Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson was born, bla bla bla. Now let's talk about his music. Musically,  the most interesting bit I found is when he started to realise that when your teacher (Mr. Berry Gordy from Motown) hasn't got anything to teach anymore and you have to look elsewhere. And that starting to look elsewhere and do things a little bit more Michael Jackson style, presents itself for the first time, with a bang, on the album Destiny. This album is made by The Jacksons in 1978. Disco is everywhere (Saturday Night Fever appeared in the cinema's in 1977) and the sweet innocent Motown sound is getting... let's say, out of fashion. So why not push things up a little. And on the album Destiny they did exactly that. On this album you hear for the first time the high pitched squeals of Michael that is to result in the famous "hiccup" that would become a trade mark. You hear for the first time the "breathing", loudly recorded, to give you the impression that you can almost touch them, they are that close. A year later in 1979, Michael brings out the album Off The Wall. On this album the bass guitar is more present, the rhythms are faster and the talking and "voice overs" become more and more present.  Michael has taken his second step in making musical history and is laying the groundwork that would enable him to create tracks that are going to end up as  the best-selling album, ever. But not yet. In 1980, Triumph, with the Jacksons sees the light. Michaels influence is more and more present but on this album, he is still not using the different styles of music, that you are to hear, in his next solo project. In 1982, after eight months of intense work in the studio, Michaels first masterpiece is available. Thriller. Compare Thriller to the previous albums and you see where Michael has come from. It also gives you the idea that with Thriller he has finally been able to let himself go, on a creative level that was simply not possible to reach with the Jacksons. The songs are far more intense, the happy-go lucky feeling from the previous albums has been replaced with the obsession of a musical technician and not only wants this technician to show something entirely new, unheard of and out of any musical box, he also has things to say. Lyrically the messages are much more serious and conscious. In 1987, after five years of waiting Michael gives the world: Bad. The Bad album contained five number one hits and is the first and only album ever to have done so. A sixth song only made it in the top ten and a seventh song only in the top twenty. (of the Billboard Hot - One - Hundred). Not that bad for Bad. Here are the links to the albums Destiny, Off The Wall, Triumph, Thriller and Bad.  Have a good time.