A Tribute to Michael Jackson, the King of Pop

Forget about the controversy surrounding his personal life. Forget about the plastic surgery, the child abuse trials, and the couple of notorious music videos. Michael Jackson was a legend in music. Some may even put him alongside superstars such as David Bowie, Lou Reed, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac (despite those artists all playing very different styles).

From his incredible start with The Jackson 5, making their own blend of R&B, funk, soul, pop, and disco, Jackson was clearly a star. As a group, The Five were the first act in recorded history to have their first four major label singles ("I Want You Back," "The Love You Save," "ABC," and "I'll Be There") reach the top of U.S. charts, according to Wikipedia.

Yet even as a young boy, it seemed clear that Michael was destined to be a star. His solo debut, Got to Be There, was released in 1972, when Jackson was only 14. The legendary Motown Records released the album. It contains some of the best-known songs from Jackson's early career, such as the bluesy, soulful "Ain't No Sunshine," (originally performed by Bill Withers). Jackson's version has some echoes of the work of Marvin Gaye and other Motown artists.

Most younger people today, however, likely know Jackson for his work as an adult, namely astonishing hits such as "Beat It," "Thriller," "Bad," "Smooth Criminal," and "Black or White."

More than just pop or rock songs, many of Jackson's hits had transformative power on the music industry and on audiences as a whole. "Beat It," for example, co-produced by Quincy Jones, was made as a rock-influenced song, meant to appeal to black and white listeners alike, according to its Wikipedia entry. Its lyrics have been widely interpreted, but most agree that it is a criticism of street violence and gang rivalry, as evidenced by its equally legendary music video. The video, according to Wikipedia, starred 80 real-life gang members in addition to its 18 professional dancers, to add authenticity.

The album Thriller, in and of itself, changed popular music worldwide. Though critics were initially doubtful about its possible success, after the release of "Billie Jean," Thriller reached the tops of charts all across the globe. Some adults today say they remember "everyone they knew" having the album at the time it was released. At its best, it was selling one million copies a week worldwide.

Arguably, its best song is the title track, which has been, to use the popular phrase, widely imitated but never duplicated. The song, in and of itself, is remarkable for its lyrics, vocals by Jackson, and the famous "rap" by Vincent Price ("Darkness falls across the land/The midnight hour is close at hand..."). Doubtless, it will still be heard at Halloween parties and amusement parks for years to come.

And who out there hasn't seen the song's equally fantastic video? Its dance routine has been copied at weddings, bar mitzvahs, football games, and numerous other events. It may surprise you to learn that it has even shown up at the Baltimore anime convention Otakon in 2003; during the "Cosplay," in which groups perform skits in costume, the winning group (referred to as "Entry #18 Productions") performed a brilliant parody of the music video while costumed as characters from Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Melee. Also, even more famously, British dance duo Signature performed their own exceptional take on "Thriller" on a semi-final episode of "Britain's Got Talent". Even Simon Cowell was impressed! Of course, none of it would have been possible without the original.

Thriller, in case you've forgotten, is still considered the best-selling album of all time. Period.

For those who thought Jackson could never top Thriller (and some might debate he never did), the performer still had quite a few tricks up his sleeve.

Dangerous, his seventh studio album, has currently sold more than 30 million copies worldwide, and at present is the only album ever to feature five Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles. Who can forget "Bad," "The Way You Make Me Feel," "Smooth Criminal," or "Man in the Mirror"?

"Bad," in particular, sticks out in the minds of music fans because of its video. In its full form, it is an 18-minute short film directed by Martin Scorsese, of Taxi Driver and Goodfellas fame. In the film, Jackson plays a boy named Daryl, who has just graduated from a prestigious private school, returning to his home in a dilapidated neighborhood. Of note: in the full-length version, keep an eye out for a cameo by a young Wesley Snipes.

The dance routine in "Bad" is nearly as well-known as "Thriller"; it was famously parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic in his hilarious "Fat" video, for which Jackson lent him the original set.

Besides "Bad" and "Thriller," Jackson made several other "epic" music videos, including "Remember the Time," set in an ancient Egyptian palace (and featuring a cameo by Eddie Murphy).

Speaking of dancing, Jackson's renowned "moonwalk" wasn't always the signature move that people know today. According to a YouTube montage, it was on May 16, 1983, for a televised Motown tribute, that Jackson introduced the amazing steps. While some might dispute their influence, you can see elements of the moonwalk and Jackson's other moves in modern dance.

Like many great artists in and outside of music, Jackson clearly went through creative "periods" in which his style and image changed. In his early days, he took on the soul and funk of the '60s and '70s; during his peak in the '80s, he mixed in everything from rock to hip-hop; and into the '90s, he composed even more signature tunes and continued to dazzle audiences, seeming as if he would never run out of creative energy.

At times, it seemed as if Jackson was overshadowed by the tabloid obsession with his health, rocky love and family life, controversial music videos, and alleged sexual offenses. You could say, however, that such things tend to come with the package of celebrity life. (Can anybody say "Madonna," "Miley Cyrus," or "Tom Cruise"?)

The double album HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I, released in 1995, highlighted Jackson's career up to that point, while featuring a collection of new songs on its second disc. Among them was his popular duet with sister Janet, "Scream," which Jackson later said he and Janet wrote in response to the media criticism he received in the '90s, according to MTV Yearbook. The innovative and highly praised promo was directed by music video master Mark Romanek, also the man behind such videos as Fiona Apple's "Criminal" and Nine Inch Nails' "Closer."

Even this "comeback" album, however, was a source of controversy. The track "They Don't Care About Us" contained the lyrics:

Jew me, sue me
Everybody do me
Kick me, kike me
Don't you black or white me

Some, including Jackson's close friend Steven Spielberg, interpreted these lyrics as anti-Semitic. Jackson responded by saying that was not his intent; others, in fact, have defended the song by saying it has an anti-hate message.

Regardless of what you may think of Jackson's personal life or his views on race and religion, his contribution to modern music is undeniable.

Surely, his death will be commemorated by his many legions of fans all across the world, as well as the slew of artists that take inspiration from his work today.

If you come away with any positive message from Jackson's work, let it be a reflection of this: start with the man (or woman) in the mirror.