Hey, long time no blog. Sorry for the delay I've been a bit un-inspired as of late. I don't really like doing album reviews (I figure everyone likes or dislikes a record for various reasons my opinion shouldn't really mean a damn thing) so I wasn't gonna sit here and grade new ones from Drake, Travie McCoy, The Roots, Eminem, or Maroon 5's new single although if pressed...they're all dope. But with today June 25th being the one year anniversary of my idol's passing I all of a sudden felt the need, more importantly the want, to write something. I'm not gonna wax poetic about how great he was as a entertainer and performer, how his singing talent may be the most underrated of anyone in the modern times, or how he electrified audiences the world over (including yours truly, who's 1st concert EVER was MJ @ MSG in '89 - WHAT!) or even that I was moonwalking around family living rooms since I was 9. I figure the man had a nearly 50 year career if you don't have your own favorite "Michael Moment" then you're either A) void of all joy in your life. B) have VERY specific and absurd tastes in music. Or C) you're exactly 1 years old.
In any case I decided I was gonna throw out a Top 10 list, Letterman style as to what exactly made Michael Jackson the "King Of Pop" (and all that "self-proclaimed" stuff is bullshit, cuz everyone proclaimed that). Hopefully you all enjoy, and I know I ask for feedback from time to time, but I'd def love for you guys to throw in anyones you think I forgot (or you wanted to share anyway).
Top 10 Reason Michael Jackson was, is and always will be KING:
10) He created nothing, and innovated everything. While we all know Michael as an incredible dancer, he didn't actually invent any of his signature moves; not "The Robot", or the glides or even "The Moonwalk". But what he did do was execute these moves in a way untouchable by anyone else, to the point that their actually creators gave up ownership to MJ (this is a theme that will come up again).
9) The Jackson 4 - yea exactly! Would they be nearly as memorable if Jermaine and Tito were singing lead? I think not.
8) Motown 25. No one before or since has polarized a moment or performance the way he did that night. And certainly no one has solidify their "I HAVE ARRIVED, DAMMIT!" moment any better.
7) "He made Thriller" (Dave Chappelle voice)
6) I'm pretty sure he did more for motorcycle jackets (fashion wise) than even the Hell's Angels could do. Think about it, how many jackets were bought after "Thriller", "Beat It", "Bad"...
5) HE SHUT DOWN SMOKEY ROBINSON!!! It's a little known story, but the great singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson (of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles fame) originally wrote the song "Who's Loving You" for himself (and his group). Berry Gordy had them record it w/o Smokey's knowledge as just a demo track except...well...young Michael sang the shit out of it. Berry brought in Smokey to hear the demo (not knowing Smokey was planning to record the song himself) and after hearing the track, well we all know who ended up w/ the song. As I said in point 10, Michael innovated everything into his own, to the point where you had no choice but to call it his).
4) Usher, Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, Ginuwine, Lenny Kravitz, Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Missy Elliot, Mike Posner, Musiq, Pharell/N.E.R.D., Jay-Z, Omarion, Robin Thicke, Slash, Fall Out Boy (I could keep going but I think you get the point)
3) HE MADE THRILLER!!! (my voice) Not talkin about the song, not the music video. I'm talkin about THE WHOLE DAMN ALBUM! 9 tracks, 9 hits, 9 classics. That kinda thing is unheard of, especially in today's world of one download wonders. AN ENTIRE ALBUM?...WITH ALL HIT RECORDS?...WHAT?!?!?!
2) The one thing I can say Michael w/o question truly created was the "music movie". As MTV came to be and this new media force gained strength MJ without question took that bull by the horns, refusing to not out-do himself from "video" to "video". From the futuristic laser lights of "Rock With You", to the space show that was "Scream" and everything in between, Michael didn't release singles or music videos, he created new "EVENTS" the that held the world hostage. Then there's always "Thriller" to this day (where George Lucas and James Cameron have taken computer effects to a world that "Tron" couldn't have even computed) that mini-movie remains the greatest video of ALL-TIME (no bullshit it came on as I was typing this post and literally I completely shut down all focus, b/c of the two and a half minute dance break, Jason Derulo ain't doin that shit)
1) 4 DECADES OF GREATNESS! Not many artists in any art form can take credit in shaping and molding the youth of the World over across 4 decades. From the time he was a child dancing around with his brothers until the day he died prepping one of the biggest live concerts this world would ever know, Michael Jackson held us all by our ears and eyes. Regardless of what you thought of him on a personal note, no one could doubt his talents (as proven by the fact that after he died literally everyone that tagged him as some sort of oddball monster, immediately jumped on the we miss our genius bandwagon). MJ's legacy spans all the way to my grandmother (lookin' good in her 80's) to my mother/father, aunt's and uncles and probably biggest through me. We all have our own favorite Michael moments, from he and his brothers on The Ed Sullivan Show, to him unveiling the robot on The Jackson's performance of "Dancing Machine" on Soul Train in the 70's. From kids standing in front of TV sets like Catholics for mass from the Pope in the Vatican for the premiere of the "Thriller" video, to kids (me) gliding and moonwalking all over Bar/Bat Mitzvah whenever the DJ played "Billie Jean". From the Maculey Caulkin jokes after the brilliance of the "Black or White" video to the pop/punk covers of "Smooth Criminal" and "Beat It" by Alien Antfarm and Fallout Boy respectively. No one can question the impact Michael had no just on pop music, but pop culture. We all, artists and fans, owe him for the gifts of art he gave us during his time on this Earth. And I for one, am eternally grateful. Long Live The King!!!
Peace Up, Peace Out!
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