Michael Jackson Research Essay

An Icon Never Forgotten The reality of pop culture would never be the same. His voice was harmonious, his moves earth shattering and his actions unequivocally eccentric. The whole world could yet watch in astonishment as the index of Pop altered lives and established himself as the juggernaut of the harmony industry. Having been born in 1993, did non give me the opportunity to anxiously stay up until midnight, December 2, 1983 and witness the world premier(a) of Michael capital of Mississippis pinnacle, the hit, Thriller.Though my life began as the height of his career began to taper off, his music, actions and appeal is as such(prenominal) a part of my generation as it was then. Michael capital of Mississippi is the worlds greatest entertainer. His body of work, likeness and bill has had a profound influence on popular music instantly, and will continue to have a evocative impact for generations to come. It was the early morning of August 29, 1958, in the blue-collar tow n, Gary, Indiana, when Katherine and Joseph capital of Mississippi welcomed their eighth child, Michael Joseph capital of Mississippi into the world he would forever change.Joseph capital of Mississippi was quick to realize his children had an unnatural talent, a divine gift of impositions and saltation. He became eager, if not obsessive to profit from these talents. Michael was pushed towards stardom at a very early age. In 1962, his let formed the convention The capital of Mississippi cinque, consisting of Michael and his brothers. Every aspect of their domestic and now professional lives where micromanaged by Joe. He parented and managed them with a strong, often cruel unyielding hand. The wrong dance step could easily exit in a beating whiz day and a barrage of verbal battery the next, in that respect is a lot of sadness in my past life.My beget beat me. It was difficult to take be beaten and then going on stage. He was strict very life-threatening and stern (capital of Mississippi. Oprah Winfrey). Their childhoods were jolly much(prenominal) taken away due to the rigorous work schedule, I remember going to the commemorate studio and there was a park crossways the street and Id catch all the children playing and I would cry because it would make me sad that I would have to work instead (capital of Mississippi. Oprah Winfrey). When this was disc overed, he was whiz of the eldest to be shown as a product of abuse by parents to further their own selfish ventures.His story would be related to various offspring entertainers of today. Questions will be asked such as, Are parents pushing their children to hard? In terms of his musicality, Michael was the lead vocalist and his immense talent was already evident at this young age. His voice is like an angel, a sound so seducing and his myriad of effortless gravity defying dance moves, he was a natural. By 1969 The capital of Mississippi Five were the initiative group to appeal to black and wh ite audiences. The hybridizing achievement was evident by the record breaking, iv number unrivalled single in 1970.The Jackson Five had get down worldwide superstars, constantly performing to sell out concerts in global venues. The Jackson five was universally popular on all broadcasting networking appealing to all audiences black and white. Hits such as ABC, and Ill Be at that place are instantly recognized even today. In 1971, they were named one of the virtually powerful groups and were given an animated series based on the lives of the Jackson Family. It was a drastically fictional portrayal of their true reality. Even by means of the young Jacksons achiever, the torment from their father was constant.Joseph would continue his physical abuse of Michael throughout his adolescence and the mental cruelty would last throughout his life. Yet somehow, Michael kept singing and the hits kept coming. Michael Jackson had become a star, one that could not be contained by the Jac kson 5. It was the first clock the world had seen young black child reach that level of success. The world would become in tune with his life. They would share his pain upon immatures of his abuse. They too would revel in all his success as his talents consumed the world over.Michaels early life helped pave the way for his influential career. The Jackson Five were a big influence on future boy bands including red-hot Edition, New Kids on the Block, and The Jonas Brothers. When the group New Edition met with their manager and creator, Travis Gresham, he suggested to name the group New Edition to signify that they were the new edition of the Jackson Five. When producer Maurice Starr created the group, New Kids on the Block, he was in search for a new recitation of Michael Jackson to take on the lead vocals.Starr came across the high note hitter and dancing machine, Joey McIntyre. The to a greater extent flow version of an all brother group, The Jonas Brothers, were as well sign ificantly influenced by the Jackson Five, The first time we comprehend Michaels voice was when our dad played the Jackson Fives hit, Ill Be There. We were amazed by the way that he and his brothers came together to entertain the world has been an obvious influence on us. Michael Jackson influenced all(prenominal) listener and every future performer with a talent the world had never seen before (Joe Jonas. MTV Awards).Further more(prenominal), various R&B groups like Boyz 2 Men and All 4 One have sampled their songs countless times. Even todays big stars like Chris Brown copied a track from Michael in his song She Aint You. The fact of the national is the Jackson 5, a product of Michaels talent, was bigger than most groups could ever hope to be and is universally recognized as one of the biggest groups of all time. In Michaels young adulthood, he made the stopping point to break away from his brothers, as his talent could not be limited to his family. A decision render by his de sire to further explore his talent and be in charge of his own career.Michael influenced legion(predicate) other artists, including Beyonce and Justin Timberlake, to take the chance and break away from the group that they were engaged in. When most artists leave an highly prosperous and established band to start their own exclusively career, the odds of success are dismal. Michael Jackson defied that statistic, far surpassing anything the Jackson Five had previously accomplished. Michaels major breakthrough as a solo artist came when he released his first record album, Off The Wall, which was co-produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. The album was released in 1979, and its success was exceptional.The album produced four United States top hits on the charts, a first for any US album, and won Michael Jackson three Billboard Music Awards egest Black Artist, Top Black Album, and Best anthropoid R&B Vocal Performance. Imagine that dance from his song I Want to Rock with You is co gnize by anyone who has sat in front of a TV. These awards and self-advertisement practically made the name Michael Jackson a household name and helped his career flourish in the 1980s. Even with the great success of his first single, Michael was cool it not satisfied, Im never pleased with anything, Im a perfectionist, its part of who I am (Jackson.Oprah Winfrey). Again, Michael and Quincy collaborated and created three-hundred songs for his new album, Thriller. Hard to decide, they cartroad it down to their nine favorite songs and the album was released in 1982. Thriller had an astonishing seven hit singles and it was change one million albums per week. There was no one in the United States who did not hear the song. The music video is so popular that there are events around the world to re-enact the dance. It spent 80 straight weeks in the top ten albums, and 37 weeks of those in the number one spot. Dont look at for a moment that it was a one hit album though.His hit Billie Jean features an even more memor able dance featuring a move at a concert that shook the world in which he effortlessly glided across the dance floor. That dance is often imitated and that Moonwalk is a term that permeates pop culture. At the Grammy Awards, Thriller won Michael Jackson a record-breaking seven Grammy awards and, what he wanted the most, Album of the Year. Blending pop, R&B, soul, dance, and disco, Michael brought a new sound to the population. All Grammy hopefuls compare their success to Michael Jacksons sweeping of the awardsThe Thriller album not only created history, it also become a milestone for racial equality in music. Music Television, MTV, was against playing African American R&B music video however, eventually, they agreed to air Michael Jacksons hit video, Billie Jean. MTV had been previously prevail by rock music videos and denied videos from black artists like Rick James, but once they recognized the popularity of Michael Jacksons songs, they evolved m ore towards pop and RB, which helped future black artists like Prince. Before Michael Jacksons video aired, MTV was assay to become a top television channel.When they aired Michaels videos, MTV became the hottest channel to watch. When the video for Thriller debuted, the demand to play it was so high that MTV had to play it twice an hour to meet demand for it. Thriller was tell to be the best and most prominent music video ever created. MTV owes its over one hundred million viewers to Michael Jackson. In fact a video that insulted him was removed at his requests. His songs are still asked for to this day. Michael Jacksons videos were not popular in force(p) because of the catchy, upbeat rhythms, but, because they were different. He was all substance.He is the definition of a true performer. As mentioned before, the video Billie Jean was first debuted on MTV, viewers watched something they have never seen before. Dressed in a glittering black peak and wearing one white glove, Mic hael jumped, spun, and slid all over the videos surrealistic city street set. Viewers could not take their eyes off of him. Michael Jackson made music videos an art form instead of having the singer stand there in front of a band lip synching the song. He incorporated especial(a) effects, storylines, dance snatchs, and cameo appearances into them.This started the epidemic of music videos. Every music dance video played today, has Michael Jackson to convey for that. Recording artist Ne-Yo remembers that when when Michael Jackson, dropped a video, it was an event. (Ne-Yo. MTV). He was one of the first to spend a million on a music video. A model that is copied today buy the biggest stars. Michael Jackson is not only a brilliant singer/songwriter, but also a skilled dancer. In 1983, on the TV special, Motown 25 Yesterday, Today, Forever, Michael Jackson debuted his iconic dance move, the moonwalk.Unlike anything that had ever been seen before, the moonwalk proved Michael Jacksons st aying power and influence on popular culture. Everyone was trying to master the dance moves they had seen Michael do in his videos and on stage. Who didnt want to glide across the stage in a perfect floating moonwalk? Besides the moonwalk, his other famous dance was the choreographed routine in the video Thriller. Michael knew that he wanted the video to, take dance to another level(Michael Jackson. Barbra Walters).The dance has been utilize in more Hollywood movies including the 2004 Blockbuster hit, 13 Going on 30. If you ask people to do the Thriller dance, nine out of ten will be able to demonstrate it. Michael Jacksons dance moves has inspired more current artists today including Justin Timberlake and Usher. A former teen sensation himself, Usher is probably the closest current performer to Michael Jackson in terms of singing style and album anticipation. Usher is the primary rationalness for the return of the popularity of choreographed dancing with current R&B acts.Usher states that ,Michael Jackson influenced me in so many ways, more than provided music as a humanitarian, as a philanthropist, as an artist, as an individual who transcended culture. I wouldnt be who I am today without Michael Jackson (Usher Raymond. MTV). With his outstanding talent as a dancer and a high-range vocals, Justin Timberlake has been honored in being compared to Michael Jackson ever since his former N*Sync days. 2006, at the flick Music Awards, the curtain rises as seven time Grammy winner, Justin Timberlake, stands, silhouetted with the stages lights.With his neck tilted down, hand on head, and spin around, the crowd goes wild. Not because it is Justin Timberlake about to perform, but because he has just immortalized the one and only Michael Jackson. Timberlake expresses that, No one presented a song onstage like Michael. To create the things that he created with his music, its really untouchable (Justin Timberlake. MTV). Being one of the most influential artists, if not the most, is not always as exhilarating as it seems. With fame and fortune comes pain and despair.From skin bleaching to the dangling of his child off the balcony, there has always controversy surrounding his life. In 2002 Michael was in a hotel with his family and wanted to show off his new born baby to the paparazzi. He dangled the child over a fourth floor balcony. Michael stated that, I love my children. I was holding my son tight. wherefore would I throw a baby off the balcony? Thats the dumbest, stupidest story I ever heard (Michael Jackson. Oprah Winfrey). A lot of rumors got around that Michael Jackson was bleaching his skin because he wanted to become Caucasian.Michael Jackson say that he had a skin pigmentation however, a lot of people did not believe this. There were many hurtful comments about him bleaching his skin and he was very offended by them, I have a skin disorder that destroys the pigmentation of my skin, its something that I cannot help, OK? (Michael Jac kson. Oprah Winfrey). With all these controversies, Michael was given a nickname, Yeah, Wacko Jacko, where did that come from? about English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. Its not nice (Michael Jackson.Barbra Walters). With all of these controversies, Michael was still a charitable man with a big heart, Ive helped many, many, many children, thousands of children, cancer kids, leukemia kids (Michael Jackson). In 1984, Jackson bought all new equipment for a unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center, which is part of the T. J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research. Later that year, he visited the Brotman Memorial Hospital, and donated all the money he stock from a Pepsi commercial that he was in, $1. 5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children.Michael also created one of the largest unselfishness events, the recording of We are the World, to help raise money for kids in Africa in 1985. Artists like Dian a Ross, Lionel Richie, Bruce Springstein, Cyndi Lauper, Tina food turner and many more, helped with this recording. This charity was so influential that in 2010, over one hundred of todays biggest artist including Justin Bieber, Fergie, Lil Wayne, Adam Levine and Pink re-sang the song for Haiti, raising an immense amount of money. Even with the rumors going on, Michael was express to have donated over three-hundred million dollars to different charities throughout his life.With Michael Jackson being big on charities and component kids in need, he created an amusement park in his backyard for kids who are disadvantaged or have health check conditions. Michael named the park Neverland, same as the fantasy island in the story Peter Pan, which is about boy that never grows older, Ill always be Peter Pan in my heart (Michael Jackson. Oprah Winfrey). The 3000 acre land is filled with rides, animals, a jibe and many more attractions, We have elephants, and giraffes, and crocodiles, and every kind of tigers and lions.And and we have bus loads of kids, who dont get to see those things. They come up, sick children, and enjoy it (Michael Jackson. Ed Bradley). Neverland was intended to bring happiness to everyone however, it brought a horrific yield to Michael. In 1993, Michael Jackson was accused of molesting a thirteen year old boy at his Neverland Ranch. Michael had met the boy in 1992 and they soon became friends. The child had become a regular guest and started staying the night at the residence, which was not uncommon.Michael gave the boy gifts and paid for several family vacation trips around the world. The father of the boy, Evan Chandler, stated that, Michael Jackson was part of our family (Chandler. Vindicating Michael). According to the allegations, for four months, Michael had been kissing and fondling with the boy when they were alone. These allegations became the main topic on all news stations. While Michael said he was innocent, many believed the new s articles that stated he was a child molester, Its a complete lie, wherefore do people buy these papers? Its not the truth Im here to say.You know, dont judge a person, do not pass judgment, unless you have talked to them one on one. I dont care what the story is, do not judge them because it is a lie (Michael Jackson). In 1994, Michael Jackson settled the civil lawsuit paying an covert amount to the boys family. Many believe that he paid between 15 and 20 million dollars. After receiving the money, the boy refused to testify in any criminal matters. Therefore, the prosecution was not able to pursue a criminal case. Michael was accused again of child molestation in 2005, but was also found not guilty.These accusations did not fully ruin Michaels career, but they did impact it. The media began to impair the career of Michael Jackson with ridiculous tabloid stories and false allegations, using wrong information to convince them. Society started to see him in a different light, givi ng him a poor reputation, The press has made up so much God awful, horrifying stories it has made me realize the more often you hear a lie, I mean, you let down to believe it (Michael Jackson. Oprah Winfrey). Sadly, his fans began to separate Michael from his music.The music was still prodigious however, Michael, was seen as a predator. Artist Lil Wayne is going through the same thing with fans, but he went to jail for drugs. Lil Waynes music is still heard on the radio however, the media on him is not respectable. After the allegations, the majority of people did not consider Michael as the influential pop star he once was, nor gave him recognition for his notable charity work and contributions in familiarity however, Michael tried to better his career however is was never at the same magnitude as his Thriller album.From experiencing fame at such a young age, fighting lawsuits, paparazzi scandals, continuous plastic surgery, extreme tabloid stories, and false allegations, Michael Jackson never fully recovered. These struggles lead Michael into a deep depression, which subsequently resulted in an accidental overdose that personify him his life. People around the world were taken back by his sudden closing in 2009. by dint of the comments all over the Internet, persistent updates on the television, the massive increase of albums sold on ITunes, and the misinterpretations of the way his death occurred, it was vident that the death of the King of Pop had a large impact on the nation. Rarely does any album get a 25th anniversary celebration, but Thriller did. Without a doubt, Thriller was a milestone for an entire generation. With singles at the top of the charts, changing MTV, and credit for breaking the color barrier and making way for a new generation of black artists, Michael Jackson truly exceeded what anyone could have expected. His unprecedented success is still reverberate in popular culture today.Televison shows such as X Factor, Glee, Americas Next Top Model and American Idol have all had Lets give thanks to Michael Jackson episodes. There is even a dance game called The Michael Jackson Experience that lets people learn his dance moves and perform with him. Michael Jacksons iconic dances, vocals, and blending of genres continue to inspire new artists and captivate audiences worldwide. There is no doubt in my mind that twenty years from now, everyone will still know who the King of Pop was and how he has influenced almost every artist today. 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