Speech given by Adit:
After working many hours in office from dawn to dusk or after attending classes from morning to evening, once you reach home in the evening, what gives you great relief? Listening to Music.
In the music world, Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson has left their impressions in this world. Just last week, we lost a great musician ‘Michael Jackson’. As a tribute to MJ, I would like to talk few words about him.
He was born on August 29th’ 1958 and died on June 25th’ 2009
He referred to as the “King of Pop”, his 1982 album Thriller remains the world’s best-selling album of all time, and four of his other solo studio albums are among the world's best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).
In the early 1980s, he became a dominant figure in popular music and the first African American entertainer to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. The popularity of his music videos airing on MTV, such as "Beat It", “Billie Jean” and “Thriller”. Videos such as “Black or White” and “Scream”, with his sister Janet Jackson made Michael Jackson an enduring staple on MTV in the 1990s. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound, vocal style, rhythm and dance influenced many artists around the globe.
Let’s take a brief look about his life.
1958–75: Early life and The Jackson 5
Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American recording artist, entertainer and businessman. Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Gary, Indiana to a working-class family. The son of African-American parents Joseph Jackson and Katherine Easter Jackson, he was the seventh of nine children.
His siblings are Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy and Janet. He first joined his brothers’ group ‘Amazing Jacksons’. Later the Jackson Brothers formed a band ‘The Jackson 5’. Young Michael and his brother Jermaine were the lead vocals. In 1966, they won a major local talent show with renditions of Motown hits and James Brown’s "I Got You (I Feel Good)”, led by Michael.
The group set a chart record when its first four singles – “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.Starting in 1972, Jackson released a total of four solo studio albums with Motown, among them -Got to Be There and Ben.
He then began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group.
1975–81: Release of the album - Off the Wall
In 1979, Jackson released his solo album, Off the Wall.
It was the first album to generate four US top 10 hits, including the chart-topping singles “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” and “Rock with You”. In 1980, Jackson won three awards at the American Music Awards for his solo efforts. That year, he also won Billboard Music Awards for Top Black Artist and Top Black Album and a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
1982–85: Release of the album - Thriller, Motown 25, We Are the World and business career, Awards
In 1982, Jackson released his next album, Thriller.
Seven singles from Thriller concurrently hit the Billboard Hot 100 top 10, including "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".
Beyond its record-breaking success among fans, Thriller instituted multiple changes within the music industry. It raised the importance of albums. The New York Times said, "The moonwalk that he made famous is an apt metaphor for his dance style".
In 1984, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award presented by U.S. President Ronald Reagan for his support of charities that helped people overcome alcoholand drug abuse.
He had very friendly attitude and produced albums with other singers. Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record.
He worked with Paul McCartney on the two hit singles "The Girl Is Mine" and "Say Say Say".
1986–90: Skin disease, Release of the album - Bad, autobiography, films, Awards, King of Pop
In the mid-1980s, Jackson was diagnosed with skin disease vitiligo and lupus; the latter was in remission in Jackson's case, and both illnesses made him sensitive to sunlight.
In 1987, Jackson released his next album, Bad
Though Bad had lower sales than Thriller, but still it was a substantial commercial success.
In 1988, Jackson released his first autobiography, Moon Walk. Jackson wrote about his childhood, The Jackson 5, and the abuse he had suffered.
Though he complained about his childhood, he credited his father's strict discipline as playing a large part in his success.
In March 1988, Jackson purchased land near Santa Ynez, California to build Neverland Ranch at a cost of $17 million. He had a brief stint in films.
Famous Actress Elizabeth Taylor gave a nickname “King of Pop” to Jackson, when she presented Jackson with an "Artist of the Decade" award in 1989, proclaiming him "the true king of pop, rock and soul". U.S. President George H. W. Bush presented the singer withThe White House's special "Artist of the Decade" award in recognition of Jackson's musical influence in the 1980s.
1991–93: Release of the album – Dangerous, Awards
Jackson released his eighth album Dangerous in 1991. The album's hit songs are: "Black or White", "Remember the Time", "Heal the World".
Jackson was given the "Living Legend Award" at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
1995–97: Release of the album - HIStory
In 1995, he released the double album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I.HIStory received a Grammy nomination for best album.
The first single released from the album was the double A-side “Scream/Childhood”. "Scream" was a duet, performed with Jackson's youngest sister Janet Jackson.
Marriage and life:
In May 1994, Jackson married singer-songwriter Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. Jackson and Presley divorced less than two years later, remaining friendly.
During the HIStory World Tour, he married Deborah Jeanne Rowe, dermatologist nurse. Jackson has 2 sons and one daughter.
Charity:
Jackson donated and raised millions of dollars for beneficial causes through his foundations, charity singles, and support of 39 charities.
During the trip of World Tour for ‘Bad’ album, he invited underprivileged children to watch for free and gave donations to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.
Jackson founded the “Heal the World Foundation” in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch, to go on theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 67 concerts in the part of World Tour for ‘Dangerous’ album. All profits from the concerts went to the "Heal the World Foundation", raising millions of dollars in relief.
Surgery:
During his music career, from 1979 onwards he worried much about his ‘big nose’. He went on multiple surgeries on his nose to make it thin.
In 1992, One little girl from an orphanage in New Jersey’s last desire was to see Michael Jackson. MJ was busy in changing his appearance and was busy to make arrangements for surgery to make his nose half from original size. Still he met that girl in that busy schedule. After seeing him, instead of satisfied, that girl started weeping. MJ asked why she was crying. She said, I don’t want to see changed Michael. I wanna see the real MJ, not this MJ.
MJ was silent for a moment and replied her ‘I am not handsome, that’s why changing my appearance’. Girl said, ‘You are just looking at your nose much. I am looking you. So you have to see yourself, not just nose’. The words touched MJ’s heart. He wrote in his diary “that the girl’s words daunted me many years whenever I do makeup. But what to do? I have to change my appearance. I am a timid’.
Controversies:
His often changing appearances and eccentric behavior, generated significant controversy which damaged his public image. Though he was accused of child sexual abuse in 1993, the criminal investigation was closed due to lack of evidence and Jackson was not charged.
Conclusion: Awards, Planned Release of the album - This Is It, death
He have been inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, won 13 Grammy Awards, 13number one singles in his solo career, and the sale of 750 million records worldwide.
He died on June 25th’ 2009. At the time of his death, he was preparing for This Is It, a series of 50 concerts that would have been held in London beginning July 13, 2009.
In the music world, Michael Jackson regarded and ranked as number 1 in Pop music and he will always remembered as ‘King of Pop’.
I always thought he was from future. He presented great music, great dance for yesterday, for today and for tomorrow. He was ahead of time. He left us early from Earth. It’s end of an era.
I don't see any other musician in this world does music shows with such an enthusiastic and an energetic way. May be other singers may overtake him in singing, but no one can beat him in a combination of singing & dancing together. His dance was amazing. Our world lost a great musician. It’s end of an era. To the best of my knowledge, Elvis Presley was a great singer. MJ was a great singer and great dancer too. In solos, these two guys left their impression in this world. In groups, Beatles are #1.
Many actors, actresses around the globe imitated his dance movements of his 'moonwalk'. His music was inspiration to many other musicians.
In poetic sense, if any great king or great emperor dies, we say a star has fallen from the sky. If a poet dies, we say a star has risen to the sky. This our king, ‘King of pop’ is different. He raised as a star named ‘Pop star’ just next to Pole star.
Written by: Adit
July 2009, Middletown NJ
