Who is Michael Jackson?
Introduction
When one mentions pop music, what comes to mind is Michael Jackson (The King of Pop). Similarly, his name is accompanying by the red leather jacket he used to wear in one of his popular songs of all time. Michael Jackson was a phenomenal artist, songwriter, performer, and singer who reigned from the 90s until his demise. Thriller is the name to his best-selling album[1] , which was his sixth that was released in the year 1982, November 30. The producers to the album were Epic records, and this was a time after there was a backlash with disco forcing Michael Jackson to shift to a new paradigm of music incorporating pop, post-disco, R&B, rock, and funk which were the genres of the album Thriller. Its producer was Quincy Jones, and it was recorded in Westlake, Los Angeles, California. The album constituted seven hit singles that managed to be at Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[2] , and the album itself being on the Billboard 200 chart. When I first listened to the album, I was quite impressed with songs and especially the video clips of the songs Billie Jean, Beat It, and Thriller. Given the time the album was produced, the diversity and racial harmony expressed in this album was phenomenal and to be depicted. Also, the album’s songs have carefully designed beats that elevate the listeners, making them relate to the song on personal levels.
Who is Michael Jackson?
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter who was born on August 29, 1958 and died on June 25, 2009. He is regarded as the King of Pop because through his sensational music, he helped turn the tide of popular music, especially the racial barriers that existed during that time[3]. Thriller was a ground-breaking album that he helped produce most of the songs except for thriller. He is one of the most crucial cultural figures of the 20th century and among the grates entertainers in music history. Before the album thriller, Michael Jackson had produced at least five albums with “off the wall” being the predecessor to thriller. His albums before thriller had not been successful mostly due to racial and societal barriers that prevented the musician display his talent to the world[4]. Being a black American emanated from a music family (Jackson Five), he faced a lot of criticism and racial discrimination, including not being featured on MTV. Before Michael Jackson started his solo debut, he was a member of the Jackson band, where they used to sing as a family. In 1971, he began singing alone recording at Motown records until on his fifth studio album in 1979 where he found his way to stardom through the album Off the Wall[5]. As much as this album was a success to him, the public did not appreciate it as he anticipated. This led to him having a drive to producing an album that consisted of hit songs. During this time (the 1980s), the album Thriller was designed and recorded, which led to being the greatest album of all time with the featured songs being the most phenomenal and pacesetters of popular music. Music videos of this album especially those of Beat it, Billie Jean and Thriller were ground-breaking, able to sell millions of copies worldwide gaining Michael Jackson the fame and popularity[6].
Thriller
The album thriller did not have a specific theme or rather a general theme that defined it. It did not have a specific motif but rather constituted of several emotions that described the whole album. The album shifted tension from traditional instrumentation and electronic sounds, innocence, and experience, optimism and dread, anxiety, and ecstasy. It was a concussion of tunes and beats that were revolutionary different from the genres of the time[7]. Take for instance the opening song to the album, “Wanna be Startin’ somethin’,” the song had ricocheting drum beats that wouldn’t be classified as funk or disco or R&B but a new wave containing strains of each the genres with energy that bursts at the seams[8]. The song was so phenomenal it was thought to culminate from a triumph Swahili chant. It was the sound of the new pop, capturing the diversity and velocity in the new era. The energy after the first opener song dissolves into “Baby be Mine,” a breezy charm of “the Girl is mine” before plunging into the horror and robofunk of “Thriller.” According to the producer, the album was sequential, with all the songs linking with each other. Watching the videos of the album, its like watching a movie with all songs playing as breathtaking, energy-filled sections of the entire album. Billie Jean[9] which comes after Human Nature, is like a mantra, and Human nature is like a kaleidoscopic harmonic collage. Taking the chorus of the track Billie Jean[10], “Billie Jean is not my lover, She’s Just girl who claims that I am the one, but the kid is not my son, hoo!”, depicts the nature of the lifestyle in that era. This is because, during this time, the theme of sexual liberation was prevalent in America, where women and men explored their bodies sexually (outside marriage). With such a track and lyrics[11], the exact picture of the society is brought to life make listeners able to relate to the song on a personal level.
Album Comments
From the album, tracks like thriller, Billie Jean and Beat it are the most phenomenal as they stayed in the Billboard chart longer and at top positions. Most people reacted the most to these tracks because of the racial diversity from thriller and beat it. In an era of racial discrimination[12], having tracks that advocate for racial harmony, the message was powerful and stood through time. In the album, there were no songs that sagged as the whole album exceptional and magnificent with all tracks featuring on the Billboard chart.
Works cited
Delmont, Mathew. “Michael Jackson & Television before Thriller.” The Journal of Pan African Studies 3, no. 7, (2010).
George, nelson. Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson. Da Capo Press, 2010.
[1] George, Nelson. Thriller. The musical life of Michael Jackson. Da Capo press
[2] George, thriller
[3]Delmont, Mathew. “Michael Jackson & Television before Thriller.” The Journal of Pan African Studies 3, no. 7
[4] Delmont, Michael Jackson & television before thriller
[5] Delmont, Michael Jackson & television before thriller
[6] Delmont, Michael Jackson & television before thriller
[7] George, nelson. Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson. Da Capo press
[8] George, thriller
[9] George, thriller
[10] George, thriller
[11] George, thriller
[12] George, nelson. Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson. Da Capo Press