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The Thriller is 50
By Rachel Ogbu
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Michael Jackson, the world king of pop music, turns 50
He has more music awards than any other artist in the history of music, a total of 405 in all. His hit track, Thriller released in 1982 was the best selling album of all times. It reached number one in the US and the UK simultaneously, becoming the first album to do so. Thriller received generally positive reviews from critics and won seven Grammy Awards at once - breaking another record at the 1984 Grammy event. He has sold 750 million records so far and earned 160 achievements.
Michael Jackson who turns 50 on August 29, is indeed the king of pop. His resounding success in music was achieved through hard work, creativity and a huge desire to do things differently in an attempt to change the world..[/b]
The seventh of nine children born in Gary, Indiana, Jackson showed musical talent early in life, performing in front of classmates and others at the age of five. In 1964, Jackson and his brother, Marlon, joined the Jackson Brothers which included Jackie, Tito and Jermaine performing backup vocals and dancing. When Jackson was eight, he and Jermaine assumed lead vocals, and the group’s name was changed to The Jackson Five.
Soon afterwards, he emerged as the main draw and lead singer of the group and though he had a child’s piping voice, his dance steps were mature and he sang with the R&B/gospel inflections of Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. In 1976 Jackson became the lead songwriter of the group which was then called The Jacksons and wrote hits such as This Place Hotel and Can You Feel It.
In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the musical film The Wiz and released his first solo album, Off the Wall in 1979. In May 1982, during the televised 25th anniversary of Motown, Michael Jackson performed his version of the "moonwalk" dance which quickly became his signature alongside his one white-sequined glove. He worked with Lionel Richie to write the charity single We Are the World in 1985 and it became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars raised for charity. It was the first time Jackson was seen as humanitarian.
Jackson is said to have supported more charities than any other pop singer in the world. He has assisted about 39 charitable organisations including AIDS Project, Los Angeles, American Cancer Society, BMI Foundation Inc., Childhelp USA, United Negro College Fund, YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw, The Sickle Cell Research Fund and Volunteers of America. Jackson’s generosity towards people in need was nothing compared to the amount he spent in making videos and acquiring property, an extravagant lifestyle that later landed him in debt.
Jackson bought the Best Film Oscar award given to David Selznick’s 1940 film, Gone with the Wind for $1,542,000 in 1999. It is the most expensive Oscar ever to be sold. Jackson holds the record for the most expensive music video Scream in 1995 which he did with Janet, his sister. It was produced for more than seven million U.S. dollars.
In 2002, Forbes released figures that Jackson had spent up to $100,000 on hotel bill in a brief visit to New York. A television documentary in 2003, "Living with Michael Jackson" showed the entertainer with Martin Bashir, BBC journalist on a shopping spree where he spent six million Dollars within hours. During that period, Jackson also spent approximately $1.2 million a month including the cost of running his Neverland ranch which he bought for $28 million in 1988; he had spent $195,000 on limousine rentals and maintained a personal staff of 120 with about $375,000 annually. Most of his assets are in musical holdings worth an estimated $450 million, including 200 Beatles titles and songs recorded by Elvis Presley.
But following child molestation charges, an eccentric lifestyle and his changing appearance, Jackson’s popularity as an artist, especially in the United States, dimmed considerably. By 2003, the Times reported that the singer faced up to $240 million in debt and found himself without a record contract for the first time since he was 10 years old. British tabloids dubbed him "***** *****" following a barrage of tabloid rumours mixed with Jackson’s own bizarre behaviour with what appeared to be an obsession to alter his face through plastic surgery.
He also did weird things like sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and sharing a bathroom with his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. And as his skin got increasingly lighter during the 80s, claims that he suffered from a rare skin disease failed to subdue rumours that he was bleaching his skin. Jackson began taking painkillers, such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations made against him.
By the end of 1993, Jackson had become addicted to drugs. His health deteriorated to the extent that he cancelled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation. "I’ve been in the entertainment industry since I was six years old. As Charles Dickens says, "It’s been the best of times, the worst of times. But I would not change my career. While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me," Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson has tasted all the sides of life to the fullest; the good, the bad and the ugly, inspiring many new generation music icons. His dance steps and music style have educated stars like Robert Kelly, Usher Raymond, Justin Timberlake, Neyo, Chris Brown, Mario, Omarion Grandberry and countless others. Here in Nigeria various performers have made a living mimicking Jackson’s dance styles and dress sense until they got fans of their own. Jackson has stirred others to achieve great height and won record breaking awards.
Kafayat Shafau, Guinness Book of Records holder as the Danceathon Queen told Newswatch that Jackson’s originality had inspired her to be herself when dancing. "Even from the beginning with his bizarre attitude and dare devil behaviour in breaking records, he has kept the creativity alive year after year and I don’t see anybody that can replace him," she said.
P-Square, the award wining R&B duo who add Jackson's inspired dance steps to their music videos and performances, said they grew up watching the king of pop backslide and moonwalk on stage. His break dancing was electrifying to them and they began following his footsteps until they carved a niche of their own.
To celebrate Jackson’s 50th birthday, Sony BMG will release a double disc compilation album called King of Pop in various countries. It will include 30 tracks from Jackson’s group and solo career, all voted for by fans. Sony will then add rare tracks, previously unreleased material and a MegaMix by Jason Nevins. The album will be available in two versions and each country will have a different track list, according to how the fans voted.
By Rachel Ogbu
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Michael Jackson, the world king of pop music, turns 50
He has more music awards than any other artist in the history of music, a total of 405 in all. His hit track, Thriller released in 1982 was the best selling album of all times. It reached number one in the US and the UK simultaneously, becoming the first album to do so. Thriller received generally positive reviews from critics and won seven Grammy Awards at once - breaking another record at the 1984 Grammy event. He has sold 750 million records so far and earned 160 achievements.
Michael Jackson who turns 50 on August 29, is indeed the king of pop. His resounding success in music was achieved through hard work, creativity and a huge desire to do things differently in an attempt to change the world..[/b]
The seventh of nine children born in Gary, Indiana, Jackson showed musical talent early in life, performing in front of classmates and others at the age of five. In 1964, Jackson and his brother, Marlon, joined the Jackson Brothers which included Jackie, Tito and Jermaine performing backup vocals and dancing. When Jackson was eight, he and Jermaine assumed lead vocals, and the group’s name was changed to The Jackson Five.
Soon afterwards, he emerged as the main draw and lead singer of the group and though he had a child’s piping voice, his dance steps were mature and he sang with the R&B/gospel inflections of Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. In 1976 Jackson became the lead songwriter of the group which was then called The Jacksons and wrote hits such as This Place Hotel and Can You Feel It.
In 1978, Jackson starred as Scarecrow in the musical film The Wiz and released his first solo album, Off the Wall in 1979. In May 1982, during the televised 25th anniversary of Motown, Michael Jackson performed his version of the "moonwalk" dance which quickly became his signature alongside his one white-sequined glove. He worked with Lionel Richie to write the charity single We Are the World in 1985 and it became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars raised for charity. It was the first time Jackson was seen as humanitarian.
Jackson is said to have supported more charities than any other pop singer in the world. He has assisted about 39 charitable organisations including AIDS Project, Los Angeles, American Cancer Society, BMI Foundation Inc., Childhelp USA, United Negro College Fund, YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw, The Sickle Cell Research Fund and Volunteers of America. Jackson’s generosity towards people in need was nothing compared to the amount he spent in making videos and acquiring property, an extravagant lifestyle that later landed him in debt.
Jackson bought the Best Film Oscar award given to David Selznick’s 1940 film, Gone with the Wind for $1,542,000 in 1999. It is the most expensive Oscar ever to be sold. Jackson holds the record for the most expensive music video Scream in 1995 which he did with Janet, his sister. It was produced for more than seven million U.S. dollars.
In 2002, Forbes released figures that Jackson had spent up to $100,000 on hotel bill in a brief visit to New York. A television documentary in 2003, "Living with Michael Jackson" showed the entertainer with Martin Bashir, BBC journalist on a shopping spree where he spent six million Dollars within hours. During that period, Jackson also spent approximately $1.2 million a month including the cost of running his Neverland ranch which he bought for $28 million in 1988; he had spent $195,000 on limousine rentals and maintained a personal staff of 120 with about $375,000 annually. Most of his assets are in musical holdings worth an estimated $450 million, including 200 Beatles titles and songs recorded by Elvis Presley.
But following child molestation charges, an eccentric lifestyle and his changing appearance, Jackson’s popularity as an artist, especially in the United States, dimmed considerably. By 2003, the Times reported that the singer faced up to $240 million in debt and found himself without a record contract for the first time since he was 10 years old. British tabloids dubbed him "***** *****" following a barrage of tabloid rumours mixed with Jackson’s own bizarre behaviour with what appeared to be an obsession to alter his face through plastic surgery.
He also did weird things like sleeping in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, and sharing a bathroom with his pet chimpanzee, Bubbles. And as his skin got increasingly lighter during the 80s, claims that he suffered from a rare skin disease failed to subdue rumours that he was bleaching his skin. Jackson began taking painkillers, such as Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the allegations made against him.
By the end of 1993, Jackson had become addicted to drugs. His health deteriorated to the extent that he cancelled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation. "I’ve been in the entertainment industry since I was six years old. As Charles Dickens says, "It’s been the best of times, the worst of times. But I would not change my career. While some have made deliberate attempts to hurt me, I take it in stride because I have a loving family, a strong faith and wonderful friends and fans who have, and continue, to support me," Jackson said in a statement.
Jackson has tasted all the sides of life to the fullest; the good, the bad and the ugly, inspiring many new generation music icons. His dance steps and music style have educated stars like Robert Kelly, Usher Raymond, Justin Timberlake, Neyo, Chris Brown, Mario, Omarion Grandberry and countless others. Here in Nigeria various performers have made a living mimicking Jackson’s dance styles and dress sense until they got fans of their own. Jackson has stirred others to achieve great height and won record breaking awards.
Kafayat Shafau, Guinness Book of Records holder as the Danceathon Queen told Newswatch that Jackson’s originality had inspired her to be herself when dancing. "Even from the beginning with his bizarre attitude and dare devil behaviour in breaking records, he has kept the creativity alive year after year and I don’t see anybody that can replace him," she said.
P-Square, the award wining R&B duo who add Jackson's inspired dance steps to their music videos and performances, said they grew up watching the king of pop backslide and moonwalk on stage. His break dancing was electrifying to them and they began following his footsteps until they carved a niche of their own.
To celebrate Jackson’s 50th birthday, Sony BMG will release a double disc compilation album called King of Pop in various countries. It will include 30 tracks from Jackson’s group and solo career, all voted for by fans. Sony will then add rare tracks, previously unreleased material and a MegaMix by Jason Nevins. The album will be available in two versions and each country will have a different track list, according to how the fans voted.