Michael Jackson: The King Is Dead

• 1st Jul 2009

On Thursday 25 June Michael Jackson, King of Pop died. Here Glasswerk takes a look back at the life of one of music’s most gifted artists.

Michael Jackson was only ten years old when the Jackson 5 signed to Motown records in 1968 and thus began the iconic status of Michael Jackson. The legendary Motown records signed the Jackson 5 and had continued success with them for the next six years. The Jackson 5 became the first act in recording history to have their first four major label singles reach the top of the American charts.

Underneath the phenomenal success of the five brothers was a darker side, which was to mar Michael Jackson throughout his life, this was his father’s –Joe Jackson- abusive behaviour towards Michael and his brothers. Joe was a harsh task master demanding perfection from his sons, in particular Michael who himself confessed he bore the brunt of his father’s abuse. Suffering regular beatings from his father if his timing was out or he missed a note young Michael feistily would fight back which only angered his father even more. Michael reportedly said that his father never told him he loved him, not once.

Michael soon grew from a cute boy into an awkward teenager; his sudden growth spurt into a 5’11 gangly teen further troubled Michael. Suffering from acne and the cruel taunts, from his father who called him ugly and saying he had a big nose, left Michael tormented so much so that he wouldn’t look at his face in the mirror and washed in the dark. Michael was a sensitive, shy character off –stage and even though adored by millions he was plagued by loneliness. Although Michael's mother Katherine doted on him, and he equally adored her, his relationship with his father was brutal.

During 1974 The Jackson 5 wanted more creative control over their music and after much wrangling with Motown they eventually left and signed with Epic/CBS. Re-naming themselves The Jacksons their appeal continued. Eventually Michael left The Jacksons to branch out on his own, he had previously released three solo albums with Motown, but his next three albums were set to eclipse them. ‘Off The Wall’ (1979) was made with Quincy Jones, whom Michael had met on the set of The Wiz, Quincy had produced the score for this film and would work with Michael on his next three albums.

The first album they made together ‘Off The Wall’ was the first record by a solo artist to contain four US Top 10 hits, 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough', 'Rock with You', 'Off the Wall', and 'She's out of My Life'. Michael’s transition from child star to adult star was a huge success and this achievement was set to go off the richter with his next album ‘Thriller’.

Once again produced by Quincy Jones, the ‘Thriller’ (1982) album catapulted Michael into phenomenon status. To date 'Thriller' is the best selling album of all time and won eight Grammys. The accompanying video to 'Thriller' cost $500,000 setting a precedent, before this music videos cost a mere fraction of this price. Jackson was the first black artist to have his videos played on MTV as previously this medium had been dominated by white rock artists.

The follow up to ‘Thriller’ was ‘Bad’ (1987), the standards set by ‘Thriller’ meant ‘Bad’ had a lot to live up to, and it delivered 'Bad' (once again produced with Quincy Jones) produced five top ten hits including the title track alongside 'Dirty Diana', 'The Way You Make Me Feel', 'Smooth Criminal' and his third solo number one 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You'. Michael continued creating successful albums such as ‘Dangerous’ and ‘Invincible’ but none reached the dizzy heights of ‘Off The Wall’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’. These were his three seminal albums that created the Jackson legend and combined sold 109 million copies.

In 1993 the singer’s world came crashing down when he was accused of child molestation. Although, it isn’t known whether these allegation were true or not, it is something which Michael himself or his career never fully recovered from. In 2005 Jackson was again to be accused of child molestation and taken to court, even though the jury found him not guilty, it was something that continued to plaque him.

It is quite clear that people are divided on whether they believe Jackson was guilty or not. Head of Motown records Berry Gordy among others have described Jackson as a man who off-stage was shy, introverted, and lonely. Yet on stage he owned it and flourished. So could this shy, gentle man be guilty of such heinous crimes? Or was he an easy target? He already had a reputation as being different resulting in the nickname “Wacko Jacko”, he was rich beyond most people’s wildest dreams, a tactile person who was seemingly timid. So, was he an easy target for the vultures who wanted a piece of his fortune? Or was this the perfect guise to commit such horrific crimes, with his mass fortune enabling him to buy his way out of it? No-one knows for sure the only people who do are Michael himself and the people who made the allegations.

The child molestation accusations have marred the public’s opinion of Jackson as a person but one thing they can’t change is his talent. Most people would give anything to be as talented as Michael Jackson in one area. However Jackson as ever surpassed expectations and was exceptional in many areas, a talented musician, singer, dancer, performer and an imagination which ignited his performances to make them spectacular. He also pioneered the way for black artists enabling them to cross over into the mainstream which previously was dominated by white artists. He was adored by many, yet it must generate emotional turmoil to, on one hand be adored by millions of strangers who don’t really know you and on the other having your father, a person who should nurture you, making you feel worthless.

Although Jackson certainly seems to have been equally cursed and blessed, seeing his extraordinary genius gives a whole new understanding to the phrase ‘God given talent’. Rest in Peace Michael.