Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was aspecial television showreleased on May 16, 1983 and produced by Suzanne de Passe for the 25th anniversary of Motown Records . Motown was founded in January 1959, which is why 1984 could also be considered.
Before it was broadcast on May 16, the program was recorded on March 25, 1983. The highlights of the show included the appearances of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean , Marvin Gayes What’s Going On , the reunion of the Jackson 5 and the reunion of the Supremes . The latter sang their last number one hit: Someday We'll Be Together from the album Cream of the Crop .
procedure
| Interpreter | song |
|---|---|
| Junior Walker | Shotgun |
| Marvin Gaye | Sexual Healing , What's Going On |
| Mary Wells and Martha & the Vandellas | My Guy, Love is Like a Heat Wave |
| Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five | I Want You Back , The Love You Save, Never Can Say Goodbye, I'll Be There |
| Michael Jackson | Billie Jean |
| The Miracles | Shop Around, Shop Around, You've Really Got A Hold On Me, Tears Of A Clown, Going To A Go-Go |
| Stevie Wonder | I Wish, Uptight (Everything's Alright), Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours, You Are the Sunshine Of My Life, My Cherie Amour, Sir Duke , Fingertips |
| The Supremes | Someday We'll Be Together, Baby Love and Stop! In the Name of Love |
| Diana Ross | Ain't No Mountain High Enough |
| The Temptations / The Four Tops | Reach Out I'll Be There , Get Ready, I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) , My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, I Can't Get Next to You |
Jr. Walker
Junior Walker played one of his greatest hits solo, which he played with his band “Jr. Walker and the All-Stars ”had:“ Shotgun ”.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye , who ironically left the Motown music label for Columbia Records a year ago, first sang the song Sexual Healing . He was only signed shortly before the event, as all the legends of the largest and most prestigious record company of the time were to perform.
When he appeared, his classic What's Going On was recorded on the piano . After the applause came, he began to sing the song. This concert was one of Gays last public appearances. He passed away a year later.
Mary Wells and Martha Reeves
The 'First lady of Motown', Mary Wells , and the group Martha & the Vandellas with front woman Martha Reeves only had a short 30-second appearance with their hits My Guy and (Love is Like a) Heat Wave .
Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five
For the first time in 8 years, Jermaine Jackson (who remained the only member of the Jackson 5 with Motown Records when the band left the label in 1975 and switched to Columbia Records and thus left the family band) was back with his brothers Jackie , Marlon , Tito and Michael united on stage. There was also brother Randy Jackson , who had not belonged to the original formation, but was active in the group The Jacksons . They played a music medley of the following songs: I Want You Back , The Love You Save, Never Can Say Goodbye, and I'll Be There. When all the members of the Jackson 5 left the stage, Michael Jackson performed solo. He sang his song Billie Jean for the first time , the only non-Motown song on the special television show, and performed the moonwalk for the first time in pop music history . Jackson's performance was then nominated for an Emmy and then the song was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 7 weeks . The performance of "Bille Jean" has remained pretty much the same since Motown 25 . She begins with the determined donning of the fedora hat and ends with the moonwalk . Since the victory tour of Jackson , the presentation of ending Billie Jean with the dance in detail the spotlight with only the bass line of Billie Jean.
The Miracles
The band appeared in their original line-up for a long-awaited period: Smokey Robinson , Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Claudette Robinson and Marv Tarplin. This line-up had not appeared in this formation since 1972; they too sang a medley of their greatest hits.
Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was accompanied by the girl group Wonderlove . He also played his greatest hits.
The Supremes
The show's biggest announcement was the reunion of the Supremes : Diana Ross , Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong (since Florence Ballard died in 1976) performed together. The four of the biggest hits were sung that evening. Diana Ross then stayed alone on stage and sang her hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough".
When Ross finished, she made a brief speech about 'the night that everyone came back' (although, as stated above, some artists were not invited, and some had died). After the beginning chords of "Someday We'll Be Together", the svelte Wilson strutted on stage in a dazzling fire engine red sequin gown and was greeted by a thunderous applause which quickly upstaged Miss Ross.
When Ross finished her song, she gave a speech. The band colleague Wilson appeared on stage with the song "Someday We'll Be Together" that followed. Ross was frustrated and pushed her aside. These scenes were deleted from the concert broadcast.
Trivia
The Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever show only invited gold-era Motown artists. Performers who were under contract with the record company during this time were not taken into account, such as E.g .: DeBarge and José Feliciano .
Motown 50
In December 2009, Motown announced a plan for an eventual 50th birthday special.
Publications
A VHS was released by MGM / UA Home Video on July 1, 1991.
In 2014 an exclusive "Motown 25th Collectors Edition" was released, including an extended version of the original broadcast on May 16, 1983 and 14 hours of bonus material plus an additional DVD of the Ed Sullivan Motortown Review including Motown legends live on 6 DVDs the Ed Sullivan Show contains.
Individual evidence
- Posner, Gerald (2002). Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-50062-6 .
- Mary Wilson and Patricia Romanowski , (1986, 1990, 2000). Dreamgirl: My Life as a Supreme: My Life as a Supreme. New York: Cooper Square Publishers. ISBN 0-8154-1000-X .