Michael Jackson Gems
“Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the ’80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. In his prime, Jackson was an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power. His 1982 blockbuster “Thriller” became the biggest-selling album of all time (probably his best-known accomplishment), and he was the first black artist to find stardom on MTV, breaking down innumerable boundaries both for his race and for music video as an art form.” – Artist Biography by Steven Thomas Erlewine posted on Allmusic.com.
Wednesday, June 25 marks the fifth anniversary of the passing of this musical icon. It’s hard to believe the artist that brought us so many #1 hits – “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Rock With You,” “The Girl is Mine,” “Say Say Say,” “Billie Jean,” “Bad,” “Beat It,” “Black or White,” “Man in the Mirror,” and more – has been gone for five years.
For those of us who are fans of MJ’s music and those legendary dance moves, it’s great to have current musicians keeping his memory and music alive. Who’s Bad – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band returns to the AMT stage tonight, June 20 at 8 p.m. If you get the chance, come join the fun as the guys perform numbers from Michael’s expansive catalog and replicate some of that famous Jackson choreography.
If you’ve not seen them lately, below are two of my favorite Jackson videos – “Thriller” and “Bad.” In my opinion, they’re video gems, and true testaments that Michael Jackson certainly earned the title of “King of Pop.”