Michael Jackson's Thriller on MTV
When MTV launched in 1981, the first video aired was (appropriately) The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" which turned out to be a very prescient message for the recording industry.
Up until that point, music videos that accompanied songs were little more than artists delivering a live performance of their hit single. Thanks to MTV, music fans were now treated to stunning visual displays, sometimes with a story, often times, just purely surreal.
For the first few years, nearly all of MTV's focus was on white artists like Van Halen, Duran Duran, Culture Club, the Eurythmics and the Police. Almost every genre of music was represented so new wave fans might get a glimpse at their favorite band one moment while metal heads could see their favorite the next.
That is, until Michael Jackson exploded onto the scene.
Jackson broke the "color barrier" on MTV in 1983 with his mega hit, "Billie Jean", transforming a struggling cable station into a worldwide phenomenon and paving the way for artists like Prince and Whitney Houston to see their popularity soar thanks to video. MTV would never be the same.
In December of 1983, Jackson would further transform video, setting the bar with arguably the best and most popular video of all time...Thriller.
With an exorbitant budget and a big name director in John Landis, Thriller was (and still is) considered a masterpiece. A mini movie that closely resembled 50s B horror movies and infused with an 80s sensibility and attitude, Thriller also managed to change the world.
From then on, bigger was better. Musical artists strived to top Thriller in scope and size, with few coming close. They sought out visionaries who would direct their videos like short films, combining a narrative to fit whatever song they had. This had repercussions for nearly every visual medium as directors often became household names for their work on music videos. As a result, we've been fortunate to see the likes of Spike Jonze and Michael Gondry...and, much to the chagrin of many a film critic, were woefully introduced to the eye candy provided by Michael Bay.
MTV may have changed how we listened to music, but the late, great "King Of Pop", Michael Jackson, changed MTV and the world in which we live. He was the driving force behind what is perhaps the last great era in pop music before it gave way to alternative bands of the 90s.
He will also be sorely missed.
Michael Jackson suddenly passed away today at the age of 50. Though many of us have grown up with him, we will never outgrow him. He may have had his struggles, both personally and professionally, but this is not the time to dwell upon that. Instead, this is a chance to celebrate what he gave us. Those of us who saw the phenomenon that was Michael Jackson in the 80s can honestly say that he gave us something special and everlasting.
He gave us life.
And there will never be another King Of Pop.
The King is dead. Long live the King!
Comments
Sean,
I can't believe that you had to write two pop icon obituaries in one day. I was shocked when I got the text message from CNN that said that MJ was being rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest. I still am.
The music world will never see the likes of another Michael Jackson again.
And to quote your column...
"Long live the King!"
Very well put Sean AND Vic. MJ DID give us something special & everlasting and we will never see talent like his again...
He WILL be sorely missed :(
There was a poll on the radio this morning:
"Do you think MJ is weird or wonderful?"
My answer was yes.
Long live the king
Dear Mr. Farren,
Thank you for delineating Michael Jackson's influence on music video. However, you left out a key element in your story. MTV had to be bullied into putting "Billie Jean" on the network. MTV refused to play Jackson's videos and relented (wisely) when Epic threatened to pull ALL of their artists' videos out of rotation.
I am glad to hear that MTV is paying proper tribute to a man that, as you rightly claim, helped put them on the map. Yes, Jackson and MTV turned out to be a mutually beneficial partnership, but it was, technically, not "Thanks to MTV", but "almost in spite of MTV" that his videos were aired at all.
I still can't believe he's gone, it's positively surreal. I literally cannot remember a time in my life without MJ in it.
Well done, Sean, this is a fitting tribute to a man who changed music forever, his legacy will leave ripples in the music industry for eons to come.
Karen
Vic,
I know. It was truly bizarre that both died the same day. And both major celebrities. They'll both be missed.
Debbie,
Thanks. I appreciate the good words!
Kristen,
Lol...yes, I would agree. That would have been my answer. You have to mix the madness with the genius to be creative. It sometimes works for me, spotty as it might be.;)
Brian,
Thanks so much for the kind words and support. I had planned on inserting that aspect, but wanted to focus more on the positives in Jackson's career and how he really did change the world. But you're right, I should have put that in just to illustrate how hard they had to fight for it!
Karen,
I can still recall watching those videos on MTV. Actually, I still go back and watch some of them and marvel at how well they were done and how talented he really was.
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