The King Of Pop
June 25th 2009 marked a day that will be remembered in history as the day that one of the worlds greatest entertainers died at the ripe age of 50. Love him or hate him, Michael Jackson was not only one of the most talented, and influential entertainers in history, but also the most successful solo artist of all time.
Bursting on the scene at the young age of ten, Jackson instantly showed a flair for show business as the frontman of The Jackson 5, winning the hearts of the fans and the praise of the critics. His amazing vocal talent made him stand out, and with a series of number one hits behind him and his brothers, in the 1970’s he stepped out on his own to launch a solo career that would launch him to super-stardom.
A series of successful hits from his early efforts, it was the 1982 release Thriller that cemented him as a formidable force. It spawned seven hit singles (there were only nine songs on the album!), won Jackson a total of seven Grammy Awards and still to this day, is the best selling album of all time (It has held that spot for over twenty years!)
Jackson went from strength to strength, releasing juggernaut after juggernaut, becoming an icon for hundreds of thousands of people across the globe, eventually being dubbed “The King Of Pop”.
Of course many of you will be aware of the allegations, the rumors and the controversy that has plagued Jackson over the later section of his career. Believe the tabloid reports or not, Jackson was acquitted of all charges, and this blog isn’t at all about that.
This blog is to reflect on the influence that Jackson has had on the world. He broke down racial barriers in the United States, the immense success of Thriller backed up by MTV airtime paved the way not only for the station, but african-american artists everywhere to be featured on the airwaves. The video clip for Thriller paved the way for music videos as a storytelling art-form.
Michael Jackson was a humble philanthropist, starting up the Heal The World foundation, along with donating many of his concert proceedings to other charities across the globe. His Neverland ranch was constantly in use to bring joy and happiness to thousands of terminally ill children, as a place they could have everything they ever dreamed of at their fingertips.
There is no question that Michael Jackson was eccentric and strange, but writing this article has given me a chance to reflect on exactly what this man meant to the world, and what bearing his passing has on me, someone who never has been a fan of his music. I remember that Friday morning I was standing in the bank, had not even checked the news online and a teller simply blurted out “did you hear about Michael Jackson?”. I wondered “why the hell would she ask that?” so I replied no, to which she told me the news. At first I was shocked, but soon got on with my day and didn’t have another thought about it.
After talking with my parents, and reading up on what this artist achieved, and also listening to a little of his music I can now see what this world has lost. Michael Jackson continually brought us heart and soul through his music, music that melded so many forms of the craft, whether it be soul, rock, R&B or jazz, his unique vocal stylings and often haunting lyrics will be remembered through the ages.
Think what you will, but there is no denying that we will never see another artist of his caliber again. Michael Jackson was the 1980’s Elvis, that just happened to be performing for nearly five decades of his life. He was the pinnacle of what an entertainer could accomplish, and nothing will overshadow the stamp he has had on the entertainment industry.
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