Guitarist Orianthi with Michael Jackson in This Is It. (AP Photo by Sony)
For part 1 of this special 4-part series by Aberjhani please click here . The concluding part 4 begins now:
At the beginning of this series, Michael Jackson’s This Is It in two week’s time had become the United State’s second highest grossing music concert movie after Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tours, which has a lifetime box office gross of $65,281,781. Following Sony’s decision to extend This Is It’s theatrical run for a third week, the film has taken over the top spot in the music concert movie category with a gross of $67,546,236 as of November 18, 2009. This fourth part of the series takes a look at one major aspect of the movie’s and the man’s phenomenal success.
Clarence Clemons Said It Too
From his early days as a devout Jehovah’s Witness going door to door offering to discuss the Bible, to his latter years in concert when he would fall on his knees and sing testimonies to the powers of redemption and love for the earth, Michael Jackson embodied and expressed a profound sense of spirituality that affected others deeply. Small wonder that director Kenny Ortega could proclaim during one rehearsal session in This Is It, “Church! The church of rock and roll!”
Interestingly enough, saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band recently told Jon Stewart on The Daily Show that performing with his band was like “having church.” In his scenario, the stage is the pulpit and the joy provided through music the primary spiritual service provided.
The Existential Spirit
Where Jackson is concerned, mainstream commentators ––possibly rightly so–– have generally shied away from acknowledging this spiritual component other than to describe fans’ apparent love for and devotion to him. Speaking on the Larry King radio show the night of Jackson’s funeral author and spiritual philosopher Deepak Chopra bluntly described him as “a mythical being” and “an ecstatic soul.”
“He could go into a state of ecstasy,” Chopra continued, which is nothing short of the existential spirit and he could do that in such a way that he brought that ecstasy to people.”
Various individuals, including readers of this column, have described that spiritual quality in different ways: some have called it creative spirituality, some duende, angelic presence, Weda, bliss, Sufi-like, unconditional love, and other metaphysically potent terms. Flashes and extended moments of these concepts in action are visible throughout This Is It, most notably perhaps in the delicate manner with which Ortega addresses Jackson, almost as if to do so too loudly or too forcefully would cause him to shatter into a thousand glittering pieces. And the singer himself is prone to stating repeatedly “I love you” almost as a kind of subdued mantra.
Director Kenny Ortega at L.A. premier of This Is It. (AP Photo by Matt Sayles)
But nowhere is it more apparent than in specific songs themselves. Of those rehearsed in the movie, “Man in the Mirror” and “Earth Song” carry the most overtly sermon-like messages. “Earth Song” is an exceptionally daring work because the singer at times seems to address humanity and at other times sounds as if he is arguing with his God: “What about all the peace/ That you pledge your only son...” Other songs not included in the movie, such as “Keep the Faith” and “Heal the World” fall into the same category.
Some songs in the movie are less obvious. For example: as fun and danceable as “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” is, the lyrics are about the destructive power of gossip and the healing that can come with faith in Self and trust in the innate spirituality of human beings. Likewise, the rehearsal for “Jam,” a slice of raw unadulterated funk if ever there was one, truly encourages dancing in the aisles when watching This Is It. A review of the lyrics, however, can shock individuals upon discovering the song is a very bold Barack Obama-like challenge to nations to set aside political agendas and unite to “Face the problems/ that we see.” Moreover, it is loaded with prophecy, ecstatic utterance, and miniature parables that convey deep moral concerns.
A Kind of Ministry
An individual does not have to be an officially ordained religious or political minister to conduct a ministry per se on behalf of humanity, and the more examinations of Jackson’s life that are presented through projects like This Is it, the more evident it becomes that a major aspect of his life was a noteworthy attempt to minister to the world through music and philanthropy. Because his living presence became such an uncommonly global one, that ministry reflected universal ecumenical principles dressed up in ultra-modern dance grooves, love songs to nature, lyrical eulogies in the form of musical elegies, and sermons sung with passionate intensity and suffering eloquence.
Michael Jackson onstage in This Is It. (AP enhanced photo/movie still by
Sony)
This is less evident in the film than it was for those around the world who experienced the performer’s concerts when at the height of his creative powers and physical stamina, during those times he most deeply, painfully, felt the need to share what he had learned about life and love. But as Jackson said of one rehearsed song, “At least we got a feel of it.”
There’s also more to come with a second major sample of This Is It is already in the works in the form of an extended DVD. Even with that, however, it’s not very likely that the magic of Jackson’s music or the influence of his legacy will disappear or slow down any time soon.
by Aberjhani
National African American Art Examiner Aberjhani is the author/co-author of eight books including Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love.
- Work and Soul in Michael Jackson's This Is It Part 1
- Work and Soul in Michael Jackson's This Is It Part 2
- Work adn Soul in Michael Jackson's This Is It Part 3
- Michael Jackson's This Is It Movie Website
- Michael Jackson's This Is It on IMDB
- Janet Jackson Prepares for American Music Awards
- Michael Jackson Nominated for 5 American Music Awards
- Michael Jackson Legacies of a Globetrotting Moonwalking Giant
- A Moonwalking Giant Lies Down to Rest
- Notes for an Elegy in the Key of Michael
Comments
Dear Aberjhani,
Thank you for these articles on Michael. I enjoyed reading them very much. The film brought me much comfort. I was on the verge of sobs on my way to the theater last week but, once there, cried only during "Human Nature"'s sweet, soaring vocals. I was uplifted by the entire film and I can't wait to have the DVD with what I hope will be a lot of extended footage and extra features. Five months in and I still can't get enough. I love him more.
You've done exceptional job with this series, Mr. Aberjhani. I just linked to it at my personal blog after writing a brief post on the suicide of the Evan Chandler, the father of MJ's first alleged molestation victim, Jordan Chandler. Could be simply the tragic result of one sad man's life, but something to think about there.
-- wsatablog.com --
bigsole.blogspot.com/2009/11/michael-jackson-news-father-of-first.html
Nordette Adams
African-American Books Examiner
examiner.com/x-10713-AfricanAmerican-Books--Examiner
This part is awesome. I'll have to copy it. It' a keeper. I hope your readership expands. I don't even remember how I found your site, but it wasn't easy. I hope to keep in touch. I, too, have seen This Is It several times. In fact, I'm going again this afternoon. I'm captivated afresh each time I go. It's great to go on Youtube to access MJ interviews, music videos, short films, and fan lore. The full version of GHOST is wonderful, especially if you consider how many part Michael played in it. I have a profound respect for his world-wide fans for all the love and support they've shown him through good and bad times, and are showing him still. They have archived some amazing footage, too. By the way, I tried to get a used copy of the Geraldine Hughes book, Redemption. The owner wanted $179 for it. Anybody know of a more affordable copy?
SCARLETT: You are welcome. I presented this extended review as a 4-part article because anything less, for me, would have been a flat-out denial of what all those involved in THIS IS IT have achieved with through the movie. I also wanted to present as balanced an account as I could manage.
NORDETTE: Thank you for the link. I look forward to checking out your blog on Evan Chandler.
GINA: Given the subject of spirituality in this final part of the series, I thought you might appreciate it ? . I’m not campaigning for MJ to be named a saint or anything––just trying to call the shots as I see them and give the appropriate credit where it’s due.
Thank you everybody for reading and commenting.
Aberjhani
Hey, Aberjhani--I tried to make a copy of part 4, but my printer won't pick up anything past the first page. Not of the other three parts of the series, either. Any other way to get it? There's some people I want to show your stuff to, and I sure would like a full copy for my files. Thanks.
Gina,
You should be able to get a copy by clicking on the icon for "Print" just beneath the title and next to the comments number. Otherwise, if the individuals in question have access to the Internet I would suggest sending them a link to the first part of the story or to my African-American Art Examiner home page.
I appreciate your interest and hope your acquaintances enjoy the story as well.
Aberjhani
Ooowwwwww!!! (MJ style)
Verival--
Thank you for the approving MJ howl :-)
Aberjhani
Stunning, stunning, stunning work. Thank you for your blog. The word prophet means teacher . . . and the learned word also connotes a large and wide reach . . . and the fact that Michael's great faithfulness in a Higher Power/Creator was so audible and at his core and center . . . makes this man nothing short of a preacher, and not meaning this in any sacrilegious way at all . . . but simply put, he was a prophet with music as his, as you say, and we agree, pulpit . . . or a musical prophet. Either way, Deepak was right . . . than man, MJ, is a mythical and ecstatic figure and will not only not be forgotten any time soon, he simply will not be forgotten, in my humble opinion. Ageless, timeless, and . . . in the words of one of his favorite groups of his youth, he's "only just begun." . . . As Quincy Jones states, "there's chemcial energy and spiritual energy," and he goes on to fervently say what many believe, that Michael's spirit will never leave. A former U.S. House of Rep Senior Staffer spoke of Michael's effect behind the Iron Curtain where Soviet drops dropped decorum and protocol at the mention of Michael's name or as the getleman played a Michael song while at a checkpoint. He affected the spirits of all people, despite language barriers, yes . . . Bucharest, Berlin, throughout Asia and The MIddle East, I can't recall if it was John Landis or another big-name director, I do believe, off top of my head it may have been Landis . . . that Michael was the most famous man in over thirty countries at the same time. His message went beyond music, was dressed in music. He was a man of peace and passion. May God rest his soul . . . I believe that rest includes "making a joyful noise unto the Lord" up in that paradise . . . as well as leaving us his musical legacy. How very, very fortunate he was, and yes, Berry Gordy, you are right, he was the greatest entertainer who ever lived. And how humble, how humble, that Michael always deferred the praise to his Creator. What an inspiration to all of us. And thank you so much for your blogs, just absolutely exquisite, I don't know how I missed three, I will backtrack and find it, hopefully.
apologies, I should have edited, a few typos above, I meant to say "where Soviet guards dropped decorum"
Thank you for visiting and sharing Marian. I've enjoyed reading your comments as much I did writing the article!
In a world where so many are so quick to sabotage an individual's character for the sake of money or their own vanity, it's good to receive affirmations and confirmations regarding those who try so hard to give the best of themselves to their art and to their fellow human beings.
Aberjhani
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