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Michael Jackson – Thriller (Official 4K Video)
Michael Jackson’s 14-minute short film “Thriller” revolutionized the music video genre forever. Hailed as the greatest music video of all time by MTV, VH1, Rolling Stone and others, “Thriller,” directed by John Landis, is also the only music video selected to be included in the Library of Congress’ prestigious National Film Registry.
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Michael Jackson: The Unparalleled King of Pop
A Life of Genius, Mystery, and Legacy
He was a boy from the American industrial heartland who became a global icon. A performer whose name became synonymous with pop music itself. A figure of immense talent and profound complexity, Michael Jackson’s life was a tapestry woven with threads of groundbreaking artistic genius, record-shattering commercial success, deep personal tragedy, and relentless public scrutiny. To speak of Michael Jackson is to speak of the late 20th century’s most influential entertainer, a man whose story is both a celebration of human potential and a cautionary tale about the perils of fame.
Part 1: The Prodigy – The Jackson 5 and Motown Era (1958-1975)
Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of ten children in a working-class family. His father, Joseph Jackson, a former musician, recognized the musical talent in his children and rigorously molded them into a performing group. Michael, with his preternatural vocal ability and captivating stage presence, quickly became the standout frontman.
By 1968, the Jackson 5 signed with Motown Records, and their trajectory changed forever. Their first four singles—”I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There”—all reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, an unprecedented feat. Young Michael, with his infectious energy, powerful voice, and signature dance moves like the spin and the robot, became a pre-teen sensation. He was a prodigy, embodying the soulful sound of Motown while appealing to a massive, cross-racial audience.
Even during this period, Michael began to step out as a solo artist, releasing successful albums like Got to Be There and Ben (which featured the titular ballad dedicated to a movie rat, showcasing his unique ability to inject deep emotion into any subject).
Part 2: The Metamorphosis – From Star to Superstar (1975-1982)
In 1975, seeking more artistic control, the group moved to Epic Records and was renamed The Jacksons. While they continued to record and tour, Michael’s solo career began to accelerate. His 1979 album Off the Wall, produced with Quincy Jones, was a monumental leap. It was a seamless fusion of pop, disco, funk, and soul that broke racial barriers on radio and in clubs. Featuring timeless hits like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (his first solo Grammy winner) and “Rock with You,” the album sold over 20 million copies worldwide and established Michael not as a child star, but as a mature, formidable artist.
Part 3: The Apotheosis – “Thriller” and Global Domination (1982-1986)
If Off the Wall was a leap, Thriller (1982) was a quantum explosion into the stratosphere. Again collaborating with Quincy Jones, Jackson created a perfect album that defied genre, age, and race. Its success was and remains otherworldly:
- Best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of over 100 million copies worldwide.
- Seven of its nine tracks were released as singles and reached the top 10 on the Billboard chart.
- Won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in a single night (1984).
- Broke down MTV’s color barrier with the sophisticated horror-short music video for “Thriller,” directed by John Landis. This video transformed the music video from a promotional tool into an art form and a must-see event.
- Other videos from the album—the street-gang dance narrative of “Beat It” (featuring Eddie Van Halen’s iconic guitar solo) and the smooth, neon-lit “Billie Jean”—further cemented his status as a video visionary.
Michael Jackson became the most famous person on the planet. His signature look—the single sequined glove, the black fedora, the red leather jacket—was instantly recognizable. His dance moves, particularly the moonwalk, which he famously performed during the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special in 1983, left audiences in disbelief. He was no longer just a singer; he was a total phenom.
Part 4: The Icon and the Enigma – “Bad,” “Dangerous,” and Changing Persona (1987-1997)
The pressure to follow Thriller was immense. His 1987 album, Bad, was promoted as the successor to a masterpiece. While it didn’t match Thriller‘s sales, it was a massive success in its own right, spawning five number-one singles (“I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Man in the Mirror,” and “Dirty Diana”) and further pushing the boundaries of music video storytelling with long-form narratives.
This era saw the beginning of Jackson’s life as an enigma. His physical appearance began to change dramatically, which he attributed to vitiligo (a condition that causes loss of skin pigment) and lupus, leading to a much lighter skin tone and changes to his facial structure. He built his fantastical Neverland Ranch, a sprawling property complete with a private amusement park and zoo, which he described as a refuge for the childhood he never had. His public persona became increasingly eccentric, shrouded in mystery and fueled by a voracious tabloid media.
Despite the personal strangeness, his artistic output remained potent. The 1991 album Dangerous continued his hit-making streak with songs like “Black or White” (whose video pioneered morphing technology) and the emotionally charged “Heal the World.” His performance style remained electrifying, exemplified by his legendary Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in 1993.
It was also during this period that allegations of child sexual abuse first surfaced. In 1993, a young boy accused Jackson of misconduct. The case was settled out of court for a substantial sum, with Jackson maintaining his innocence. The allegations cast a permanent shadow over his reputation and began a long, complicated legal battle with the media and the public.
Part 5: The Fall – Allegations, Trials, and Financial Struggles (1997-2009)
The latter part of Jackson’s career was marred by escalating legal and financial troubles. His 1995 album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I was a double album—one disc of greatest hits, one of new material—that addressed the media scrutiny and his personal pain with songs like “Scream” (a duet with sister Janet) and “They Don’t Care About Us.”
In 2003, a documentary, Living with Michael Jackson, portrayed him in a highly controversial light, showing him holding hands with a young cancer survivor, Gavin Arvizo. This led to new criminal charges of child molestation. The 2005 trial was a global media circus. After a lengthy process, Jackson was acquitted on all counts, but the damage to his public image was irreparable.
Financially, his extravagant spending and lifestyle had put him deeply in debt. To stabilize his finances, he made a deal to launch a series of comeback concerts in London. Dubbed “This Is It,” the residency was sold out, with over 750,000 tickets purchased in minutes, proving his enduring drawing power.
Part 6: The Final Curtain and Enduring Legacy (2009-Present)
On June 25, 2009, as he was in the midst of intense rehearsals for the “This Is It” tour, Michael Jackson died at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 50. His death was ruled a homicide, caused by an acute overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol, administered by his personal physician, Conrad Murray, who was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter.
His death triggered an unprecedented global outpouring of grief. Memorials were held worldwide, and his music experienced a massive resurgence, topping charts all over again.
The Legacy of Michael Jackson is multifaceted and immense:
- Musical Innovation: He redefined pop music, blending R&B, rock, funk, and disco into a universally accessible sound. His meticulous, perfectionist approach in the studio with Quincy Jones set a new standard for production.
- Visual Storytelling: He revolutionized the music video, turning it into a high-budget, cinematic art form essential to an artist’s brand. Videos like “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Black or White” are cultural touchstones.
- Performance Art: As a dancer, he was without equal. His combination of soul, precision, and invention—the moonwalk, the anti-gravity lean, the robot—created a new vocabulary for pop performance that every subsequent artist has referenced.
- Breaking Barriers: He was one of the first Black artists to achieve massive crossover success on MTV and mainstream pop radio, helping to desegregate the music industry and pave the way for future artists of color.
- The Price of Fame: His life remains the ultimate parable about the immense psychological cost of mega-celebrity, the loss of childhood, and the destructive relationship between a star and the media.
Michael Jackson’s story is one of duality: immense light and deep shadow, unparalleled joy and profound sadness, glorious creation and painful controversy. He gave the world a catalog of music and performance that continues to inspire awe. Yet, his personal life remains a subject of intense debate and mystery. This complexity is, perhaps, what ensures his enduring fascination. He was, and will always be, the King of Pop—a title that speaks not just to commercial success, but to a reign defined by transformative artistic power.
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Michael Jackson – Beat It (Official 4K Video)
Lyrics:
They told him, “Don’t you ever come around here”
“Don’t wanna see your face, you better disappear”
The fire’s in their eyes and their words are really clear
So beat it, just beat it
You better run, you better do what you can
Don’t wanna see no blood, don’t be a macho man
You wanna be tough, better do what you can
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it)
Just beat it (beat it)
Just beat it (beat it)
Just beat it (beat it, uh)
They’re out to get you, better leave while you can
Don’t wanna be a boy, you wanna be a man
You wanna stay alive, better do what you can
So beat it, just beat it
You have to show them that you’re really not scared
You’re playin’ with your life, this ain’t no truth or dare
They’ll kick you, then they’ll beat you
Then they’ll tell you it’s fair
So beat it, but you wanna be bad
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it, beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it, beat it)
Beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right (who’s right)
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated (no one)
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated (oh, no)
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
Beat It
“Beat It” is a song by American singer Michael Jackson from his sixth studio album, Thriller (1982). It was written and composed by Jackson, produced by Quincy Jones, and co-produced by Jackson. Jones encouraged Jackson to include a rock song on the album. Jackson later said: “I wanted to write a song, the type of song that I would buy if I were to buy a rock song… and I wanted the children to really enjoy it—the school children as well as the college students.” It includes a guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen.
Following the successful Thriller singles “The Girl Is Mine” and “Billie Jean“, “Beat It” was released on February 21, 1983, as the album’s third single. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks.
It also charted at number one on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.
Billboard ranked the song No. 5 for 1983. It is certified 8× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). “Beat It” was a number one hit in Europe, reaching number one in Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. With sales of over 10 million worldwide, “Beat It” is one of the best-selling songs of all time.
The “Beat It” music video, which features Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of music and dance, helped establish Jackson as an international pop icon.
The single, along with its music video, helped make Thriller the best-selling album of all time. “Beat It” has been cited as one of the most successful, recognized, awarded and celebrated songs in the history of popular music; both the song and video had a large impact on pop culture.
“Beat It” won the 1984 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, as well as two American Music Awards. It was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone ranked “Beat It” number 337 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and at number 185 in its 2021 update of the list. The magazine also named it the 81st greatest guitar song of all time. It was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame‘s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
Performers
- Michael Jackson – lead and backing vocals, drum case beater
- Paul Jackson Jr. – rhythm guitar
- Steve Lukather – lead guitar, bass guitar
- Eddie Van Halen – guitar solo
- Steve Porcaro – synthesizer, synthesizer programming
- Greg Phillinganes – Rhodes piano, synthesizer
- Bill Wolfer – keyboards
- Tom Bahler – Synclavier
- Jeff Porcaro – drums
- Greg Smith – Synergy synthesizer
- Chris Shepard – vibraslap
Jackson’s “Beat It” has been cited as one of the most successful, recognized, awarded, and celebrated songs in the history of pop music; both the song and video had a large impact on pop culture.
The song is said to be a “pioneer” in black rock music and is considered one of the cornerstones of the Thriller album.
Eddie Van Halen has been praised for adding “the greatest guitar solo”, helping “Beat It” become one of the best-selling singles of all time.
(Source: Wikipedia)