Michael Jackson: A Legend Remembered

There aren’t many people that I can say were popular to my parents’ generation back when they were kids, then equally popular to my generation when I was a kid. In fact, in that role, Michael Jackson stood in a spotlight alone. His talent, his creativity, his genius, and his legacy are beyond question. It is disappointing to see so many media outlets fixated on some of the difficulties he faced in life. You won’t find any of that here. Instead, this is a tribute from an observer of the good things, the inspiring and amazing accomplishments of Michael Jackson, the undisputed King of Pop.

The Jackson 5

His musical aspirations began, like most prodigies, in his childhood. At the age of six years old, Michael Jackson and four of his brothers, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon, entered and won first prize in a high school talent contest. They began to tour Illinois after that, eventually rising to stardom as the Jackson 5. To this day, I don’t think I know a soul who can’t finish the lines of their famous song “ABC”. Michael Jackson’s voice was already developing into something very special. Had he stopped his career with what he accomplished with the Jackson 5 alone, he would rightfully be in the books already. The Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Grammy Hall of Fame, and Vocals Hall of Fame, and have a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They even starred in an Emmy-winning mini series. But they were not the stopping point for Michael Jackson.

The MJ Flower Blossoms

Michael Jackson went on to make arguably the greatest transition from child star to adult star in history. His creative talents truly began to flourish after the Jackson 5 left Motown records. Michael Jackson was given much more artistic freedom and began to write songs for the Jackson 5 (now called the Jacksons) as well as working on his own solo albums. His first solo album, Off the Wall, won him a litany of American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and a Grammy, but it was just the beginning. Michael Jackson’s next album would explode on the scene and sky rocket to sales that have earned it the description of the greatest album of all time. You know what it was. Thriller. And here is where we saw Michael Jackson in his prime as a performer, in my opinion. The 80’s.

The 80’s: Vintage Michael Jackson

I’ve got two words. No, four. Beat it. I’m bad. That’s it. I was born in ‘78, at a time when Michael Jackson was transitioning from the Jacksons to the Jackson. And what I remember most is the leather, the zippers, the amazing dancing skills – this was the 80’s. I can’t tell you how many little kids were moon walking, trying to spin around and kick a leg out like Michael Jackson. (On a side note, maybe there’s something about the name “Michael” that destines one for greatness – Jackson, Jordan, Tyson…?)

I remember an interview he did, I believe it was with Diane Sawyer. She asked him about his music and his dancing, and he was such a perfectionist. You don’t drift into the realms of greatness that he reached, that perfectionist mentality he had is something I wish would get more attention. Commenting on a recent performance the two of them were watching, Michael Jackson said he was disappointed because he had messed up. Diane asked, how?

“Here, right here,” he said in a soft voice, pointing at the replay moving in slow motion on a television screen.

“I really wanted to spin six times right there, then stop, jump on my toes and just hold it… just pause for about four beats. But I messed up and had to stop after four turns and I couldn’t hold up on my toes like wanted to. I kept going, but I was upset. The crowd never knew.”

Just think, as tight as Michael Jackson was, and as impressive as his dances were – they gained him international fame and recognition – he was still aiming higher! It shows, clearly in almost any video from the 80’s just how hard he was pushing himself. Go youtube one of them, Bad, for example. Beyond a shadow of doubt, whichever one you check, Michael Jackson will be popping the moves the hardest and look more crisp than any other dancer on the screen. It’s not because he asked everyone else, “Fellas, be a little dull so I can shine.” To the contrary, he pushed them almost as hard as he pushed himself. But none of them wanted it as bad as he did. None of them had what he had.

I remember in another interview, Michael Jackson was showing how he created the background sounds to a few of his songs, basically by beatboxing! Then I listened more closely to some of his songs and sure enough, sounds at first you thought were instruments are actually him. You don’t see this type of creativity, especially at such a prolific level, anymore. This is where I wish the mainstream would focus a bit more. Share insights and interviews from Michael in his prime to celebrate this creative genius who let creativity burst out of him through several outlets – for decades!

Not many can say they changed, literally, the world, directly. I’m not talking about helped someone who helped someone who eventually played a role in – no, I mean hands on direct massive impact. Entirely through expressing himself in song and dance. Michael Jackson was a creative artist like none other who deserves to be celebrated now after his passing, not picked apart for his short comings. There won’t be another one, let’s remember the good and the amazing.