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Jack-o still thrills after 25 years
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Also by Steve Lampiris:
- Death Angel certainly 'Kills' its music (February 26, 2008)
- Band builds 'City' upon great beats (February 19, 2008)
- Forest Art 'leaves' viewers thinking (February 19, 2008)
- Rockers' latest album 'Feasts' on listeners' senses (February 7, 2008)
- Band eulogizes Grateful Dead in concert (February 6, 2008)
Related Stories:
- 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson loses sizzle (October 31, 2001)
- Jackson's best-seller still thrills 25 years later (February 13, 2008)
- The battle for hip-hop (September 12, 2007)
- Scotish songstress debuts wither power (March 28, 2006)
- Stop never ceases showcase of maturity (November 23, 2004)
by Steve Lampiris
Friday, December 7, 2007
The stats alone for Michael Jackson's Thriller are astounding: Nominated for 12 Grammys and taking home
eight, the album spawned seven top-10 singles, spent 37 weeks as the No. 1
album (a record for any pop album), during which it sold 40 million alone, and
has since sold 104 million copies sold around the world, 27 million of which
have been sold in the U.S. Most tellingly, it still sells 60,000 copies each
year, and is set to sell even more next year with the re-release of Thriller, as the album quietly
celebrated its 25th birthday Dec. 1.
Just for some perspective, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon holds the record for the longest duration in
the Billboard 200 (741 weeks), but has sold a comparatively slim 40 million
units worldwide.
These stats certainly are impressive, but they may
overshadow the music itself, which is a shame. Thriller's nine songs that compose the biggest album in history are
a collection of everything that popular music had become until 1982. Quite
literally, there is something for everyone in the ensuing 42 minutes.
So why has the album become the behemoth that it is? Some
argue that MTV had something to do with it. Certainly, with videos like "Billie
Jean" and the iconic, mini-movie "Thriller," these critics have a point. A lot
has also been made about how
Others argue that it was the Michael Jackson persona — the archetypal
performer — that made the album so huge. Still others contend that it was
because the album did, in fact, have a little something for everyone: hard rock
("Beat It"), funk ("Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"), ballads ("Human Nature"), pop
("Thriller") and, oh yeah, a song with Paul McCartney ("The Girl is Mine").
I would contend that the main reason the album has become
this cultural phenomenon is a combination of all those above assertions, as
they are all interrelated, but most credit is due to the Jackson persona. From
the humble beginnings (comparatively speaking) in the Jackson Five until he
released Thriller, Michael was a
performer first and foremost.
Pop stars today are not forged in the music scene, they are
manufactured (ahem, "American Idol"). Performers, though the winners and
runners-up may be, these new individuals are not molded from years of releasing
singles and albums with the risk of them flopping, only to be dropped from a
label a year later. Instead, they are automatically pushed to the front of the
line via one of the biggest shows in TV history and have (relatively) no fear
of failing in the music business.
When
Undeniably,
Thriller would not
work if it were released today, because the musical landscape is so vastly
different from the broad-based appeal of the '80s pop scene. Popular music is now
divided and subdivided, ad nauseum.
If
More time would be spent trying to categorize the album as a
whole than the quality of the music and, thus, any intrinsic value of said
music would be lost. In addition, Thriller
was clearly conceived as an album rather than a collection of songs released
all together, as the iPod has forced albums to become.
It also would not work on college campuses, including the
I suppose that it is a gift from above that Thriller was released when it was. In
the short quarter-century that it has been out, the collection has changed the
face of music forever and undoubtedly changed the ways in which music is heard
(and seen). If you have read this column and do not own Thriller, arguably the best and most important album of the 1980s,
what the hell are you waiting for? Go get it.
Steve Lampiris is a
junior majoring in political science. If you'd like to discuss whether or not
"Thriller" is the greatest music video ever, e-mail him at slampiris@badgerherald.com.
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 5:52am):
I agree with you whole-heartedly. You've definitely done your homework, which is more than what I can say about other online article 'writers' that mainly write (garbage) about Micheal Jackson just for the publicity.
Thriller really was (and in many ways, is still) a fantastic album and it deserves to be honoured as such.
Without it, who knows what the music industry would be like today?
Who knows which performers might not be performing today? Face it, MJ inspired ALOT of the performers we see today.
Great article, I enjoyed it.
Though you might want to change the title from 'Jack-o still thrills after 25 years' to 'Jackson still thrills after 25 years' as Micheal has said that he doesn't like the term 'Jacko'.
Just change it out of respect for the man of course.
Great article again, keep up the good work!
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 5:57am):
cool writ up
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 1:09pm):
Jacko and WalMart...
... both have little boys pants half off!
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 3:07pm):
I don't agree that Thriller wouldn't thrill today. An album like that is just what the music industry needs. And you can't simply say that it wouldn't be played because it's not one of the 4 major types of music played on campuses. However it's obvious that especially the US press have tried to ruin his career without that the album would be just as succesfull today I think.
Anonymous (December 7, 2007 @ 5:38pm):
Well said. And if this article isn't enough to convince you of the pop masterpiece that is "Thriller," check out the contributors featured on the upcoming 25th Anniversary Edition!
Anonymous (December 8, 2007 @ 9:32pm):
The picture in the print edition is the most irrelevant photo of Michael Jackson that you could have possibly used. Maybe something from... I don't know... the Thriller era?
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 5:23am):
keep up the good work Steve Lampiris
an mj fan from the middle east ( kuwait )
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 8:22am):
Michael is the best. I disagree with your comment about "if Michael would have released Off the wall in this environment, people would be scatching their head". This "environment" is this way because of Off the Wall and Thriller. Michael's name is Jackson, not Jacko. I do not understand why a black artist have to be disrepected in that regards compare to a white artist. No one calls white artists out of thier names like this.
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 10:14am):
Uh...Yea...U are so right, Thriller is the best music video ever, and album...but i don't own one..yet...im gonna buy the new one coming out in Feb, and so should you people out there...lol!
Great column Steve
I LUV IT!
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 11:17am):
... It's very funny how musician's of today, still try to copy what Michael did over 25 years ago. They try to sing like him, but, they can't. They try to dance like him, but they can't. They even try to dress like him, but they can't !! The is only on Michael Jackson and they real Michael Jackson has been given to us by God !!! To all of you out there show the man some respect and let's enjoy his Magic !!
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 2:15pm):
Thriller was the beginning of me being a huge fan of Michael. So i followed him for the last 25 years. Untill this day, the joy of his music,clips and performances has helped me through a lot of difficult times in my life. For that i thank him from the bottom of my heart. Although being a fan, i have always held an open mind. I dare to say that he deserves much better than the many lies that have being written about him. And yes, his name is Jackson.
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 5:31pm):
It was refreshing to read your article. However, I still think Off the Wall and Thriller would still be hits today. I just wish Sony would release Thriller for Christmas an not wait until Feburary.
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 6:31pm):
Michael Jackson, what an amazing artist. He changed so much in the music industry. He invented music, looks, dance. He's a perfect artist. Thriller the album and the videos were groundbreaking. Love Michael Jackson.
Anonymous (December 11, 2007 @ 6:43pm):
I totally agree with you and everyone else when they say that thriller is a masterpiece, but what I don't agree with is when you say that off the wall and thriller would not be hits if they were released today, because these albums are timeless. I don't believe that thriller would have sold what it did because of the internet, but i do think that it would've still sold millions of records worldwide.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 6:17am):
Michael is force that cannot be ignored. From his J5 days to now. His name evokes imagery of glamour and ultra-impressive performances in history (not pun intended). Nice article.
Anonymous (December 12, 2007 @ 3:44pm):
Great article. Extremely well-written and articulate. Unlike a lot of these other posters, I agree with you (to some extent) on your point about Thriller. If Michael Jackson were to release the exact same Thriller album now that he did in 1982 (as opposed to the anniversary album coming out in February), I'm not sure it would catch fire like it did back then. But I think that the music industry needs something Thriller-esque to breathe life into the cookie cutter commercial garbage that's on airwaves these days. Michael Jackson coming out with another album, similar to Thriller in it's wide appeal and variety of musical styles is exactly what the music industry needs.
Anonymous (December 14, 2007 @ 5:34am):
i agree with every1,great article,really objective.i'v bn an MJ fan practically all my life so i do love hearing positive things about him,that is not to say i'm blinded to his faults,but thats his personal life.As an artist ,he's a pioneer and pacesetter in many ways,he's greatly influenced the music industry and even his critics acknowledge this.i wish him the very best in the coming years, not just as an artist but in his personal life as well and i sincerely hope he finds true peace and happiness which can only come from true contentment.
Anonymous (December 14, 2007 @ 11:51am):
mj is king
Anonymous (December 21, 2007 @ 2:10am):
Wonderful article and very original too! I am tired of reading all these horrible things about Michael. It's nice to read something positive for a change!
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