The coming into play of MTV
Michael Jackson was not the first black artist to appear on the American channel MTV. There was Donna Summer, and Prince who made his career take off with his music video “1999”. But Michael Jackson broke the last racial barriers with the broadcast of “Billie Jean” in March 1983. MTV therefore becomes the essential medium for new headliners.
3 short films
3 hits of “Thriller” will turn into mini-films classifying Michael Jackson among the greatest pop dancers. “Billie Jean” revolutionizes the “Moon Walk”, the star’s slipped dance step. “Beat it” mixes several styles: pop, disco and rock, against a background of controlled violence. As for “Thriller”, it’s the apotheosis! 14 minute horror film with zombies, werewolves and horror laughs, the choreographies are fascinating.
The album of memories
Co-produced by Quincy Jones with a budget of $ 750,000, “Thriller” is the best-selling album in the world: 100 million copies. The opus, 33 times platinum, won 8 Grammy Awards, and all the songs entered the top 10. Michael Jackson recorded it in 8 months, and “Rolling Stone” magazine will pay tribute to it: “a sumptuous album, of pure vitality“. Only downside, conflicts with Manu Dibango for” Wanna Be Startin ‘Somethin’ “because of a sample used from the track” Soul Makossa “.
– .
