Recommendations of the Editorial team
Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer in the world. One of the most explosive things I’ve ever seen on stage was Jackson tearing across the stage at Motown’s 25th anniversary celebration.
It was already clear to all of us: This is real greatness, and anyone who can’t do something like that doesn’t belong. Before him there were the Beatles and Elvis and Frank Sinatra, but Michael Jackson belongs alongside these giants.
I’m almost the same age as Michael and one of his earliest fans. The first time I saw him was at the Ohio State Fair when I was really little and the Jackson 5 were playing with the Commodores.
Michael came on stage and his voice rang throughout the fairgrounds. This voice touched me deeply back then.
Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”:
Billie Jean is his most important record, not just because of its commercial success, but because of its musical depth. This song has more hooks than any other I know.
Bombast and virtuosity of his live performances
It inevitably hooks into your ear canals, and each instrument throws out a different hook. You could have split it into twelve different pieces and probably would have had twelve different hits. Every day I go looking for a song like that.
Michael has influenced so many musicians. Some of them imitate the bombast and virtuosity of his live performances. You can see the influence of his sister Janet, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Britney SpearsJennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey.
A world without Michael Jackson is a completely different world
And in the dance moves of the syncopated choreography of many young artists. Many of them have also adopted his work ethic. If you watch a production by Britney Spears or Justin Timberlake or Usher, you’ll see that they’ve copied a lot from Michael. They have to rehearse eight hours a day because their shows are flawless, just like Michael’s shows have always been flawless.
There are many, many people who thought Michael was a freak. This is really sad because it obscures the view of the artist he really was. A world without Michael Jackson is a completely different world.
And I think we should all consider ourselves lucky that an artist of his caliber came into our lives and enriched them.
