Is Michael Jackson the Greatest Pop Musician?
With his innovative dance moves such as the moonwalk, paired with his unique vocal style, he inspired artists across pop, R&B, and hip-hop, including Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, and the Weeknd. Throughout his career, he broke numerous records, including winning eight Grammy Awards in one night in 1984, being the first solo artist to score Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 across six distinct decades (1970s through 2020s), and being the only 20th-century artist with 12 music videos surpassing 500 million views each. Furthermore, some of his top hits include “Thriller” (1982), “Billie Jean” (1982), “Beat It” (1982), “Bad” (1987), “Smooth Criminal” (1987), and “Black or White” (1991). Overall, Michael Jackson’s impact extended to help shape the modern pop genre, influence fashion and dance, and support humanitarian causes.
Why it matters
Michael Jackson’s legacy as a transformative artist remains unmatched.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) Did Michael Jackson Write His Own Music?
Yes. He wrote the majority of his catalog, but created songs by vocalizing instrument parts, beatboxing, and playing chords into a tape recorder rather than writing standard musical notation.
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson_fandom
2) What were his biggest musical and dance influences?
For performances, he was heavily influenced by James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Sammy Davis Jr. On the other hand, he drew inspiration from 1970s disco and funk for his music.
Source: lemelson.mit.edu/resources/michael-jackson
3) How did Michael Jackson get his start in music?
Michael joined his father’s group, “The Jackson 5,” as a young child. Initially, he provided vocals and played tambourine before his vocal talent pushed him to the front as lead vocalist.