to play "black music."

As for John Lennon and Paul McCartney, you have to compare apples to apples. When you look at each of the individual's solo careers MJ stands hands and shoulders above the others.

As a solo artist, Lennon only had 2 number one hits -- "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" in 1974 for the week of 11/16 and Starting Over in 1981 for 5 weeks, 1st week starting in 12/27. While Lennon was a wonderful artist his span of influence as a solo artist was cannot compare to MJ.

As for Paul McCartney, the last number one hit he had in the US was for 7 weeks (12/10/1983 to 1/14/84). was the duet - Say, Say, Say with MJ. McCartney hasn't had another #1 Billboard hit.

It isn't about how many decades. It is about the impact on music while remaining relevant; the ability to constantly experiment with complex music while providing inspiration for new artists. For 45 years, that was exactly what MJ did.