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| Wednesday, 26 May 2004 |
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Superstar Michael Jackson : King of Pop by Derrick Schokman
The Afro-topped Boy Wonder of the Motown integrationist dream, took the baton passed by his soul singer forbears into the rock world and beyond, mixing rock, funk and electronic dance music with dazzling rhythmic ingenuity. Peacock In sales terms he outran them all, even the great white singers like Elvis Presley and The Beatles, who had to step aside in the final reckoning. Jackson first made a name for himself with two tracks "Destiny" and "Triumph" which he wrote, arranged and cut with his brothers. The covers were emblazoned with a peacock picture, the significance of which Michael explained as follows: "The peacock is the only bird that integrates all colours into one. We, like the peacock, try to integrate all races into one through our music." The ultimate video which he conceived showed the Brothers Jackson as godlike figures spraying magic love, peace and harmony dust on to the globe. Blockbuster Aware of all the injustices served on his musical forbears he went into battle for them with the pop blockbuster Thriller (1982) which the black people cherished as a battering ram against the barricades of American apartheid. To them he was the Afro-American Giant who had determined to go boldly where none of his forbears had ventured before. Thriller was also a triumph of celebrity momentum and video marketing that turned Michael Jackson into a world superstar. Critics say that his next album Bad was nowhere as good as Thriller. It sold only half as many copies, but it was still the second biggest selling album of all time. The passion and compassion of "Beat It", "Billie Jean" and "Wanna be Starting Something" in this album, were generated by the concern of Jackson for the ills of teen violence and teen pregnancy. Dancing was an important element in Jackson's elevation to fame. It was where he focused all his energy. In the words of his Yoga guru: "When Michael dances he leaves the world. It is a genuine form of trance practised by the Sufis". Congratulating Michael for his spellbinding "Billie Jean" dance routine, veteran Hollywood dancer Fred Astaire said: "You knocked them on their arses there. You are an angry dancer, there's rage in your feet". Protection In one of his rare interviews Jackson had said: "I was raised on the stage. I am more comfortable there than I'm here right now. I feel there are angels on all sides protecting me. I can sleep on stage". Those imaginary angels that he talked about stood alongside him for real when he sang "Will you Be There" from the video of his next album Dangerous. The song ended with these words: "Everyone's taking control of me Seems that the world When he finished singing one of the angels alongside wrapped a big pair of golden wings around him in an act of protection. Protection that he sorely needs now. The Dangerous tour was living up to its title. An exhausted Michael was having dizzy fits on stage and cancelling shows. Sales plunged and the public began to question his eccentricities. To top it all, his public displays of affection for children which were once considered a virtue, are now being challenged in the face of charges for alleged child abuse. His regal status flawed, his kingdom in disarray, will the King of Pop have to abdicate? **** Back **** |
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Produced by Lake House |
Pop, which originated in the US in the early 20th century spread to
the UK, Europe and other parts of the world to become a common language
musically and visually. It rested at first on the backs of screaming girl
fans who bought millions of records to make a massive contribution to the
early success of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and finally
Michael Jackson who bestrode the pop world like a colossus in the 1980s
reaching audiences across barriers of age, race, sex and language.
