Michael Jackson – cz. 1 Droga na szczyt
London, March 2009 You just joined us on a news channel This is what's happening at the o2 arena. Which of course is in south east London. And this is… Some kind of showcase event today. Where Michael Jackson so called "king of pop" Is about to announce a series of concerts here in London. We don't know how many… Was there a problem mr Phillips with mr Jackson's appearance at the press conference that day? Something unusual happened? We were late. Would you agree with me sir that you described Mr Jackson in exhibit 7 As an emotionally paralyzed mess? That is correct And you said "this is the scariest scene I ever seen" That's what I wrote at the time. Ok, could you read it? "MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent" Thome and I are trying to sober him up and get him to the press conference. With his hairdresser makeup artist. And then mr Leiweke responds "are you kidding me?" Correct. And then you responded with the longer entry there Correct You wrote "I screamed at him so loud, the walls are shaking".
Yes. That was an exaggeration According to promoter’s confessions he had to slap in the face depressed and frightened Jackson. Only that convinced him to enter the conference and announce his come back tour. My final show performances in London. Looking back, this conference was a death sentence, actually. This is it. And see you in july. Once we go on sale. Which we have the right to do. He is locked. He has no choice. He has to do it. Right? Michael Jackson.
Part 1 Describe the performance that you put on. I mean. What do you put into it? Well, whatever I sing – thats what I really mean. I don't sing it if I don't mean it. You were like an old soul in a little body I remember hearing that all the time when I was little. They used to call me a "45 year old midget" He was a kid… Who was about… 8 years old, 7-8 years old… Singing a Smokey song Better than Smokey I told Susanne that they gonna need something that a kid would sing. So I just came up with kind of a melody of my own… I said – "he should sang something like that" And we did "The love you save" and "I'll be there".
And that made history because no other group I think. Had it that four first records go to number one so it was like a major feat. And they became… They became so successful So quickly. That none of us were prepared for it. We went from being able to go anywhere. Get a hamburger, go to a movie – you know – or shopping. To being able to go nowhere. Jackson 5: the breakthrough of the early 70’s This unbelievable success would carry a sad background. He practiced us with a belt in his hand. And if you missed a step. Expect to be a… Just let me go back. You just said… That you would practice the dance steps. And your father would be holding a belt in his hand. Is that what you just said? Yes. And he would tear you up if you missed. Through the first half of the 70’s, America was going nuts about the Jacksons 5. Especially the little Michael Jackson. He lost the ability to be a kid before his 12 birthday.
Michael Jackson really was never able to go anywhere Without a bodyguard. Without a limousine. Without you know people to protect him from his success. The breakthrough is decreasing… when Micheal is no longer a cute kid. One time we were at the airport. Some Lady recognised… my brothers and all of us. She goes: "Oh my god it's the Jackson 5!" "Where is little Michael?, Where is little Michael?" another person goes: "There he is" and she goes "oooooh" "what happened?" just like that what does that do to someone who is going through adolescence? You want to die and on top of that you gotta go on stage in the spotlight. in front of hundreds of thousands of people Is it true that your father used to say you had a fat nose? What did he say? What did he actually say? God your nose is big. you didn't get it from me.
Michael Jackson Published in 1976, his solo album is a failure compared to the former successes. It doesn’t even make it to the first 100 of the Billboard. It seems that Jackson will become yet an another famous kiddo. Whose fame would be gone right with his childhood. The group changes the records studio, but the expected charts hits aren’t delivered. At least not such as the former ones. It’s the time when the brothers are starting to compose themselves.
Greg came out with the… like that's the rhythm of "Shake your body down to the ground" which the average song was more like… It's as dissonant and tension provoking averse. musically you can't… I mean what's going on where is the bridge? where was a solo? I'm just used to other form Epic is really not interested in them. At all at this point. It was kind of like… oh God we gotta put this out I get a call from Paris Eley. He is head of promotion for the R'n'b department. And he says "hey man" "Shake your body" is a hit. An album with their own compositions turns out to be a hit.
Jackson are back at the top. Encouraged by the achievement of his own songs, Jackson is working on another solo album. “Off the wall” is produced “Off the wall” is produced The album is advertised by Jackson’s own composition- Don’t stop till you get enough We ain’t got time to analyse all his songs, but this one must be, as it is the portrayal of his craftsmanship as a composer and the birth of his timbre I am not an expert on that, so let’s allow the specialist to speak The first place to look is the rhytm. this is the part of the song that makes you wanna dance. However, the credit for Off the wall is not only Jackson’s. He only composes 3 songs, the rest is created by others. Moreover, He invites one of the best craftsmen, Bruce Swedien to cooperate and insure clear sound Quincy Jones is to patronise it all.
He’s an old bird in the industry, working with Frank Sinatra or Ray Charles. Together, they make a trio of perfectionists. Right after the song takes over the Billboard pop charts, Jackson writes down a resolution. „I want a whole new character, a whole new look." Totally different person. "People should never think of me as the kid who banged ABC or I want you back" I will do no interviews. I will be magic. I will be magic. I will be a perfectionist.
A researcher, a trainer, a master. I will be better than every great actor open in one. I must have the most incredible training system. To dig and dig and dig until I find. I will study and look back on the whole world of entertainment and perfect it. Right at that time, the singer is under the first plastic surgery. Two characters emerge, Michael Jackson- the persona, and the person Michael Jackson- the persona. Michael Jackson- the person. Rock with you is the second single on Off the wall album. Off the wall will make him incredibly successful. It is the 3rd best-selling album in 1980. But it is Thriller, released a year later, that establishes him the King of pop. And it is right during Motown 25 when Jackson adds a pinch of magic to his performance. The famous moonwalk was known since the 50’s, but he perfected it. Billie Jean is Jackson’s own composition.
It’s worth to point out that Jackson could not play any instrument. The notes he recorded with his voice. Jackson’s album becomes such a hit that it breaks the rules of MTV. So far, no black artist was broadcasted so constantly. Yet, the revolution is to come. The emergence of MTV gave the artists space to present their own songs in the form of a video. And even though most looked like this: Michael Jackson quickly realised the potential of music visualisation By the late ’83’s, Thriller is created. Professional video adds a separate story to the song. Visualisating it. It is the beginning of video clips. The clip increases sells of the album on the level not reached before. Still, it’s the best selling album of all time. Now, the breakhrough starts, with Michael Jackson not being able to go anywhere without histeric reaction of his fans. But the success will be shortly overshadowed by an accident that will change his life forever. It happens in ’84 during Pepsi add recording. During one of the shots, falling sparks lead to Jackson’s hair being set on fire. The accident leads to second- and third-degree burns.
Jackson permanently loses parts of his hair, what makes him wear a wing from now on. What’s worse, even tho his hospitalisation is short, the burns lead to painful wounds. This pain will follow him until the end of his life, which is visible in the shots from 20 years later. According to the nurse’s confessions, Jackson pain tolerance was really low. "Unfortunately, some of the doctors decided that when Michael was in pain or something that they would try to outbid on who could give him the better drug" And that’s how one of the doctors gives him Demerol.
A dupe for heroin; going off this med results in: anxiety, sleep disturbance, sudden behaviour changes, low sexual drive Michael begins a risky game with Demerol, which becomes a way out not only from the pain, but also reality. So far, the reality was not bad at all. Thriller gets a bumper amount of Grammys. Before working on another album, he writes down 100. It’s his goal, 100 mln sold records. This time, Jackson is to be the author of all compositions. Premiere of a long-expected album is a global event. Jackson is raising his own bar. He invites Martin Scorsese to direct his clip. And completely changes his image. And the image is what overshadows his music. Journalists will focus mostly on it. The album does not repeat Thriller’s success, but most songs hit the top of charts. Bad tour brings him overwhelming 125 mln dollars profit ( roughly 300 mln dollars in today's standard) Wherever he goes, he’s welcomed by crowds of fans. Treated like the head of state and hosted by such. But with the fame, he’s progressively more eccentric, not to say strange. For example attending the conference with a chimpanzee.
Jackson’s fame might be noticed by the fact that the same chimpanzee starred as one of the main stars of the popular talk-show. Jackson no longer participates in interviews but the need for it, leads to faking them The fact is that some of the rumours is spread by his stuff to make him present in media, and remain mysterious. This risky game is yet more beneficial than disadvantageous. In ’91, the artist signs a contract with Sony records. Expected benefits are to reach a billion dollars. It's doable if it sells like Thriller. Considering Bad a failure, he ends cooperation with Quincy Jones. Who persuades him to work with rappers. By the end of 1991, Jackson is announcing a new album. Dangerous. Album is advertised by the clip, which is a show of modern technology. Jackson changes his looks again, everyone notices his completely pale skin. Black or White is an immediate his and lands on number 1 Billboard charts. The album is advertised by the sequence of high-budget clips in cooperation with celebrities. Jackson becomes a symbol of America, just like Coca-Cola or Mickey Mouse.
On Bill Clinton’s presidency inauguration, Michael is a brighter star than the president himself. He speaks out to him. It is unique in the history of such events He tells Clinton he expects him to win over AIDS. His first interview in year is watched live by 60 mln Americans. It's actually a show. An interview with his persona, precisely directed and practised. In fact, his autopsy confirmed he was down with vitiligo.
The disease causes depigmentation of skin, visible in white spots. With the spots becoming larger, it was more convenient to even it out as white. To do so, Jackson used Benoquin, a cream that depigments skin. In early 93, 133 mln people watched live performance on Superbowl. His persona becomes completely out of this world. Something so surreal like comic characters, or Marvel heroes. 1993 is a year of an absolute success 1993 is a year of an absolute success but also the year when reality knocks to the door of this fairytale. End of part 1 (donations: paypal.me/ciekawehistorie).
