Michael Jackson: 5 Ways The "King Of Pop" Changed The Music World Forever
Michael Jackson, the well-known "king of pop", passed away on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50.
Jackson was an award-winning singer, dancer, producer, songwriter, actor, and even a fashion icon to his fans.
The music star gained worldwide fame as a solo artist with hits like Thriller, Billie Jean, and Bad.
His extensive musical career led him to win up to 13 Grammy Awards and to be considered a revolutionary.
Here are 5 ways Michael Jackson changed music.
1. Down with racial barriers
After Thriller, his sixth solo album, was a smash hit in 1982, Jackson began to be called the "king of pop." For a long time, Thriller was the biggest sales success in history.
The singer received praise from the black community for breaking down racial barriers in the music industry.
He was considered the first black star to attract audiences of all backgrounds, ushering in a new era for future African-American artists.
Today, many black artists such as Usher, Kanye West and The Weeknd claim that the late singer was a great influence on them.
2. Innovation
Few people would have thought of sitting down to watch a 14-minute music video until 1983, when the Thriller video was released, which changed the way we see them.
The video, in which Jackson dances with zombies and appears disguised as a werewolf, broke the mold in terms of duration and special effects.
The song revolutionized the music video concept and its iconic dance moves are still popular and imitated.
The American music magazine Rolling Stone wrote that Thriller was the most important television music event since the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Michael Jackson used his videos as an expression of art and was not afraid to invest large sums of money to produce them.
Thriller reportedly cost more than $ 500,000 to produce, which at the time was an exorbitant amount.
After being published, the prestigious Time magazine considered Michael Jackson "a rescue for the music industry."
Other videos such as Smooth Criminal, Remember the Time and Black or White followed that trail of innovation and success.
3. Moonwalk
Who can forget the image of Michael Jackson clutching his crotch?
Or the famous moonwalk, in which you imitate a man walking on the moon?
Michael Jackson had the ability to glide with so little effort that it almost seemed like he was using special effects in his performances.
Jackson's steps in the Smooth Criminal video that defied gravity were recently explained by scientists.
That illusion, copied so many times in multiple parts of the world, was obtained thanks to the help of specially designed shoes and the strength of the artist's torso muscles, which undoubtedly required many hours of rigorous practice.
4. Live energy
Michael Jackson's on-screen performances had his fans hooked ... but it was the ones they witnessed live that made them fall in love.
The King of Pop was famous for radiating energy and conveying the feeling of enjoying life on stage.
His most loyal fans began to scream, cry and even faint during his live shows.
When he sang Billie Jean at the Motown record label's 25th anniversary celebration, he earned a place in pop music history.
The artist also helped create and popularize the concept of "mega tours."
His The Dangerous World Tour in 1992 lasted five months and added a total of 69 performances.
Before his death, he was planning to return to the stage with the This Is It tour; 50 performances that were announced as his last.
The sale of tickets broke records, but the artist passed away before he could carry it out.
One of the world's largest event companies, AEG Live, estimated that Jackson would have made $ 50 million from the first 10 concerts alone.
5. Unique profile
Although Jackson was hugely successful, he also had to deal with a share of controversy in his life.
When he was at the peak of his career, in the early 2000s, his character changed after a series of accusations in his private sphere.
Today, his legacy is a mixture of incredible natural talent and strange behavior.
This combination created a media obsession that reached unparalleled levels, something that made him a unique celebrity.
Over the years, his skin began to clear and his nose to shrink.
His mysterious Neverland Ranch and eccentric lifestyle raised more than one eyebrow. And then came the multiple accusations of sexual abuse of minors.
The unforgettable artist was never condemned and spent his last years planning his return to the stage in a big way, but his unexpected death prevented him from realizing his wish.
