Six years after his death, Michael Jackson’s sounds are still rocking the airwaves. His music and dance moves are still influencing the pop charts worldwide with musicians like P-Square emulating a mixed influence. While there are those who believe that Justin Timberlake – JT took the baton from Michael Jackson, Justin’s renditions which include “Love Never Felt So Good”, success from the song have mostly served in reinforcing an already prime legacy. The media around the world dubbed MJ as the “King of Pop” and have catalogued his music career which was dedicated to the transformation of the art of music, music videos and paved the way for modern pop music. Through his career, he inspired both young and older generations through his musical and humanitarian contributions, music and videos, such as Thriller, were reported to have fostered racial diversity in music channels across the globe.
Family
The young Michael Jackson or MJ as he is fondly remembered, owed his vocal technique in large part to Diana Ross. Diana was said to be a mother figure to him, whom he idolised. Uniquely, MJ was known to dictate his lyrics into a sound recorder, and when recording, he would sing the lyrics from memory. The talented MJ sang from childhood, and over time, his voice and vocal style changed, noticeably descended from boy soprano to high tenor as he grew. Jackson had a troubled relationship with his father, Joe. In an interview with Martin Bashir, later included in the 2003 broadcast of Living with Michael Jackson, MJ had acknowledged that his father hurt him when he was a child. In 2003, MJ’s dad, Joe acknowledged that he regularly whipped Jackson as a boy. Joe was also said to have verbally abused his son, often saying that he had a “fat nose.” Speaking openly about his childhood in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, broadcast in February 1993, Jackson acknowledged that his youth had been lonely and isolating but credited his father’s strict discipline with playing a large role in his success. In May 1994, MJ married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis and Priscilla Presley whom he knew since 1975. Despite not having children with Lisa, MJ went on to have three children, Paris-Michael Katherine Jackson, Prince Michael Jackson II, and Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Scandal
Like most celebrities, MJ made headlines from his globally publicised personal life, and this has cemented his legacy in popular culture hall of fame. Aspects of MJ’s personal life, including his changing appearance, personal relationships, and behaviour, generated controversies. Of note include Jackson’s skin which had been a medium-brown colour for the entire duration of his youth, but starting in the mid-1980s, it gradually grew paler. The change gained widespread media coverage, including rumours that he might be bleaching his skin. Despite various claims, MJ was also diagnosed with vitiligo in his autopsy.
In the mid-1990s, he was accused of child sexual abuse, but the civil case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount and no formal charges were brought. Also, Choreographer Wade Robson alleged on “The Today Show” that Jackson “performed sexual acts on me and forced me to perform sexual acts on him” for seven years, beginning from when Robson was seven years old. Robson had previously testified in defence of Jackson at the singer’s 2005 child molestation trial. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of further child sexual abuse allegations and several other charges after the jury found him not guilty on all counts.
On November 20, 2002 MJ brought his infant son onto the balcony of his room at the Hotel Adlon in Berlin, as fans stood below, holding him in his right arm, with a cloth loosely draped over the baby’s face. The baby was briefly extended over a railing, four stories above ground level, causing widespread criticism in the media. He later apologised for the incident, calling it “a terrible mistake.”
Recognition
Michael received numerous accolades during his life, which include his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame as the first and only dancer from pop and rock music, multiple Guinness World Records, 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, 13 number-one singles in the United States during his solo career and estimated sales of over 400 million records worldwide. Though artistes are regularly inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of fame, Michael is among the few artistes to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. Michael’s 1982 album Thriller is still stated as being the best-selling album of all time. Even here in Nigeria, music lovers, like on air personality, Godwin Aruwayo, ‘First Voice’ from Naija FM said, “Everything about it inspired and still inspires me. It’s 100 per cent thinking outside the box.” The other notable albums include, Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995), which are ranked as his world’s best-selling albums.
Legacy
MJ’s first posthumous song was released by his Estate and was titled “This Is It” which Jackson co-wrote in the 1980s with Paul Anka. On October 28, 2009, a documentary film about the rehearsals titled ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ was also released and though it ran for a limited two-week engagement, it purportedly became the highest grossing documentary or concert movie of all time, earning more than $260 million worldwide. On May 13, 2014, Epic Records released an album of eight songs of unreleased materials culled from past recording sessions under the title, Xscape. The album ‘Xscape’ earning digital sales of over 100,000 copies in its first week, the success of the song made Michael the first artiste in the history of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart to score Top 10 hits in five different decades, going back to the ’70s. The album had wide spread appeal and had wide commercial impact. It features nine never-before-released tracks, updated by top producers of today, like Rodney Jerkins and StarGate.
Media
In 1988, MJ released his only autobiography, Moonwalk, which allegedly took four years to complete and sold 200,000 copies. In it, MJ wrote about his childhood, the Jackson 5, and the abuse he had suffered. He also wrote about his facial appearance, saying he had had two rhinoplastic surgeries and a dimple created in his chin. He attributed much of the change in the structure of his face to puberty, weight loss, a strict vegetarian diet, a change in hair style, and stage lighting. Moonwalk reached the top position on The New York Times bestsellers’ list. The musician then released a film called Moonwalker, which featured live footage and short films that starred MJ and Joe Pesci. He has also a bestselling collection of poetry titled, Dancing the Dream. BET was reported to have described Jackson “as quite simply the greatest entertainer of all time and someone who revolutionised the music video and brought dances like the moonwalk to the world. Jackson’s sound, style, movement and legacy continues to inspire artistes of all genres.
Charity
Jackson founded the Heal the World Foundation in 1992. The charity organisation brought underprivileged children to Jackson’s ranch to enjoy theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war, poverty, and disease. After his death, The Jackson Family Foundation in conjunction with Voiceplate presented “Forever Michael”, an event bringing together Jackson family members, celebrities, fans, supporters and the community to celebrate and honour his legacy. A portion of the proceeds were presented to some of Jackson’s favourite charities. Katherine also introduced her new book “Never Can Say Goodbye”.
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