Indeed, lu-ee.

“MJ made the music video an event, as opposed to before where it was a “nice to have if you have time.” ”

eh, to be honest I was never all that impressed with ‘em – or other musicians video epics, either.

“Also 1980s “Tide is High” & “Rapture” & a few other Blondie 70s vids.”

Yes, I had a Blondie video collection that was issued on VHS/Beta about 1979/80, I remember “Viktor” from it in particular.

Y’know even the “one glove” shtick wasn’t new, you’d have to go back to about 1967 and the grunge-a-delic “Music Machine” for that:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR_KGZO4U0

(Music Machine – “Talk, Talk”)

Michael was a sweet talented young boy at one time, though and that’s what I’ll remember. Not the 80s re-inventing, the epic videos, the weirdness, etc.

Comment by karen

you are correct karen! I overlooked it & i believe i also first saw it BEFORE Thriller came out. I believe i saw it for the 1st time on the same short-running music video hour show i alluded to. I guess our comments on all these song videos proves that there were alot of vids before Thriller that alot of music fans remember.

I always thought the faces/shadows scenes looked cool in Bohemian Rhapsody, because they did look to spook us out a bit. kind of like a phantom of the opera/vampire clan just steping out of the shadows for a long night.

MJ made the music video an event, as opposed to before where it was a “nice to have if you have time.” And Queen was always more theatric than most so I am not surprised they led the charge on developing a video image…OH BTW, I just remembered ANOTHER pre-Thriller vid! “crazy little thing called love” by Queen circa 1980/81. AWESOME VID and very cool song. Also 1980s “Tide is High” & “Rapture” & a few other Blondie 70s vids.

MJ RIP

You forgot to include the amazing, tres odd & dramatic “Bohemian Rhapsody” video by Queen circa 1974, lu-ee. The faces/shadows scenes spooked me out at the time.

MJ was honored by three Presidents. The Gipper, BUSH Sr. and Clinton.

…before his molestation cases broke. (Well, Clinton’s may have been after the 1994 case broke for all I know; but then my answer would be: “That’s Clinton.”)

Dan, like ILC said, juries don’t find defendants innocent, but rather not guilty (beyond a reasonable doubt). While someone’s word who knew Jackson is worth a lot, I’d be surprised if Jackson gave this person the impression that he molests children. Similarly, I wouldn’t expect a wifebeater to tell his friends, or even give them the impression, that he beats his wife.

I saw a news segment with two of the jurors on the criminal case. They said that based on the judges instructions on the crimes that Jackson was charged with, it was easy for them to make a determination that the burden of reasonable was not met for those charges. However, they were convinced that he did molest children. Again, this is not proof positive either. So bases on the evidence I know, I could only say that the preponderance of evidence shows that Jackson molested children by, at the very least, inappropriate touching and exposure.

Micheal Jackson 1958-2009 R.I.P. Thriller Man.

A jury found him innocent of the accusations.

Same with O.J. BTW, they were found “not guilty”. It’s not a declaration of innocence, only a declaration that there is enough reasonable doubt to take them out of the criminal justice system.

I know one person who had met with Jackson on numerous occasions… said there is no way he would have touched the children in an inappropriate manner.

Even if Jackson wasn’t a pedophile (i.e. sexual acts), he did other inappropriate things with children, like insisting that his own kids be called Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II – and shaking the latter over a high balcony railing. His extensive sleepovers with kids happened, and even in the absence of sexual acts, they were inappropriate because kids should have sleepovers with their actual peers; not with a troubled grownup trying to repair his damaged childhood by pretending he’s their peer.

Watching them play together, he saw the entertainer as just a kid “trapped” in an adult’s body.

GPW, I am very sorry, but you’re starting to creep me out a little. Jackson wasn’t a kid trapped in an adult’s body. Jackson was an adult. Never growing up is, by age 35 or 40 or 50, a choice. Jackson was rich and famous enough to get away with his choice, fine. But don’t view it through rose-colored glasses. It’s not a choice that is innocent and charming choice, it’s a choice that is creepy and narcissistic.

Watching them play together, he saw the entertainer as just a kid “trapped” in an adult’s body.

Jackson’s father, Joe, seeing his son’s talent pushed him to a far greater degree than he pushed his elder brothers, making him rehearse more and granting him less free time.

It’s unfortunate that many buy into the belief that he molested adolescents, based only on accusations of people whose families sought to extort the entertainer. Strange he certainly was, but criminal he was not.

I don’t buy the myth of his lack of childhood, if that were the case than his whole family should be in the same boat. They aren’t, they may have messed up lives to a certain degree, but he took it to the nth degree.

He is responsible for the miserable human being he became. Meanwhile, it may not have been a natural death but drug related – with a disappeared Dr. involved.

Frank Sinatra gracefully transitioned from teen idol to “Old blue eyes.” His talent was real and, rough as he could be, Sinatra was also authentic.

Michael Jackson was more space alien than human. He was a perpetual pixie who had no exit plan for aging. But deep in his soul, there was no one there. He was starved for simple love, he was consumed by a fear of failure and he had no core. Katherine Hepburn recognized his fragile ego early in his fame and talked him into taking off his ever present dark glasses. She knew that they were a mask and the damage that such hiding from eye contact would cause.

Unlike Elvis, there will be few imitators who try to impersonate the Michael Jackson of his later life. That would require a face that is more a composite of comic book outrage than any known human form.

Nothing will cloud the artistic accomplishments of Michael Jackson among those who are touched by his talent. That is as it should be. But the disaster that was Jackson’s personal life will be continued by the vultures who will descend on the bones of his estate.

It was never a question of whether Michael Jackson would kill himself, but only a matter of when. His death is both the passing of a major talent and the end of endless agony. Hopefully, there will be some escape clause that allows Michael Jackson to “rest in peace.”

However, I have to admit I do remember videos BEFORE MJ’S Thriller album. For me I will always remember his solo 1970s work. Thriller wasnt bad but it was almost more of an album on the level of the collaborative works that artists have been doing since the late 90s. With all the guest joining in and adding to each song. Not that it was bad, Michael was in charge directing & composing.

BUT MJ’s 70s work is about the sound of the music, the audio experience & the lyrics. Whereas in the 80s it was more about the look of things & in some cases name-recognition with various performers. Not to fully diss his accomplishments in Thriller, which i will get to later.

In response to statements such as “can anyone remember a music video before Thriller without googling”, the answer is “Yes I can.”

At least 5 videos that stand out in my little life & small brain, are “Rough Boys” by Pete Townsend, “You better you bet” by the Who, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, “Video Killed…” by the Buggles, and “Whip it” by Devo. All late 70s/early 80s pre-Thriller music vids. I cannot recall the music video show(s) (the show(s) ran for no more than an hour & probably lasted no more than a year or two). MVT was not the first TV show to exclusively feature musc videos. However, it was the first to go round the clock on cable, & then generate the need for more “scripted” & “song narrative” based videos AND Thriller was a milestone in the genre that brought music videos into being a work of art deserving of serious attention. He set the mark which has not been broken since (unless folks want to include vidoes with CGI but that is cheating, and many of those are simply not the good.). MJ mastered the video format by using traditional performance art skills he had also mastered, ie vocal skills, dancing & acting at a very young age.

Of course I remember Thriller being an event, going over to a friends house & watching it for the first time on MTV. It was impressive & “THRILLING.” But the music was secondary to the “event.” It was like watching a short movie musical centered on horror & romance. to repeat: is was quite “thrilling.”

Personally I feel that today, its the sounds of music & lyrics that have once again become more important, and it would have been what MJ would have been judged on if the comeback shows had been allowed to go on, or a new CD was released.

sadly, the world will never know.

MJ was not “the most gifted musical peformer of our time.” I really feel emotion is getting the better of people & fans when I hear comments like this. For the early to late 80s HE WAS. But lets be realistic, if not more truthful: he did not show his talent at his 80s level anymore.

Michael is a musical genius but NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE IS NO ONE BEST MUSICAL PERFORMER OR GENIUS. He is one of a select FEW, and stands at top in the solo performer catagory of the late 20th century, with the 80s being a peak for him. Thats it.

Again, I for one hold his 70s work even more timeless than ANYTHING that came after Thriller, and possibly even Thriller itself.

Thriller is a great semi-concept album that wed video & pop sounds better than any that had come before, or since. It was pivotal but it was based on somewhat of a progression that had been going on for about 20yrs prior in the music world. MJ saw the video has having so much importance then other performers had shown it. Michael took it as another artistic challenge. He wanted it to be as integral to the musical experience as the sounds. He was SERIOUS ABOUT IT. That is very praiseworthy but MJ was more than just musical videos. He could create at a damn great pop song better than most musicians 3 times his age…he simply lost his way around the Bad album and never really found his way back.

Just my two cents.

PS …and to the folks that post or on the talk shows that state he sold more than any other solo performer, with all due respect to Michael & his fans but Elvis has a few more sales. Link provided:

http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/faq/faq.asp?qid=8

sorry if this post sounds too clinical or combative. no offense to anyone who has MJ as their favorite performer. I do consider myself a fan. I simply am a fan of many musical performers.

may MJ RIP.

No one, could withstand the pressures of the spotlight cast on MJ

How about by saying ‘no’ to them consistently? I know Jackson couldn’t be expected to do it as an abused 10 year old, but how about doing it as a rich 50 year old? Greta Garbo and Agnetha Fältskog found the ability to say no and mean it.

Was he gifted? Yes, but he’s really just a speed bump in the history of music. He was vacuous (he pronounced Socrates “sew crates”) and depended upon people who saw him as a meal ticket. Perhaps they were right. As for his hardcore fans (who are suddenly legion), they simply don’t see the surgical freak he turned himself into except as fuel for their desire to worship a “misunderstood, tortured artist”.

I wish peace and quiet reflection for his family and closest friends. I wish people would stop setting up random shrines everywhere with candles, flowers, cards and crap that then have to be cleaned up. Pious graffiti.