Michael Jackson: Difference between revisions

Edit links
Page extended-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
that's true too.....but less encyclopedic....and less relevant to the given citation
Casmin (talk | contribs)
2 edits
Line 38: Line 38:


From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his [[Neverland Ranch]] property, where he built an [[amusement park]] and private [[zoo]] that was frequently attended by disadvantaged and [[Terminal illness|terminally ill]] children. Rumours of [[sleepover]] parties received disparaging media coverage after it was revealed that children frequently slept in his bed or bedroom. These first came to light when [[1993 child molestation allegations against Michael Jackson|he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993]]. Michael Jackson's relationship with children was brought into the spotlight again in [[2003]] during the TV documentary ''[[Living with Michael Jackson]]''. This resulted in Jackson being [[People v. Jackson|tried, and later acquitted]], of more child molestation allegations and several other charges in 2005.
From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his [[Neverland Ranch]] property, where he built an [[amusement park]] and private [[zoo]] that was frequently attended by disadvantaged and [[Terminal illness|terminally ill]] children. Rumours of [[sleepover]] parties received disparaging media coverage after it was revealed that children frequently slept in his bed or bedroom. These first came to light when [[1993 child molestation allegations against Michael Jackson|he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993]]. Michael Jackson's relationship with children was brought into the spotlight again in [[2003]] during the TV documentary ''[[Living with Michael Jackson]]''. This resulted in Jackson being [[People v. Jackson|tried, and later acquitted]], of more child molestation allegations and several other charges in 2005.

<sup>DUDE! HE TOUCHED MAJOR PENIS!</sup>


== Biography ==
== Biography ==

Revision as of 05:46, 1 May 2007

For other people named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation).
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958), commonly known as MJ as well as the "King of Pop," is an American musician, entertainer, and pop icon whose successful career and controversial personal life have been a part of pop culture for the last three decades. He has three children: Michael Joseph Jackson Jr. (known as 'Prince'), Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, and Prince Michael Joseph Jackson II (known as 'Blanket').

Michael Jackson is widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers and most popular recording artists in human history,[2] heralding and displaying complicated physical techniques, like the robot and the moonwalk, that have redefined mainstream dance and entertainment. His achievements in the music industry have included, among other things, a revolutionary transformation of music videos,[2] epitomized by 1983's Thriller, often cited as the greatest music video of all time,[2] establishing high-profile album releases and sales as a new trend for record companies to generate profits,[3] dominating pop music during the 1980s,[4] and becoming the first black entertainer to amass a strong following on MTV while leading the relatively young channel out of obscurity.[5] Additionally, Michael Jackson has dabbled in various musical genres and collaborated with several other superstars in the music industry, occasionally also lending his talents to the work of other artists.[6] His distinctive style, moves, and vocals have inspired, influenced, and spawned a whole generation of hip hop, pop, and R&B artists, including Mariah Carey,[7] Usher,[8] Britney Spears,[7] Justin Timberlake,[9] Omarion,[10] Ne-Yo,[11] and Chris Brown,[12] among others. In November 2006, he was named the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" by Guinness World Records.[13]

Jackson began his musical career at the age of seven as the lead singer of The Jackson 5 and released his first solo recording, Got to Be There, in 1971 while remaining a member of the group.[14] He began a full-fledged solo career in 1979 and formally parted with his siblings in 1984.[15] In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller, which has worldwide sales exceeding 104 million.[16] After Thriller, Jackson continued to release internationally chart-topping albums like Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), HIStory (1995), and Invincible (2001), his latest album of fully original material. Michael Jackson has received thirteen Grammy Awards[17] and charted thirteen number-one singles in the United States, more than any other solo male artist in the Hot 100 era. In November 2006, Raymone Bain, Jackson's PR, announced that Michael Jackson has sold over 750 million units worldwide,[18] making Jackson one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, where he built an amusement park and private zoo that was frequently attended by disadvantaged and terminally ill children. Rumours of sleepover parties received disparaging media coverage after it was revealed that children frequently slept in his bed or bedroom. These first came to light when he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993. Michael Jackson's relationship with children was brought into the spotlight again in 2003 during the TV documentary Living with Michael Jackson. This resulted in Jackson being tried, and later acquitted, of more child molestation allegations and several other charges in 2005.

DUDE! HE TOUCHED MAJOR PENIS!

Biography

1958–1979: Early life and career

Main article: The Jackson 5
The cover to Michael Jackson's 1971's Got to Be There.

Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana. He was the second-youngest brother of seven and the eighth of ten children of Joseph and Katherine Jackson. The Jacksons were a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. Katherine, being a Jehovah's Witness, raised the children as such, while their father, Joe, who started studying with the Witnesses, instead decided he would not join that faith. Jackson's father, a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson children recall being spanked or whipped by Joe for misbehaving. Jackson showed musical talent early on and joined his brothers when they formed a group in 1964.

During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money. The young Jackson had taken co-lead singing duties with brother Jermaine when the group's name changed from "The Jackson Brothers" to "The Jackson 5" in 1966. The group eventually auditioned for and signed a contract with Motown Records in 1968.[19] The group hit stardom with their first four singles, "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There," which charted at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, the first time ever a group had pulled off that feat. As a solo artist, Jackson released Got to Be There and Ben in 1972. These were released as part of the Jackson 5 franchise and produced successful singles such as "Got to Be There", "Ben", and a remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin".

The group's sales declined after 1973, and the group chafed under Motown's strict refusal to allow the Jacksons creative control or input. In 1976, the group signed a new contract with CBS Records (first joining the Philadelphia International division and then Epic Records).[20] When this became apparent to Motown Records, they sued the group for breach of contract.

As a result of the legal proceedings, which were complicated further by the fact that Jermaine Jackson was married to the daughter of Motown president (Berry Gordy), the Jacksons lost the rights to use the "Jackson 5" name and logo and also Jermaine, who wanted to stay at Motown.[21] They changed their name to "The Jacksons", featuring youngest brother Randy in Jermaine's place, and continued their successful career, touring internationally and releasing six more albums between 1976 and 1984, with Jermaine eventually re-joining in 1983, making them a sextet. From 1976 to 1984, Jackson was the lead songwriter of the group, laying down such hits as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," "This Place Hotel," and "Can You Feel It." In 1978, Jackson starred as the scarecrow in The Wiz with former-label mate Diana Ross playing Dorothy.[22] The songs for the musical were arranged by Quincy Jones, who established a partnership with Jackson during the film's production and agreed to produce his first solo album in four years.

1979–1982: Off the Wall era

Main article: Off the Wall
File:MichaelJackson-OffTheWall.jpg
The cover of 1979's Off the Wall. Although eventually becoming a major commercial success worldwide, the album never topped the Billboard charts, peaking at #3.

Off the Wall, released in 1979, was a worldwide success story that made music history, becoming the first album ever to spawn four top-ten hits, including the number-one hits, "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You".[14] It reached #3 in the Billboard album charts, spending 48 consecutive weeks inside the Top 20. Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson jointly produced the album, with lyrics and music by Jackson, Heatwave's Rod Temperton, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney, among others. The album signaled the arrival of a new Michael Jackson, one not reliant upon his brothers to further his career.[23] Off the Wall, buoyed by its catchy dance rhythms and avoidance of the "shallow excesses...of the period's disco,"[23] eventually sold some 20 million copies worldwide.[24] Despite its commercial success, Jackson felt the album should have made a much bigger impact and was determined to exceed expectations with his next release.

In January 1980, Jackson won his first awards for his solo efforts at the American Music Awards. He won "Favorite Soul/R&B Album" (for Off the Wall), "Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist" and Favorite Soul/R&B Single (for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[14] Later that month, he also won two Billboard Awards (for "Top Black Artist" and "Top Black Album").[14] On February 27 1980, Jackson won a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male" (for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough").[14]

More than twenty-five years after its release, Off the Wall remains one of the defining moments in Jackson's music career and began his domination as one of pop music's leading artists. In 2003, the TV network VH1 named Off the Wall the thirty-sixth greatest album of all time. Rolling Stone ranked it #68 in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

1982–1986: Thriller era

Main articles: Thriller (album), We Are the World, and Captain EO
File:Michaeljacksonthriller.jpg
The cover of 1982's Thriller. Thriller became by far the biggest-selling album of all time with unprecedented worldwide sales reaching over 104 million copies sold.

In November 1982, the storybook for E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial was released. It included Jackson reading the story as well as one original song ("Someone in the Dark"). The album later won a Grammy for "Best Album for Children".

In December 1982, Jackson released his second Epic album, Thriller. It became the best-selling album in music history with album sales exceeding 104 million. The album also became the first in history to spawn seven top-ten Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, including "Billie Jean" (which was the first music video by a black artist to receive regular airplay on MTV), "Beat It" and the album's title track which was accompanied by a revolutionary music video. The thirteen-minute Thriller was critically acclaimed, and massive airplay lead to it being packaged with the featurette Making Michael Jackson's Thriller on VHS, where it became the best-selling music home video ever.[25] Thriller spent 37 weeks at number-one and remained on the Billboard album chart for 122 weeks. It was eventually certified 27x Platinum in the United States.[26]

File:Billie Jean Video Clip.jpg
Jackson in a scene from the popular "Billie Jean" music video. The song hit number one on the Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks in early 1983. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest songs Jackson ever wrote.

In 1983, whilst performing "Billie Jean" at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever concert Jackson debuted what can be regarded as his signature move: the moonwalk.[25] The performance sparked a new wave of interest in Thriller, which continued to sell well throughout the year. In 1983, he started a sponsorship deal with Pepsi-Cola, and, as part of the deal, he agreed to star in a commercial. While filming the commercial in front of 3,000 fans the following year, a fireworks display behind him malfunctioned, shooting a shower of sparks down upon the singer’s head and setting fire to his hair. Jackson was apparently unfazed by his blazing locks, calmly covering his head with his jacket while his brothers rushed to help. He suffered second-degree burns and later wore a hairpiece when collecting Grammys later that year.[27]

In February 1984, Jackson was nominated for twelve Grammy awards - of which he won eight[25] - breaking the record for the most Grammy Awards won in a single year.[28] Seven were for the critically acclaimed Thriller and the other for the E.T.: The Extra-terrestrial storybook. In 1984, he also won eight American Music Awards and the "Special Award of Merit" and three MTV Video Music Awards.

File:Beat It Video Clip.jpg
Jackson in the video for "Beat It." Considered by many to be the ultimate crossover hit, and one of Jackson's most popular songs, "Beat It" topped the Hot 100 charts for three weeks in 1983.

Thriller was a gigantic hit that made Michael Jackson the seminal icon of American culture at the time. Time magazine explained that "the fallout from Thriller has given the [music] business its best years since the heady days of 1978, when it had an estimated total domestic revenue of $4.1 billion."[29] Thriller helped to bring music from African-American artists back into mainstream radio for the first time since the mid-1970s.[29] The album also dominated much of the world's conscience in its heyday; as one Soviet high school senior put it, "His [Michael Jackson's] music is electrifying. His beat is the music of today."[29] In May 1984, stores across the country started selling dolls of the superstar, who also became something of a sexual symbol, as he was described by Time magazine: "Undeniably sexy. Absolutely safe. Eroticism at arm's length."[29] Additionally, Michael Jackson's rhinestone glove and Thriller jacket became iconic aspects of his outfits, which American youth sported all too eagerly. As a sign of his stature at the time, Republican officials even considered inviting Jackson to their national convention in 1984, where they would renominate Reagan, but a change of plans left Ron Walker, the convention manager, stating that "We never thought we had a ghost of a chance."[30]

After reuniting with his brothers, he then helped to write the Victory album. He then performed and starred in the Victory Tour which started on July 6 1984 and lasted for five months.[25] In 1985, Jackson was invited to the White House and was personally thanked by President Ronald Reagan at a White House ceremony for donating the song "Beat It" for use in drunk driving prevention television and radio public service announcements.[31]

Jackson continued his charity work in 1985 by co-writing, with Lionel Richie, the hit single "We Are the World". The charity single helped to raise money and awareness for the famine in East Africa and was one of the first instances where Jackson was seen as a humanitarian. The song also won a Grammy Award for "Song of the Year".[25] "We Are the World" became one of the top five best-selling singles of all time, selling over 20 million copies worldwide.

Jackson with the Reagans in 1984.

Controversy began when Jackson purchased shares in the ATV Music Publishing (a company which owned the rights to most of the Beatles' songs), making himself the majority shareholder. This move angered close friend and songwriter Paul McCartney, who had also made a bid for the company. Ironically, it was McCartney who advised Jackson on the merits of song ownership.[32] Their creative co-writing ended after this event. Following this controversial business deal, tabloid stories of Jackson sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to stall the aging-process, and an allegation claiming Jackson attempted to purchase the bones of the Elephant Man inspired the pejorative sobriquet "Wacko Jacko". The name "Wacko Jacko," which was first used by British media, would come to be detested by Jackson.[33]

In 1986, Jackson starred in the George Lucas-produced, Francis Ford Coppola-directed 3-D film Captain EO. The film lasted 17 minutes but had costs estimated at $17 million.[34] At the time, it was the most expensive film ever produced on a per-minute basis. In the USA, the Disney theme parks hosted Captain EO. Disneyland featured the film in tomorrow-land from September 18, 1986 until April 7, 1997. It was also featured in Walt Disney World in Epcot from September 12, 1986 until July 6, 1994. Two new songs featured in the film. These were "Another Part of Me", which later appeared on Bad, and "We Are Here To Change The World", which was officially released in 2004 on the box set Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection.

1987–1990: Bad era

Main articles: Bad (album) and Physical appearance of Michael Jackson
File:Michael jackson bad cd cover 1987 cdda.jpg
The cover of 1987's Bad. Bad was probably the most anticipated album of all time, coming in the heels of Jackson's monster success with Thriller. It did not reproduce the achievements of Thriller, but it was still a major commercial success around the world, becoming the second biggest-selling album of all time for years.

In 1987, Jackson released Bad; his third album for the Epic record label, and final album with producer Quincy Jones.[25] He initially wanted to make the album 30 tracks long, but Jones cut this down to 10. According to Jones, Jackson wanted the title track to be a duet with Prince who later declined the duet. Jones said the reason given by Prince was that he thought the song would be a hit whether he was in it or not.[35] With the industry expecting another monster hit, the release was heavily anticipated as it was Jackson's first album in five years.[36] The album had over two million advance orders.[36]

In comparison to Thriller, Bad had lower sales but it was still a huge commercial success. It spawned seven hit singles,[25] of which five went to number-one: "I Just Can't Stop Loving You", "Bad", "The Way You Make Me Feel", "Man in the Mirror", and "Dirty Diana". Two decades after it was released, Bad still holds the record for generating more number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts than any other album. It went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide and the RIAA eventually certified Bad at 8x Platinum.[37] Musically, Bad featured ballads and light-hearted songs combined with a panoply of darker-themed and somber material, epitomized by the last track on the album, "Leave Me Alone," which has Jackson venting against the constant attention he received from the press.[36]

In September 1987, Jackson embarked upon his first solo world tour, the Bad World Tour. The tour lasted sixteen months, in which he performed at 123 concerts, to over 4.4 million fans worldwide. Jackson insisted on a personal bus, plane and helicopter to be available to him all at the same time.[38]

Jackson hired film director Martin Scorsese to direct the video for the album's title track.[39] When the 18-minute music video debuted on TV, it sparked a great deal of controversy as it became apparent that Jackson's appearance had changed dramatically.[40] Although Jackson's skin color was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, his skin had been becoming paler gradually since 1982, and had become a light brown color. This change became so noticeable that it gained widespread media coverage with some tabloids claiming that it was due to Jackson bleaching his skin.

Another significant reason for the change in appearance was the use of plastic surgery. Despite a number of surgeons' claims that Jackson had undergone multiple nasal surgeries as well as a forehead lift, thinned lips and cheekbone surgery,[41] Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin, while attributing puberty and diet to the noticeable change in the structure of his face.[42]

The success Jackson achieved during this period in his career led to him to be dubbed the "King of Pop",[43] a nickname which he continues to be referred to by fans and the media.[44] There are various conflicting reports as to the origin of the nickname. According to Jackson, it was conceived by actress and long-term friend Elizabeth Taylor when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul." In 1990, recognizing Michael Jackon's musical influence in the 1980s, the White House presented the singer with its own special "Artist of the Decade" award, personally delivered to Jackson by President George H. W. Bush, who made the following statement: "This is what we call a photo opportunity. I just wanted to welcome Michael Jackson here, who has been named Artist of the Decade. And he has a tremendous following. He does good work, what we call the Points of Light concept. I just wanted to bring him out here and officially welcome him to the White House once again."[45] Additionally, this period saw Jackson enjoy "a level of superstardom previously known only to Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Frank Sinatra."[46]

1991–1994: Dangerous era

Main articles: Dangerous (album), 1993 child molestation allegations against Michael Jackson, and Michael Jackson marriages and children
The cover of 1991's Dangerous. This period in his career witnessed a continuing and steady stream of large sales figures and Jackson's introduction as the "King of Pop."

In November 1991, Michael Jackson released Dangerous, which, at roughly 30 million copies worldwide,[24] registered sales figures similar to those of Bad. The biggest hit single in the United States from that album was "Black or White," which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for seven weeks. The single was accompanied by a controversial video, premiering as a simulcast on the Fox network, MTV and BET, which featured scenes construed as having a sexual nature as well as depictions of violent behavior. The offending scenes in the final half of the fourteen minute version of "Black or White" were edited out to prevent the video from being banned.[43] On November 14, 1991, the video for "Black or White" simultaneously premiered in 27 countries with an estimated audience of 500 million people, the largest viewing ever for a music video.[6]

On February 10 1992, MTV kicked off its first global sweepstakes with "My Dinner with Michael". Winners from around the world attended a dinner party hosted by Michael Jackson on the set of his music video "In the Closet". Later that year, a biopic, The Jacksons: An American Dream debuted on ABC based on the true story of the rise of The Jackson 5.

Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" (named after his humanitarian single "Heal the World") in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's Neverland Ranch, located outside Santa Ynez, California, to go on theme park rides which Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it in 1988.

In January 1993, Michael Jackson performed during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVII. It drew one of the largest viewing audiences in the history of American television.[47]

On The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1993, Jackson claimed that the change in his skin color was due to vitiligo.[48] In the interview, Jackson stated that his skin was, at first, black with white spots which he used make-up to cover. But later, some time after Thriller, his skin became increasingly white with black spots; he then used white make-up to cover the black spots.

Jackson was reported to be allowing children to sleepover at Neverland. This practice came under much media and public scrutiny in 1993 when allegations of child molestation were brought against Jackson by a child who had stayed with him on several occasions. That year, Jordan Chandler, the son of former Beverly Hills dentist Evan Chandler, represented by civil lawyer Larry Feldman, accused Jackson of child sexual abuse. On December 22 Jackson responded to the allegations via satellite from his Neverland compound, and claimed to be "totally innocent of any wrongdoing." On January 25 1994, Jackson settled out of court with the accuser for an undisclosed sum, reported to be $20 million, and was not charged.[49]

After the allegations were settled in 1994, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Presley maintained during their marriage that they both shared a married couple's life and were sexually active.[50] They divorced less than two years later.

1995–2000: HIStory era and Blood on the Dance Floor

Main articles: HIStory and Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix
File:History album cover.jpg
The cover of 1995's HIStory, which gave Jackson another worldwide smash hit, selling 36 million units.

In June 1995, Jackson released HIStory: Past, Present And Future - Book I,[51] which went on to sell 18 million copies (36 million units) worldwide.[24] The first disc, HIStory Begins, was a fifteen-track greatest hits album (this disc was later released as Greatest Hits - HIStory Vol. I in 2001), while the second disc, HIStory Continues, contained fifteen new songs. The first single released from HIStory was "Scream". The single reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video for "Scream" is currently the most expensive music video ever made.[52] On September 7, 1995 at the MTV Video Music Awards, Jackson and sister Janet Jackson won three awards for the song "Scream", from HIStory. At the awards show, Jackson also performed a medley, "Billie Jean", "Dangerous" and "You Are Not Alone".

"They Don't Care About Us" was the fourth single released from HIStory, and caused controversy over anti-Semitic lyrics. The song contained the lyrics "Jew me, sue me" and "kick me, kike me." After significant pressure from the Jewish community, later releases changed the verse to the same-sounding "do me, sue me" and "kick me, hike me" or censored it with a thumping sound.

To promote the album, Jackson embarked on the successful HIStory World Tour,[51] which was attended by more than four and a half million people, a record for concert attendance outside of the United States that still stands. On November 14, 1996, during the Australian leg of the tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse Deborah Jeanne Rowe, with whom he fathered a son, Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr. (also known as "Prince"), and a daughter, Paris Katherine Jackson. Jackson and Rowe divorced in 1999. Jackson later said that Rowe wanted him to have the children as a "gift."[53] The paternity of Michael Jackson's children has been heavily debated by the public. Both Jackson and Rowe have always maintained that his first two children were conceived naturally.

File:Michael-Jackson-With-Kids.jpg
Jackson at the BRIT Awards in 1996.

At the 1996 BRIT Awards, Jackson performed the track "Earth Song", dressed in white and surrounded by children and an actor portraying a Rabbi. In an attempt to recreate a scene from the video - where he is spreading his arms between two trees - it seemed that Jackson was making Christ-like poses whilst being lifted into the air by a crane with a wind machine blowing back his hair. Pulp lead singer Jarvis Cocker and his friend Peter Mansell mounted a stage invasion in protest. Cocker leapt onstage, pretended to expose his rear, danced and sat back down. In response to the ensuing media scrutiny of the action, Cocker responded, "My actions were a form of protest at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing... I just ran on the stage and showed off... All I was trying to do was make a point and do something that lots of other people would have loved to have done if only they'd dared."[54] Cocker received vocal support from the British press: the March 2 1996 edition of Melody Maker, for example, suggested Cocker should be knighted, while Noel Gallagher claimed "Jarvis Cocker is a star and he should be given MBE." Gallagher said of Jackson's behavior: "for Michael Jackson to come over to this country after what's all gone on - and I think we all know what I'm talking about here - to dress in a white robe, right, thinking he's the Messiah - I mean who does he think he is? Me?"[55]

File:Blood on the dance floor-1-.jpg
The cover of Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix.

In 1997, Jackson released an album of new material with remixes of hit singles from HIStory titled Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix;[51] it became the greatest selling remix album ever. The album's five original songs were named "Blood On The Dance Floor", "Is It Scary?", "Ghosts", "Superfly Sister" and "Morphine". Of the new songs, three were released globally: the title track, "Ghosts", and "Is It Scary?". The title track reached number-one in the UK. The singles "Ghosts" and "Is It Scary" were based on a film created by Jackson called "Ghosts".[56] The short film, written by Michael Jackson and Stephen King and directed by Stan Winston, features many special effects and dance moves choreographed to original music written by Michael Jackson.[57] The music video for "Ghosts" is over 35 minutes long and is currently the Worlds Longest Music Video.[58] Jackson dedicated the album to Elton John, who reportedly helped him through his addiction to painkillers, notably morphine.

In 1998 Jackson reached an out-of-court settlement with the Daily Mirror, which apologized for having described his face as "hideously disfigured and scarred." Steven Hoefflin, a high-profile Hollywood plastic surgeon alleged to have operated on Jackson's nose was, according to the press, also advising him against further surgery.[38]

2001–2003: Invincible era

Main article: Invincible (album)
The cover of 2001's Invincible.

In October 2001, Invincible was released[59] and debuted at number-one in thirteen countries.[47] Invincible went on to sell nearly 8 million copies worldwide.[24] The singles released from the album include "You Rock My World", "Cry", and "Butterflies". Jackson and 35 other artists recorded a charity benefit single entitled "What More Can I Give" which was never released. Just before the release of Invincible, Jackson informed the head of Sony Music Entertainment, Tommy Mottola, that he was not going to renew his contract;[43] the contract was about to expire in terms of supplying the label with albums of full-new material for release through Epic Records/SME. In 2002, all singles releases, video shootings and promotions concerning the Invincible album were cancelled. As a result of this, Jackson made allegations about Mottola not supporting its African American artists.[43] Jackson referred to Mottola as a "devil" and a "racist" who used black artists for his own personal gain.[43] He cited that Mottola called Jackson's colleague Irv Gotti a "fat nigger."[60][61] Sony issued a statement stating that they found the allegations strange, since Mottola was once married to biracial pop star Mariah Carey. Carey herself seemed nonchalant about Jackson's claims when asked about them by Larry King on Larry King Live.[62]

On September 7 and September 10 2001, Jackson organized a special 30th Anniversary celebration at Madison Square Garden for his 30th year of being a solo artist. Later, the show aired on November 13, 2001.[59] It featured performances by Mýa, Usher, Whitney Houston, Billy Gilman, Shaggy, Rayvon, Rikrok, Destiny's Child, Monica, Deborah Cox, Rah Digga, Tamia, James Ingram, Gloria Estefan, 98 Degrees, Luther Vandross, Liza Minnelli, Lil' Romeo, Master P, 'N Sync, the Jacksons and Slash.[63]

In wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson helped organize the United We Stand: What More Can I Give benefit concert at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.. The concert was aired on October 21, 2001, and included performances from dozens of major artists, including Jackson, who performed his song "What More Can I Give" as the finale.

In late 2002, Jackson's Heal the World Foundation had net assets of just $3,542 and reported $2,585 in expenses, mostly for management fees. The foundation was suspended in California since April 2002 for supposedly failing to file annual statements required of tax-exempt organizations, according to John Barrett, spokesman for the state Franchise Tax Board. The "Heal the World Foundation spread millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease," thanks to the efforts of Michael Jackson, but the forced closure of the Foundation will leave many of these children without aid.[64]

File:Mjyrmw.jpg
Jackson in the video for "You Rock My World".

In November 2002, Jackson travelled to Berlin to accept an award for his humanitarian efforts. He was surrounded by fans outside his room at the Hotel Adlon who were chanting in approval of the singer. According to the pop star, they also called out to see his baby. In response, Jackson brought his son onto the balcony, holding him tightly in his right arm with a cloth loosely draped over the baby's face in order to protect his identity from the media. Jackson briefly extended the baby over the railing of the balcony, whilst still holding it tightly. This raised concern as some perceived his actions as child endangerment, although Jackson has vehemently denied these tabloid rumours. Jackson quickly returned the child to the room. Whilst the media portrayed the event as being met with a shocked response, the fans were soon cheering for Jackson once again, and he came out later that night to screaming fans, this time with his two older children.

In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, Jackson said that the media was wrong in their comments about him being irresponsible with his children, "I love my children", he explained. "I was holding my son tight. Why would I throw a baby off the balcony? That's the dumbest, stupidest story I ever heard."[citation needed]

In February 2003, a controversial documentary titled Living with Michael Jackson aired in the UK (on the 3rd) and in the US (on the 6th). The documentary included interviews with Jackson which included information on his private life.[65] British journalist Martin Bashir and his film crew filmed Jackson for 18 months, also capturing his controversial behavior in Berlin. One particular part of the documentary, which stirred controversy and raised a significant level of concern, showed Jackson holding hands with a then 13-year-old cancer victim Gavin Arviso, and admitting to sharing his bedroom with him (but not in the same bed) as well as sharing his bed (non-sexually) with other children.

Jackson felt betrayed by Bashir and complained that the film gives a distorted picture.[66] In response to the media scrutiny, two specials were aired: Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See and Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies.[67] Michael Jackson: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See which aired later in February showed uncut footage of the Living with Michael Jackson documentary. The Michael Jackson's Private Home Movies aired in April was a 2-hour special with footage of Michael Jackson's home videos and included commentary by Jackson.

Also in 2003, Jackson announced that he was working on Resurrection,[68] a follow-up album to Invincible. It was also revealed that Jackson had made a 'mini-movie' to promote the album. In the movie, Jackson played a man who is resurrected. In March 2003, "Xscape" was released onto the radio, with many believing that this would be the first single off Jackson's new album. The album was shelved for unknown reasons and was replaced by Number Ones.

2003–2006: Trial, acquittal and aftermath

Main articles: People v. Jackson, Post trial lawsuits against Michael Jackson, and I Have This Dream
File:Onemorechance.jpg
Jackson in the unreleased video for "One More Chance."

In November 2003, Michael Jackson and Sony Records released a compilation of his number-one hits on CD and DVD titled Number Ones. The compilation has sold over six million copies worldwide.[69] On the album's scheduled release date, while Michael Jackson was in Las Vegas filming the video for "One More Chance" (the only new song included in the Number Ones compilation), the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department searched the Neverland Ranch and issued an arrest warrant for Jackson on new charges of child molestation.[70] Jackson was accused of sexual abuse by Gavin Arviso, who appeared in the Living with Michael Jackson documentary earlier that year.

On December 18 2003, Jackson was charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent in order to commit that felony, all regarding the same boy (Gavin Arvizo) under 14. The felony complaint stated that Jackson had committed seven lewd acts and two acts of administration of an intoxicating agent to enable the former accusations. Jackson denied these allegations, saying that the sleepovers were in no way sexual in nature. Jackson's friend, Elizabeth Taylor, defended him on Larry King Live, saying that she'd been been there when they "were in the bed, watching television. There was nothing abnormal about it. There was no touchy-feely going on. We laughed like children, and we watched a lot of Walt Disney. There was nothing odd about it."[71]

On Sunday, December 28, 2003 Jackson's interview on 60 minutes was aired. Jackson said that he was bruised and that his shoulder was dislocated because of mistreatment from the authorities. He also claimed that he was locked in a feces-smeared restroom for 45 minutes after he asked to use the facilities.[citation needed]

The People v. Jackson trial began in Santa Maria, California on January 31, 2005 and lasted until the end of May 2005, with Jackson being acquitted on all counts in June. It was one of the largest and most documented trials in world history. About 2,200 media credentials to over 30 news organizations from around the world were issued to cover the trial, more than what was given for the trials of O. J. Simpson and Scott Peterson combined.[72] Jackson's popularity outside the United States ensured a distinctly international crowd of reporters.[72] On top of the media, Santa Maria was also flooded with Jackson fans, 1,200 of whom heard and celebrated the ten not guilty verdicts right outside the courthouse.[73]

The District Attorney of Santa Barbara County in California, Tom Sneddon, has led two efforts against Jackson involving child molestation. The first incident in 1993 resulted in no charges and the second at the end of 2003 culminated in a trial two years later, in which Jackson was aquitted on all counts. These repeated prosecutions have led some to believe that Sneddon was "motivated by a personal grudge" against Jackson, which had no relevance to either case. A leaked memo apparently written by Sneddon states that he "drove to Los Angeles and met alone with the mother of Jackson’s alleged victim in a parking lot behind a federal building... took pictures of the office of a private investigator who worked for Jackson... [and] executed his own stakeouts." This lead Jackson's defense to accuse Sneddon of taking on "parts of the investigation that are almost always handled by police investigators or junior prosecutors." Linda Fairstein, a leading sex crimes prosecutor, described Sneddon's actions as "way too personal [and] way out of line."[74] After losing the trial in 2005, Sneddon announced his retirement on June 6, 2006.

On June 10, Jackson's PR, Raymone Bain was reportedly fired.[75] Jackson's now-defunct website cited that "MJJ Productions regretfully announces the termination of Raymone Bain and Davis, Bain and Associates. We thank you for your services." Bain later told the Associated Press that she had not been fired and that only Michael Jackson, not his production company (operated at the time by his brother, Randy Jackson), could fire her.

After being acquitted of the allegations, Jackson relocated to the Gulf island of Bahrain, where he reportedly bought a house formerly owned by a Bahrain MP.[76] Jackson allegedly spent his time in the Gulf writing new music, including a charity single dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina entitled, "I Have This Dream". Ciara, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Keyshia Cole, James Ingram, Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine, Shanice, the Reverend Shirley Caesar and The O'Jays all reportedly lent their voices to the charity song. After many delays, the single was not released, despite being announced on September 13 2005. At the time, Jackson's spokesperson Raymone Bain said the list included Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, James Brown and Lenny Kravitz. It later appeared that these artists were no longer participating.[77] The charity single remains unreleased.

2006 to present: Visionary and new album

Main articles: Visionary: The Video Singles and Michael Jackson's 2007 album

In February 2006, Jackson's label released Visionary: The Video Singles, a box set made up of twenty of his biggest hit singles, each of which were issued individually week by week over a five-month period.[78]

The Visionary box set.

On May 27, 2006, Michael Jackson accepted a Legend Award at MTV Japan's VMA Awards in Tokyo. It was his first major public appearance since being found not guilty in his child molestation trial almost a year earlier. The award honors his influence and impact on music videos in the last 25 years. Following the award ceremony, Jackson also made an appearance on SMAPxSMAP.[79]

On November 14, 2006, Sony officially released the Visionary box set in the US.[80] Michael also visited the London office of the Guinness World Records. There, he received eight awards: "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time", "Youngest Vocalist to Top the US Singles Charts" (at the age of 11 as part of the Jackson Five), "First Vocalist to Enter the US Singles Chart at Number One" (for "You Are Not Alone"), "First Entertainer to Earn More Than 100 million Dollars in a Year", "Highest Paid Entertainer of All Time" ($125 million in 1989), "First Entertainer to Sell More Than 100 Million Albums Outside the US", "Most Weeks at the Top of the US Albums Chart" (for the album Thriller) and "Most Successful Music Video" (for the music video Thriller).[81]

On November 15, 2006, Michael Jackson received the Diamond Award, for selling over 100 million albums, at the World Music Awards. This was his second public appearance at an awards show since the trial of 2005.[82] Despite tabloid rumors prior to the event,[83][84][85] he did not perform "Thriller", instead joining a choir on stage for a verse of "We are the World". Footage of the event showed Michael appearing touched by the adoration of the crowd. According to the head of public relations for the World Music Awards (Julius Just), the sound was cut due to a noise curfew. Officials at Earl's Court, the arena where the event was held, have said that this was not the case and that they had "accommodated the show and the show's organisers by obtaining an extension to our licence in order to allow the show to run to eleven o'clock."[86]

File:Michael Jackson WMA.jpg
Michael Jackson performing "We are the World" at the 2006 World Music Awards.

On December 30 2006, after James Brown died, more than 8000 people – including family, friends and fans – watched as several artists, including Jackson, paid tribute to the 'Godfather of Soul'.[87] Reverend Al Sharpton, who was close to Brown, delivered his sermon at the funeral, in which he stated that in the last conversation he had with Brown, he had said that artists like Jackson needed to continue to make positive music for all people.[87]

In late 2006, a recording surfaced, entitled "No Friend of Mine (Gangsta)". The song features vocals by Jackson.[88]

On December 24, 2006, Jackson returned to the United States, having left Ireland. He mentioned plans for a pair of upcoming "fan appreciation events" in Japan, in order to give something back to his supportive fans. He explained the reason for choosing Japan: "My friends and fans in Japan have been so supportive of me and my family for many, many years." Jackson is currently living in Las Vegas.[89]

On March 9, 2007, Jackson attended the two aforementioned fan appreciation events in Japan, after causing a scene at Narita Airport, where he was greeted by hundreds of fans. The first event, with an admission fee of $3,300, was attended by approximately 400 fans and disabled or handicapped children, who came for free.[90] The guests could spend 30 seconds to a minute with Jackson. Jenny Sasaki, one of the fans, said that "you can't put a price tag on this; I love Michael Jackson, his music, his sensitivity and his humanity."[91]

After days of fan appreciation events, Jackson greeted thousands of U.S. troops in a U.S. Army base south of Tokyo on March 10. About 3,000 troops and their family members gathered in a fitness centre at Camp Zama. Jackson, after shaking hands with and thanking the troops for their service, spoke to the crowd gathered, saying, "those of you in here today are some of the most special people in the world. It is because of you in here today, and others who so valiantly have given their lives to protect us, that we enjoy our freedom." Jackson also attended a ceremony at the camp for an army member being promoted and put a pin on his uniform.[92]

After leaving Japan, Jackson made a brief stop in London. He was greeted by fans at Heathrow Airport before travelling to Carlton Towers, his residence during the brief stay. At the hotel, Michael was forced to cut short an autograph signing after the event "turned volatile when fans began pushing. Michael ended up with his back against the hotel lobby wall." He and his children were safetly escorted from the fans to safety. Michael has now returned to Las Vegas, his current residence, after he and his children were "greeted at the airport by fans bringing them flowers and gifts."[93]

In the third quarter of 2007, Jackson is expected to release a comeback album. There have been reports of collaborations with will.i.am (of The Black Eyed Peas),[94] Teddy Riley,[95] DJ Whoo Kid,[95] Akon,[94] Chris Brown and 50 Cent.[94] Initially, it was thought that the Bahrain-based label Two Seas would release the album, but, in September 2006, it was made apparent that Jackson and Two Seas were no longer affiliated with each other.[96] Consequently, Jackson formed The Michael Jackson Company which will oversee both his finances and the release of his new album.[96] There may also be plans for a world tour to support the album.[97] This will be his first tour since 1997. Work began on the album in May of 2006.

Influence

As the biggest solo star since Elvis Presley,[29] Michael Jackson has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing down social barriers and paving the way for modern pop music and the concept of the modern pop star in his own country.[98] He has been described as an "extremely important figure in the history of popular culture,"[99] a person with "planetary influence,"[98] and is one of the most famous humans still alive.

Music videos and MTV

File:Thriller Video Clip.jpg
Jackson dancing with zombies in the revolutionary "Thriller" music video.

Michael Jackson was the first artist to elevate music videos to a meaningful art form,[98] setting off new trends of story-telling, mini-movies, and choreographed dance sequences that dominate the genre to this day. The concept of the short film, epitomized by 1983's "Thriller" but also seen in other Jackson videos such as "Ghosts," "Bad," "Smooth Criminal," and "Remember the Time," would largely remain unique to him, but the group-scene dancing pioneered by "Beat It" and popularized by "Thriller" has been a staple of music videos ever since. The dance sequence from "Thriller" has captivated popular culture worldwide, being replicated everywhere from Indian movies to Western wedding ceremonies.[100][101]

Central to Michael Jackson’s success with music videos was the relatively young music channel MTV, created in 1981, which put Jackson’s videos in heavy rotation throughout the 1980s. Before the fruitful relationship materialized, however, Jackson struggled against the channel just to have his videos aired. In 1983, when Jackson came out with "Billie Jean," his first video from Thriller, MTV rarely aired videos by African-American performers and promptly refused Jackson’s requests for a running.[102] Upon hearing the news, CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff went livid, denouncing MTV and warning, "I’m pulling everything we have off the air, all our product. I’m not going to give you any more videos. And I’m going to go public and fucking tell them about the fact you don’t want to play music by a black guy."[102] Yetnikoff's harsh stance and rhetoric worked; MTV retreated and started giving "Billie Jean" heavy coverage, laying the groundwork for a dynamic partnership with Jackson that would last for years. When the 14-minute long music video for "Thriller" came out in December 1983, it took MTV by storm, running as often as twice within an hour at its height. True to its name, the video also had the feeling of a psychological thriller, reportedly scaring viewers across the United States, especially young children. Initially a struggling cable channel, Michael Jackson is often credited for putting MTV on the map "with pioneering videos such as "Thriller," "Billie Jean" and "Beat It.""[5] In response to Jackson's influence, MTV shifted its musical focus as time went on, going from rock videos to more and more pop and R&B showings.[72]

Legacy of Thriller

Released in 1982, Thriller became the most commercially successful album of all time and one of the most critically acclaimed, single-handedly transforming Jackson into his generation's Elvis or the Beatles and making him the "late 20th century's pre-eminent pop icon."[102] It remains Jackson's most celebrated musical achievement and has acquired a prominent position in American culture. In the 1980s, it was an indelible part of American culture, as described by TIME magazine, "The numbers, which are incredible, are also becoming indelible. How many Beatles were there? How many homers did Babe Ruth hit? How many Grammy Awards did Michael Jackson win on Feb. 28? How many copies of Thriller have been sold? Well, the Grammys are easy."[29]

The second track released from the album and Jackson's highest-selling single ever, "Billie Jean," has been described as "one of the most sonically eccentric, psychologically fraught, downright bizarre things ever to land on Top 40 radio."[102] Jackson's earlier solo work in Off the Wall had revealed a disco-funk combination, but "Billie Jean," edged onwards by a "pulsing, cat-on-the-prowl bass figure, whip-crack downbeat and eerie multi-tracked vocals ricocheting in the vast spaces between keyboards and strings,"[102] featured a new and revolutionary sound, one that made Jackson's idiosyncratic vocals a staple of pop music and established a sleek, post-soul tune "whose echoes can be heard to this day."[102] Apart from the title track and the accompanying music video, the album's other memorable single was "Beat It," which Jackson described as "the type of rock song that I would go out and buy, but also something totally different from the rock music I was hearing on Top Forty radio."[103] The song was a crossover hit, buoyed by a "watch-my-fingers-fly guitar solo provided by Eddie Van Halen."[103]

Apart from establishing Jackson's iconic status and a new pop sound, Thriller revolutionized the music industry, which was watching in anticipation as the juggernaut comfortably and steadily broke record after record. Gil Friesen, President of A&M Records, stated that "the whole industry has a stake in this success."[29] At its height, Thriller was an industry in and of itself, with the Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, a videotape describing the secrets behind the new music video that was released in the Christmas of 1983, going on to sell 350,000 copies by March 1984.[29] The main influence Thriller had on the industry involved raising the importance of the album as a means of musical distribution. After Thriller, record companies took an interest in following Michael Jackson's approach of releasing high-profile albums once every few years. Although the importance of singles relative to albums had started to wane before the 1980s, Thriller firmly established the album as the dominant force in the music industry, a status it retains to this day. TIME magazine summed up the impact of Thriller as follows: "For a record industry stuck on the border between the ruins of punk and the chic regions of synthesizer pop, Thriller was a thorough restoration of confidence, a rejuvenation. Its effect on listeners, especially younger ones, was nearer to a revelation."[29] Additionally, Thriller marked the return of black music to commercial radio for the first time in years, leading Quincy Jones to the following characterization of the doors opened by Michael Jackson: "No doubt about it, he's taken us right up there where we belong. Black music had to play second fiddle for a long time, but its spirit is the whole motor of pop. Michael has connected with every soul in the world."[29]

Style and performance

File:Mjmotown.jpg
Michael Jackson performing "Billie Jean" at Motown 25 in May 1983. Jackson's on-stage mannerisms, from the moonwalk to his crotch-grabbing pelvic thrusts, have been the subject of endless imitation.

Among the most celebrated aspects of Michael Jackson's career have been his dance, fashion, and vocal styles, which have given rise to impersonators all over the world. In 1984, TIME magazine wrote the following on the singer's notable style: "His high-flying tenor makes him sound like the lead in some funked-up boys choir, even as the sexual dynamism irradiating from the arch of his dancing body challenges Government standards for a nuclear meltdown. His lithe frame, five-fathom eyes, long lashes might be threatening if Jackson gave, even for a second, the impression that he is obtainable."[29] Jackson's dancing abilities were always an important part of his life, and ones that he honed through constant training and dedication, manifested, according to TIME, by "[shutting] himself up at the house in a room that has no mirrors—"Mirrors make you pose," he has said—and [cutting] loose to his own music or to the Isley Brothers' Showdown, practicing what Dancer Hinton Battle calls "moves that kill. It's the combinations that really distinguish him as an artist. Spin, stop, pull up leg, pull jacket open, turn, freeze. And the glide, where he steps forward while pushing back. Spinning three times and popping up on his toes. That's a trademark, and a move a lot of professionals wouldn't try. If you go up wrong, you can really hurt yourself.""[29] Jackson has been described as an "avant-garde dancer" that allowed his techniques to acquire meaning through the "theatrical context" surrounding them.[104] His dancing abilities, sometimes compared to past greats like James Brown, Fred Astaire and Rudolf Nureyev,[99] have contributed strongly to his perceived status as one of the greatest performers of all time.

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" outing at Motown 25 on May 16, 1983 is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances of all time, despite the fact that Jackson lip-synched the song. More than 50 million viewers tuned in to see the special and Jackson perform his most popular song at the time.[102] It marked a new height in his popularity, pushed forward by the publicly-dubbed "moonwalk," an illusory move designed to create the impression that the dancer is walking backwards. The moonwalk became Jackson's signature dance move and he would replicate it in all future performances of "Billie Jean." Jackson did not invent the move, but he was responsible for perfecting it, making it a household name, and enshrining it into the psyche of American culture, which witnessed kids and people of all age groups trying to do the move after the Motown special as well as earning a fitting peroration from the New York Times: "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style. How does he do it? As a technician, he is a great illusionist, a genuine mime. His ability to keep one leg straight as he glides while the other bends and seems to walk requires perfect timing."[104]

Michael Jackson's outfits, everything from the sequined white glove to the jacket in the "Thriller" music video, have been essential components of his image and performance. The "Jheri-curled hair and single-gloved, zippered-jacket look" became a favorite for many people across the United States in the 1980s.[105] Jackson has also made the fedora hat something like a trademark in his exhibitions, and many modern artists or potential artists pay tribute to the look, most recently evident in a performance by American Idol's Sanjaya Malakar.

Themes and genres

Michael Jackson's musical palette has covered everything from disco and pop to rock and R&B. Jackson's musical themes have been equally varied, featuring material on typical pop subjects like love and joy as well as more mature works on social justice and his convoluted relationship with the media. Jackson's solo career with Motown in the 1970s was largely unimaginative, dominated as it was by label-backed songwriters and producers intent on giving the young performer typical ballads and other similarly-styled melodious tracks. In his two-decade career with Epic, however, Jackson displayed extensive creativity, gradually evolving from compositions with mild, non-controversial messages to songs dealing with increasingly solemn and darker themes, a reflection of his personal struggles and his status as an international icon.[106]

Off the Wall and Thriller showcased a Michael Jackson primarily focused on making dance hits and ballads with catchy tunes and rhythms. While this preoccupation would continue in his future work, it would also be colored by various shifts and improvisations. Even in this early material, however, Jackson displayed notable paradoxes, mixing the melodious and comfortable sounds of "Lady in My Life" with the haunting and terrorized environments of "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," where women accused him of fathering their children and the outside world seemed strange and hostile.[107] Bad was accused by some of not delivering the exciting lyrics evident in Thriller, being more intent on consolidating a traditional pop sound and defeating the records of Jackson's previous releases.[107] The album left clues for future projects, however, mentioning in the tense intro to "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" that "A lot of people misunderstand me....because they don't know me at all."[107] Bad included Jackson's first major inspirational song, "Man in the Mirror," which was praised for its message and captivating sound and also criticized as, among other things, "pure pabulum."[107]

Jackson's work in the 1990s was characterized by more introspective material. Some things remained the same, with the title track to the Dangerous album ensuring another song about a "predatory lover,"[108] but more and more of Jackson's music in the decade, like "Black or White," "Heal the World," "They Don't Care About Us," and "Earth Song," started addressing sociopolitical issues around the world. The music in Dangerous, described as a "a sonic machine world" with "synthetic basslines, swooshing scratched records, [and] clanking metallic noises," reflected old influences while absorbing new trends, made all the more pressing by Jackson's habit of releasing albums once every four or so years, time periods that allowed for significant development in the sound of pop music.[108] HIStory, arguably Jackson's most conflictive album, revealed a "furious" pop icon worn by years of superstardom,[106] with Jon Pareles of the New York Times writing that "It has been a long time since Michael Jackson was simply a performer. He's the main asset of his own corporation, which is a profitable subsidiary of Sony."[106] The album featured Jackson using profanity and other controversial lyrics, which forced him to modify some of the words to "They Don't Care About Us." Edged onwards by a quasi-messianic flair, he also railed against the media in "Tabloid Junkie," singing, "With your pen you torture me/You'd crucify the Lord" and that "Just because you read it in a magazine/ Or see it on a TV screen/ Don't make it factual."[106] HIStory mostly encompassed reflective compositions, presenting only one conventional love song, "You Are Not Alone."[106]

Awards and recognition

Michael Jackson holds the world record as the most awarded recording artist in history. Throughout his four-decade career, he has received numerous honors and awards, including the World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, the American Music Award's Artist of the Century Award,[109] and the Bambi's Pop Artist of the Millennium Award.[110] He is a double-inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (once as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997 and as a solo artist in 2001)[46] and an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.[111] At his height, he was characterized as "an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power."[2] In 1990, Vanity Fair magazine named him the "Most Popular Artist in the History of Show Business."[112]

Discography

Main articles: Michael Jackson album discography and Michael Jackson singles discography

Filmography

Main article: Michael Jackson filmography

Music samples

Template:Multi-listen end

Further reading

  • Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. ISBN 0-434-37042-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Taraborrelli, J. Randy (1991). The Magic and the Madness. Headline. ISBN 1-55972-064-6. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Jackson, Michael (1992). Dancing The Dream. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-40368-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Grant, Adrian (1994, 1997, 2002 and 2005). Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-432-2. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Noonan, Damien (1994). Michael Jackson. Carlton Books. ISBN 1-85797-587-1. {{cite book}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • Jackson, Michael (2006). My World, The Official Photobook, Vol. 1. Triumph International. ISBN 0-9768891-1-0. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

References

  1. ^ "Michael Jackson: Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  2. ^ a b c d "Michael Jackson". vh1.com. Retrieved 2007-02-22.
  3. ^ "Michael Jackson". msn.com. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  4. ^ "Michael Jackson". real.com. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  5. ^ a b "Why Are Michael Jackson's Fans So Devoted?". abcnews.com. Retrieved 2007-04-06.
  6. ^ a b "The Return of the King of Pop". accesshollywood.com. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
  7. ^ a b "Michael Jackson". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  8. ^ "Usher, Usher, Usher: The new 'King of Pop'?". cnn.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  9. ^ "Man in the Mirror". citypages.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  10. ^ "Michael Jackson: The King of Pop". afrotoronto.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  11. ^ "Because of You". ew.com. Retrieved 2007-04-22.
  12. ^ "Michael Jackson Thriller". 987kissfm.com. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  13. ^ "Jackson receives his World Records". Yahoo! News. November 14 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ a b c d e "History: 1970s". Michael Jackson's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  15. ^ "Michael Jackson Tours solo and with Jackson 5". AllMichaelJackson.com. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  16. ^ "Jacko's Back!". MTV UK. November 16 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Grammy Winners Search". Grammy's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  18. ^ "Michael To Give Away 200 FREE Tickets To Fans, And Discounted Rates". Exclusive Michael Jackson: News. October 31 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "Michael Jackson: Biography". VH1. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  20. ^ "The Jacksons Story: Overview". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  21. ^ "Micahel Jackson Biography". Aristopia. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
  22. ^ "The Wiz". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  23. ^ a b "200 list". definitive200.com. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  24. ^ a b c d "Michael - Worldwide Album Sales". MJJCharts. March 21 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "mjjcharts.com" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  25. ^ a b c d e f g "History: 1980s". Michael Jackson's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  26. ^ "Thriller". The Ultimate Michael Jackson Stats Site. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  27. ^ Peisner, David (February 2007). "Rock Stars Who've Caught Fire Onstage!". Blender Magazine Online. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  28. ^ Guinness World Records (2006). Guinness World Records 2007. Guinness. ISBN 1-904994-12-1. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cocks, Jay (March 1984). "Why He's a Thriller". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2007-03-17.
  30. ^ "CAMPAIGN NOTES; Republicans Considered Inviting Michael Jackson". New York Times. June 1984. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  31. ^ "Drunk Driving Prevention (1983–Present)". Ad Council. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  32. ^ "Michael Jackson owns the rights to the Beatles' songs". Urban Legends Reference Pages. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  33. ^ "Michael Jackson: Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  34. ^ "Business Data for Captain EO". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-30.
  35. ^ Jones, Quincy (2001). (Interview). Interviewed by David Wild. {{cite interview}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign= and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ a b c Cocks, Jay (March 2007). "The Badder They Come". TIME Magazine. Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  37. ^ "Bad". The Ultimate Michael Jackson Stats Site. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
  38. ^ a b "Bad fortune". Guardian Unlimited. June 15 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ "Bad". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  40. ^ "The HisTory of Michael Jackson's Face". Anomalies Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  41. ^ "Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple'". ABC News. February 8 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ Jackson, Michael (1988). Moonwalk. Doubleday. ISBN 0-434-37042-8. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  43. ^ a b c d e "Michael Jackson's Biography". Fox News. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
  44. ^ "Jackson trial: Winners and losers". BBC News. June 13 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ "Remarks on the Upcoming Summit With President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Unknown parameter |http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid= ignored (help)
  46. ^ a b "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum: Hall of Fame: Inductee Detail (Michael Jackson)". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  47. ^ a b "The return of the King of Pop". MSNBC. November 2 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  48. ^ Jackson, Michael (February 10 1993). (Interview). Interviewed by Oprah Winfrey http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/interviews/oprahinterview.html. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign=, |subjectlink=, and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  49. ^ "1993: Michael Jackson accused of child abuse". BBC On This Day: 24th August. February 8 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Jackson, Michael; Presley, Lisa Marie (June 14 1995). (Interview). Interviewed by Diane Sawyer http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/interviews/primetimeliveinterview.html. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign=, |subjectlink=, and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink2= ignored (|subject-link2= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ a b c "History: 1980s". Michael Jackson's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  52. ^ Guinness World Records (2005). Guinness World Records 2006. Guinness. ISBN 1-904994-02-4. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  53. ^ Jackson, Michael (February 3 2003). (Interview). Interviewed by Martin Bashir http://www.mjshouse.com/stories/living_with_mj_transcript.html. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign=, |subjectlink=, and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help)
  54. ^ "Jarvis' stage invasion at the 1996 Brits". [SPACE] pages for the band Pulp. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  55. ^ Gallagher, Noel (April 5 1996). (Interview). Interviewed by Chris Evans. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign= and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ "Ghosts". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  57. ^ "Michael Jackson's Ghosts Movie Information". Michael Jackson Trader. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  58. ^ "MTV effort may not be longest music video". United Press International. July 24 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  59. ^ a b "History: 2000s". Michael Jackson's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  60. ^ "Michael Jackson". Surgeon to the Stars. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  61. ^ Jackson, Jermaine (December 31 2002). (Interview). Interviewed by Connie Chung http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/31/cct.00.html. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign= and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  62. ^ Carey, Mariah (December 19 2002). (Interview). Interviewed by Larry King http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/19/lkl.00.html. {{cite interview}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |callsign= and |city= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |program= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |subjectlink= ignored (|subject-link= suggested) (help)
  63. ^ "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  64. ^ "Jackson's foundation now virtually defunct". MSNBC. March 25 2004. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  65. ^ "Living with Michael Jackson: A Tonight Special". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  66. ^ "Michael Jackson's statement". CNN. February 6 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  67. ^ "Michael Jackson's 'Private Home Movies' To Air On Fox". MTV News. April 10 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  68. ^ "Biography for Michael Jackson". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  69. ^ "Number Ones". The Ultimate Michael Jackson Stats Site. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  70. ^ "Arrest warrant issued for Michael Jackson". The Baltimore Sun. November 20 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  71. ^ "Elizabeth Taylor defends Michael on Larry King Live". Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  72. ^ a b c "Tent city: 2,200 media credentials for Jackson trial". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2007-03-24. Cite error: The named reference "USATODAY" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  73. ^ "Fans celebrate after Jackson acquittal". msnbc.msn.com. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  74. ^ "Memo suggests Sneddon vendetta against Michael". MJNewsOnline. June 13 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  75. ^ "Jackson jury enters second week". BBC News. June 13 2005. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  76. ^ "Jackson settles down to his new life in the Gulf". Gulf News. January 23 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  77. ^ "Michael Jackson's Katrina Song Said Ready". ABC News. February 17 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ "M J Visionary". Official Visionary website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  79. ^ ""Smap x Smap" (Episode dated 5 June 2006)". IMDb. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
  80. ^ "Michael Jackson Visionary...The Video Singles". Sony Music Store. Retrieved 2006-11-14.
  81. ^ "Jackson receives his World Records". Yahoo! News. November 14 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  82. ^ "Michael Jackson to make rare public appearance at World Music Awards in London". International Herald Tribune. October 29 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  83. ^ "Jackson Plans 'Thriller' Performance". ABC News. November 8 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-12. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "Jackson and Brown to Thrill UK Audiences". Contact Music. November 14 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ "Michael Jackson madness hits London". MSNBC. November 14, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  86. ^ "Jackson fans demand ticket refund". BBC News. November 16 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  87. ^ a b "James Brown Saluted By Michael Jackson at Public Funeral Service". MTV News. December 30 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-31. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  88. ^ "Michael Jackson on Gangsta or known as No Friend of Mine". All Michael Jackson.com. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  89. ^ "Michael Jackson Back In The U.S., Readying Comeback". Access Hollywood. January 26 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  90. ^ "Michael Jackson: 'Happy' With Career Despite 'Attempts To Hurt Me'". AccessHollywood. March 10 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  91. ^ "Michael Jackson: 'Happy' With Career Despite 'Attempts To Hurt Me'". AccessHollywood. March 10 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  92. ^ "Michael greets US troops in Japan". March 10 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  93. ^ "Michael pinned to hotel wall by excited fans". March 18 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  94. ^ a b c "will.i.am Working On Jackson Comeback Album". Billboard. January 2 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  95. ^ a b "Michael Jackson Takes on World, Wins". E! Online. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
  96. ^ a b "Michael Jackson's Comeback Scuttled". E! Online. September 26 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  97. ^ "Michael Jackson Hopes To Restart Career In Europe". Billboard. June 27 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  98. ^ a b c "Michael Jackson: In a Class by Himself". bmi.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  99. ^ a b "Of course Jackson's odd - but his genius is what matters". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  100. ^ "Wedding Thriller Dance". youtube.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  101. ^ "Indian Thriller". youtube.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  102. ^ a b c d e f g "Michael Jackson, "Billy Jean:". blender.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  103. ^ a b "Beat It". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  104. ^ a b Kisselgoff, Anna (March 1988). "Stage: The Dancing Feet Of Michael Jackson". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  105. ^ "Michael Jackson: A life in the spotlight". cnn.com. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  106. ^ a b c d e Pareles, Jon (June 1995). "POP VIEW; Michael Jackson Is Angry, Understand". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  107. ^ a b c d Pareles, Jon (September 1987). "Critic's Notebook; How Good Is Jackson's 'Bad'?". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  108. ^ a b Pareles, Jon (November 1991). "RECORDINGS VIEW; Michael Jackson in the Electronic Wilderness". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-19.
  109. ^ "29th Annual American Music Award Winners". Rediff Guide to the Net: Top Awards. January 10 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  110. ^ "Michael Jackson and Halle Berry Pick Up Bambi Awards in Berlin". Hello!. November 22 2002. Retrieved 2006-11-11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  111. ^ "Songwriters Hall of Fame: 2002 Award & Induction Ceremony (Inductee: Michael Jackson)". Songwriters Hall of Fame's official website. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  112. ^ "Awards & Achievements". mjjforum.com. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  113. ^ "The Jackson TV Show". TV.com. Retrieved 2006-11-21.
  114. ^ "The Simpson:Stark Raving Dad". TV.com. Retrieved 2006-11-21.

See also

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Michael Jackson.
Wikinews has related news:
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Jackson.

Template:Jackson siblings



Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Jackson&oldid=127352841"