I believe Michael Jackson set a trend that saw followed throughout the 1980s.
I use Michael Jackson and the 1980s because as I’ve stated before, they are the basis of my popular music knowledge and cultural experience.
I saw Michael Jackson dominate the popular music world with his Thriller album. From that point onward, I have watched musicians, singers and bands have their own Thriller-like sequel level of success.
In second grade, a classmate brought an album to school for either a regular party or our end of the year party. That album would be the most important album of my life.
The album cover was of a young black man in a white suit, leaning on his left side with a black background.
At the back, it informed me that the nine songs were produced by Quincy Jones.
The album cover was of a young black man in a white suit, leaning on his left side with a black background.
At the back, it informed me that the nine songs were produced by Quincy Jones.
One or two songs from it played and I was mesmerized. I opened the album to see the young black man posing with a tiger cub. I knew from that day I had to have a copy of it.
I remember writing my mother a letter describing the album cover and title. I drew the album cover and mentioned the tiger cub too. I possibly talked to her while she was at the record store and she told me she couldn't find an album with a man and tiger cub inside. I told her to follow the drawing I put in the letter. I saw my Mom opening the door with a Sherman Records store bag in her hand! I greeted her and took the record from her hands. I ran up the stairs, grabbed a knife and sliced the record open with the precision of a surgeon. I had to calm myself down to avoid scratching the record or cutting the sleeve. I ran to my room and played Wanna Be Startin' Something. I remember my Mom saying something to the effect of that record was not for me, but I knew it was bunk. Who else asked my Mother to buy that album and went through the pain-staking detail to draft her the letter?
That album symbolized the transition in my life from Disney, Passe-Partout and Fat Albert & Cosby Kids albums to the world of 1980s pop music. No longer could I continue with children's records. It was a turning point that I didn't know was upon me. I was getting older. I was entering the world of my best friends' older brothers and sisters. I was starting to walk the musical path of my parents and their friends.
Thriller would go on to be the biggest-selling album of 1982-84 and open doors for Lionel and Prince to follow as the most influential artists of my life.
I am old enough to say that my earliest knowledge of Michael Jackson was from seeing him play The Scarecrow in The Wiz with Nipsey Russell and Diana Ross.
I knew the name from my mother's 45rpms. Michael Jackson was a little boy on some of those songs. I saw his picture on the Destiny and Triumph albums. I remember it from Off the Wall. I didn't place the man on the cover as the same person from all those other albums and songs. It seemed like I was experiencing him for the first time, but yet I knew him all along.
The morning after his death, I watched Canada AM and I saw footage that really brought it home for me. They repeat their news stories and footage every morning, every few minutes and every time I saw that footage, I felt it. It was footage of three to four young men dancing in the street to Don't Stop Til You Get Enough.
I cried when I saw that because the man who created the music that united the world was dead. The Seinfeld finale had a montage using that song as the music to several dance sequences. I not too long ago realized how that song's production is incredible.
Speaking of Michael Jackson, Prince squeezed in a mini-Michael tribute. Although Prince did not sing the Michael songs personally, it was well-received by the groove-hungry crowd.
Michael, thank you for your music, dancing and influence on popular culture. You were extremely influential in my life. You were the older brother I never had. You are strongly responsible for the blog. my radio show, my DJing, as well as my musical knowledge and taste. I am writing this sooner than I would have liked, but it has to be said.
We love you Michael and always will. R.I.P.
The biopic is scheduled for release in Canada today.
