Spring Break
Juicy
Jackson Moonwalks For Himself
Samantha Gannon
Issue date: 2/18/08 Section: Focus
Michael Jackson who? That was the one flaw in this year's 50th annual Grammy Awards. The 2008 music celebration was about commemorating the legends, the performers, and the rising stars of the new generation. Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Luciano Pavarotti, John Fogerty and Little Richard all graced the stage. Cirque du Soleil also wowed audiences with their captivating rendition of "A Day in the Life" to honor the Beatles.
Coincidently, this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Michael
Jackson's Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time. Not once did the Academy recognize Jackson's incredible feat or his superior achievements as an artist. There had been rumors circulating for weeks that Jackson was going to perform on Grammy night with artists such as Akon, Fergie, and qill.i.am who all appear on the re-release of Thriller. Fans were left disappointed.
According to Usatoday.com, Thriller sold and astounding 27 million-plus albums in the United States, and included seven top-10 singles. Jackson also garnered 8 Grammys and 12 nominations in 1984. No one in the music industry had ever reached the matched his success as a solo artist. He had a unique sound and a creative flair that elevated him into a class by himself. Jackson transcended and defined the realm of pop music, shaping the molds of some of today's biggest artists.
In recent years, Jackson has been scrutinized by the media for his bizarre behavior and impulsive lifestyle. You say the word "Jackson," and people shout "freak." What happened? What went wrong? How could one of the most talented individuals in music throw his career away? We'll never really know.
However, his personal life does not alter the Michael Jackson everyone once knew and adored. His music is a testament to that. The 14-minute music video for "Thriller" made everyone's heads turn, and raised the bar high for music videos thereafter. The sleek sequin glove was his trademark. His smooth moves, specifically the moonwalk, signified his sex appeal to girls throughout the world. And Jackson's high-pitched but polished voice made him the international phenomenon that he represents to this very day. We still crank up the volume whenever we hear his hits on the radio, and rock out to his signature beats on the dance floor.
Disappointed that Jackson wasn't recognized at the 2008 Grammys? Yes.
Does he need a speech to salute his magnitude of influence on music? Absolutely not. The King of Pop will always be the "master of his domain."
Contact Samantha Gannon at Samantha.Gannon@UConn.edu.
Coincidently, this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Michael
Jackson's Thriller, the biggest selling album of all time. Not once did the Academy recognize Jackson's incredible feat or his superior achievements as an artist. There had been rumors circulating for weeks that Jackson was going to perform on Grammy night with artists such as Akon, Fergie, and qill.i.am who all appear on the re-release of Thriller. Fans were left disappointed.
According to Usatoday.com, Thriller sold and astounding 27 million-plus albums in the United States, and included seven top-10 singles. Jackson also garnered 8 Grammys and 12 nominations in 1984. No one in the music industry had ever reached the matched his success as a solo artist. He had a unique sound and a creative flair that elevated him into a class by himself. Jackson transcended and defined the realm of pop music, shaping the molds of some of today's biggest artists.
In recent years, Jackson has been scrutinized by the media for his bizarre behavior and impulsive lifestyle. You say the word "Jackson," and people shout "freak." What happened? What went wrong? How could one of the most talented individuals in music throw his career away? We'll never really know.
However, his personal life does not alter the Michael Jackson everyone once knew and adored. His music is a testament to that. The 14-minute music video for "Thriller" made everyone's heads turn, and raised the bar high for music videos thereafter. The sleek sequin glove was his trademark. His smooth moves, specifically the moonwalk, signified his sex appeal to girls throughout the world. And Jackson's high-pitched but polished voice made him the international phenomenon that he represents to this very day. We still crank up the volume whenever we hear his hits on the radio, and rock out to his signature beats on the dance floor.
Disappointed that Jackson wasn't recognized at the 2008 Grammys? Yes.
Does he need a speech to salute his magnitude of influence on music? Absolutely not. The King of Pop will always be the "master of his domain."
Contact Samantha Gannon at Samantha.Gannon@UConn.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ben
posted 2/18/08 @ 8:18 PM EST
How did Pavarotti "grace the stage" at the 2008 Grammy Awards when he died in 2007?
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