One of the greatest legends known as the "King of Pop." Was born on August 29, 1958 and passed away on June 25, 2009 due to "cardiac arrest." May he rest easy because music will never be the same.
by chickenwangs June 26, 2009
While many people are aware of Jackson’s tremendous commercial success in terms of units sold or concert attendance records broken, serious analysis of his art has perhaps been impeded by these very facts. The question goes something like this: is it possible for great art to be wildly popular, and embraced on such an enormous scale? Is it possible to be a serious artist, and also be the “King of Pop”?
Apparently it is. Efforts are now being made to understand both the meaning and the impact of Michael Jackson’s art. Examples in the past few years include symposia at Duke, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia College Chicago, Schomburg Center, the Louvre, Lincoln Center and other institutions of learning. Michael Jackson, as well as Beethoven, Franz Liszt, and Jimi Hendrix were discussed as part of a presentation about virtuosity in music at the Louvre. His music has received classical treatment by symphonies around the world. “Thriller” is the only music video to be selected for the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, and Jackson himself is likely to remain the only pop star inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame--alongside other distinctive architects of American dance heritage like Astaire, Graham, and Balanchine.
Apparently it is. Efforts are now being made to understand both the meaning and the impact of Michael Jackson’s art. Examples in the past few years include symposia at Duke, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia College Chicago, Schomburg Center, the Louvre, Lincoln Center and other institutions of learning. Michael Jackson, as well as Beethoven, Franz Liszt, and Jimi Hendrix were discussed as part of a presentation about virtuosity in music at the Louvre. His music has received classical treatment by symphonies around the world. “Thriller” is the only music video to be selected for the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, and Jackson himself is likely to remain the only pop star inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame--alongside other distinctive architects of American dance heritage like Astaire, Graham, and Balanchine.
Michael Jackson, unlike, say, the Beatles, is an American original and made a supreme contribution to popular music as high art.
by ArteFact December 11, 2012
Michael Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. He used to totally rule the world. T-shirts, music on the radio, posters, he. was. everywhere. In the eighties. Referred to as the King of Pop, as nicknamed by Elizabeth Taylor. Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records. His contribution to music, dance, and fashion made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades.
He was a member of The Jackson 5, and began his solo career in 1971.
In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool,.
Jackson popularized many dance techniques, such as the robot and of course the moonwalk.
His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop, contemporary R&B, and rock artists.
Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time.
He was a member of The Jackson 5, and began his solo career in 1971.
In the early 1980s, Jackson became a dominant figure in popular music. The music videos for his songs, including those of "Beat It", "Billie Jean", and "Thriller", were credited with transforming the medium into an art form and a promotional tool,.
Jackson popularized many dance techniques, such as the robot and of course the moonwalk.
His distinctive musical sound and vocal style have influenced numerous hip hop, pop, contemporary R&B, and rock artists.
Jackson's 1982 album Thriller is the best-selling album of all time.
Nobody dances like Michael Jackson.
Michael Jackson gave more than 500 million in charities. He's the most generous artist of the world, as listed in the Guiness Book of World Records.
Ignorants who lived under a rock didnt read or heard about the FBI files, claiming that in 15 years (of taping his phones, following him, searching his house, etc), they certified Jackson NEVER HURT ANY CHILD IN HIS LIFE.
Dude, stop the jokes about Jackson; you sound retarded, he's been found INNOCENT, everyone knows that, you tabloid sheep!
Michael Jackson gave more than 500 million in charities. He's the most generous artist of the world, as listed in the Guiness Book of World Records.
Ignorants who lived under a rock didnt read or heard about the FBI files, claiming that in 15 years (of taping his phones, following him, searching his house, etc), they certified Jackson NEVER HURT ANY CHILD IN HIS LIFE.
Dude, stop the jokes about Jackson; you sound retarded, he's been found INNOCENT, everyone knows that, you tabloid sheep!
by onptls1 November 24, 2011
Books about Michael Jackson’s art and impact are illuminating the true story long-awaited by music connoisseurs. (And tabloid crap gets a flush-you-for-stinking.)
One to read:
Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson by Joe Vogel assesses Jackson’s solo catalog 1979-2009, drawing on archival material from Jackson’s Estate, Jackson’s own statements, and extensive interviews with collaborators, some of whom had never been interviewed before. Vogel constructs an historical record founded on meticulous research about Jackson’s creative process. He persuasively contextualizes Jackson’s masterworks within a culture that nurtured--but also painfully extracted from him—their creation.
Embraced by critics and scholars, "MIM" has the substance to become a seminal and definitive text about the composition and message aspects of Michael Jackson’s art.
One to read:
Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson by Joe Vogel assesses Jackson’s solo catalog 1979-2009, drawing on archival material from Jackson’s Estate, Jackson’s own statements, and extensive interviews with collaborators, some of whom had never been interviewed before. Vogel constructs an historical record founded on meticulous research about Jackson’s creative process. He persuasively contextualizes Jackson’s masterworks within a culture that nurtured--but also painfully extracted from him—their creation.
Embraced by critics and scholars, "MIM" has the substance to become a seminal and definitive text about the composition and message aspects of Michael Jackson’s art.
by MarkItism December 11, 2012
Although Michael Jackson has received countless awards throughout his career, there are those many accomplishments and good deeds that no award or trophy can manifest, only one heart interacting with another can give the act of kindness its just award...for instance, the heartfelt stories as told by special friends who have been recipients of Jackson's altruism, both financially and emotionally, such as burn victim Dave "Dave" Rothenburg, AIDS patient Ryan White, the thousands of sick and underprivileged children who were given the enjoyment of a day in a fairytale setting at his Neverland Valley Ranch, and even two families who have been helped substantially by Jackson's support to only later be victimized by them when they tried to extort money from this kind and generous soul. Michael Jackson was known as the King of Pop, but in actuality, he was the King of Love for so many millions of people!
Michael Jackson will always be remembered, not only for his musical/dancing genius, but also for his acts of kindness to people around the world.
by PY Love and Peace December 11, 2012
Here's another good book about Michael Jackson:
Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles by Armond White (Resistance Works) is a series of contemporaneous critical essays focused on Jackson’s short films. Included is "The Gloved One Is Not a Chump," on the "Black Or White" video, which won the 25th Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for music criticism in 1992. White is renowned as an exacting critic with a supreme depth of knowledge about film history in cultural context with an unusual capacity to think for himself, which has sometimes made him a lightening rod for controversy. His question here is, “Has there been a more compelling cultural figure than Michael Jackson?” By the end of this series of essays, he passionately anoints Jackson as the most courageous and subtly subversive artist of his time.
Keep Moving: The Michael Jackson Chronicles by Armond White (Resistance Works) is a series of contemporaneous critical essays focused on Jackson’s short films. Included is "The Gloved One Is Not a Chump," on the "Black Or White" video, which won the 25th Annual ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for music criticism in 1992. White is renowned as an exacting critic with a supreme depth of knowledge about film history in cultural context with an unusual capacity to think for himself, which has sometimes made him a lightening rod for controversy. His question here is, “Has there been a more compelling cultural figure than Michael Jackson?” By the end of this series of essays, he passionately anoints Jackson as the most courageous and subtly subversive artist of his time.
by ArteFact December 11, 2012
Michael Jackson (1958-2009) was a legendary multi-talented, multi-faceted icon who was, and still remains, the most recognizable man in the entire world. His name is synonymous with singer extraordinaire, master dancer, benevolent benefactor to many causes, "best father in the whole world" as attested to by his daughter Paris, a friend to the friendless, a man with an astonishing business acumen and work ethic, the embodiment of swagitude and a burning beacon of raw sexuality, and the list goes on and on.
Many of Michael Jackson's accomplishments can be documented by his numerous awards and acknowledgements, including receiving thirteen Grammy Awards of which eight are for his worldwide bestselling album of all time Thriller, inclusion of the 1983 short film "Thriller" as the first music video to ever be inducted for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress (2009), induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (1997 & 2001), induction posthumously into the Dance Hall of Fame (2010), holding the Guinness Book of World Records' title for supporting the most charities by a pop star, etc., just to name a few.
A musical/dancing genius of Michael Jackson’s caliber will never be forgotten, as he is often imitated, but never surpassed.
Many of Michael Jackson's accomplishments can be documented by his numerous awards and acknowledgements, including receiving thirteen Grammy Awards of which eight are for his worldwide bestselling album of all time Thriller, inclusion of the 1983 short film "Thriller" as the first music video to ever be inducted for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress (2009), induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (1997 & 2001), induction posthumously into the Dance Hall of Fame (2010), holding the Guinness Book of World Records' title for supporting the most charities by a pop star, etc., just to name a few.
A musical/dancing genius of Michael Jackson’s caliber will never be forgotten, as he is often imitated, but never surpassed.
by PY Love and Peace December 10, 2012