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Thriller (Michael Jackson album)

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"Thriller (album)" redirects here. For albums of the same name, see Thriller.

Thriller

Studio album by Michael Jackson

Released
November 30, 1982
Recorded
1981 – November 8, 1982
Studio
Westlake Recording Studios
 (West Hollywood, California)
Genre
Post-disco ·
 pop ·
 R&B ·
 rock ·
 funk
 
Length
42:19
Label
Epic
Producer
Quincy Jones ·
 Michael Jackson (co-producer)
 
Michael Jackson chronology

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
 (1982) Thriller
 (1982) Farewell My Summer Love
 (1984)


Singles from Thriller
1."The Girl Is Mine"
 Released: October 18, 1982
2."Billie Jean"
 Released: January 2, 1983
3."Beat It"
 Released: February 14, 1983
4."Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
 Released: May 8, 1983
5."Human Nature"
 Released: July 3, 1983
6."P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
 Released: September 19, 1983
7."Thriller"
 Released: November 12, 1983

Thriller is the sixth studio album by the American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records, as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall. Thriller explores similar genres to those of Off the Wall, including pop, R&B, rock, post-disco, funk, and adult contemporary music.[1][2][3] Recording sessions took place between April and November 1982 at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $750,000, assisted by producer Quincy Jones.
Of the album's nine tracks, four were written by Jackson. Seven singles were released from the album, all of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. Three of the singles had music videos released. "Baby Be Mine" and "The Lady in My Life" were the only tracks that were not released as singles. In just over a year, Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time, with sales over 65 million copies worldwide according to various sources.[4][5][6]T In the United States, it also tied with the Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) as the best-selling album at 29 million units shipped.[7] The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including for Album of the Year.
Thriller enabled Jackson to break down racial barriers in pop music via his appearances on MTV and meeting with President of the United States Ronald Reagan at the White House. The album was one of the first to use music videos as successful promotional tools—the videos for "Thriller", "Billie Jean", and "Beat It" all received regular rotation on MTV. In 2001, a special edition issue of the album was released, which contains additional audio interviews, demo recordings and the song "Someone in the Dark", which was a Grammy-winning track from the E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial storybook.[8] In 2008, the album was reissued again as Thriller 25, containing re-mixes that feature contemporary artists, a previously unreleased song, and a DVD, which features the short films from the album and the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean". That same year the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame along with Jackson's Off The Wall LP.
Thriller was ranked number 20 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2003,[9] and was listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers at number three in its "Definitive 200" albums of all time. The Thriller album was included in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry of culturally significant recordings, and the Thriller video was included in the National Film Preservation Board's National Film Registry of "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant films". In 2012, Slant Magazine listed the album at number one on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s".[10]


Contents  [hide]
1 Background
2 Recording
3 Composition
4 Release and reception
5 Influence and legacy 5.1 Music industry
5.2 Music videos and racial equality
5.3 Contemporary appeal
6 Reissues and catalog sales
7 Track listing
8 Personnel
9 Chart performance
10 Charts 10.1 Year-end charts
10.2 Decade-end charts
11 Certifications
12 See also
13 Notes
14 References
15 External links

Background[edit]
Jackson's previous album Off the Wall (1979) received strong critical acclaim[11][12] and was also a commercial success, eventually selling over 20 million copies worldwide.[13] The years between Off the Wall and Thriller were a transitional period for the singer, a time of increasing independence.[14] The period saw the singer become deeply unhappy; Jackson explained, "Even at home, I'm lonely. I sit in my room sometimes and cry. It's so hard to make friends ... I sometimes walk around the neighborhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home."[15] When Jackson turned 21 in August 1979, he hired John Branca as his manager.[16]
Jackson confided in Branca that he wanted to be the biggest star in show business and "the wealthiest". The singer was upset about what he perceived to be the under-performance of Off the Wall, stating, "It was totally unfair that it didn't get Record of the Year and it can never happen again."[17] He also felt undervalued by the music industry; in 1980 when Jackson asked the publicist of Rolling Stone if they would be interested in doing a cover story on him, the publicist declined, to which Jackson responded, "I've been told over and over that black people on the cover of magazines doesn't sell copies ... Just wait. Someday those magazines are going to be begging me for an interview. Maybe I'll give them one, and maybe I won't."[17]
Recording[edit]



Quincy Jones continued his collaboration with Jackson by producing Thriller
Jackson reunited with Off the Wall producer Quincy Jones to record his sixth studio album. The pair worked together on 30 songs, nine of which were eventually included.[18] Thriller was recorded at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California, with a production budget of $750,000. The recording for Thriller commenced on April 14, 1982 at 12:00 noon with Jackson and Paul McCartney recording "The Girl Is Mine", and the album was completed with the final day of mixing on November 8, 1982.[19] Several members of the band Toto were also involved in the album's recording and production.[18] Jackson wrote four songs for the record: "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "Beat It", and "Billie Jean".[20] Unlike many artists, Jackson did not write these songs on paper. Instead, he would dictate into a sound recorder; when recording he would sing from memory.[21][22]
The relationship between Jackson and Jones became strained during the album's recording. Jackson spent much of his time rehearsing dance steps alone.[22] When the album's nine songs were completed, both Jones and Jackson were unhappy with the result and remixed every song, spending a week on each.[22]
Jackson was inspired to create an album where "every song was a killer", and developed Thriller with that in mind.[23][24] Jones and songwriter Rod Temperton gave detailed accounts of what occurred for the 2001 reissue of the album. Jones discussed "Billie Jean" and why it was so personal to Jackson, who struggled to deal with a number of obsessed fans. Jones wanted the long introduction on the song to be shortened; however, Jackson insisted that it remain because it made him want to dance.[20] The ongoing backlash against disco made it necessary to move in a different musical direction from the disco-heavy Off the Wall.[24] Jones and Jackson were determined to make a rock song that would appeal to all tastes and spent weeks looking for a suitable guitarist for the song "Beat It". Eventually, they found Eddie Van Halen of the rock band Van Halen.[20][22]
When Rod Temperton wrote the song "Thriller", he originally wanted to call it "Starlight" or "Midnight Man", but settled on "Thriller" because he felt the name had merchandising potential.[22] Always wanting a notable person to recite the closing lyrics, Jones brought in actor Vincent Price who was an acquaintance of Jones' wife, who completed his part in just two takes. Temperton wrote the spoken portion in a taxi on the way to the recording studio. Jones and Temperton said that some recordings were left off the final cut because they did not have the "edginess" of other album tracks.[20]
Songs recorded by Jackson for consideration included "Carousel" (written by Michael Sembello), "Nite Line" (written by Glen Ballard), "Trouble" (aka "She's Trouble", written by Terry Britten, Bill Livsey and Sue Shifrin), and "Hot Street" (written by Rod Temperton, and aka "Slapstick"). Jackson also cut a version of "Starlight". Demos of all these songs exist and have leaked onto the internet. "Carousel" and "Hot Street" were completed, but left off the final version of the album. A short clip of "Carousel" appeared as a bonus track on the 2001 reissue of the album; the full version was later released on iTunes in 2013 as part of The Ultimate Fan Extras Collection.
Composition[edit]




"Thriller"







Excerpt of the album's title track, and one of Jackson's signature pieces, "Thriller", released as a single in 1984. Jackson uses cinematic sound effects, horror film motifs and vocal trickery to convey a sense of danger.[25]


"Human Nature"







"Human Nature", a top ten hit single in the US. It is the most notable ballad on the album, praised for its moody, introspective lyrics and sound.


"Billie Jean"







"Billie Jean", a number one hit single in many countries. The song was written and co-produced by Jackson. The track mixed uptempo funk and disco with the somber themes of paranoia and obsession.[26]

Problems playing these files? See media help.
Thriller is a post-disco album.[27] According to Steve Huey of AllMusic, it refined the strengths of Jackson's previous album Off the Wall; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.[28] The album includes the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "Human Nature", and "The Girl Is Mine"; the funk pieces "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"; and the disco set "Baby Be Mine" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"[1][26][28][29] and has a similar sound to the material on Off the Wall. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" is accompanied by a bass and percussion background and the song's centerpiece, a climaxing African-inspired chant (often misidentified as Swahili, but actually syllables based on Duala),[30] gave the song an international flavor.[31] "The Girl Is Mine" tells of two friends' fight over a woman, arguing over who loves her more and concludes with a spoken rap.[22][31] The album's songs have a tempo ranging from 80 beats per minute on "The Girl is Mine", to 138 on "Beat It".[32]
Despite the light pop flavor of these two records, Thriller, more so than Off the Wall, displayed foreshadowings of the contradictory thematic elements that would come to characterize Jackson's subsequent works.[33] With Thriller, Jackson would begin his association with the subliminal motif of paranoia and darker themes, including supernatural imagery in the album's title track.[26] This is evident on the songs "Billie Jean", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Thriller".[1] In "Billie Jean", Jackson sings about an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered a child of hers; in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossips and the media.[26][28] In the former song, Jones had Jackson sing vocal overdubs through a six-foot-long cardboard tube, and brought in jazz saxophonist Tom Scott to play a rare instrument, the lyricon, a wind-controlled analog synthesizer. Bassist Louis Johnson ran through his part on a Yamaha bass guitar. The song opens with a long bass-and-drums introduction.[34] In the song "Thriller", sound effects such as creaking door, thunder, feet walking on wooden planks, winds and howling dogs can be heard.[22]
The anti-gang-violence "Beat It" became a homage to West Side Story, and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece.[28][35] Jackson later said of "Beat It", "the point is no one has to be the tough guy, you can walk away from a fight and still be a man. You don't have to die to prove you're a man".[31] "Human Nature", co-written by Steve Porcaro of the band Toto,[36] is moody and introspective, as conveyed in lyrics such as, "Looking out, across the morning, the City's heart begins to beat, reaching out, I touch her shoulder, I'm dreaming of the street".[31]
By the late 1970s, Jackson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded; Allmusic described him as a "blindingly gifted vocalist".[11] Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly".[12] With the release of Thriller, Jackson could sing low—down to a basso low C—but he preferred to sing higher because pop tenors have more range to create style.[37] Rolling Stone was of the opinion that Jackson was now singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".[38] "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", credited to James Ingram and Quincy Jones, and "The Lady in My Life" by Rod Temperton, both gave the album a stronger R&B direction; the latter song was described as "the closest Jackson has come to crooning a sexy, soulful ballad after his Motown years" by Taraborrelli.[31] The singer had already adopted a "vocal hiccup" which he continued to implement in Thriller. The purpose of the hiccup—somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping—is to help promote a certain emotion, be it excitement, sadness or fear.[39]
Release and reception[edit]
Thriller was released on November 30, 1982, and sold one million copies worldwide per week at its peak.[37] Seven singles were released from the album, including "The Girl Is Mine"—which was seen as a poor choice for the lead release and led some to believe that the album would be a disappointment, and to suggestions that Jackson was bowing to a white audience.[31] "The Girl Is Mine" was followed by the hit single "Billie Jean", which made Thriller a chart-topper.[40][41] Success continued with the single "Beat It", which featured guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Steve Lukather.[42] The album's title track was released as a single and also became a hit internationally.[31]
Thriller was well received by most critics. Christopher Connelly in a January 1983 review in Rolling Stone gave it four out of five stars and described it as "a zesty LP" with a "harrowing, dark message".[26] Comparing the songs on the album with the life challenges that the 24-year old Jackson had faced since Off the Wall, Connelly remarks that he has "dropped the boyish falsetto" and is facing his "challenges head-on" with "a feisty determination" and "a full, adult voice".[26] John Rockwell in a December 1982 review in The New York Times also commented on Jackson's age, comparing his youth with his experience as an entertainer, feeling that perhaps he is a "sometimes too practiced ... performer", and that at times Quincy Jones may "depersonalize his individuality" with his "slightly anonymous production", and that Jackson may be hiding his true emotions behind "layers of impenetrable, gauzy veils".[43] The bulk of Rockwell's review concentrated on how he felt that the album was helping breach "the destructive barriers that spring up regularly between white and black music", especially as "white publications and radio stations that normally avoid black music seem willing to pretend he isn't black after all".[43] He feels that Thriller is "a wonderful pop record, the latest statement by one of the great singers in popular music today", and that there are "hits here, too, lots of them".[43]
In his consumer guide for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau gave the album an A– rating and commented that "this is virtually a hits-plus-filler job, but at such a high level it's almost classic anyway".[44] He later revised it to an A,[44] and commented in retrospect, "what we couldn't know is how brilliantly every hit but 'P.Y.T.' would thrive on mass exposure and public pleasure."[45] A year after the album's release, Time summed up the three main singles from the album, saying, "The pulse of America and much of the rest of the world moves irregularly, beating in time to the tough strut of "Billie Jean", the asphalt aria of "Beat It", the supremely cool chills of "Thriller".[37]
The album won a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984, including Album of the Year. Jackson won seven of the Grammys for the album while the eighth Grammy went to Bruce Swedien.[46][47] That same year, Jackson won eight American Music Awards, the Special Award of Merit and three MTV Video Music Awards.[48] Thriller was recognized as the world's best-selling album on February 7, 1984, when it was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records.[49] It is one of four albums to be the best-seller of two years (1983–1984) in the US.[50]
On August 21, 2009 Thriller was certified 29× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least 29 million copies in the US.[51][52] The album topped the charts in many countries, sold 4.2 million copies in the UK,[53] 2.5 million in Japan,[54] and was certified 15× Platinum in Australia.[55] Still popular today, Thriller sells an estimated 130,000 copies in the US per year; it reached number two in the US Catalog charts in February 2003 and number 39 in the UK in March 2007.[48] Outside the US, the album has sold over 20 million copies.[56]
Influence and legacy[edit]
Music industry[edit]



Thriller platinum record on display at the Hard Rock Cafe, Hollywood in Universal City, California.
Blender described Jackson as the "late twentieth century pre-eminent pop icon", while The New York Times gave the opinion that he was a "musical phenomenon", and that "in the world of pop music, there is Michael Jackson and there is everybody else".[34][57] Jackson changed the way the industry functioned: both as an artistic persona, and as a financial, profitable entity. His attorney John Branca observed that Jackson achieved the highest royalty rate in the music industry to that point: approximately $2 for each album sold. As a result, Jackson earned record-breaking profits from compact disc sales, and from the sale of copies of the documentary, The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller, produced by Jackson and John Landis. Funded by MTV, the film sold over 350,000 copies in its first few months. In a market then driven by singles, Thriller raised the significance of albums, yet its multiple hit singles changed perceived notions as to the number of successful singles that could be taken from an individual album.[58] The era saw the arrival of novelties like the Michael Jackson doll, that appeared in stores in May 1984 at a price of $12.[37] Thriller retains a position in American culture; biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli explains, "At some point, Thriller stopped selling like a leisure item—like a magazine, a toy, tickets to a hit movie—and started selling like a household staple".[59]
At the time of the album's release, a press statement from Gil Friesen, the then President of A&M Records, read that, "The whole industry has a stake in this success".[37] Time magazine speculated that "the fallout from Thriller has given the [music] business its best years since the heady days of 1978, when it had an estimated total domestic revenue of $4.1 billion".[37] Time summed up Thriller's impact as a "restoration of confidence" for an industry bordering on "the ruins of punk and the chic regions of synthesizer pop". The publication described Jackson's influence at that point as, "Star of records, radio, rock video. A one-man rescue team for the music business. A songwriter who sets the beat for a decade. A dancer with the fanciest feet on the street. A singer who cuts across all boundaries of taste and style and color too".[37]
When Thriller and "Billie Jean" were searching to reach their market demographic, MTV and cable TV had a smaller market share than the much larger reach of broadcast television stations in the United States. A national broadcast TV audience on ABC, NBC, and CBS affiliate stations, as well as major independent TV stations, was desired by CBS/Epic Records to promote Thriller. The national broadcast TV premiere of the Thriller album's first video, "Billie Jean", was during the week of Halloween in October 1984 and was the idea of Video Concert Hall executive producers Charles Henderson and Jerry Crowe.[60][61] Video Concert Hall, the first nationwide music video TV network, taped the one-hour special in Hollywood and Atlanta, where the TV studios of Video Concert Hall were located.[62][63][64][65] The Thriller TV special was hosted by Thriller video co-star Vincent Price, distributed by Henderson-Crowe Syndications, Inc., and aired in the top 20 TV markets and much of the United States, including TV stations WNEW (New York), WFLD (Chicago), KTTV (Los Angeles), WPLG (Miami), WQTV (Boston), and WXIA (Atlanta), for a total of 150 TV stations.[60][61]
Music videos and racial equality[edit]



Thriller??'?s music videos, and singles—including the Paul McCartney duet "The Girl Is Mine"—are credited with helping promote racial equality in the United States
Before the success of Thriller, many felt Jackson had struggled to get MTV airing because he was black.[66] In an effort to attain air time for Jackson, CBS Records President Walter Yetnikoff pressured MTV and declared, "I'm not going to give you any more videos and I'm going to go public and fucking tell them about the fact you don't want to play music by a black guy."[34]
His position persuaded MTV to begin airing "Billie Jean" and later "Beat It", which led to a long partnership and later helped other black music artists to gain mainstream recognition.[67] MTV denies claims of racism in their broadcasting.[68] The popularity of his videos, such as "Beat It" and "Billie Jean", helped to place the young channel "on the map", and MTV's focus shifted in favor of pop and R&B.[67][69] Jackson transformed the medium of music video into an art form and promotional tool through the use of complex story lines, dance routines, special effects and cameo appearances by well known personalities.[28] When the 14-minute-long Thriller video aired, MTV ran it twice an hour to meet demand.[70] The short film marked an increase in scale for music videos and has been routinely named the best music video ever.[58] The popularity of the video sent the album back to number one in the album chart, but Jackson's label did not support the release of the third music video from the album. They were already pleased with its success, so Jackson convinced MTV to fund the project.[22][70] Author, music critic and journalist Nelson George wrote in 2004, "It's difficult to hear the songs from Thriller and disengage them from the videos. For most of us the images define the songs. In fact it could be argued that Michael is the first artist of the MTV age to have an entire album so intimately connected in the public imagination with its imagery".[25] Short films like Thriller largely remained unique to Jackson, while the group dance sequence in "Beat It" has been frequently imitated.[20] The choreography in Thriller has become a part of global pop culture, replicated everywhere from Bollywood to prisons in the Philippines.[71][72]
For a black artist in the 1980s to that point, Jackson's success was unprecedented. According to The Washington Post, Thriller paved the way for other African-American artists to achieve mainstream recognition, such as Prince.[73] "The Girl Is Mine" was credited for getting interracial love on the radio.[74] Time noted, "Jackson is the biggest thing since The Beatles. He is the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley. He just may be the most popular black singer ever".[37]
Contemporary appeal[edit]
Today, Thriller is still viewed in a positive light by critics some three decades later. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic gave the album the maximum five stars and wrote that the record had something to interest everyone. He believed it showcased harder funk and hard rock while remaining "undeniably fun". He went on to compliment "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and said, "The record's two best songs: 'Billie Jean, ...and the delirious 'Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'??'?, the freshest funk on the album [but] the most claustrophobic, scariest track Jackson ever recorded." Erlewine gave the opinion that it was an improvement on the artist's previous album, although Allmusic was critical of the title track, describing it as "ridiculous" and as having the effect of "arriving in the middle of the record and sucking out its momentum".[1] Slant Magazine gave the album five stars and, like the Allmusic review and the original Rolling Stone review, paid compliment to the lyrics of "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".[29] Giving it five stars in The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Rolling Stone journalist Jon Pareles commented that Jackson "doubled his ambitions and multiplied his audience" with the album and wrote of its legacy, "Thriller had extramusical help in becoming the best-selling noncompilation album of all time: Jackson's dancing feet and dazzling stage presence, amplified by the newfound promotional reach of music video and the Reagan era's embrace of glossy celebrity. But especially in the album's seven hit singles (out of nine songs), the music stands on its own."[75]
Culture critic Nelson George wrote that Jackson "has educated R. Kelly, Usher, Justin Timberlake and countless others with Thriller as a textbook".[76] As a sign of the album's longevity, in 2003 Thriller was ranked at number 20 on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, and was listed by the National Association of Recording Merchandisers at number three of the "Definitive 200" albums of all time.[77][78] In 2008, 25 years after its release, the record was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and, a few weeks later, was among 25 recordings preserved by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry as "culturally significant".[79][80] In 2009, music critics for MTV Base and VH1 both listed Thriller as the best album released since 1981.[81] Thriller, along with other critic favorites were then polled by the public. 40,000 people found Thriller to be the Best Album of all time by MTV Generation, gaining a third of all votes.[81][82]
Reissues and catalog sales[edit]
Thriller was reissued on October 16, 2001, in an expanded set titled Thriller: Special Edition. The original tracks were remastered, and the album included a new booklet and bonus material, including the songs "Someone in the Dark", "Carousel", and Jackson's original "Billie Jean" demo, as well as audio interviews with Jones and Temperton discussing the recording of the album.[20][83] Sony also hired sound engineer and mixer Mick Guzauski[84][85] to work with Jackson on creating 5.1-channel surround sound mixes of Thriller, as well as all his other albums, for release on the then-new Super Audio CD format. Despite numerous retries, the artist never approved any of the mixes.[86] Consequently, Thriller was issued on SACD only in a stereo version.[87]
In February 2008, Epic Records released Thriller 25; Jackson served as executive producer.[52] Thriller 25 appeared on CD, USB and vinyl with seven bonus tracks, a new song called "For All Time", a snippet of Vincent Price's voice-over, and five remixes featuring American artists Fergie, will.i.am, Kanye West, and Akon.[52][88][89] It also included a DVD featuring three music videos, the Motown 25 "Billie Jean" performance, and a booklet with a message from Jackson.[52] The ballad "For All Time" supposedly dates from 1982, but is often credited as being from Dangerous sessions.[90] Two singles were released from the reissue: "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008".
Thriller 25 was a commercial success and did particularly well as a reissue. It peaked at number one in eight countries and Europe. It peaked at number two in the US, number three in the UK and reached the top 10 in over 30 national charts. It was certified Gold in 11 countries including the UK, received a 2× Gold certification in France and received platinum certification in Poland.[91][92][93] In the United States, Thriller 25 was the second best-selling album of its release week, selling one hundred and sixty six thousand copies, just fourteen thousand short of reaching the number one position. It was ineligible for the Billboard 200 chart as a re-release but entered the Pop Catalog Charts at number one (where it stayed for ten non-consecutive weeks),[94] with the best sales on that chart since December 1996.[95][96][97] With the arrival of Halloween that November, Thriller 25 spent an eleventh non-consecutive week atop the US catalog chart. This brought US sales of the album to 688,000 copies, making it the best selling catalog album of 2008.[98] This was Jackson's best launch since Invincible in 2001, selling three million copies worldwide in 12 weeks.[99]
After Jackson's death in June 2009, Thriller set additional records. It sold more than 100,000 copies, placing it at number two on the Top Pop Catalog Albums chart. Songs from Thriller also helped Jackson become the first artist to sell more than one million song downloads in a week.[100] According to Nielsen Soundscan, Thriller was the 14th best selling album of 2009 in the United States with 1.27 million copies sold.[101]
Track listing[edit]

No.
Title
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
Length

1. "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin"   Michael Jackson
Quincy Jones ·
 Jackson (co.)
  6:03
2. "Baby Be Mine"   Rod Temperton Jones 4:20
3. "The Girl Is Mine" (duet with Paul McCartney) Jackson
Jones ·
 Jackson (co.)
  3:42
4. "Thriller" (featuring. Vincent Price) Temperton Jones 5:57
5. "Beat It" (featuring. Eddie Van Halen) Jackson
Jones ·
 Jackson (co.)
  4:18
6. "Billie Jean"   Jackson
Jones ·
 Jackson (co.)
  4:54
7. "Human Nature"  
Steve Porcaro ·
 John Bettis
  Jones 4:06
8. "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"  
James Ingram ·
 Jones
  Jones 3:59
9. "The Lady in My Life"   Temperton Jones 5:00
Total length:
 42:19 

[show]2001 special edition bonus tracks









   
 


 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

 
   
Personnel[edit]
Brian Banks – keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Michael Boddicker – keyboards, synthesizers
N'dugu Chancler – drums
Paulinho da Costa – percussion
David Foster – keyboards, synthesizers
Gary Grant – trumpet and flügelhorn
Eddie Van Halen – guitar solo on "Beat It"
Jerry Hey – trumpet and flügelhorn
Michael Jackson – co-producer, lead and background vocals, drum case beater, bathroom stomp board, vocal, drum, horn and string arrangement
Paul Jackson – guitar
Louis Johnson – bass guitar
Quincy Jones – producer
Steve Lukather – guitar, bass guitar
Anthony Marinelli – synthesizer programming
Paul McCartney – vocals on "The Girl Is Mine"
David Paich – keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Dean Parks – guitar
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Jeff Porcaro – drums, horn and string arrangements
Steve Porcaro – keyboards, synthesizers, programming
Vincent Price – voice-over on "Thriller"
Bill Reichenbach – trombone
Bruce Swedien – recording engineer, mixer
Chris Shepard  – vibraslap on "Beat It"
Rod Temperton – keyboards, synthesizers
David Williams – guitar
Larry Williams – saxophone and flute
Bill Wolfer – keyboards, synthesizers
La Toya Jackson – background vocals on "PYT"
Janet Jackson – background vocals on "PYT"
Greg Smith – synthesizers
Chart performance[edit]
Thriller was one of the best-selling albums in many countries during 1983 to 1984, topping the charts in United States,[102] United Kingdom, Germany,[103] Japan,[104] France,[105] Canada,[106] Australia,[107] Sweden,[108] New Zealand,[109] and the Netherlands.[110]
Charts[edit]
Year-end charts[edit]
Original release
Chart (1983)
Position

Australian Albums Chart[107]
1
Austrian Albums Chart[111]
1
Canadian Albums Chart[112]
1
Dutch Albums Chart[113]
1
French Albums Chart[114]
1
Italian Albums Chart[115]
1
Japanese Albums Chart[116]
6
UK Albums Chart[117]
1
US Billboard Year-end[118]
1
West German Albums Chart[119]
2
Chart (1984)
Position

Australian Albums Chart[107]
2
Austrian Albums Chart[120]
3
Canadian Albums Chart[121]
4
Dutch Albums Chart[122]
4
Japanese Albums Chart[123]
1
Swiss Albums Chart[124]
1
UK Albums Chart[117]
6
US Billboard Year-end[125]
1
 Reissue
Chart (2009)
Position

Australian Albums Chart[126]
32
German Albums Chart[127]
40
US Billboard Comprehensive Albums[128]
16
US Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums[128]
2
US Billboard Top Internet Albums[128]
2
Chart (2010)
Position

Australian Catalog Albums Chart[129]
47
US Billboard 200[130]
137
US Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums[130]
7

Decade-end charts[edit]

Chart (1980–89)
Position

Australian Albums Chart[107]
3
Austrian Albums Chart[131]
1
Japanese Albums Chart[132]
2
UK Albums Chart[117]
3
Certifications[edit]

Region
Certification
Sales/shipments


Argentina (CAPIF)[133]
Diamond 500,000x
Australia (ARIA)[134]
16× Platinum 1,150,000[135]
Austria (IFPI Austria)[136]
8× Platinum 400,000x
Brazil (ABPD)[137]
5× Platinum 1,250,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[138]
2× Diamond 2,400,000[139]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[140]
Platinum 119,061[140]
France (SNEP)[141]
Diamond 2,366,700[141]
Germany (BVMI)[142]
3× Platinum 1,500,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[143]
Platinum 20,000*
Italy (FIMI)[144]
Platinum 100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[145]
Gold 2,500,000[146]
Mexico (AMPROFON)[147]
2× Platinum+Diamond+Gold 1,600,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[148]
8× Platinum 1,400,000[149]
New Zealand (RMNZ)[150]
12× Platinum 180,000^
Portugal (AFP)[151]
Platinum 40,000x
South Korea
 50,000[152]
Sweden (GLF)[153]
4× Platinum 400,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[154]
6× Platinum 300,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[155]
11× Platinum 4,274,000[156]
United States (RIAA)[157]
29× Platinum 29,000,000^
Summaries

Europe (IFPI)[158]
For sales in 2009
Platinum 1,000,000*
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone


See also[edit]
Book icon Book: Thriller (album)


Portal icon Michael Jackson portal
List of best-selling albums
List of best-selling albums in Australia
List of best-selling albums in France
List of best-selling albums in Germany
List of best-selling albums in Japan
List of best-selling albums in New Zealand
List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom
List of best-selling albums in the United States
List of number-one dance singles of 1983 (U.S.)
Notes[edit]

TAlthough sales estimates for Thriller have been as high as 110 million copies,[159] these sales figures are unreliable.[160][161][162][163]
References[edit]
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148.Jump up ^ "Dutch album certifications – Michael Jackson – Thriller" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
149.Jump up ^ "Een ster in het land van lilliputters". Trouw.nl. Retrieved 2012-03-27.
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154.Jump up ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Michael Jackson; 'Thriller')". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
155.Jump up ^ "Certified Awards Search". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 19, 2010. Note: User needs to enter "Michael Jackson" in the "Search" field, "Artist" in the "Search by" field and click the "Go" button. Select "More info" next to the relevant entry to see full certification history.
156.Jump up ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a379720/adele-overtakes-michael-jacksons-thriller-in-all-time-uk-sales.html#~oLG4udG7r5X8H1
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158.Jump up ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2009". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 4, 2011.
159.Jump up ^ Durchholz, Daniel (November 30, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' At 30: Classic Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-10-28.
160.Jump up ^ Bill Wyman (January 4, 2013). "Did "Thriller" Really Sell a Hundred Million Copies?". The New Yorker (Condé Nast). Retrieved January 10, 2013.
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162.Jump up ^ Carl Bialik (July 14, 2009). "How many albums did Michael Jackson Sell?". The Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company (News Corporation)). Retrieved January 10, 2013.
163.Jump up ^ David Lara (May 12, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Bad' Gets a Revamp and More Inflated Sales!". Impre (ImpreMedia). Retrieved January 10, 2013.
BibliographyGeorge, Nelson (2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection booklet. Sony BMG.
Taraborrelli, J. Randy (2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
External links[edit]
Thriller (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)


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Thriller (song)

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"Thriller"

U.S. 12" vinyl

Single by Michael Jacksonfeaturing Vincent Price

from the album Thriller

B-side
"Things I Do for You" (live) (UK) / "Can't Get Outta the Rain"
Released
January 23, 1984
Format
7", 12", CD single, 3" CD single
Recorded
1982
Genre
Disco, funk[1]
Length
5:59 (LP Version)
4:04 (7" Version)
Label
Epic
Writer(s)
Rod Temperton
Producer(s)
Quincy Jones
Michael Jacksonfeaturing Vincent Pricesingles chronology

"P. Y. T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(1983) "Thriller"
(1983) "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
(1987)


Alternative UK and Japanese covers



Thrillertrack listing

"The Girl Is Mine"
(3) "Thriller"
(4) "Beat It"
(5)

HIStory Beginstrack listing

"Man in the Mirror"
(8) "Thriller"
(9) "Beat It"
(10)

This Is Ittrack listing

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
(8) "Thriller"
(9) "Beat It"
(10)

Music video
"Thriller"on YouTube

"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album of the same name. It was released on November 12, 1983 in most countries and January 23, 1984 in the United States by Epic Records. The song has appeared on multiple greatest hits compilation albums from Jackson, including HIStory(1995), Number Ones(2003), The Essential Michael Jackson(2005), and Michael Jackson's This Is It(2009) and it was remixed to the Immortalalbum in 2011. The song, which has a voice-over from actor Vincent Pricehad originally been titled "Starlight".
The song's instruments include a basslineand synthesizer. In the song, sound effects such as a creaking door, thunder, feet walking on wooden planks, winds and howling dogs can be heard, and the lyrics contain frightening themes and elements. "Thriller" received positive reviews from critics and became Jackson's seventh top-ten single on the BillboardHot 100 Chartfrom the album, while reaching the top of the charts in France and Belgium and the top ten in many other countries.
"Thriller" was adapted by American Werewolf In Londondirector John Landisinto a highly successful music video, known independently as Michael Jackson's Thriller. At fourteen minutes the video is substantially longer than the song, which ties together a narrative featuring Jackson and actress Ola Rayin a setting heavily inspired by horror films of the 1950s. In the video's most iconic scene, Jackson leads other actors costumed as zombiesin a choreographed dance routine. Though it garnered some criticism for its occult theme and violent imagery, the video was immediately popular and received high critical acclaim, being nominated for six MTV Video Music Awardsin 1984 and winning three. In 2009 it was added to the National Film Registryby the Library of Congress, the first music video ever selected. Although the song itself was a huge success commercially, the video outshone its popularity.
"Thriller" has been covered by multiple recording artists since its release in 1983, including Henry Mancini(with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Ian Brown, Ten Masked Menand Imogen Heap.


Contents [hide]
1Background
2Composition
3Recording and production
4Critical reception
5Chart performance
6Music video6.1Concept
6.2Reception
7Live performances
8Cover versions
9Appearances in other media
10Personnel
11Charts and certifications11.1Charts
11.2Sales and certifications
12Track listing
13See also
14References
15External links

Background[edit]
"Thriller" was written by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. "Thriller" was originally titled "Starlight",[2][3]contrary to other reports of the title "Starlight Love".[4]While the song was titled "Starlight", the song's hook lyrics were "Starlight! Starlight sun...", but after the song was changed to "Thriller" the hook was rewritten to "Thriller! In the night...".[5]Temperton commented,

Originally, when I did my Thriller demo, I called it Starlight. Quincy said to me, 'You managed to come up with a title for the last album, see what you can do for this album.' I said, 'Oh great,' so I went back to the hotel, wrote two or three hundred titles, and came up with the title 'Midnight Man'. The next morning, I woke up, and I just said this word... Something in my head just said, this is the title. You could visualise it on the top of the Billboard charts. You could see the merchandising for this one word, how it jumped off the page as 'Thriller'.[3]
While Temperton was writing "Thriller" he stated that he'd "always envisioned" a "talking section at the end" on the song, but did not really know what "to do with it", until deciding "to have somebody, a famous voice, in the horror genre, to do this vocal."[3]Jones' then-wife, Peggy Lipton, who knew Vincent Price, suggested Price for the vocal part, which Price agreed to do.[3]
Composition[edit]
"Thriller" is considered a disco-funksong.[1]Set in the keyof C?Modern Dorian,[citation needed]its instrumentation consists of synthesizer, guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, saxophone, flute and trombone. The song has a moderate tempoof 118.31 beats per minute.[6]The lyrics and sound effectson "Thriller" pertain to frightful elements and themes.[7]
Recording and production[edit]




Quincy Jones produced "Thriller".
"Thriller", along with other songs from Thriller, was recorded by Jackson over the course of eight weeks,[8]in 1982. Jackson recorded the song at Westlake Recording Studioson Santa Monica Boulevardin Los Angeles, California.[3]Bruce Swedien, the song's engineer, said of the song being recorded,

When we started 'Thriller', the first day at Westlake, we were all there and Quincy [Jones, the producer] walked in followed by me and Michael and Rod Temperton and some of the other people. Quincy turned to us and he said, 'OK guys, we're here to save the recording industry.' Now that's a pretty big responsibility – but he meant it. And that's why those albums, and especially 'Thriller', sound so incredible. The basic thing is, everybody who was involved gave 150 percent … Quincy's like a director of a movie and I'm like a director of photography, and it's Quincy's job to cast [it]. Quincy can find the people and he gives us the inspiration to do what we do.[3]
Swedien and Jones stated that Vincent Price recorded his introduction and voice-over rap for the song in two takes; Jones, acknowledging that doing a voice-over for a song is "difficult", praised Price and described his recording takes as being "fabulous".[3]Swedien said of Jackson recording the song, that, "I tried all sorts of things with Michael – for instance, he would sing the main vocal part and we'd double it one time and then I'd ask him to step away from the mic and do it a third time and that really changed the acoustics in the room so it gave Michael's vocals a unique character … We recorded some of those background vocals in the shower stall at Westlake."[3]
Throughout the song, sound effects such as a creaking door, thunder, feet walking on wooden planks, winds and howling dogs can be heard. Bruce Cannon, a sound effects editor for "Thriller", said that, "Things like the lightning may have come from old Hollywood movies – we'll never know which movies – but the best sound-effects editors do go out in the desert and find a coyote, so I have a feeling that was a real howl."[3]
The backing track, especially the bassline, has certain similarities to the 1981 number-one R&B hit"Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James.[9]The bass part was made from two modified Minimoogsplaying in unison.[10]
Critical reception[edit]
"Thriller" received high acclaim reviews from contemporary music critics. Ashley Lasimone, of AOL's Spinner.com, noted that "Thriller" "became a signature for Jackson" and described "the groove of its bassline, paired with Michael's killer vocals and sleek moves" as having had "produced a frighteningly great single."[11]Jon Pareles, of The New York Times, noted that Thrillers tracks, "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "the movie in the song 'Thriller'", were the songs, unlike the "fluff" "P.Y.T.", that were "the hits that made Thrillera world-beater; along with Mr. Jackson's stage and video presence, listeners must have identified with his willingness to admit terror."[12]
Ann Powers, of the Los Angeles Times, described "Thriller" as being a song that was "adequately groovy" with a "funked-out beat" with lyrics that are "seemingly lifted from some little kid's 'scary storybook'".[13]After Jackson's death, AOL's Radio Blog released a list, titled "10 Best Michael Jackson Songs", which placed "Thriller" at number one.[4]In 2009 Melissa Cabrera, of AOL Radio Blogs, listed "Thriller" as being the fourth best song on their "Top 100 '80s Songs" list.[14]Eliot Glazer, AOL's Radio Blogs, placed "Thriller" at number one on a list titled "Top 1984 Songs".[5]"Thriller" was also listed at number two on the "10 Best HalloweenSongs" and "10 Best Party Songs" lists by AOLs Radio Blog,[15][16]and at number one on "The Top 10 Halloween Songs" list by Billboard.[17]
Chart performance[edit]
Prior to "Thriller"'s official airplay release, it charted and peaked at number one on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles Chartin 1983.[18]Released on January 23, 1984, "Thriller" became Jackson's seventh and last BillboardHot 100top-ten single from his Thrilleralbum. In "Thriller"'s second week of release, Billboardissue date February 11, 1984, the song charted at number 20 on the Hot 100.[19]The song entered the top ten the following week at number seven.[19]One week later, it reached number four, what would become its peak position.[20]The song was certified platinumby the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) on December 4, 1989, for sales of over one million physical units in the U.S. (the requirement for gold and platinum singles was lowered after 1989).[21][22][22]It has sold a further 3.6 million copies in digital downloadsas of October 2014 in the US.[23]
For the issue date February 25, 1984, "Thriller" charted at number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.[24]The following week, the song placed at number five.[24]On March 10, 1984, it charted at number 3, where it peaked.[25]"Thriller" peaked at number 24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[18]"Thriller" debuted on the UK Singles Charton November 19, 1983 at number 24, and the following week charted at number ten, where it peaked; the song appeared on the chart for 25 weeks.[26]Beginning on February 5, 1984, "Thriller" peaked on the French Singles Chartat number one and topped the chart for four consecutive weeks.[27]"Thriller" also topped the Belgian VRT Top 30 Chartfor two weeks in January 1984.[28]
Following Jackson's death, his music experienced a surge in popularity.[29]In the week of Jackson's death, "Thriller" was Jackson's best-selling track in the US, with sales of 167,000 copies on the BillboardHot Digital Singles Chart.[29]On July 11, 2009, "Thriller" charted on the BillboardHot Digital Singles Chart at number two (its peak), and the song remained in the charts' top ten for three consecutive weeks.[30]In the United Kingdom, the song charted at number 23 the week of Jackson's death.[31]The following week, the song reached its peak at number 12 on the UK Single Chart.[26]On July 12, 2009, "Thriller" peaked at number two on the Italian Singles Chart[32]and was later certified gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[33]"Thriller" reached at number three on the Australian ARIA Chart and Swiss Singles Chartand topped the Spanish Singles Chartsfor one week.[34]The song also placed within the top ten on the German Singles Chart, Norwegian Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart, at number nine, number seven and number eight respectively.[34]"Thriller" also landed at number 25 on the Danish Singles Chart.[35]In the third week of July "Thriller" peaked at number 11 in Finland.[36]The song finished at #78 for the year on Billboard Hot 100 of 1984.
In 2013, the song re-entered the BillboardHot 100at number 42.[37]
Music video[edit]
Main article: Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)
In his 1988 book Moonwalk, Jackson expressed interest in having director John Landis, direct the music video for “Thriller.” Having seen Landis’ previous work on the horror film An American Werewolf in London, Jackson envisioned the main character of his short film to undergo similar transitions parallel to those of the characters in Landis’ horror film. Hence, John Landis was asked to direct the video seeing as Michael felt he would make the best fit towards properly conveying his personal concepts for the short feature film.[38]Landis accepted Jackson’s invitation and production began soon thereafter, filming in various locations in New York and Los Angeles.
Contrary to reports of $800,000[39]to $1 million production budgets, Landis stated that the music video was made for $500,000.[40]Within the same excerpt of Moonwalk, Jackson noted how he personally financed much the short film for “Thriller” out of his own pocket. Due to all the technical details of production and the nature of the video, the budget nearly doubled in costs. John Branca—Jackson’s attorney and advisor—suggested creating a documentary outlining the process of creating the short film. The behind-the-scenes documentary was aimed towards seeking a third-party sponsor to finance the project and thus alleviate some of the costs of the doubled budget. The documentary was entitled, “The Making of Thriller,” and achieved significant sales among audiences.[41]
Jackson also said of making the music video, in an interview that aired on December 11, 1999, for MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made:

My idea was to make this short film with conversation ... I like having a beginning and a middle and an ending, which would follow a story. I'm very much involved in complete making and creating of the piece. It has to be, you know, my soul. Usually, you know, it's an interpretation of the music. [...] It was a delicate thing to work on because I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I said, 'We have to do just the right kind of movement so it doesn't become something that you laugh at.' But it just has to take it to another level. So I got in a room with [choreographer] Michael Peters, and he and I together kind of imagined how these zombies move by making faces in the mirror. I used to come to rehearsal sometimes with monster makeup on, and I loved doing that. So he and I collaborated and we both choreographed the piece and I thought it should start like that kind of thing and go into this jazzy kind of step, you know. Kind of gruesome things like that, not too much ballet or whatever.[42]
The music video of the song also included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory, HIStory on Film, Volume II, Number Ones, on the bonus DVD of Thriller 25and Michael Jackson's Vision.
Following the release of the music video, a 45-minute documentary was released that provided candid glimpses behind the scenes of the music video's production.[40]Entitled Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, it, like the music video, was shown heavily on MTV for a time[40]and was the top-selling home-video release of all time at one point, with over nine million copies sold.[43]MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtimepaid $300,000 for pay-cable rights; and Vestron Videoreportedly paid $500,000 to market the cassette, in a profit participation agreement.[40][44]
Concept[edit]
Set in the 1950s, Michael and his unnamed date (Ola Ray) run out of gas near a dark wooded area. They walk off into the forest, and Michael asks her if she would be his "girl"; she accepts and he gives her a ring. He warns her, however, that he is "different". A full moon appears, and Michael begins convulsing in agony, transforming into a werewolf.[39]His date runs away in terror, but the werewolf catches up to her, knocking her down and begins lunging at her with his claws. The scene then cuts to a modern-day movie theater where Michael and his date, along with a repulsed audience, are actually watching the scene unfold in a movie called Thriller.
Michael's date leaves the theater as Michael hands his popcorn to a stranger, catches up to her, and assures her that "It's only a movie". Some debate follows as to whether or not she was scared by the movie. They then walk down a foggy road as Michael teases her by singing the verses of "Thriller". They pass a nearby graveyard, in which zombiesbegin to rise out of their caskets as Vincent Price performs his soliloquy. The zombies corner Michael and his date threateningly, and suddenly, Michael becomes a zombie himself. The zombies then break into an elaborate song and dance number,[39]followed by the main chorus of "Thriller" (during which Michael was reverted to human form), frightening his date to the point where she runs for cover.
Michael (turned back into a zombie) and his fellow corpses then back the frightened girl into the corner of a nearby abandoned house. Michael then reaches for his date's throat as she lets out a bloodcurdling scream, only to awake and realize it was all a dream. Michael then offers to take her home, and she happily obliges. As they walk out of the house, Michael eerily looks at the camera, thus revealing his yellow werewolf eyes, as we hear Vincent Price's haunting laugh.[39]
Reception[edit]
Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weeklycommented on the music video, "Every aspect of the 14-minute horror musical, directed with creepy-comical zest by John Landis, is beyond iconic, from Michael's red leather ensemble to the immortal (no pun) herky-jerky zombie dance and bwah-ha-ha Vincent Price narration."[45]Though the video was met with widespread praise, it was also criticized for its content. In 1984, the National Coalition on Television Violence (NCTV) classified more than half of 200 MTV music videos surveyed as "too violent". Both "Thriller" and Jackson's duet with Paul McCartney, "Say, Say, Say" made the list.[2]The Los Angeles Timesquoted Dr. Thomas Radecki, chairman of the NCTV, as saying, "It's not hard to imagine young viewers after seeing 'Thriller' saying, 'Gee, if Michael Jackson can terrorize his girlfriend, why can't I do it too?'[2]
The music video was nominated for six awards at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, winning three out of six of the nominations.[46]"Thriller" won Viewers Choice, Best Overall Performanceand Best Choreography—but lost Best Concept Video, Best Male Videoand Video of the Year.[46]
The music video was listed as the "Greatest Video" on VH1's "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos" in 2001.[47]MTV listed the music video as being the "Greatest Music Video Ever Made" on their list, "MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" in 1999.[48]In July 2011, the music video was named one of "The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos" by TIMEmagazine.[49]
Live performances[edit]
Jackson performed "Thriller" on all three of his solo world concert tours. From the Dangerous Touronwards, half the song was always performed by a masked backup dancer as Jackson prepared for his next song as part of a stage illusion. Despite Jackson performing multiple songs from his Thrilleralbum, "Thriller" was not included on The Jacksonsset list during their Victory Tourin 1984, as Michael Jackson was not satisfied with the way the song sounded live.
Jackson performed "Thriller" during his first world tour as a solo artist, the Badworld tour, lasting sixteen months, from 1987 to 1989, for a total of 123 shows.[50]During the Bad tour, in both legs, the jacket had flashing lights in the middle of the song and at the end. An impersonator was only used for the introduction of the song; a masked dancer emerges from the costume tent at the side of the stage, and goes back in hiding while Jackson himself, also masked at first, swings down from a rope on the other side of the stage before taking off his mask.
"Thriller" was also performed during Jackson's second world tour, the Dangerous Tour, where stage illusions were used to transition between "Thriller" and "Billie Jean". In the middle of "Thriller", Jackson secretly switched places with a masked backup dancer who finishes the song appearing as Jackson prepares for Billie Jean. When the song ends, Jackson appears fully dressed on the upper floor as "Billie Jean" begins.
Jackson performed "Thriller"[51]for all of his 82 shows during his third, and final, world tour, the HIStory World Tour. Once again, a masked dancer posing as Jackson was used as a stage illusion, this time to the transition between "Thriller" and "Beat It". As with the Dangerous tour, Jackson switches with the background dancer in the middle of the song. At the end of Thriller, the masked dancer is taken by the zombie dancers into a coffin where it appears he is impaled with spikes and burned. Jackson would appear at the side of the stage in a cherry-picker, starting off "Beat It".
Jackson had planned to perform "Thriller" during his 50-show concert series, which would have been his fourth concert tour, entitled This Is Itfrom 2009 to 2010.[52][53]For Jackson's performance of the song, he had planned for the stage that he was to perform on to be set up with a background that looked like a "graveyard" (which was a brief setting in the music video) with 3-D effects.[53][54][55]According to a setlist that was released in March 2009, "Thriller" was to close out the 16-song show,[56]although the film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which documents the concert series, lists 18 songs and "Man in the Mirror" as the closing song for the planned shows.[57][58][59]
Live versions of the song are available on the DVDs Live at Wembley July 16, 1988and Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour.
Cover versions[edit]
1980sIn 1984, English comedian Lenny Henryrecorded a spoof video of Thriller, entitled "Thinner".
In 1989, American composer Henry Manciniand The Royal Philharmonic Orchestrarecorded an orchestral version of the song.[60]
2000sIn 2000, British death metalband Ten Masked Mencovered the song on their album Return of the Ten Masked Men.[60]
In 2001, American-born Australian singer Joe Dolcecovered the song on a compilation album, Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge.[60]
In 2003, Scottish rockband Aereogrammerecorded "Thriller" for their Livers & Lungs EP.[60]
In 2003, German a cappellagroup Maybebop covered the song for their album Heiße Luft.[61]
In 2004, English electronic music group The Prodigysampled "Thriller" on their The Way It Is.[62]
In 2007, Ian Browncovered "Thriller".[63]Amos Barshad and Nick Catucci, of NYMag.com, commented that "before you dismiss" the song, if you "give it a listen", Brown’s "louche, drugged-out reinvention is actually pretty great."[63][64]
In 2008, German group Wise Guysrecorded an a cappella version of the song as "Schiller" for their tenth album Frei!. The stage choreography based on Michael Jackson's music videoand member Ferenc also recites a part of Friedrich Schiller's Die Bürgschaft.[65]
In 2008, "Thriller" was also covered by Ben Gibbard, lead singer of Death Cab for Cutieand The Postal Service.[66]
In 2008, industrial metal band Gothministercovered Jackson's song for their album Happiness in Darkness.[60]
In October 2009, Imogen Heapcovered "Thriller" for BBC Radio 1Live Lounge.[67]
2010sIn 2011, Patrick Stumpcovered the song in an a cappellamash-up tribute along with several other Michael Jackson songs over pre-recorded backing vocals.[68]
In 2012, Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Ravareleased a version on his tribute album Rava on the Dance Floor.
In 2013, Jiordan Tollicovered an stripped-down slower version of song for fifth seasonof The X Factor Australiaduring week two. The cover was released as an single on September 3, 2013.[69]Tolli's performance of "Thriller" debuted at number 63 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[70]
In 2014 and 2015, Demi Lovatocovered the song on her Demi World Tour. This version included a remixed dancing at the end, which Lovato would dance to with fellow background dancers.[71]
Appearances in other media[edit]
Michael Jackson's Thrillermusic video, particularly the songs dance routine in the video, have been referenced in television series and films including Donga(1985), Coming to America(1988), The Malibu Beach Vampires(1991), South Park(1997), Dead & Breakfast(2004), 13 Going on 30(2004), Bo! in the USA(2006).[72][better source needed]
The Chemical Brotherssaid in a January 2002 interview that if their song "My Elastic Eye" is played on large speakers, the bass would resemble "Thriller".[73]
In 2011, the cast of American musical TV series Gleeperformed "Thriller" as a mash up with "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah Yeahsin episode "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle".[74][75]
Pop singer Britney Spearsmade a reference to "Thriller" in her music video for "I Wanna Go" (2011). In the ending of her video actor Guillermo Díazleads Spears out of the room. He then turns to the camera with glowing red eyes and his laugh is heard, similar to Vincent Price.[76]
Personnel[edit]
Written and composed by Rod Temperton
Produced by Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals Featuring: Narration by Vincent Price(Not featured on original edited single version)
Greg Phillinganes, Rod Temperton & Brian Banks: Synthesizers
Anthony Marinelli: Synthesizer programming
David Williams: Guitar
 Jerry Hey, Gary Grant: Trumpets, flugelhorns
Larry Williams: Saxophone, flute
Bill Reichenbach: Trombone
Vocal, rhythm and synthesizer arrangement by Rod Temperton
Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey
Effects by Bruce Cannon and Bruce Swedien

Charts and certifications[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1983-1984)
Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report)[77] 4
Belgian VRT Top 30[28] 1
Canadian RPMTop Singles[78] 3
France (SNEP)[27] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[79] 9
Irish Singles Chart[80] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[81] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[82] 6
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 1
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 10
US BillboardHot 100[18][20] 4
US BillboardHot Adult Contemporary[18] 1
US BillboardHot Black Singles[18][25] 1
US BillboardHot Dance Club Play[18] 1


Chart (2005)
Peak
position
U.S. BillboardHot Digital Songs[18] 1

Chart (2006)
Peak
position

France (SNEP)[83] 35
Germany (Media Control Charts)[34] 9
Irish Singles Chart[80] 8
Italy (FIMI)[32] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[84] 34
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] 1
Swiss (Swiss Hitparade)[34] 3

Chart (2007)
Peak
position

Hot Canadian Digital Singles[18] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 20
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 57


Chart (2008)
Peak
position

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[86] 55
Norway (VG-lista)[87] 13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 53
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 35


Chart (2009)
Peak
position

Australia (ARIA)[89] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[86] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Back Catalogue SinglesFlanders)[90] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 30 Back Catalogue SinglesWallonia)[91] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[35] 25
European Hot 100 Singles[92] 16
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[36] 11
France (SNEP)[93] 3
Irish Singles Chart[34] 8
Italy (FIMI)[32] 2
Japan Singles Top 100 (Oricon)[34] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[84] 9
New Zealand (RIANZ)[34] 12
Norway (VG-lista)[87] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[94] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 3
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 12
US BillboardHot RingMasters[18] 1

Chart (2010)
Peak
position

Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 68
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 68


Chart (2012)
Peak
position

France (SNEP)[83] 143
Irish Singles Chart[80] 30
Japan Hot 100Singles[18] 93
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 49
US BillboardHot Digital Songs[18] 2
US BillboardHot RingMasters[18] 1


Chart (2014)
Peak
position

US BillboardHot 100[95] 35

Sales and certifications[edit]

Region
Certification
Sales/shipments


Australia (ARIA)[96]
2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[97]
Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[98]
Platinum 975,000[99]
Italy (FIMI)[100]
Platinum 50,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[101]
Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[102]
Gold 500,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[103]
Platinum (physical)
Gold (digital)
Gold (MT) 1,000,000 (physical)
3,600,000[23]
500,000 (ringtone)
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone


Track listing[edit]
7" single'[104]
1."Thriller" (special edit) – 4:37
2."Things I Do for You" (live) – 3:31
7" single[104]
1."Thriller" – 5:57
2."Thriller" (instrumental) – 5:57
12" maxi[104]
1."Thriller" – 5:57
2."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:05
3."Things I Do for You" (live) – 3:31
 Mini CD single (Japan 1988 Bad tour)[105]
1."Thriller" - 4:08
2."Human Nature" - 3:47
CD single[104]
1."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:08
2."Can't Get Outta the Rain" – 4:09
DualDisc single[104]
CD side
1."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:09
2."Thriller" (album version) – 5:58
DVD side
1.Michael Jackson's Thriller– 13:40

See also[edit]

Portal icon Michael Jackson portal
List of best-selling singles
List of best-selling singles in the United States
List of most expensive music videos
"Michael Jackson's Thriller"
Thriller (viral video)
Thrill the World
References[edit]
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51.Jump up ^Nisid Hajarl (September 20, 1996). "The King of Pap". EW.com. Time Warner Inc. Retrieved January 24,2010.
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71.Jump up ^"WATCH: Demi Lovato Covers Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' on DEMI World Tour Opening Night". Music Times. September 8, 2014. Retrieved April 16,2015.
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73.Jump up ^"The Chemical Brothers - Remix Article". Planet Dust. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
74.Jump up ^"'Glee' Super Bowl Episode Brings 'Thriller' to Football Fans". Billboard. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
75.Jump up ^"'Glee'-cap: 'Heads Will Roll' After Glee's Super Bowl 'Thriller!'"OK! Magazine. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
76.Jump up ^"Britney Spears' 'I Wanna Go': A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet". MTV.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
77.Jump up ^Kent, David (2003). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
78.Jump up ^"Top Singles – Volume 40, No. 1, March 10, 1984". RPM. Retrieved August 3,2010.
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87.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Norway_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
88.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Swiss_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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99.Jump up ^"Les Singles de Platine :"(in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved May 7,2012.
100.Jump up ^"Italian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Thriller"(in Italian). Federation of the Italian Music Industry.SelectOnline in the fieldSezione. EnterMichael Jackson in the fieldFiltra. The certification will load automatically
101.Jump up ^"Certificaciones – Michael Jackson"(in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
102.Jump up ^"British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Thriller". British Phonographic Industry.EnterThriller in the fieldKeywords. SelectTitle in the fieldSearch by. Selectsingle in the fieldBy Format. SelectGold in the fieldBy Award. ClickSearch
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105.Jump up ^Discogs.com Thriller Japanese Mini CD single
Bibliography
Brooks, Darren (2002). Michael Jackson: An Exceptional Journey. Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-178-5.
George, Nelson(2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collectionbooklet. Sony BMG.
Grant, Adrian (2009). Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84938-261-8.
Jones, Jel (2005). Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Big Picture: the Music! the Man! the Legend! the Interviews!. Amber Books Publishing. ISBN 0-9749779-0-X.
Taraborrelli, J. Randy(2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
Halstead, Craig(2003). Michael Jackson The Solo Years. On-Line Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7552-0091-7.
External links[edit]
Michael Jackson - Thrilleron YouTube
Full lyrics of this songat MetroLyrics


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Thriller (song)

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"Thriller"

U.S. 12" vinyl

Single by Michael Jacksonfeaturing Vincent Price

from the album Thriller

B-side
"Things I Do for You" (live) (UK) / "Can't Get Outta the Rain"
Released
January 23, 1984
Format
7", 12", CD single, 3" CD single
Recorded
1982
Genre
Disco, funk[1]
Length
5:59 (LP Version)
4:04 (7" Version)
Label
Epic
Writer(s)
Rod Temperton
Producer(s)
Quincy Jones
Michael Jacksonfeaturing Vincent Pricesingles chronology

"P. Y. T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(1983) "Thriller"
(1983) "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
(1987)


Alternative UK and Japanese covers



Thrillertrack listing

"The Girl Is Mine"
(3) "Thriller"
(4) "Beat It"
(5)

HIStory Beginstrack listing

"Man in the Mirror"
(8) "Thriller"
(9) "Beat It"
(10)

This Is Ittrack listing

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
(8) "Thriller"
(9) "Beat It"
(10)

Music video
"Thriller"on YouTube

"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album of the same name. It was released on November 12, 1983 in most countries and January 23, 1984 in the United States by Epic Records. The song has appeared on multiple greatest hits compilation albums from Jackson, including HIStory(1995), Number Ones(2003), The Essential Michael Jackson(2005), and Michael Jackson's This Is It(2009) and it was remixed to the Immortalalbum in 2011. The song, which has a voice-over from actor Vincent Pricehad originally been titled "Starlight".
The song's instruments include a basslineand synthesizer. In the song, sound effects such as a creaking door, thunder, feet walking on wooden planks, winds and howling dogs can be heard, and the lyrics contain frightening themes and elements. "Thriller" received positive reviews from critics and became Jackson's seventh top-ten single on the BillboardHot 100 Chartfrom the album, while reaching the top of the charts in France and Belgium and the top ten in many other countries.
"Thriller" was adapted by American Werewolf In Londondirector John Landisinto a highly successful music video, known independently as Michael Jackson's Thriller. At fourteen minutes the video is substantially longer than the song, which ties together a narrative featuring Jackson and actress Ola Rayin a setting heavily inspired by horror films of the 1950s. In the video's most iconic scene, Jackson leads other actors costumed as zombiesin a choreographed dance routine. Though it garnered some criticism for its occult theme and violent imagery, the video was immediately popular and received high critical acclaim, being nominated for six MTV Video Music Awardsin 1984 and winning three. In 2009 it was added to the National Film Registryby the Library of Congress, the first music video ever selected. Although the song itself was a huge success commercially, the video outshone its popularity.
"Thriller" has been covered by multiple recording artists since its release in 1983, including Henry Mancini(with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Ian Brown, Ten Masked Menand Imogen Heap.


Contents [hide]
1Background
2Composition
3Recording and production
4Critical reception
5Chart performance
6Music video6.1Concept
6.2Reception
7Live performances
8Cover versions
9Appearances in other media
10Personnel
11Charts and certifications11.1Charts
11.2Sales and certifications
12Track listing
13See also
14References
15External links

Background[edit]
"Thriller" was written by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. "Thriller" was originally titled "Starlight",[2][3]contrary to other reports of the title "Starlight Love".[4]While the song was titled "Starlight", the song's hook lyrics were "Starlight! Starlight sun...", but after the song was changed to "Thriller" the hook was rewritten to "Thriller! In the night...".[5]Temperton commented,

Originally, when I did my Thriller demo, I called it Starlight. Quincy said to me, 'You managed to come up with a title for the last album, see what you can do for this album.' I said, 'Oh great,' so I went back to the hotel, wrote two or three hundred titles, and came up with the title 'Midnight Man'. The next morning, I woke up, and I just said this word... Something in my head just said, this is the title. You could visualise it on the top of the Billboard charts. You could see the merchandising for this one word, how it jumped off the page as 'Thriller'.[3]
While Temperton was writing "Thriller" he stated that he'd "always envisioned" a "talking section at the end" on the song, but did not really know what "to do with it", until deciding "to have somebody, a famous voice, in the horror genre, to do this vocal."[3]Jones' then-wife, Peggy Lipton, who knew Vincent Price, suggested Price for the vocal part, which Price agreed to do.[3]
Composition[edit]
"Thriller" is considered a disco-funksong.[1]Set in the keyof C?Modern Dorian,[citation needed]its instrumentation consists of synthesizer, guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, saxophone, flute and trombone. The song has a moderate tempoof 118.31 beats per minute.[6]The lyrics and sound effectson "Thriller" pertain to frightful elements and themes.[7]
Recording and production[edit]




Quincy Jones produced "Thriller".
"Thriller", along with other songs from Thriller, was recorded by Jackson over the course of eight weeks,[8]in 1982. Jackson recorded the song at Westlake Recording Studioson Santa Monica Boulevardin Los Angeles, California.[3]Bruce Swedien, the song's engineer, said of the song being recorded,

When we started 'Thriller', the first day at Westlake, we were all there and Quincy [Jones, the producer] walked in followed by me and Michael and Rod Temperton and some of the other people. Quincy turned to us and he said, 'OK guys, we're here to save the recording industry.' Now that's a pretty big responsibility – but he meant it. And that's why those albums, and especially 'Thriller', sound so incredible. The basic thing is, everybody who was involved gave 150 percent … Quincy's like a director of a movie and I'm like a director of photography, and it's Quincy's job to cast [it]. Quincy can find the people and he gives us the inspiration to do what we do.[3]
Swedien and Jones stated that Vincent Price recorded his introduction and voice-over rap for the song in two takes; Jones, acknowledging that doing a voice-over for a song is "difficult", praised Price and described his recording takes as being "fabulous".[3]Swedien said of Jackson recording the song, that, "I tried all sorts of things with Michael – for instance, he would sing the main vocal part and we'd double it one time and then I'd ask him to step away from the mic and do it a third time and that really changed the acoustics in the room so it gave Michael's vocals a unique character … We recorded some of those background vocals in the shower stall at Westlake."[3]
Throughout the song, sound effects such as a creaking door, thunder, feet walking on wooden planks, winds and howling dogs can be heard. Bruce Cannon, a sound effects editor for "Thriller", said that, "Things like the lightning may have come from old Hollywood movies – we'll never know which movies – but the best sound-effects editors do go out in the desert and find a coyote, so I have a feeling that was a real howl."[3]
The backing track, especially the bassline, has certain similarities to the 1981 number-one R&B hit"Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James.[9]The bass part was made from two modified Minimoogsplaying in unison.[10]
Critical reception[edit]
"Thriller" received high acclaim reviews from contemporary music critics. Ashley Lasimone, of AOL's Spinner.com, noted that "Thriller" "became a signature for Jackson" and described "the groove of its bassline, paired with Michael's killer vocals and sleek moves" as having had "produced a frighteningly great single."[11]Jon Pareles, of The New York Times, noted that Thrillers tracks, "Billie Jean", "Beat It", "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "the movie in the song 'Thriller'", were the songs, unlike the "fluff" "P.Y.T.", that were "the hits that made Thrillera world-beater; along with Mr. Jackson's stage and video presence, listeners must have identified with his willingness to admit terror."[12]
Ann Powers, of the Los Angeles Times, described "Thriller" as being a song that was "adequately groovy" with a "funked-out beat" with lyrics that are "seemingly lifted from some little kid's 'scary storybook'".[13]After Jackson's death, AOL's Radio Blog released a list, titled "10 Best Michael Jackson Songs", which placed "Thriller" at number one.[4]In 2009 Melissa Cabrera, of AOL Radio Blogs, listed "Thriller" as being the fourth best song on their "Top 100 '80s Songs" list.[14]Eliot Glazer, AOL's Radio Blogs, placed "Thriller" at number one on a list titled "Top 1984 Songs".[5]"Thriller" was also listed at number two on the "10 Best HalloweenSongs" and "10 Best Party Songs" lists by AOLs Radio Blog,[15][16]and at number one on "The Top 10 Halloween Songs" list by Billboard.[17]
Chart performance[edit]
Prior to "Thriller"'s official airplay release, it charted and peaked at number one on Billboard's Dance Music/Club Play Singles Chartin 1983.[18]Released on January 23, 1984, "Thriller" became Jackson's seventh and last BillboardHot 100top-ten single from his Thrilleralbum. In "Thriller"'s second week of release, Billboardissue date February 11, 1984, the song charted at number 20 on the Hot 100.[19]The song entered the top ten the following week at number seven.[19]One week later, it reached number four, what would become its peak position.[20]The song was certified platinumby the Recording Industry Association of America(RIAA) on December 4, 1989, for sales of over one million physical units in the U.S. (the requirement for gold and platinum singles was lowered after 1989).[21][22][22]It has sold a further 3.6 million copies in digital downloadsas of October 2014 in the US.[23]
For the issue date February 25, 1984, "Thriller" charted at number 19 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart.[24]The following week, the song placed at number five.[24]On March 10, 1984, it charted at number 3, where it peaked.[25]"Thriller" peaked at number 24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.[18]"Thriller" debuted on the UK Singles Charton November 19, 1983 at number 24, and the following week charted at number ten, where it peaked; the song appeared on the chart for 25 weeks.[26]Beginning on February 5, 1984, "Thriller" peaked on the French Singles Chartat number one and topped the chart for four consecutive weeks.[27]"Thriller" also topped the Belgian VRT Top 30 Chartfor two weeks in January 1984.[28]
Following Jackson's death, his music experienced a surge in popularity.[29]In the week of Jackson's death, "Thriller" was Jackson's best-selling track in the US, with sales of 167,000 copies on the BillboardHot Digital Singles Chart.[29]On July 11, 2009, "Thriller" charted on the BillboardHot Digital Singles Chart at number two (its peak), and the song remained in the charts' top ten for three consecutive weeks.[30]In the United Kingdom, the song charted at number 23 the week of Jackson's death.[31]The following week, the song reached its peak at number 12 on the UK Single Chart.[26]On July 12, 2009, "Thriller" peaked at number two on the Italian Singles Chart[32]and was later certified gold by the Federation of the Italian Music Industry.[33]"Thriller" reached at number three on the Australian ARIA Chart and Swiss Singles Chartand topped the Spanish Singles Chartsfor one week.[34]The song also placed within the top ten on the German Singles Chart, Norwegian Singles Chart and Irish Singles Chart, at number nine, number seven and number eight respectively.[34]"Thriller" also landed at number 25 on the Danish Singles Chart.[35]In the third week of July "Thriller" peaked at number 11 in Finland.[36]The song finished at #78 for the year on Billboard Hot 100 of 1984.
In 2013, the song re-entered the BillboardHot 100at number 42.[37]
Music video[edit]
Main article: Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)
In his 1988 book Moonwalk, Jackson expressed interest in having director John Landis, direct the music video for “Thriller.” Having seen Landis’ previous work on the horror film An American Werewolf in London, Jackson envisioned the main character of his short film to undergo similar transitions parallel to those of the characters in Landis’ horror film. Hence, John Landis was asked to direct the video seeing as Michael felt he would make the best fit towards properly conveying his personal concepts for the short feature film.[38]Landis accepted Jackson’s invitation and production began soon thereafter, filming in various locations in New York and Los Angeles.
Contrary to reports of $800,000[39]to $1 million production budgets, Landis stated that the music video was made for $500,000.[40]Within the same excerpt of Moonwalk, Jackson noted how he personally financed much the short film for “Thriller” out of his own pocket. Due to all the technical details of production and the nature of the video, the budget nearly doubled in costs. John Branca—Jackson’s attorney and advisor—suggested creating a documentary outlining the process of creating the short film. The behind-the-scenes documentary was aimed towards seeking a third-party sponsor to finance the project and thus alleviate some of the costs of the doubled budget. The documentary was entitled, “The Making of Thriller,” and achieved significant sales among audiences.[41]
Jackson also said of making the music video, in an interview that aired on December 11, 1999, for MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made:

My idea was to make this short film with conversation ... I like having a beginning and a middle and an ending, which would follow a story. I'm very much involved in complete making and creating of the piece. It has to be, you know, my soul. Usually, you know, it's an interpretation of the music. [...] It was a delicate thing to work on because I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I said, 'We have to do just the right kind of movement so it doesn't become something that you laugh at.' But it just has to take it to another level. So I got in a room with [choreographer] Michael Peters, and he and I together kind of imagined how these zombies move by making faces in the mirror. I used to come to rehearsal sometimes with monster makeup on, and I loved doing that. So he and I collaborated and we both choreographed the piece and I thought it should start like that kind of thing and go into this jazzy kind of step, you know. Kind of gruesome things like that, not too much ballet or whatever.[42]
The music video of the song also included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory, HIStory on Film, Volume II, Number Ones, on the bonus DVD of Thriller 25and Michael Jackson's Vision.
Following the release of the music video, a 45-minute documentary was released that provided candid glimpses behind the scenes of the music video's production.[40]Entitled Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, it, like the music video, was shown heavily on MTV for a time[40]and was the top-selling home-video release of all time at one point, with over nine million copies sold.[43]MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtimepaid $300,000 for pay-cable rights; and Vestron Videoreportedly paid $500,000 to market the cassette, in a profit participation agreement.[40][44]
Concept[edit]
Set in the 1950s, Michael and his unnamed date (Ola Ray) run out of gas near a dark wooded area. They walk off into the forest, and Michael asks her if she would be his "girl"; she accepts and he gives her a ring. He warns her, however, that he is "different". A full moon appears, and Michael begins convulsing in agony, transforming into a werewolf.[39]His date runs away in terror, but the werewolf catches up to her, knocking her down and begins lunging at her with his claws. The scene then cuts to a modern-day movie theater where Michael and his date, along with a repulsed audience, are actually watching the scene unfold in a movie called Thriller.
Michael's date leaves the theater as Michael hands his popcorn to a stranger, catches up to her, and assures her that "It's only a movie". Some debate follows as to whether or not she was scared by the movie. They then walk down a foggy road as Michael teases her by singing the verses of "Thriller". They pass a nearby graveyard, in which zombiesbegin to rise out of their caskets as Vincent Price performs his soliloquy. The zombies corner Michael and his date threateningly, and suddenly, Michael becomes a zombie himself. The zombies then break into an elaborate song and dance number,[39]followed by the main chorus of "Thriller" (during which Michael was reverted to human form), frightening his date to the point where she runs for cover.
Michael (turned back into a zombie) and his fellow corpses then back the frightened girl into the corner of a nearby abandoned house. Michael then reaches for his date's throat as she lets out a bloodcurdling scream, only to awake and realize it was all a dream. Michael then offers to take her home, and she happily obliges. As they walk out of the house, Michael eerily looks at the camera, thus revealing his yellow werewolf eyes, as we hear Vincent Price's haunting laugh.[39]
Reception[edit]
Leah Greenblatt of Entertainment Weeklycommented on the music video, "Every aspect of the 14-minute horror musical, directed with creepy-comical zest by John Landis, is beyond iconic, from Michael's red leather ensemble to the immortal (no pun) herky-jerky zombie dance and bwah-ha-ha Vincent Price narration."[45]Though the video was met with widespread praise, it was also criticized for its content. In 1984, the National Coalition on Television Violence (NCTV) classified more than half of 200 MTV music videos surveyed as "too violent". Both "Thriller" and Jackson's duet with Paul McCartney, "Say, Say, Say" made the list.[2]The Los Angeles Timesquoted Dr. Thomas Radecki, chairman of the NCTV, as saying, "It's not hard to imagine young viewers after seeing 'Thriller' saying, 'Gee, if Michael Jackson can terrorize his girlfriend, why can't I do it too?'[2]
The music video was nominated for six awards at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards, winning three out of six of the nominations.[46]"Thriller" won Viewers Choice, Best Overall Performanceand Best Choreography—but lost Best Concept Video, Best Male Videoand Video of the Year.[46]
The music video was listed as the "Greatest Video" on VH1's "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos" in 2001.[47]MTV listed the music video as being the "Greatest Music Video Ever Made" on their list, "MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" in 1999.[48]In July 2011, the music video was named one of "The 30 All-TIME Best Music Videos" by TIMEmagazine.[49]
Live performances[edit]
Jackson performed "Thriller" on all three of his solo world concert tours. From the Dangerous Touronwards, half the song was always performed by a masked backup dancer as Jackson prepared for his next song as part of a stage illusion. Despite Jackson performing multiple songs from his Thrilleralbum, "Thriller" was not included on The Jacksonsset list during their Victory Tourin 1984, as Michael Jackson was not satisfied with the way the song sounded live.
Jackson performed "Thriller" during his first world tour as a solo artist, the Badworld tour, lasting sixteen months, from 1987 to 1989, for a total of 123 shows.[50]During the Bad tour, in both legs, the jacket had flashing lights in the middle of the song and at the end. An impersonator was only used for the introduction of the song; a masked dancer emerges from the costume tent at the side of the stage, and goes back in hiding while Jackson himself, also masked at first, swings down from a rope on the other side of the stage before taking off his mask.
"Thriller" was also performed during Jackson's second world tour, the Dangerous Tour, where stage illusions were used to transition between "Thriller" and "Billie Jean". In the middle of "Thriller", Jackson secretly switched places with a masked backup dancer who finishes the song appearing as Jackson prepares for Billie Jean. When the song ends, Jackson appears fully dressed on the upper floor as "Billie Jean" begins.
Jackson performed "Thriller"[51]for all of his 82 shows during his third, and final, world tour, the HIStory World Tour. Once again, a masked dancer posing as Jackson was used as a stage illusion, this time to the transition between "Thriller" and "Beat It". As with the Dangerous tour, Jackson switches with the background dancer in the middle of the song. At the end of Thriller, the masked dancer is taken by the zombie dancers into a coffin where it appears he is impaled with spikes and burned. Jackson would appear at the side of the stage in a cherry-picker, starting off "Beat It".
Jackson had planned to perform "Thriller" during his 50-show concert series, which would have been his fourth concert tour, entitled This Is Itfrom 2009 to 2010.[52][53]For Jackson's performance of the song, he had planned for the stage that he was to perform on to be set up with a background that looked like a "graveyard" (which was a brief setting in the music video) with 3-D effects.[53][54][55]According to a setlist that was released in March 2009, "Thriller" was to close out the 16-song show,[56]although the film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which documents the concert series, lists 18 songs and "Man in the Mirror" as the closing song for the planned shows.[57][58][59]
Live versions of the song are available on the DVDs Live at Wembley July 16, 1988and Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour.
Cover versions[edit]
1980sIn 1984, English comedian Lenny Henryrecorded a spoof video of Thriller, entitled "Thinner".
In 1989, American composer Henry Manciniand The Royal Philharmonic Orchestrarecorded an orchestral version of the song.[60]
2000sIn 2000, British death metalband Ten Masked Mencovered the song on their album Return of the Ten Masked Men.[60]
In 2001, American-born Australian singer Joe Dolcecovered the song on a compilation album, Andrew Denton's Musical Challenge.[60]
In 2003, Scottish rockband Aereogrammerecorded "Thriller" for their Livers & Lungs EP.[60]
In 2003, German a cappellagroup Maybebop covered the song for their album Heiße Luft.[61]
In 2004, English electronic music group The Prodigysampled "Thriller" on their The Way It Is.[62]
In 2007, Ian Browncovered "Thriller".[63]Amos Barshad and Nick Catucci, of NYMag.com, commented that "before you dismiss" the song, if you "give it a listen", Brown’s "louche, drugged-out reinvention is actually pretty great."[63][64]
In 2008, German group Wise Guysrecorded an a cappella version of the song as "Schiller" for their tenth album Frei!. The stage choreography based on Michael Jackson's music videoand member Ferenc also recites a part of Friedrich Schiller's Die Bürgschaft.[65]
In 2008, "Thriller" was also covered by Ben Gibbard, lead singer of Death Cab for Cutieand The Postal Service.[66]
In 2008, industrial metal band Gothministercovered Jackson's song for their album Happiness in Darkness.[60]
In October 2009, Imogen Heapcovered "Thriller" for BBC Radio 1Live Lounge.[67]
2010sIn 2011, Patrick Stumpcovered the song in an a cappellamash-up tribute along with several other Michael Jackson songs over pre-recorded backing vocals.[68]
In 2012, Italian jazz trumpeter Enrico Ravareleased a version on his tribute album Rava on the Dance Floor.
In 2013, Jiordan Tollicovered an stripped-down slower version of song for fifth seasonof The X Factor Australiaduring week two. The cover was released as an single on September 3, 2013.[69]Tolli's performance of "Thriller" debuted at number 63 on the ARIA Singles Chart.[70]
In 2014 and 2015, Demi Lovatocovered the song on her Demi World Tour. This version included a remixed dancing at the end, which Lovato would dance to with fellow background dancers.[71]
Appearances in other media[edit]
Michael Jackson's Thrillermusic video, particularly the songs dance routine in the video, have been referenced in television series and films including Donga(1985), Coming to America(1988), The Malibu Beach Vampires(1991), South Park(1997), Dead & Breakfast(2004), 13 Going on 30(2004), Bo! in the USA(2006).[72][better source needed]
The Chemical Brotherssaid in a January 2002 interview that if their song "My Elastic Eye" is played on large speakers, the bass would resemble "Thriller".[73]
In 2011, the cast of American musical TV series Gleeperformed "Thriller" as a mash up with "Heads Will Roll" by Yeah Yeah Yeahsin episode "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle".[74][75]
Pop singer Britney Spearsmade a reference to "Thriller" in her music video for "I Wanna Go" (2011). In the ending of her video actor Guillermo Díazleads Spears out of the room. He then turns to the camera with glowing red eyes and his laugh is heard, similar to Vincent Price.[76]
Personnel[edit]
Written and composed by Rod Temperton
Produced by Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson: Solo and background vocals Featuring: Narration by Vincent Price(Not featured on original edited single version)
Greg Phillinganes, Rod Temperton & Brian Banks: Synthesizers
Anthony Marinelli: Synthesizer programming
David Williams: Guitar
 Jerry Hey, Gary Grant: Trumpets, flugelhorns
Larry Williams: Saxophone, flute
Bill Reichenbach: Trombone
Vocal, rhythm and synthesizer arrangement by Rod Temperton
Horn arrangement by Jerry Hey
Effects by Bruce Cannon and Bruce Swedien

Charts and certifications[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart (1983-1984)
Peak
position

Australia (Kent Music Report)[77] 4
Belgian VRT Top 30[28] 1
Canadian RPMTop Singles[78] 3
France (SNEP)[27] 1
Germany (Official German Charts)[79] 9
Irish Singles Chart[80] 30
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[81] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[82] 6
Spain (PROMUSICAE) 1
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 10
US BillboardHot 100[18][20] 4
US BillboardHot Adult Contemporary[18] 1
US BillboardHot Black Singles[18][25] 1
US BillboardHot Dance Club Play[18] 1


Chart (2005)
Peak
position
U.S. BillboardHot Digital Songs[18] 1

Chart (2006)
Peak
position

France (SNEP)[83] 35
Germany (Media Control Charts)[34] 9
Irish Singles Chart[80] 8
Italy (FIMI)[32] 5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[84] 34
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[34] 1
Swiss (Swiss Hitparade)[34] 3

Chart (2007)
Peak
position

Hot Canadian Digital Singles[18] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 20
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 57


Chart (2008)
Peak
position

Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[86] 55
Norway (VG-lista)[87] 13
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 53
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 35


Chart (2009)
Peak
position

Australia (ARIA)[89] 3
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[86] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Back Catalogue SinglesFlanders)[90] 3
Belgium (Ultratop 30 Back Catalogue SinglesWallonia)[91] 2
Denmark (Tracklisten)[35] 25
European Hot 100 Singles[92] 16
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[36] 11
France (SNEP)[93] 3
Irish Singles Chart[34] 8
Italy (FIMI)[32] 2
Japan Singles Top 100 (Oricon)[34] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[84] 9
New Zealand (RIANZ)[34] 12
Norway (VG-lista)[87] 7
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[94] 10
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 3
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 12
US BillboardHot RingMasters[18] 1

Chart (2010)
Peak
position

Spain (PROMUSICAE)[85] 12
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[88] 68
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 68


Chart (2012)
Peak
position

France (SNEP)[83] 143
Irish Singles Chart[80] 30
Japan Hot 100Singles[18] 93
UK (Official Charts Company)[26] 49
US BillboardHot Digital Songs[18] 2
US BillboardHot RingMasters[18] 1


Chart (2014)
Peak
position

US BillboardHot 100[95] 35

Sales and certifications[edit]

Region
Certification
Sales/shipments


Australia (ARIA)[96]
2× Platinum 140,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[97]
Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[98]
Platinum 975,000[99]
Italy (FIMI)[100]
Platinum 50,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[101]
Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[102]
Gold 500,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[103]
Platinum (physical)
Gold (digital)
Gold (MT) 1,000,000 (physical)
3,600,000[23]
500,000 (ringtone)
*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone


Track listing[edit]
7" single'[104]
1."Thriller" (special edit) – 4:37
2."Things I Do for You" (live) – 3:31
7" single[104]
1."Thriller" – 5:57
2."Thriller" (instrumental) – 5:57
12" maxi[104]
1."Thriller" – 5:57
2."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:05
3."Things I Do for You" (live) – 3:31
 Mini CD single (Japan 1988 Bad tour)[105]
1."Thriller" - 4:08
2."Human Nature" - 3:47
CD single[104]
1."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:08
2."Can't Get Outta the Rain" – 4:09
DualDisc single[104]
CD side
1."Thriller" (remixed short version) – 4:09
2."Thriller" (album version) – 5:58
DVD side
1.Michael Jackson's Thriller– 13:40

See also[edit]

Portal icon Michael Jackson portal
List of best-selling singles
List of best-selling singles in the United States
List of most expensive music videos
"Michael Jackson's Thriller"
Thriller (viral video)
Thrill the World
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73.Jump up ^"The Chemical Brothers - Remix Article". Planet Dust. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
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76.Jump up ^"Britney Spears' 'I Wanna Go': A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet". MTV.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
77.Jump up ^Kent, David (2003). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
78.Jump up ^"Top Singles – Volume 40, No. 1, March 10, 1984". RPM. Retrieved August 3,2010.
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83.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_France_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
84.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Dutch100_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
85.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Spain_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
86.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Austria_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
87.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Norway_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
88.Jump up ^Cite error: The named reference sc_Swiss_Michael_Jacksonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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92.Jump up ^"Michael Jackson Album & Song Chart History". Billboard.com. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved October 29,2011.
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102.Jump up ^"British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Thriller". British Phonographic Industry.EnterThriller in the fieldKeywords. SelectTitle in the fieldSearch by. Selectsingle in the fieldBy Format. SelectGold in the fieldBy Award. ClickSearch
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Bibliography
Brooks, Darren (2002). Michael Jackson: An Exceptional Journey. Chrome Dreams. ISBN 1-84240-178-5.
George, Nelson(2004). Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collectionbooklet. Sony BMG.
Grant, Adrian (2009). Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-84938-261-8.
Jones, Jel (2005). Michael Jackson, the King of Pop: The Big Picture: the Music! the Man! the Legend! the Interviews!. Amber Books Publishing. ISBN 0-9749779-0-X.
Taraborrelli, J. Randy(2004). The Magic and the Madness. Terra Alta, WV: Headline. ISBN 0-330-42005-4.
Halstead, Craig(2003). Michael Jackson The Solo Years. On-Line Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7552-0091-7.
External links[edit]
Michael Jackson - Thrilleron YouTube
Full lyrics of this songat MetroLyrics


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Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)

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Michael Jackson's Thriller
Michael Jackson's Thriller title card.jpg
Title card used in the video

Directed by
John Landis
Produced by
George Folsey, Jr.
Michael Jackson
 John Landis
Written by
John Landis
 Michael Jackson
Starring
Michael Jackson
Ola Ray
Vincent Price
Music by
Michael Jackson
Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography
Robert Paynter, B.S.C.
Edited by
Malcolm Campbell
 George Folsey, Jr.

Production
 company

MJJ Productions
Optimum Productions

Distributed by
Epic Records
Vestron Video

Release dates
 December 2, 1983

Running time
 13:43
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$500,000[1]
Sales:
 9 million units

Music video
"Thriller" on YouTube
Michael Jackson's Thriller is an American 13-minute music video for the song of the same name released on December 2, 1983. It was directed by John Landis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Jackson.
It was MTV's first world premiere video. Voted as the most influential pop music video of all time,[2] Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture,[3][4] and was named "a watershed moment for the [music] industry"[2] for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music. Guinness World Records listed it in 2006 as the "most successful music video", selling over nine million copies.[5] In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.[6] The track was also listed at number one on "The Top 10 Halloween Songs" by Billboard.[7]
Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It"), and Michael Jackson. The video also contains incidental music by film music composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. The video (like the song) contains a spoken word performance by horror film veteran Vincent Price. Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and makeup for the production. "Thriller" was the third and final video for the Thriller album. The red jacket that Jackson wore was designed by John Landis' wife Deborah Landis to make him appear more "virile".[8]
To qualify for an Academy Award as a short subject, the film was shown in a theatrical screening along with the 1940 Disney animated feature Fantasia, in December 1983; however, the video failed to earn an Academy Award nomination.[9]


Contents  [hide]
1 Content
2 Credits
3 Awards 3.1 Grammy Award
3.2 MTV Award
4 Origins 4.1 Filming locations
4.2 Behind the scenes
5 Horror themes
6 Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
7 Broadway and litigation
8 Legacy
9 See also
10 Sources
11 References
12 External links

Content[edit]



 Michael Jackson dancing with the living dead.
Due to Jackson being a Jehovah's Witness at the time, the video begins with a disclaimer that reads:

Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult
—Michael Jackson
On a night set in the 1950s, a teenaged Michael and his unnamed girlfriend (Ola Ray), run out of gas while driving in a wooded area. They walk into the forest as they leave the car behind and Michael asks her to be his girlfriend. She accepts and he gives her a ring. However, he then tells her that he is "different" than other guys. She tells him that's the reason she likes him, but Michael insists that she doesn't understand what he means as his girlfriend asks what's he talking about. A full moon appears, and Michael begins transforming into a werecat,[2] growling at her to leave in the process. The girl shrieks and runs away, but the werecat catches up, knocks her down, lunges at her with his claws, and kills her (off-screen).
The scene then cuts to a movie theater where Michael and his unnamed girlfriend, along with an excitable audience, are actually watching the scene unfold in a Vincent Price horror movie titled "Thriller". Afraid, Michael's girlfriend leaves the theater. Michael hands his popcorn to another moviegoer, catches up to her, and tells her that, "It's only a movie." Some debate follows as to whether or not she was scared by the movie; she denies it, but Michael disagrees. They then walk down a foggy road as Michael teases her by singing the verses of "Thriller". They pass a nearby graveyard, in which the undead begin to rise out of their graves as Vincent Price's speech is heard.
The zombies corner the two main characters threateningly, and suddenly, Michael becomes a zombie himself. The zombies then break into an elaborate song and dance number, followed by the main chorus of "Thriller" (during which Michael reverts to human form), frightening his date to the point where she runs for cover.
Michael (who has turned back into a zombie) and his fellow corpses chase the frightened girl into the room of a nearby abandoned house. While being cornered, Michael then reaches for the girl's throat as she lets out a bloodcurdling shriek, only to awake and realize it was all a nightmare. Michael then offers to take her home, and she happily accepts. As they walk out of the house, Michael turns to the camera with a sinister grin, revealing his yellow werecat eyes from the opening scene, as Vincent Price offers one last echoing laugh. As the credits are shown a reprise scene is shown and at the end of the credits the zombies dance back to their graves as a disclaimer appears saying that "Any similarity to actual events or persons living, dead, (or undead) is purely coincidental", the same disclaimer that appeared in An American Werewolf in London also directed by Landis. After that, one of the zombies gives a terrifying grimace as it fades to black.
Credits[edit]
Directed by: John Landis
Produced by: George Folsey, Jr., Michael Jackson & John Landis
Written by: John Landis & Michael Jackson
Starring: Michael Jackson
Co-starring: Ola Ray
Director of Photography: Robert Paynter, B.S.C.
Special Make-up Effects Designed & Created by: Rick Baker & EFX, Inc.
Choreography: Michael Peters & Michael Jackson
Edited by: Malcolm Campbell & George Folsey, Jr.
Art Director: Charles Hughes
Costume Designed by: Kelly Kimball & Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Production Manager: Dan Allingham
First Assistant Director: David Sosna
Scary Music by: Elmer Bernstein
ThrillerPerformed by: Michael Jackson
Featuring 'Rap' by: Vincent Price
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Written by: Rod Temperton
Recorded & Mixed by: Bruce Swedien
Available Now on CD & Cassette from Epic Records
Awards[edit]
In December 2009, it was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress along with 24 other films.[10] It was the first, ever (and to this day, only) music video to be selected.[11] The Registry titled Thriller as “the most famous music video of all time”.[12] The coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, said “The time is right” for Thriller to be included, because of the death of Jackson that year.[11]
Grammy Award[edit]

Year
Category
Result
Notes
1985 Best Video, Long Form Won "Thriller"
1984 Best Video Album Won Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
MTV Award[edit]

Year
Category
Result
1999 100 Greatest Music Videos of all Time [13] Won
1984 Best Overall Performance in a Video Won
1984 Best Choreography (Michael Peters) Won
1984 Viewer's Choice Won
Origins[edit]
In the summer of 1983, Thriller had begun to decline in sales. Walter Yetnikoff and Larry Stessel answered calls throughout the night from Jackson. "Walter, the record isn’t No. 1 anymore," Yetnikoff recalls Jackson saying. "What are we going to do about it?" 'We’re going to go to sleep and deal with it tomorrow,'" Yetnikoff remembered answering. Jackson manager Frank DiLeo first mentioned the idea of making a third video, and pressed Jackson to consider the album’s title track. "It’s simple—all you’ve got to do is dance, sing, and make it scary," DiLeo recalls telling Jackson.[14]
In early August, John Landis was contacted by Jackson to direct. At the time, commercial motion-picture directors did not direct music videos, but Landis was intrigued.[14]
Filming locations[edit]
The music video was filmed at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the zombie dance sequence at the junction of Union Pacific Avenue and South Calzona Street in East Los Angeles and the final house scene in the Angeleno Heights neighborhood at 1345 Carroll Avenue. All principal photography was done in mid-October 1983.[15]
Behind the scenes[edit]
In an interview that aired December 11, 1999, for MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made, Jackson spoke about the making of the video:

My idea was to make this short film with conversation ... in the beginning - I like having a beginning and a middle and an ending, which would follow a story. I'm very much involved in complete making and creating of the piece. It has to be, you know, my soul. Usually, you know, it's an interpretation of the music. It was a delicate thing to work on because I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I said, 'We have to do just the right kind of movement so it doesn't become something that you laugh at.' But it just has to take it to another level. So I got in a room with [choreographer] Michael Peters, and he and I together kind of imagined how these zombies move by making faces in the mirror. I used to come to rehearsal sometimes with monster makeup on, and I loved doing that. So he and I collaborated and we both choreographed the piece and I thought it should start like that kind of thing and go into this jazzy kind of step, you know. Kind of gruesome things like that, not too much ballet or whatever.
—Michael Jackson[16]
Horror themes[edit]
According to Kobena Mercer, "the video is strewn with allusions to horror films".[17] The opening scene is a parody of 1950s B movie horror films, with the characters dressed in the fashions of 1950s teenagers. The metamorphosis of the polite 'boy next door' into a werewolf can be seen as a depiction of male sexuality. A sexuality that is depicted as naturally bestial, predatory, aggressive, violent and therefore monstrous.[17] Mercer perceived similarities with the werewolf depiction in The Company of Wolves (1984).[17]
The second metamorphosis of the video has Michael becoming a zombie. It serves as an introduction to a dance sequence which features dancing ghouls, corresponding to a song lyric mentioning a masquerade ball of the dead.[18] The scene calls attention to the macabre make-up of the ghouls. Jackson's own make-up casts "a ghostly pallor" over his skin and emphasizes the outline of his skull. The image itself serves as an allusion to the mask from The Phantom of the Opera (1925).[18]
According to Peter Dendle the zombie invasion sequence of the film is inspired by Night of the Living Dead (1968). The film manages to treat the sequence with enough seriousness to capture the feelings of claustrophobia and helplessness which are essential to the subgenre of zombie films.[19]
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller[edit]



 The Palace Theatre is featured in the music video.
Released in tandem with the video was an hour-long documentary providing candid glimpses behind the scenes of the production. Called Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, it, too, was shown heavily on MTV for a time and was the top-selling home-video release of all time at one point, with over 9 million copies sold. The VHS also included video clips from the songs "Can You Feel It", "Beat It", and the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean" as well as audio clips from Jackson's songs "Off the Wall" and "Workin' Day and Night".
MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtime paid $300,000 for pay-cable rights; and Vestron Music Video reportedly put down an additional $500,000 to market the cassette, in "a profit participation."[20]
Rick Baker expected to have a few weeks to do the special effects make up for the zombies (which usually requires impressions to be taken of the actors face to base the prosthetics on) only to find out the dancers would not be cast until a few days before shooting began. It was decided to do generic make up for the dancers (using a combination of precast prosthetics) while members of Baker's crew in the more elaborate make up for shots that featured more closeups (like the zombie coming out of the manhole)
Broadway and litigation[edit]
In 2009, Jackson sold the rights of "Thriller" to the Nederlander Organization, to stage a Broadway musical based on the video.
Jackson was sued by Landis in a dispute over royalties for the video; Landis claims that he is owed four years worth of royalties.[21][22]
Ola Ray has also complained about difficulties collecting royalties. At first, Ray blamed Jackson, but then she apologized to him in 1997. However, Ray did sue Jackson on May 6, 2009 in a dispute to obtain uncollected royalties.[23] less than two months before Jackson's death on June 25. Eventually the Jackson Family Trust settled.[24]
Legacy[edit]



 Participants of the 2008 Thrill the World event in Austin, Texas.
Following the success of the "Thriller" video, a Hollywood production company reportedly began serious work on trying to turn Jackson's song "Billie Jean", which is also featured on Jackson's Thriller album, into a feature film, but no plans were ever completed.[25] Vinny Marino of ABC News commented that "Thriller"'s music video being selected as the "Greatest Video of All Time" was a "no-brainer" and remarked that, "Michael Jackson's "Thriller" continues to be considered the greatest video ever by just about everyone."[26] Gil Kaufman of MTV described the "Thriller" video as being "iconic" and felt that it was one of Jackson's "most enduring legacies".[27] Kaufman also noted that the music video was the "mini-movie that revolutionized music videos" and "cemented Jackson's status as one of the most ambitious, innovative pop stars of all time".[27] Steve Peake, of About.com, listed "Thriller" as being Jackson's eighth best song of the 1980s.[28] Patrick Kevin Day and Todd Martens, of The Los Angeles Times commented that,

"Thriller's" phenomenal success led to a breaking down of traditional racial barriers on FM radio at the time. New York's WPLJ, a "white" station, played Jackson's "Beat It" because of Eddie Van Halen's appearance on it. The song caused a wave of protests from some listeners who didn't want "black" music on their station. MTV also had a reputation for favoring white performers at the time, and its heavy rotation of Jackson videos helped alleviate the criticism.[25]
Leaders in Michael Jackson's religion were not so pleased, by contrast. In spite of his disclaimer at the beginning of the video, Jackson made a public "apology" in the pages of the Awake! magazine by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. " 'I would never do it again!” says Jackson. “I just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad. I want to do what’s right. I would never do anything like that again.” Why not? “Because a lot of people were offended by it,” explains Jackson. “That makes me feel bad. I don’t want them to feel that way. I realize now that it wasn’t a good idea. I’ll never do a video like that again!” He continues: “In fact, I have blocked further distribution of the film over which I have control, including its release in some other countries. There’s all kinds of promotional stuff being proposed on Thriller. But I tell them, ‘No, no, no. I don’t want to do anything on Thriller. No more Thriller.’ ”[29]
In December 2009, the music video for "Thriller" was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, "Thriller" is the first music video to ever be inducted.[30] The Registry explained, "because of the way the recording industry is evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift, which was the development of the music video"[27] and described the music video as being "the most famous music video of all time".[31] The coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, noted that the music video was considered for induction for years, but was chosen mainly due to Jackson's death that year.[32] In a poll conducted by Myspace in 2010, which asked over one thousand users on their site to name the most influential music video of all time from a list of twenty videos selected by music and entertainment critics, Michael Jackson's Thriller was voted the most influential video.[33]
In 2002 Lexington, Kentucky, became the first city to launch a "Thriller" reenactment as a Halloween festivity. The video’s storyline and dance sequences were faithfully recreated, beginning outside the historic Kentucky Theater and featuring hundreds of zombies who attend rehearsals at nearby Mecca Live Studio in the weeks leading up to the parade. Lexington’s 10th annual Thriller Parade was sponsored by Lexington Parks and Recreation, Mecca, and WRFL FM 88.1, and took place on October 30, 2011 for an audience of thousands, with Albert Ignacio playing the role of Michael Jackson.[34] Lexington’s March Madness Marching Band also performed in zombie attire.
See also[edit]
Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket
List of most expensive music videos
Return of the Living Dead Part II, the film features a dancing zombie resembling Michael Jackson from this video.
Thriller viral video featuring the CPDRC Dancing Inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, in the Cebu Province of the Philippines
Donga, the "Indian Thriller" internet meme
Thrill the World
Lenny Henry, Lenny made a spoof of the "Thriller" video, called "Thinner" in 1984.
Sources[edit]
Dendle, Peter (2001), "Thriller", The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0786455201
Mercer, Kobena, "Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson's Thriller", in Gledhill, Christine, Stardom: Industry of Desire, Psychology Press, ISBN 978-0415052177
Mercer, Kobena (2005), "Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson's Thriller", in Frith, Simon; Goodwin, Andrew; Grossberg, Larence, Sound and Vision: The Music Video Reader, Routledge, ISBN 978-1134869237
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Director: Funds for "Thriller" almost didn't appear".
2.^ Jump up to: a b c Celizic, Mike (April 26, 2008). "'Thriller' still a classic after 25 years - TODAY Entertainment - TODAYshow.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
3.Jump up ^ "Sharon Stone | 50 Pop-Culture Moments That Rocked Fashion: The Top 25 | Photo 21 of 25". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
4.Jump up ^ "A farewell to Michael Jackson". Manchester Evening News. June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
5.Jump up ^ Guinness World Records (2006)
6.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson, the Muppets and Early Cinema Tapped for Preservation in 2009 Library of Congress National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
7.Jump up ^ Trust, Gary; Letkemann, Jessica (October 15, 2013). "The Top 10 Halloween Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
8.Jump up ^ Lauren Goode (June 30, 2009). "Deborah Landis, Designer of the Red Jacket Michael Jackson Wore in "Thriller"". Wall Street Journal (Speakeasy). Retrieved July 4, 2009. "At the time, she says, the 25-year-old Jackson weighed only 99 lbs, with a 26-inch waist (“exactly the same height and weight as Fred Astaire”), and one of the challenges she faced was making the performer appear more “virile.”"
9.Jump up ^ "'Thriller' teams with Disney". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 27, 1984. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
10.Jump up ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (December 30, 2009). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
11.^ Jump up to: a b "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. December 31, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
12.Jump up ^ Itzkoff, Dave (December 30, 2009). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
13.Jump up ^ MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made
14.^ Jump up to: a b Griffin, Nancy (July 2010). "The "Thriller" Diaries". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
15.Jump up ^ http://s12.postimg.org/3qxf19op9/image.jpg
16.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: Global Superstar (1982-86)". VH1. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
17.^ Jump up to: a b c Mercer (2005), p. 85-89
18.^ Jump up to: a b Mercer (1991), p. 316-317
19.Jump up ^ Dendle (2001), p. 171
20.Jump up ^ Jay Cocks; Denise Worrell;Peter Ainslie; Adam Zagorin (December 26, 1982). "Sing a Song of Seeing". Time (magazine). Retrieved November 15, 2009.
21.Jump up ^ Grossberg, Josh (January 27, 2009). "A Legal Thriller: Michael Jackson Sued by John Landis". E! Online. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
22.Jump up ^ Michael Jackson sued by 'Thriller' director
23.Jump up ^ Dillon, Nancy (May 5, 2009). "Gloves are off! 'Thriller' co-star Ola Ray sues Michael Jackson for royalties,". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
24.Jump up ^ latimes.com
25.^ Jump up to: a b Patrick Kevin Day, Todd Martens (February 18, 2008). "25 'Thriller' facts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
26.Jump up ^ Vinny Marino (May 2, 2001). "VH1 Names '100 Greatest Videos of All Time'". ABCNews.com. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
27.^ Jump up to: a b c Gil Kaufman (December 30, 2009). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Added To National Film Registry". MTV.com. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
28.Jump up ^ Steve Peake. "Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs of the '80s". 80Music.about.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
29.Jump up ^ Author Unknown (May 22, 1984). "Young People Ask..."What About Music Videos?"". Awake! (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society).
30.Jump up ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (December 30, 2009). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
31.Jump up ^ Dave Itzkoff (December 30, 2009). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). Retrieved 2010-01-23.
32.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. December 31, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
33.Jump up ^ "‘Thriller’ voted most influential pop video". MSNBC. May 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
34.Jump up ^ http://www.kentucky.com/2009/10/30/997818/its-thriller-time-if-you-want.html
External links[edit]
Thriller at the Internet Movie Database
Michael Jackson's Thriller at AllMovie
"Thriller" official music video on YouTube


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Michael Jackson's Thriller (music video)

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Jump to: navigation, search


Michael Jackson's Thriller
Michael Jackson's Thriller title card.jpg
Title card used in the video

Directed by
John Landis
Produced by
George Folsey, Jr.
Michael Jackson
 John Landis
Written by
John Landis
 Michael Jackson
Starring
Michael Jackson
Ola Ray
Vincent Price
Music by
Michael Jackson
Elmer Bernstein
Cinematography
Robert Paynter, B.S.C.
Edited by
Malcolm Campbell
 George Folsey, Jr.

Production
 company

MJJ Productions
Optimum Productions

Distributed by
Epic Records
Vestron Video

Release dates
 December 2, 1983

Running time
 13:43
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$500,000[1]
Sales:
 9 million units

Music video
"Thriller" on YouTube
Michael Jackson's Thriller is an American 13-minute music video for the song of the same name released on December 2, 1983. It was directed by John Landis, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Michael Jackson.
It was MTV's first world premiere video. Voted as the most influential pop music video of all time,[2] Thriller proved to have a profound effect on popular culture,[3][4] and was named "a watershed moment for the [music] industry"[2] for its unprecedented merging of filmmaking and music. Guinness World Records listed it in 2006 as the "most successful music video", selling over nine million copies.[5] In 2009, the video was inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant.[6] The track was also listed at number one on "The Top 10 Halloween Songs" by Billboard.[7]
Co-starring with Jackson was former Playboy centerfold Ola Ray. The video was choreographed by Michael Peters (who had worked with the singer on his prior hit "Beat It"), and Michael Jackson. The video also contains incidental music by film music composer Elmer Bernstein, who had previously worked with Landis on An American Werewolf in London. The video (like the song) contains a spoken word performance by horror film veteran Vincent Price. Rick Baker assisted in prosthetics and makeup for the production. "Thriller" was the third and final video for the Thriller album. The red jacket that Jackson wore was designed by John Landis' wife Deborah Landis to make him appear more "virile".[8]
To qualify for an Academy Award as a short subject, the film was shown in a theatrical screening along with the 1940 Disney animated feature Fantasia, in December 1983; however, the video failed to earn an Academy Award nomination.[9]


Contents  [hide]
1 Content
2 Credits
3 Awards 3.1 Grammy Award
3.2 MTV Award
4 Origins 4.1 Filming locations
4.2 Behind the scenes
5 Horror themes
6 Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
7 Broadway and litigation
8 Legacy
9 See also
10 Sources
11 References
12 External links

Content[edit]



 Michael Jackson dancing with the living dead.
Due to Jackson being a Jehovah's Witness at the time, the video begins with a disclaimer that reads:

Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult
—Michael Jackson
On a night set in the 1950s, a teenaged Michael and his unnamed girlfriend (Ola Ray), run out of gas while driving in a wooded area. They walk into the forest as they leave the car behind and Michael asks her to be his girlfriend. She accepts and he gives her a ring. However, he then tells her that he is "different" than other guys. She tells him that's the reason she likes him, but Michael insists that she doesn't understand what he means as his girlfriend asks what's he talking about. A full moon appears, and Michael begins transforming into a werecat,[2] growling at her to leave in the process. The girl shrieks and runs away, but the werecat catches up, knocks her down, lunges at her with his claws, and kills her (off-screen).
The scene then cuts to a movie theater where Michael and his unnamed girlfriend, along with an excitable audience, are actually watching the scene unfold in a Vincent Price horror movie titled "Thriller". Afraid, Michael's girlfriend leaves the theater. Michael hands his popcorn to another moviegoer, catches up to her, and tells her that, "It's only a movie." Some debate follows as to whether or not she was scared by the movie; she denies it, but Michael disagrees. They then walk down a foggy road as Michael teases her by singing the verses of "Thriller". They pass a nearby graveyard, in which the undead begin to rise out of their graves as Vincent Price's speech is heard.
The zombies corner the two main characters threateningly, and suddenly, Michael becomes a zombie himself. The zombies then break into an elaborate song and dance number, followed by the main chorus of "Thriller" (during which Michael reverts to human form), frightening his date to the point where she runs for cover.
Michael (who has turned back into a zombie) and his fellow corpses chase the frightened girl into the room of a nearby abandoned house. While being cornered, Michael then reaches for the girl's throat as she lets out a bloodcurdling shriek, only to awake and realize it was all a nightmare. Michael then offers to take her home, and she happily accepts. As they walk out of the house, Michael turns to the camera with a sinister grin, revealing his yellow werecat eyes from the opening scene, as Vincent Price offers one last echoing laugh. As the credits are shown a reprise scene is shown and at the end of the credits the zombies dance back to their graves as a disclaimer appears saying that "Any similarity to actual events or persons living, dead, (or undead) is purely coincidental", the same disclaimer that appeared in An American Werewolf in London also directed by Landis. After that, one of the zombies gives a terrifying grimace as it fades to black.
Credits[edit]
Directed by: John Landis
Produced by: George Folsey, Jr., Michael Jackson & John Landis
Written by: John Landis & Michael Jackson
Starring: Michael Jackson
Co-starring: Ola Ray
Director of Photography: Robert Paynter, B.S.C.
Special Make-up Effects Designed & Created by: Rick Baker & EFX, Inc.
Choreography: Michael Peters & Michael Jackson
Edited by: Malcolm Campbell & George Folsey, Jr.
Art Director: Charles Hughes
Costume Designed by: Kelly Kimball & Deborah Nadoolman Landis
Production Manager: Dan Allingham
First Assistant Director: David Sosna
Scary Music by: Elmer Bernstein
ThrillerPerformed by: Michael Jackson
Featuring 'Rap' by: Vincent Price
Produced by: Quincy Jones
Written by: Rod Temperton
Recorded & Mixed by: Bruce Swedien
Available Now on CD & Cassette from Epic Records
Awards[edit]
In December 2009, it was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress along with 24 other films.[10] It was the first, ever (and to this day, only) music video to be selected.[11] The Registry titled Thriller as “the most famous music video of all time”.[12] The coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, said “The time is right” for Thriller to be included, because of the death of Jackson that year.[11]
Grammy Award[edit]

Year
Category
Result
Notes
1985 Best Video, Long Form Won "Thriller"
1984 Best Video Album Won Making Michael Jackson's Thriller
MTV Award[edit]

Year
Category
Result
1999 100 Greatest Music Videos of all Time [13] Won
1984 Best Overall Performance in a Video Won
1984 Best Choreography (Michael Peters) Won
1984 Viewer's Choice Won
Origins[edit]
In the summer of 1983, Thriller had begun to decline in sales. Walter Yetnikoff and Larry Stessel answered calls throughout the night from Jackson. "Walter, the record isn’t No. 1 anymore," Yetnikoff recalls Jackson saying. "What are we going to do about it?" 'We’re going to go to sleep and deal with it tomorrow,'" Yetnikoff remembered answering. Jackson manager Frank DiLeo first mentioned the idea of making a third video, and pressed Jackson to consider the album’s title track. "It’s simple—all you’ve got to do is dance, sing, and make it scary," DiLeo recalls telling Jackson.[14]
In early August, John Landis was contacted by Jackson to direct. At the time, commercial motion-picture directors did not direct music videos, but Landis was intrigued.[14]
Filming locations[edit]
The music video was filmed at the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, the zombie dance sequence at the junction of Union Pacific Avenue and South Calzona Street in East Los Angeles and the final house scene in the Angeleno Heights neighborhood at 1345 Carroll Avenue. All principal photography was done in mid-October 1983.[15]
Behind the scenes[edit]
In an interview that aired December 11, 1999, for MTV's 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made, Jackson spoke about the making of the video:

My idea was to make this short film with conversation ... in the beginning - I like having a beginning and a middle and an ending, which would follow a story. I'm very much involved in complete making and creating of the piece. It has to be, you know, my soul. Usually, you know, it's an interpretation of the music. It was a delicate thing to work on because I remember my original approach was, 'How do you make zombies and monsters dance without it being comical?' So I said, 'We have to do just the right kind of movement so it doesn't become something that you laugh at.' But it just has to take it to another level. So I got in a room with [choreographer] Michael Peters, and he and I together kind of imagined how these zombies move by making faces in the mirror. I used to come to rehearsal sometimes with monster makeup on, and I loved doing that. So he and I collaborated and we both choreographed the piece and I thought it should start like that kind of thing and go into this jazzy kind of step, you know. Kind of gruesome things like that, not too much ballet or whatever.
—Michael Jackson[16]
Horror themes[edit]
According to Kobena Mercer, "the video is strewn with allusions to horror films".[17] The opening scene is a parody of 1950s B movie horror films, with the characters dressed in the fashions of 1950s teenagers. The metamorphosis of the polite 'boy next door' into a werewolf can be seen as a depiction of male sexuality. A sexuality that is depicted as naturally bestial, predatory, aggressive, violent and therefore monstrous.[17] Mercer perceived similarities with the werewolf depiction in The Company of Wolves (1984).[17]
The second metamorphosis of the video has Michael becoming a zombie. It serves as an introduction to a dance sequence which features dancing ghouls, corresponding to a song lyric mentioning a masquerade ball of the dead.[18] The scene calls attention to the macabre make-up of the ghouls. Jackson's own make-up casts "a ghostly pallor" over his skin and emphasizes the outline of his skull. The image itself serves as an allusion to the mask from The Phantom of the Opera (1925).[18]
According to Peter Dendle the zombie invasion sequence of the film is inspired by Night of the Living Dead (1968). The film manages to treat the sequence with enough seriousness to capture the feelings of claustrophobia and helplessness which are essential to the subgenre of zombie films.[19]
Making Michael Jackson's Thriller[edit]



 The Palace Theatre is featured in the music video.
Released in tandem with the video was an hour-long documentary providing candid glimpses behind the scenes of the production. Called Making Michael Jackson's Thriller, it, too, was shown heavily on MTV for a time and was the top-selling home-video release of all time at one point, with over 9 million copies sold. The VHS also included video clips from the songs "Can You Feel It", "Beat It", and the Motown 25 performance of "Billie Jean" as well as audio clips from Jackson's songs "Off the Wall" and "Workin' Day and Night".
MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtime paid $300,000 for pay-cable rights; and Vestron Music Video reportedly put down an additional $500,000 to market the cassette, in "a profit participation."[20]
Rick Baker expected to have a few weeks to do the special effects make up for the zombies (which usually requires impressions to be taken of the actors face to base the prosthetics on) only to find out the dancers would not be cast until a few days before shooting began. It was decided to do generic make up for the dancers (using a combination of precast prosthetics) while members of Baker's crew in the more elaborate make up for shots that featured more closeups (like the zombie coming out of the manhole)
Broadway and litigation[edit]
In 2009, Jackson sold the rights of "Thriller" to the Nederlander Organization, to stage a Broadway musical based on the video.
Jackson was sued by Landis in a dispute over royalties for the video; Landis claims that he is owed four years worth of royalties.[21][22]
Ola Ray has also complained about difficulties collecting royalties. At first, Ray blamed Jackson, but then she apologized to him in 1997. However, Ray did sue Jackson on May 6, 2009 in a dispute to obtain uncollected royalties.[23] less than two months before Jackson's death on June 25. Eventually the Jackson Family Trust settled.[24]
Legacy[edit]



 Participants of the 2008 Thrill the World event in Austin, Texas.
Following the success of the "Thriller" video, a Hollywood production company reportedly began serious work on trying to turn Jackson's song "Billie Jean", which is also featured on Jackson's Thriller album, into a feature film, but no plans were ever completed.[25] Vinny Marino of ABC News commented that "Thriller"'s music video being selected as the "Greatest Video of All Time" was a "no-brainer" and remarked that, "Michael Jackson's "Thriller" continues to be considered the greatest video ever by just about everyone."[26] Gil Kaufman of MTV described the "Thriller" video as being "iconic" and felt that it was one of Jackson's "most enduring legacies".[27] Kaufman also noted that the music video was the "mini-movie that revolutionized music videos" and "cemented Jackson's status as one of the most ambitious, innovative pop stars of all time".[27] Steve Peake, of About.com, listed "Thriller" as being Jackson's eighth best song of the 1980s.[28] Patrick Kevin Day and Todd Martens, of The Los Angeles Times commented that,

"Thriller's" phenomenal success led to a breaking down of traditional racial barriers on FM radio at the time. New York's WPLJ, a "white" station, played Jackson's "Beat It" because of Eddie Van Halen's appearance on it. The song caused a wave of protests from some listeners who didn't want "black" music on their station. MTV also had a reputation for favoring white performers at the time, and its heavy rotation of Jackson videos helped alleviate the criticism.[25]
Leaders in Michael Jackson's religion were not so pleased, by contrast. In spite of his disclaimer at the beginning of the video, Jackson made a public "apology" in the pages of the Awake! magazine by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. " 'I would never do it again!” says Jackson. “I just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad. I want to do what’s right. I would never do anything like that again.” Why not? “Because a lot of people were offended by it,” explains Jackson. “That makes me feel bad. I don’t want them to feel that way. I realize now that it wasn’t a good idea. I’ll never do a video like that again!” He continues: “In fact, I have blocked further distribution of the film over which I have control, including its release in some other countries. There’s all kinds of promotional stuff being proposed on Thriller. But I tell them, ‘No, no, no. I don’t want to do anything on Thriller. No more Thriller.’ ”[29]
In December 2009, the music video for "Thriller" was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, "Thriller" is the first music video to ever be inducted.[30] The Registry explained, "because of the way the recording industry is evolving and changing, we thought it would be good to go back to the development of an earlier seismic shift, which was the development of the music video"[27] and described the music video as being "the most famous music video of all time".[31] The coordinator of the National Film Preservation Board, who decides upon candidates for inclusion in the National Film Registry, Steve Legett, noted that the music video was considered for induction for years, but was chosen mainly due to Jackson's death that year.[32] In a poll conducted by Myspace in 2010, which asked over one thousand users on their site to name the most influential music video of all time from a list of twenty videos selected by music and entertainment critics, Michael Jackson's Thriller was voted the most influential video.[33]
In 2002 Lexington, Kentucky, became the first city to launch a "Thriller" reenactment as a Halloween festivity. The video’s storyline and dance sequences were faithfully recreated, beginning outside the historic Kentucky Theater and featuring hundreds of zombies who attend rehearsals at nearby Mecca Live Studio in the weeks leading up to the parade. Lexington’s 10th annual Thriller Parade was sponsored by Lexington Parks and Recreation, Mecca, and WRFL FM 88.1, and took place on October 30, 2011 for an audience of thousands, with Albert Ignacio playing the role of Michael Jackson.[34] Lexington’s March Madness Marching Band also performed in zombie attire.
See also[edit]
Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket
List of most expensive music videos
Return of the Living Dead Part II, the film features a dancing zombie resembling Michael Jackson from this video.
Thriller viral video featuring the CPDRC Dancing Inmates of Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, in the Cebu Province of the Philippines
Donga, the "Indian Thriller" internet meme
Thrill the World
Lenny Henry, Lenny made a spoof of the "Thriller" video, called "Thinner" in 1984.
Sources[edit]
Dendle, Peter (2001), "Thriller", The Zombie Movie Encyclopedia, McFarland & Company, ISBN 978-0786455201
Mercer, Kobena, "Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson's Thriller", in Gledhill, Christine, Stardom: Industry of Desire, Psychology Press, ISBN 978-0415052177
Mercer, Kobena (2005), "Monster Metaphors: Notes on Michael Jackson's Thriller", in Frith, Simon; Goodwin, Andrew; Grossberg, Larence, Sound and Vision: The Music Video Reader, Routledge, ISBN 978-1134869237
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ "Director: Funds for "Thriller" almost didn't appear".
2.^ Jump up to: a b c Celizic, Mike (April 26, 2008). "'Thriller' still a classic after 25 years - TODAY Entertainment - TODAYshow.com". MSNBC. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
3.Jump up ^ "Sharon Stone | 50 Pop-Culture Moments That Rocked Fashion: The Top 25 | Photo 21 of 25". EW.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
4.Jump up ^ "A farewell to Michael Jackson". Manchester Evening News. June 26, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
5.Jump up ^ Guinness World Records (2006)
6.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson, the Muppets and Early Cinema Tapped for Preservation in 2009 Library of Congress National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
7.Jump up ^ Trust, Gary; Letkemann, Jessica (October 15, 2013). "The Top 10 Halloween Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
8.Jump up ^ Lauren Goode (June 30, 2009). "Deborah Landis, Designer of the Red Jacket Michael Jackson Wore in "Thriller"". Wall Street Journal (Speakeasy). Retrieved July 4, 2009. "At the time, she says, the 25-year-old Jackson weighed only 99 lbs, with a 26-inch waist (“exactly the same height and weight as Fred Astaire”), and one of the challenges she faced was making the performer appear more “virile.”"
9.Jump up ^ "'Thriller' teams with Disney". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 27, 1984. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
10.Jump up ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (December 30, 2009). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
11.^ Jump up to: a b "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. December 31, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
12.Jump up ^ Itzkoff, Dave (December 30, 2009). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
13.Jump up ^ MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made
14.^ Jump up to: a b Griffin, Nancy (July 2010). "The "Thriller" Diaries". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
15.Jump up ^ http://s12.postimg.org/3qxf19op9/image.jpg
16.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson's Life & Legacy: Global Superstar (1982-86)". VH1. Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2009.
17.^ Jump up to: a b c Mercer (2005), p. 85-89
18.^ Jump up to: a b Mercer (1991), p. 316-317
19.Jump up ^ Dendle (2001), p. 171
20.Jump up ^ Jay Cocks; Denise Worrell;Peter Ainslie; Adam Zagorin (December 26, 1982). "Sing a Song of Seeing". Time (magazine). Retrieved November 15, 2009.
21.Jump up ^ Grossberg, Josh (January 27, 2009). "A Legal Thriller: Michael Jackson Sued by John Landis". E! Online. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
22.Jump up ^ Michael Jackson sued by 'Thriller' director
23.Jump up ^ Dillon, Nancy (May 5, 2009). "Gloves are off! 'Thriller' co-star Ola Ray sues Michael Jackson for royalties,". New York: Nydailynews.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
24.Jump up ^ latimes.com
25.^ Jump up to: a b Patrick Kevin Day, Todd Martens (February 18, 2008). "25 'Thriller' facts". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
26.Jump up ^ Vinny Marino (May 2, 2001). "VH1 Names '100 Greatest Videos of All Time'". ABCNews.com. The Walt Disney Company. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
27.^ Jump up to: a b c Gil Kaufman (December 30, 2009). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Added To National Film Registry". MTV.com. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
28.Jump up ^ Steve Peake. "Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs of the '80s". 80Music.about.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
29.Jump up ^ Author Unknown (May 22, 1984). "Young People Ask..."What About Music Videos?"". Awake! (Watchtower Bible and Tract Society).
30.Jump up ^ Alex Dobuzinskis (December 30, 2009). "Jackson "Thriller" film picked for U.S. registry". Reuters.com. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
31.Jump up ^ Dave Itzkoff (December 30, 2009). "‘Thriller’ Video Added to U.S. Film Registry". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). Retrieved 2010-01-23.
32.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson's Thriller added to US film archive". BBC News. December 31, 2009. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
33.Jump up ^ "‘Thriller’ voted most influential pop video". MSNBC. May 2, 2010. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
34.Jump up ^ http://www.kentucky.com/2009/10/30/997818/its-thriller-time-if-you-want.html
External links[edit]
Thriller at the Internet Movie Database
Michael Jackson's Thriller at AllMovie
"Thriller" official music video on YouTube


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Michael Jackson: Thriller







































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Category
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Authority control
GND: 7672703-8
 

  


Categories: English-language films
1982 films
1982 horror films
1980s musical films
1980s short films
Films set in the 1950s
Films set in abandoned houses
Films set in a movie theatre
Michael Jackson
Music videos
Music videos directed by John Landis
United States National Film Registry films
Zombie films
Zombies and revenants in popular culture





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Wissam Al Mana

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Jump to: navigation, search


Wissam Al Mana
Thumb 8df37ba5f8cab8104a3f1ed4cb48ea2d21d6272a header image header.jpeg
Born
Wissam Saleh Al Mana
 1975 (age 39–40)
Doha, Qatar
Residence
Doha, Qatar
Occupation
Businessman
Known for
Executive Director, Co-Owner of Al Mana
Religion
Islam
Spouse(s)
Janet Jackson
Parent(s)
Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana
Wissam Al Mana (Arabic: ???? ???? ????? ??????; born 1975) is a Qatari business magnate who co-owns and serves as Executive Director of Al Mana[1] a conglomerate which operates over 55 companies in 8 countries, primarily in the GCC region, and employs over 3,500 personnel. The group activities include automotive distribution and services, real estate and investments, retail, food & beverage, engineering, technology, media and entertainment. Operating over 300 outlets, Al Mana group represents some of the largest and most successful brands in the world, covering most areas of retail including luxury goods, beauty, fashion, home interiors, watches and jewelry.[2] Wissam Al Mana is frequently reported on in the media due to his 2012 marriage to pop superstar Janet Jackson.[3]


Contents  [hide]
1 Early life and education
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 References

Early life and education[edit]
Wissam Al Mana was born in Qatar but moved with his family to London at age two where he spent his childhood and teenage years. Al Mana credits his early love of fashion and style to his upbringing in London.[4] At age 14 he began applying to every fashion boutique on Kings Road and found a weekend job at a multi-brand store, which gave Al Mana insight into the world of retail that would prove crucial to his career.[5] Upon completing his secondary education in London, Al Mana moved to the United States and obtained a Master's in Business Administration.
Career[edit]
Al Mana serves as Executive Director of his namesake conglomerate which he co-owns with his two brothers, Hisham Saleh Al Mana and Kamal Saleh Al Mana. The company was founded by his father, whom Al Mana often cites as a major influence due to his work ethic, management style and humble demeanor. In press interviews Al Mana has said he joined the family business to carry on his father's name and legacy as a merchant.[6]
The Al Mana group achieves $1.5 billion in annual revenue and operates over 55 companies in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, the United Kingdom and Ireland, with over 300 outlets employing 3,500 personnel.
Al Mana exclusively operates Infiniti, Nissan, Renault and National Car Rental in Qatar's auto sector.[7] Across the GCC, their retail holdings include Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Chloé, Giuseppe Zanotti, Agent Provocateur, Emporio Armani, Dior Homme, British Home Stores, Go Sport, Zara, Mango, Diesel, Sunglass Hut, Reebok, Crocs, Damas and Sephora.[8] Al Mana's food and beverage portfolio is composed partially of McDonalds, La Maison du Chocolat, Emporio Armani Caffe, illy, Haagen-Dazs, Grom, Gloria Jean's Coffees as well as the distribution of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna products.[9]
Al Mana group's real estate holdings including Doha Mall slated to open in 2016 (with a gross leasable area of over 1,000,000 square feet), Mirqab Mall to open in 2016, Al Waha Tower to open in 2017 (a 42 story development with a 5-star hotel), Citywalk Residence to open in 2017 (located on Citywalk Boulevard in the heart of Dubai, to contain ground floor retail units and 32 residential apartments) and Al Mana Tower (a 52 story group headquarters to house a 5-star hotel, residential apartments and a retail boulevard).[10]
Personal life[edit]
Wissam Al Mana is married to pop music superstar Janet Jackson.[11]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Business Wire: GROUPE GO SPORT: NEW MASTER FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST 21 October 2013
2.Jump up ^ Al Mana: Then and Now 21 February 2015
3.Jump up ^ Daily Mail: Then and Now 25 February 2013
4.Jump up ^ Gulf Connoissuer: Market Magnate 19 December 2012
5.Jump up ^ Heavy: Wissam Al Mana: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know 26 February 2013
6.Jump up ^ Entrepreneur: Wissam Al Mana: The Family Biz, the Limelight, and the Unbearable Lightness of Being the Brand 29 May 2014
7.Jump up ^ Nissan:Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co. launches Two exciting New Infiniti Models at an impressive Launch Event in the Ritz Carlton 10 November 2010
8.Jump up ^ The Business of Fashion 500:Wissam Al Mana 21 February 2015
9.Jump up ^ McDonalds Arabia: Our Company 21 February 2015
10.Jump up ^ Al Mana: Investments & Real Estate 21 February 2015
11.Jump up ^ Zap2it:Who is Wissam Al Mana? Meet Janet Jackson's husband, the billionaire fashion mogul 25 February 2013



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


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Qatari billionaires
Qatari business executives
1975 births
Qatari emigrants to the United Kingdom
Qatari expatriates in the United States
Qatari Muslims




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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wissam_Al_Mana









Wissam Al Mana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search


Wissam Al Mana
Thumb 8df37ba5f8cab8104a3f1ed4cb48ea2d21d6272a header image header.jpeg
Born
Wissam Saleh Al Mana
 1975 (age 39–40)
Doha, Qatar
Residence
Doha, Qatar
Occupation
Businessman
Known for
Executive Director, Co-Owner of Al Mana
Religion
Islam
Spouse(s)
Janet Jackson
Parent(s)
Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana
Wissam Al Mana (Arabic: ???? ???? ????? ??????; born 1975) is a Qatari business magnate who co-owns and serves as Executive Director of Al Mana[1] a conglomerate which operates over 55 companies in 8 countries, primarily in the GCC region, and employs over 3,500 personnel. The group activities include automotive distribution and services, real estate and investments, retail, food & beverage, engineering, technology, media and entertainment. Operating over 300 outlets, Al Mana group represents some of the largest and most successful brands in the world, covering most areas of retail including luxury goods, beauty, fashion, home interiors, watches and jewelry.[2] Wissam Al Mana is frequently reported on in the media due to his 2012 marriage to pop superstar Janet Jackson.[3]


Contents  [hide]
1 Early life and education
2 Career
3 Personal life
4 References

Early life and education[edit]
Wissam Al Mana was born in Qatar but moved with his family to London at age two where he spent his childhood and teenage years. Al Mana credits his early love of fashion and style to his upbringing in London.[4] At age 14 he began applying to every fashion boutique on Kings Road and found a weekend job at a multi-brand store, which gave Al Mana insight into the world of retail that would prove crucial to his career.[5] Upon completing his secondary education in London, Al Mana moved to the United States and obtained a Master's in Business Administration.
Career[edit]
Al Mana serves as Executive Director of his namesake conglomerate which he co-owns with his two brothers, Hisham Saleh Al Mana and Kamal Saleh Al Mana. The company was founded by his father, whom Al Mana often cites as a major influence due to his work ethic, management style and humble demeanor. In press interviews Al Mana has said he joined the family business to carry on his father's name and legacy as a merchant.[6]
The Al Mana group achieves $1.5 billion in annual revenue and operates over 55 companies in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, the United Kingdom and Ireland, with over 300 outlets employing 3,500 personnel.
Al Mana exclusively operates Infiniti, Nissan, Renault and National Car Rental in Qatar's auto sector.[7] Across the GCC, their retail holdings include Saks Fifth Avenue, Harvey Nichols, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Chloé, Giuseppe Zanotti, Agent Provocateur, Emporio Armani, Dior Homme, British Home Stores, Go Sport, Zara, Mango, Diesel, Sunglass Hut, Reebok, Crocs, Damas and Sephora.[8] Al Mana's food and beverage portfolio is composed partially of McDonalds, La Maison du Chocolat, Emporio Armani Caffe, illy, Haagen-Dazs, Grom, Gloria Jean's Coffees as well as the distribution of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna products.[9]
Al Mana group's real estate holdings including Doha Mall slated to open in 2016 (with a gross leasable area of over 1,000,000 square feet), Mirqab Mall to open in 2016, Al Waha Tower to open in 2017 (a 42 story development with a 5-star hotel), Citywalk Residence to open in 2017 (located on Citywalk Boulevard in the heart of Dubai, to contain ground floor retail units and 32 residential apartments) and Al Mana Tower (a 52 story group headquarters to house a 5-star hotel, residential apartments and a retail boulevard).[10]
Personal life[edit]
Wissam Al Mana is married to pop music superstar Janet Jackson.[11]
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Business Wire: GROUPE GO SPORT: NEW MASTER FRANCHISE AGREEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST 21 October 2013
2.Jump up ^ Al Mana: Then and Now 21 February 2015
3.Jump up ^ Daily Mail: Then and Now 25 February 2013
4.Jump up ^ Gulf Connoissuer: Market Magnate 19 December 2012
5.Jump up ^ Heavy: Wissam Al Mana: Top 10 Facts You Need to Know 26 February 2013
6.Jump up ^ Entrepreneur: Wissam Al Mana: The Family Biz, the Limelight, and the Unbearable Lightness of Being the Brand 29 May 2014
7.Jump up ^ Nissan:Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Co. launches Two exciting New Infiniti Models at an impressive Launch Event in the Ritz Carlton 10 November 2010
8.Jump up ^ The Business of Fashion 500:Wissam Al Mana 21 February 2015
9.Jump up ^ McDonalds Arabia: Our Company 21 February 2015
10.Jump up ^ Al Mana: Investments & Real Estate 21 February 2015
11.Jump up ^ Zap2it:Who is Wissam Al Mana? Meet Janet Jackson's husband, the billionaire fashion mogul 25 February 2013



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


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Qatari billionaires
Qatari business executives
1975 births
Qatari emigrants to the United Kingdom
Qatari expatriates in the United States
Qatari Muslims




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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wissam_Al_Mana









Jackie Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For the Harlem Globetrotters player, see Jumpin Jackie Jackson.


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2012)

Jackie Jackson
Jackson 5 1969.jpg
Jackson with The Jackson 5

Background information

Birth name
Sigmund Esco Jackson
Also known as
Jackie Jackson
Born
May 4, 1951 (age 64)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
R&B, soul, pop, new jack swing
Occupation(s)
Singer, songwriter
Instruments
Vocals, tambourine
Years active
1964–present
Labels
Steeltown, Motown, Epic
Associated acts
The Jackson 5
Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951) is an American singer and musician notable for being a member of The Jackson 5.


Contents  [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career 2.1 Recent years
3 Personal life
4 Discography 4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Singles 4.2.1 As main artist
4.2.2 As a featured artist

5 External links
6 References

Early life[edit]
Sigmund Esco Jackson was born on his mother Katherine's 21st birthday in 1951. Nicknamed Jackie by his grandfather, taken from Jackson Boy, he came from an African-American working-class family. He and his eight brothers and sisters grew up in a three room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial town outside of Chicago. In 1964, Jackie's father, Joseph, formed the Jackson Brothers singing group, which included Jackie and his brothers Tito and Jermaine. The group included younger brothers Marlon and Michael playing assorted percussive instruments. By 1966, Joseph made Michael the lead singer and within two years, they emerged professionally under the name The Jackson Five, which was later altered to a numeral 5 after signing with Motown in 1969.
Prior to the group signing with Motown, Jackson wanted to pursue a career in professional baseball. However, he forsook this career once the group hit the big time.
Career[edit]
Jackson performed under a high tenor singing voice. He added brief lead parts in some of the Jackson 5's hit singles, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC". In 1973, Jackson released a solo album that failed to chart. After the Jackson 5 became The Jacksons after leaving Motown for CBS Records in 1976, Jackson's role as a vocalist and songwriter increased. He added a lead vocal alongside brother Michael on their top ten Epic single, "Enjoy Yourself", and also added composition on six of the group's albums with Epic. Jackson's voice changed to a lower tenor vocal style during the Epic years. One of Jackson's most successful compositions was co-writing with Michael, "Can You Feel It", which became an international hit in 1981. Jackson began performing more lead vocals as Michael pursued a successful solo career. On their 1984 album, Victory, Jackson performed lead on the song "Wait", while writing the single, "Torture". Notably before the start of the Victory Tour in 1984, Jackson suffered a leg injury that was officially described as a knee injury incurred during rehearsals.[1] However, a former companion of Jermaine Jackson's, Margaret Maldonado, wrote in her 1995 book, Jackson Family Values, Jackson was injured in an automobile accident, a cause of his then wife Enid Jackson running over Jackson with her car, after catching him with choreographer and then-Laker Girl Paula Abdul.[2] Jackson recovered well enough to perform on the last leg of shows in December 1984 in Los Angeles, where Michael announced he was leaving the group. In early 1985, Marlon Jackson joined Michael in leaving the group as well.
Jackie, Tito and Randy became session musicians, vocalists and producers during this time. In 1987, Jackie, Randy, Tito and Jermaine reformed as The Jacksons and recorded "Time Out For The Burglar", the theme song for the film, Burglar. The single was a minor R&B hit in the US, but had more success in Belgium where it peaked in the Top 40 at #17 for two consecutive weeks. The Jacksons also contributed backing vocals to the Tito-produced title track of Tramaine Hawkins' 1987 album "Freedom". In late 1988, the Jacksons set out to record their final Epic album, 2300 Jackson Street, which included Jackie and Jermaine splitting leads on most of the songs. 2300 Jackson Street failed to chart successfully despite the Randy and Jermaine-led "Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)". Randy did not participate in much of the album's promotion as he was working on his solo project leaving Jackie, Tito and Jermaine to promote the album mostly overseas. Afterwards, the group was dropped from the label and each brother went into solo projects. Jackson signed with Polydor and released his first solo album in 16 years, Be the One, in late 1989. The album was a minor hit charting at #89 on the R&B charts. The first single "Stay" was a Top 40 R&B hit while second single "Cruzin'" was a moderate success. In 2001, after years out of the limelight, Jackie, along with his other brothers, returned to the mainstream during a reunion performance with Michael at his 30th anniversary special at Madison Square Garden.
Recent years[edit]
Currently residing in Las Vegas, Jackson at one time ran two record companies, Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment. His son, Sigmund, Jr., known by the name of DEALZ, released a mixtape off Jesco in 2007. In 2009, he, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon starred in their brief reality series, The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. In 2012, the quartet began their first tour since the end of the Victory Tour in 1984. The four brothers continue to tour, currently planning to perform a series of shows at the Las Vegas casino circuit.
Personal life[edit]
Jackson was married three times. He married his first wife, Enid Adren Spann (June 27, 1954 – December 20, 1997), in November 1974. A rocky marriage, they initially separated for several months after they married, but later reconciled. They later divorced in 1987. In 2001, Jackson married a second wife, Victoria Triggs. They've also since divorced. With Enid Spann, Jackson has two children, Sigmund "Siggy", Jr. (born June 29, 1977) and Brandi (born February 6, 1982). Jackson married his third wife Emily Besselink and Besselink gave birth to twin boys River and Jaylen on December 30, 2014[3][4]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details
Peak chart positions

US R&B
[5]

Jackie Jackson
Released: October 14, 1973
Label: Motown
Formats: LP
 —
Be the One
Released: September 9, 1989
Label: Polydor
Formats: LP, CD
 84
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Singles[edit]
As main artist[edit]

Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album

US R&B
[5]

"Cruzin'"
1989 58 Be the One
"Stay"
39
"We Know What's Going On"
2010 — Non-album single
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
As a featured artist[edit]

Title
Year

"That's How I Feel"
(DealZ featuring Jackie Jackson & Jermaine Jackson)
2011
External links[edit]
Official website
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Jet Magazine; July 9, 1984 http://books.google.com/books?id=yLADAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA56&ots=m23wqSHXti&dq=jet%20magazine%20jackie%20jackson%20knee&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false
2.Jump up ^ Margaret Maldonado Jackson, "Jackson Family Values" ISBN 0-7871-0522-8
3.Jump up ^ http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/90925580.html
4.Jump up ^ http://www.jackson-source.com/the-jacksons/85-family-tree
5.^ Jump up to: a b "Jackie Jackson". Allmusic. Retrieved June 9, 2012.


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 VIAF: 27268576 ·
 LCCN: n91048528 ·
 ISNI: 0000 0000 6309 3663 ·
 GND: 13465322X ·
 BNF: cb14047278q (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: d06f65d2-26e0-4d40-95e5-22592917eb52
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1951 births
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Former Jehovah's Witnesses
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This page was last modified on 17 May 2015, at 00:08.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Jackson









Jackie Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For the Harlem Globetrotters player, see Jumpin Jackie Jackson.


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (January 2012)

Jackie Jackson
Jackson 5 1969.jpg
Jackson with The Jackson 5

Background information

Birth name
Sigmund Esco Jackson
Also known as
Jackie Jackson
Born
May 4, 1951 (age 64)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
R&B, soul, pop, new jack swing
Occupation(s)
Singer, songwriter
Instruments
Vocals, tambourine
Years active
1964–present
Labels
Steeltown, Motown, Epic
Associated acts
The Jackson 5
Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951) is an American singer and musician notable for being a member of The Jackson 5.


Contents  [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career 2.1 Recent years
3 Personal life
4 Discography 4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Singles 4.2.1 As main artist
4.2.2 As a featured artist

5 External links
6 References

Early life[edit]
Sigmund Esco Jackson was born on his mother Katherine's 21st birthday in 1951. Nicknamed Jackie by his grandfather, taken from Jackson Boy, he came from an African-American working-class family. He and his eight brothers and sisters grew up in a three room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial town outside of Chicago. In 1964, Jackie's father, Joseph, formed the Jackson Brothers singing group, which included Jackie and his brothers Tito and Jermaine. The group included younger brothers Marlon and Michael playing assorted percussive instruments. By 1966, Joseph made Michael the lead singer and within two years, they emerged professionally under the name The Jackson Five, which was later altered to a numeral 5 after signing with Motown in 1969.
Prior to the group signing with Motown, Jackson wanted to pursue a career in professional baseball. However, he forsook this career once the group hit the big time.
Career[edit]
Jackson performed under a high tenor singing voice. He added brief lead parts in some of the Jackson 5's hit singles, including "I Want You Back" and "ABC". In 1973, Jackson released a solo album that failed to chart. After the Jackson 5 became The Jacksons after leaving Motown for CBS Records in 1976, Jackson's role as a vocalist and songwriter increased. He added a lead vocal alongside brother Michael on their top ten Epic single, "Enjoy Yourself", and also added composition on six of the group's albums with Epic. Jackson's voice changed to a lower tenor vocal style during the Epic years. One of Jackson's most successful compositions was co-writing with Michael, "Can You Feel It", which became an international hit in 1981. Jackson began performing more lead vocals as Michael pursued a successful solo career. On their 1984 album, Victory, Jackson performed lead on the song "Wait", while writing the single, "Torture". Notably before the start of the Victory Tour in 1984, Jackson suffered a leg injury that was officially described as a knee injury incurred during rehearsals.[1] However, a former companion of Jermaine Jackson's, Margaret Maldonado, wrote in her 1995 book, Jackson Family Values, Jackson was injured in an automobile accident, a cause of his then wife Enid Jackson running over Jackson with her car, after catching him with choreographer and then-Laker Girl Paula Abdul.[2] Jackson recovered well enough to perform on the last leg of shows in December 1984 in Los Angeles, where Michael announced he was leaving the group. In early 1985, Marlon Jackson joined Michael in leaving the group as well.
Jackie, Tito and Randy became session musicians, vocalists and producers during this time. In 1987, Jackie, Randy, Tito and Jermaine reformed as The Jacksons and recorded "Time Out For The Burglar", the theme song for the film, Burglar. The single was a minor R&B hit in the US, but had more success in Belgium where it peaked in the Top 40 at #17 for two consecutive weeks. The Jacksons also contributed backing vocals to the Tito-produced title track of Tramaine Hawkins' 1987 album "Freedom". In late 1988, the Jacksons set out to record their final Epic album, 2300 Jackson Street, which included Jackie and Jermaine splitting leads on most of the songs. 2300 Jackson Street failed to chart successfully despite the Randy and Jermaine-led "Nothin' (That Compares 2 U)". Randy did not participate in much of the album's promotion as he was working on his solo project leaving Jackie, Tito and Jermaine to promote the album mostly overseas. Afterwards, the group was dropped from the label and each brother went into solo projects. Jackson signed with Polydor and released his first solo album in 16 years, Be the One, in late 1989. The album was a minor hit charting at #89 on the R&B charts. The first single "Stay" was a Top 40 R&B hit while second single "Cruzin'" was a moderate success. In 2001, after years out of the limelight, Jackie, along with his other brothers, returned to the mainstream during a reunion performance with Michael at his 30th anniversary special at Madison Square Garden.
Recent years[edit]
Currently residing in Las Vegas, Jackson at one time ran two record companies, Jesco Records and Futurist Entertainment. His son, Sigmund, Jr., known by the name of DEALZ, released a mixtape off Jesco in 2007. In 2009, he, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon starred in their brief reality series, The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. In 2012, the quartet began their first tour since the end of the Victory Tour in 1984. The four brothers continue to tour, currently planning to perform a series of shows at the Las Vegas casino circuit.
Personal life[edit]
Jackson was married three times. He married his first wife, Enid Adren Spann (June 27, 1954 – December 20, 1997), in November 1974. A rocky marriage, they initially separated for several months after they married, but later reconciled. They later divorced in 1987. In 2001, Jackson married a second wife, Victoria Triggs. They've also since divorced. With Enid Spann, Jackson has two children, Sigmund "Siggy", Jr. (born June 29, 1977) and Brandi (born February 6, 1982). Jackson married his third wife Emily Besselink and Besselink gave birth to twin boys River and Jaylen on December 30, 2014[3][4]
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details
Peak chart positions

US R&B
[5]

Jackie Jackson
Released: October 14, 1973
Label: Motown
Formats: LP
 —
Be the One
Released: September 9, 1989
Label: Polydor
Formats: LP, CD
 84
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Singles[edit]
As main artist[edit]

Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album

US R&B
[5]

"Cruzin'"
1989 58 Be the One
"Stay"
39
"We Know What's Going On"
2010 — Non-album single
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
As a featured artist[edit]

Title
Year

"That's How I Feel"
(DealZ featuring Jackie Jackson & Jermaine Jackson)
2011
External links[edit]
Official website
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Jet Magazine; July 9, 1984 http://books.google.com/books?id=yLADAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA56&ots=m23wqSHXti&dq=jet%20magazine%20jackie%20jackson%20knee&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false
2.Jump up ^ Margaret Maldonado Jackson, "Jackson Family Values" ISBN 0-7871-0522-8
3.Jump up ^ http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/90925580.html
4.Jump up ^ http://www.jackson-source.com/the-jacksons/85-family-tree
5.^ Jump up to: a b "Jackie Jackson". Allmusic. Retrieved June 9, 2012.


[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
The Jackson 5/The Jacksons

































































































Wikipedia book
Category
Portal




[show]
v ·
 t ·
 e
 
Jackson family







































Portal




Authority control
WorldCat ·
 VIAF: 27268576 ·
 LCCN: n91048528 ·
 ISNI: 0000 0000 6309 3663 ·
 GND: 13465322X ·
 BNF: cb14047278q (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: d06f65d2-26e0-4d40-95e5-22592917eb52
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1951 births
20th-century American singers
21st-century American singers
African-American musicians
African-American singers
American pop singers
Epic Records artists
Former Jehovah's Witnesses
Jackson musical family
Living people
Motown artists
Musicians from Gary, Indiana
The Jackson 5 members












Navigation menu



Create account
Log in



Article

Talk









Read

Edit

View history

















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Contents
Featured content
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Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
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Interaction
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About Wikipedia
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Recent changes
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What links here
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Cite this page

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Languages
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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Jackson








Marlon Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article is about the musician. For the association football player, see Marlon Jackson (footballer). For the American Football player, see Marlin Jackson.


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2009)

Marlon Jackson

Birth name
Marlon David Jackson
Born
March 12, 1957 (age 58)
Gary, Indiana U.S.
Genres
R&B, soul, pop
Occupation(s)
Entertainer, musician, singer, songwriter, dancer
Instruments
Vocals
Years active
1964–84, 1986–92, 2001, 2006–10, 2012–present
Labels
Steeltown (1968)
Motown (1969–75)
Epic (1975–84)
Capitol (1987–90)
Associated acts
The Jackson 5, The Jacksons
Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is the 6th child of the Jackson family, he is an American entertainer, singer, dancer and member of The Jackson 5. He is known as the "Dancing Machine" or "the Dancingest Jackson" for his dancing performances on stage, as well as the "Jokester" for his sense of humor. He is seventeen months older than his late brother Michael.


Contents  [hide]
1 Personal life 1.1 Michael's memorial
2 Career 2.1 The Jackson 5
2.2 Solo career
2.3 Later years
3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums
3.2 Singles
3.3 Other contributions
4 References

Personal life[edit]
Marlon was born in Gary, Indiana to Joseph and Katherine Jackson as the seventh child of the Jackson family. Marlon's twin brother, Brandon died within 24 hours of birth. They were several weeks premature.
Marlon has three children with his wife Carol Parker.
Valencia Caroline (born December 18, 1976)
Brittany Shauntee (born April 15, 1978)
Marlon David, Jr. (born September 23, 1981)
Marlon also has four grandchildren:
Noah Laniak (born August 18, 2006) from Valencia Jackson
Sophia Laniak (born November 11, 2007) from Valencia Jackson
Phoenix Sanchez (born July 27, 2010) from Brittany Jackson
Savanna Sanchez (born September 2, 2011) from Brittany Jackson
He and sister Rebbie Jackson are the only Jackson siblings to have not divorced.
Michael's memorial[edit]
On July 7, 2009, he and his family offered their final eulogies for Michael, saying he was the "soul" of the family, and breaking down as he tearfully addressed the crowd: "Maybe now Michael, they will leave you alone"[1] and "I would like for you to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug for me".[2] Marlon fought back tears as he said "I love you Michael and I'll miss you".[1]
Career[edit]
The Jackson 5[edit]
Main article: The Jackson 5
While Marlon was still a child, his older brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine formed an early incarnation of what would become The Jackson 5. Marlon and younger brother Michael would soon join the group, initially as percussionists. In the early years of the group it's been well documented that Marlon had trouble singing and keeping up with dance steps. While Michael was more of a natural, Marlon had to work a little harder. However through his perseverance he would become a proficient singer, songwriter, producer and especially a dancer where he is best known for being the main choreographer behind many of the group's signature dance routines such as the Funk Shovel & what is known as the Jackson Point Dance. To this day, all of the brothers always call him "The Dancingest Jackson" which was a term he came up with Carol Burnett asked them to come up with nicknames that describe their personalities & all brothers agreed. On The Jackson 5's "Up on the Housetop" from their Christmas Album, Michael sings describing what each brother want for Christmas. When he goes to Marlon, he says
“ "Marlon wears his shoes so thin/he went through his socks again/he's always dancing as you know. " ”
& Marlon replies
“ "So bring me some shoes with lots of soul. " ”
. Michael's 1988 book Moonwalk, he would say of Marlon...
“ Marlon was and is one of the most determined people I've ever met. He, too, was a real joker and prankster. He used to be the one who'd always get in trouble in the early days because he'd be out of step or miss a note, but that was far from true later. ”
While brothers Michael and Jermaine were the main attractions of the group, all five Jackson brothers sang lead spots on various songs. Marlon's voice can noticeably be heard on "Feelin' Alright", "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Corner of The Sky". He took a more prominent singing role on the 1973 G.I.T.: Get It Together album, particularly in the last minutes of the song "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)". Eventually a dispute with Motown led to the group's split from the label in 1976, whereupon they signed with Epic Records. After the departure of Jermaine and inclusion of youngest brother Randy in the move, the group would be forced to change their name to "The Jacksons". All of the brothers took a more active role in their music and it was Marlon who filled in for Jermaine's vocal parts when they performed the old Jackson 5 songs on stage.
On the debut Jacksons albums Marlon sang lead spots on "Strength of a Man" and "Man of War". However it was the Destiny and Triumph albums that returned the brothers to the top of the pop charts. In the finale of Triumph Marlon shared a duet with brother Michael entitled "Give it Up". The return of Jermaine to the group in 1983 after their reunited performance at Motown 25 led to the Victory album and tour in 1984. For the Victory album Marlon wrote, produced and sang his first solo lead on the single "Body". In the music video for the single Marlon can be seen riding a motorcycle and leading a troupe of dancers. Despite the success of both the album and tour, monetary problems and rumored clashes amongst the brothers led to the collapse of the Jacksons as a group. Michael announced his exit from the group at the end of the tour while Marlon stunned family members by announcing his split a year later. This left The Jacksons as a quartet of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Randy for their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, although Michael and Marlon would join their brothers on the album's title single.
Solo career[edit]
In 1987, Marlon released his debut solo album Baby Tonight, an album he wrote and produced himself. It featured the No. 2 R&B hit "Don't Go" which he performed to an enthusiastic audience on The Late Show with Arsenio Hall. During the show he was interviewed by Arsenio and said:
“ I've always wanted to do a solo album and I've always wanted to pursue a solo career. I feel that God has a time for everybody and I think that this is my time. ”
Later years[edit]
Unlike his brothers, after his brief brush with solo stardom, Marlon embarked on a career outside of show business, becoming a successful real estate agent in Southern California. He was also part owner of the Black Family Channel, a cable network designed to bring family-friendly programming to the Black community. Marlon joined his brothers on stage when The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform as the Jacksons during Michael's 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. He was part of the reality series, The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, in 2009. He and his brothers (with the exception of Randy) have been performing off and on since 2012.
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details
Peak chart positions

US
[3]
US R&B
[3]

Baby Tonight
Released July 1987
Label: Capitol
Formats: LP, CD
 175 22
Singles[edit]

Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album

US R&B
[3]

"Baby Tonight"
1987 57 Baby Tonight
"Don't Go"
2
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Other contributions[edit]
La Toya Jackson – La Toya Jackson (1980)
Barry White – Beware! (1981)
La Toya Jackson – My Special Love (1981)
Betty Wright – Wright Back at You (1983)
Billy Griffin – Respect (1983)
Rebbie Jackson – Centipede (1984)
La Toya Jackson – Heart Don't Lie (1984)
Janet Jackson – Dream Street (1984)
Michael Jackson- "We Are the World" (1985)
The Golden Child Soundtrack (1986)
The Jacksons featuring Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Marlon Jackson: 2300 Jackson Street (1989)
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b Maria Puente, "At Jackson Memorial, Tears, Cheers and 'I Love You, Michael Jackson,'" USA Today, July 8, 2009.
2.Jump up ^ http://www.nme.com/news/michael-jackson/45901, Retrieved on 2009-07-09.
3.^ Jump up to: a b c "Marlon Jackson". Allmusic. Retrieved June 10, 2012.

Portal icon The Jackson Family portal


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WorldCat ·
 VIAF: 64208104 ·
 LCCN: n91070631 ·
 ISNI: 0000 0000 5945 1990 ·
 GND: 134587804 ·
 BNF: cb14047277c (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: dfa29df0-2f21-409c-8509-a75e72205e1d
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1957 births
20th-century American singers
21st-century American singers
African-American musicians
African-American singers
American pop singers
American record producers
American soul singers
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Jackson musical family
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Jackson









Marlon Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

This article is about the musician. For the association football player, see Marlon Jackson (footballer). For the American Football player, see Marlin Jackson.


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (September 2009)

Marlon Jackson

Birth name
Marlon David Jackson
Born
March 12, 1957 (age 58)
Gary, Indiana U.S.
Genres
R&B, soul, pop
Occupation(s)
Entertainer, musician, singer, songwriter, dancer
Instruments
Vocals
Years active
1964–84, 1986–92, 2001, 2006–10, 2012–present
Labels
Steeltown (1968)
Motown (1969–75)
Epic (1975–84)
Capitol (1987–90)
Associated acts
The Jackson 5, The Jacksons
Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is the 6th child of the Jackson family, he is an American entertainer, singer, dancer and member of The Jackson 5. He is known as the "Dancing Machine" or "the Dancingest Jackson" for his dancing performances on stage, as well as the "Jokester" for his sense of humor. He is seventeen months older than his late brother Michael.


Contents  [hide]
1 Personal life 1.1 Michael's memorial
2 Career 2.1 The Jackson 5
2.2 Solo career
2.3 Later years
3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums
3.2 Singles
3.3 Other contributions
4 References

Personal life[edit]
Marlon was born in Gary, Indiana to Joseph and Katherine Jackson as the seventh child of the Jackson family. Marlon's twin brother, Brandon died within 24 hours of birth. They were several weeks premature.
Marlon has three children with his wife Carol Parker.
Valencia Caroline (born December 18, 1976)
Brittany Shauntee (born April 15, 1978)
Marlon David, Jr. (born September 23, 1981)
Marlon also has four grandchildren:
Noah Laniak (born August 18, 2006) from Valencia Jackson
Sophia Laniak (born November 11, 2007) from Valencia Jackson
Phoenix Sanchez (born July 27, 2010) from Brittany Jackson
Savanna Sanchez (born September 2, 2011) from Brittany Jackson
He and sister Rebbie Jackson are the only Jackson siblings to have not divorced.
Michael's memorial[edit]
On July 7, 2009, he and his family offered their final eulogies for Michael, saying he was the "soul" of the family, and breaking down as he tearfully addressed the crowd: "Maybe now Michael, they will leave you alone"[1] and "I would like for you to give our brother, my twin brother, Brandon, a hug for me".[2] Marlon fought back tears as he said "I love you Michael and I'll miss you".[1]
Career[edit]
The Jackson 5[edit]
Main article: The Jackson 5
While Marlon was still a child, his older brothers Jackie, Tito and Jermaine formed an early incarnation of what would become The Jackson 5. Marlon and younger brother Michael would soon join the group, initially as percussionists. In the early years of the group it's been well documented that Marlon had trouble singing and keeping up with dance steps. While Michael was more of a natural, Marlon had to work a little harder. However through his perseverance he would become a proficient singer, songwriter, producer and especially a dancer where he is best known for being the main choreographer behind many of the group's signature dance routines such as the Funk Shovel & what is known as the Jackson Point Dance. To this day, all of the brothers always call him "The Dancingest Jackson" which was a term he came up with Carol Burnett asked them to come up with nicknames that describe their personalities & all brothers agreed. On The Jackson 5's "Up on the Housetop" from their Christmas Album, Michael sings describing what each brother want for Christmas. When he goes to Marlon, he says
“ "Marlon wears his shoes so thin/he went through his socks again/he's always dancing as you know. " ”
& Marlon replies
“ "So bring me some shoes with lots of soul. " ”
. Michael's 1988 book Moonwalk, he would say of Marlon...
“ Marlon was and is one of the most determined people I've ever met. He, too, was a real joker and prankster. He used to be the one who'd always get in trouble in the early days because he'd be out of step or miss a note, but that was far from true later. ”
While brothers Michael and Jermaine were the main attractions of the group, all five Jackson brothers sang lead spots on various songs. Marlon's voice can noticeably be heard on "Feelin' Alright", "Little Bitty Pretty One" and "Corner of The Sky". He took a more prominent singing role on the 1973 G.I.T.: Get It Together album, particularly in the last minutes of the song "Mama I Gotta Brand New Thing (Don't Say No)". Eventually a dispute with Motown led to the group's split from the label in 1976, whereupon they signed with Epic Records. After the departure of Jermaine and inclusion of youngest brother Randy in the move, the group would be forced to change their name to "The Jacksons". All of the brothers took a more active role in their music and it was Marlon who filled in for Jermaine's vocal parts when they performed the old Jackson 5 songs on stage.
On the debut Jacksons albums Marlon sang lead spots on "Strength of a Man" and "Man of War". However it was the Destiny and Triumph albums that returned the brothers to the top of the pop charts. In the finale of Triumph Marlon shared a duet with brother Michael entitled "Give it Up". The return of Jermaine to the group in 1983 after their reunited performance at Motown 25 led to the Victory album and tour in 1984. For the Victory album Marlon wrote, produced and sang his first solo lead on the single "Body". In the music video for the single Marlon can be seen riding a motorcycle and leading a troupe of dancers. Despite the success of both the album and tour, monetary problems and rumored clashes amongst the brothers led to the collapse of the Jacksons as a group. Michael announced his exit from the group at the end of the tour while Marlon stunned family members by announcing his split a year later. This left The Jacksons as a quartet of Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Randy for their final album, 2300 Jackson Street, although Michael and Marlon would join their brothers on the album's title single.
Solo career[edit]
In 1987, Marlon released his debut solo album Baby Tonight, an album he wrote and produced himself. It featured the No. 2 R&B hit "Don't Go" which he performed to an enthusiastic audience on The Late Show with Arsenio Hall. During the show he was interviewed by Arsenio and said:
“ I've always wanted to do a solo album and I've always wanted to pursue a solo career. I feel that God has a time for everybody and I think that this is my time. ”
Later years[edit]
Unlike his brothers, after his brief brush with solo stardom, Marlon embarked on a career outside of show business, becoming a successful real estate agent in Southern California. He was also part owner of the Black Family Channel, a cable network designed to bring family-friendly programming to the Black community. Marlon joined his brothers on stage when The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. In 2001, he reunited with his brothers to perform as the Jacksons during Michael's 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. He was part of the reality series, The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, in 2009. He and his brothers (with the exception of Randy) have been performing off and on since 2012.
Discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details
Peak chart positions

US
[3]
US R&B
[3]

Baby Tonight
Released July 1987
Label: Capitol
Formats: LP, CD
 175 22
Singles[edit]

Title
Year
Peak chart positions
Album

US R&B
[3]

"Baby Tonight"
1987 57 Baby Tonight
"Don't Go"
2
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Other contributions[edit]
La Toya Jackson – La Toya Jackson (1980)
Barry White – Beware! (1981)
La Toya Jackson – My Special Love (1981)
Betty Wright – Wright Back at You (1983)
Billy Griffin – Respect (1983)
Rebbie Jackson – Centipede (1984)
La Toya Jackson – Heart Don't Lie (1984)
Janet Jackson – Dream Street (1984)
Michael Jackson- "We Are the World" (1985)
The Golden Child Soundtrack (1986)
The Jacksons featuring Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Rebbie Jackson and Marlon Jackson: 2300 Jackson Street (1989)
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b Maria Puente, "At Jackson Memorial, Tears, Cheers and 'I Love You, Michael Jackson,'" USA Today, July 8, 2009.
2.Jump up ^ http://www.nme.com/news/michael-jackson/45901, Retrieved on 2009-07-09.
3.^ Jump up to: a b c "Marlon Jackson". Allmusic. Retrieved June 10, 2012.

Portal icon The Jackson Family portal


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WorldCat ·
 VIAF: 64208104 ·
 LCCN: n91070631 ·
 ISNI: 0000 0000 5945 1990 ·
 GND: 134587804 ·
 BNF: cb14047277c (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: dfa29df0-2f21-409c-8509-a75e72205e1d
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1957 births
20th-century American singers
21st-century American singers
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American record producers
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Jackson musical family
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Songwriters from Indiana
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 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Jackson









Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

For other people named Randy Jackson, see Randy Jackson (disambiguation).


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Randy Jackson

Birth name
Steven Randall Jackson
Born
October 29, 1961 (age 53)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
R&B, pop, new jack swing
Occupation(s)
Musician, singer, songwriter
Instruments
Vocals, percussion, keyboards, bass guitar
Years active
1971–90, 2001
Labels
CBS, Epic, A&M
Associated acts
The Jacksons



 First row, from left: Janet Jackson, Randy Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Rebbie Jackson (1977)
Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson (born October 29, 1961) is an American singer and musician. He is best known as a former member of The Jacksons. Nicknamed "Little Randy", he is the youngest of the Jackson brothers, and the second youngest of the nine Jackson whole siblings, before sister Janet.
Randy was only three when the Jackson 5 was formed and therefore was not an original member. While his brothers toured, he honed his skills as a musician, mastering piano.


Contents  [hide]
1 Personal life
2 Career 2.1 The Jacksons
2.2 After The Jacksons
3 Discography 3.1 Promotional singles
4 Randy and the Gypsys discography 4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Singles
4.3 Promotional singles
5 References
6 External links

Personal life[edit]
Randy was born in Gary, Indiana to Joseph Jackson and Katherine Jackson. He was the youngest son and the second youngest Jackson sibling before his sister Janet Jackson.
Jackson has two children with his ex-girlfriend Alejandra Oaziaza. He also has one daughter with his ex-wife Eliza Shaffy.[citation needed]
Career[edit]
The Jacksons[edit]
Randy first officially appeared live with his brothers at the end of 1971. The event was a Christmas show the Jackson 5 held for blind children. Although he was on every Jackson 5 tour from 1972 forward mainly playing the congas among other instruments, Randy didn't officially join the family band until 1975 when they left Motown Records for Epic Records and older brother Jermaine chose to stay with Motown, prompting Randy to replace him. The Jackson 5 officially changed their name to The Jacksons when they signed with Epic due in part to the fact Motown owned the name The Jackson 5. At the age of 16, he co-wrote The Jacksons' most successful single on Epic, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" with Michael. He is widely thought of as the most talented instrumentalist of the Jackson brothers, playing congas, percussion, drums, keyboards, piano, bass, guitar and assorted other instruments. In addition to singing and playing on the Jacksons' recordings, he worked with Michael on his Off the Wall album.
On February 4, 1980, Randy was seriously injured in a car crash in Hollywood, California. In June 1980, he appeared on the cover of the weekly African-American newsmagazine Jet. The cover headline read: "Randy Jackson Walks Again: Talks About His Future."[1]
Jackson was able to fully participate in the Jacksons' 1981 Triumph Tour and in the band's later projects. After the record-setting Victory Tour in 1984, Michael and Marlon left the band. Randy and his remaining three brothers later made one last album. He was part of the Jacksons 2001 reunion at Madison Square Garden, but chose not to appear on their 2009 A&E reality series The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. However, he did contribute backing vocals with Jackie, Tito and Jermaine for Michael's This Is It.
After The Jacksons[edit]
After recording the 2300 Jackson Street album, the group disbanded and focused on separate projects in 1990. After this split, Jackson formed his own band, Randy & the Gypsys. The group only released one album before breaking up. On June 28, 1998, Jackson opened up his own record label Modern Records.
On June 25, 2009, his older brother Michael Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home. On July 7, 2009, Jackson attended Michael's memorial service along with his brothers and family. Randy gave his first interview since the death of his brother on CNN during a live segment on June 10, 2010.
Discography[edit]
Promotional singles[edit]

Title
Year

"How Can I Be Sure"
1978
Randy and the Gypsys discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details

Randy & the Gypsys
Released: October 4, 1989
Formats: LP, CD, cassette
Label: A&M

Singles[edit]

Title
Year
Album

"Perpetrators"
1989 Randy & the Gypsys
"Not Because of Me"

"Love You Honey"

Promotional singles[edit]

Title
Year
Album

"The Love We Almost Had"
1989 Randy & the Gypsys
References[edit]

Portal icon The Jackson Family portal
1.Jump up ^ Jet magazine; June 19, 1980
External links[edit]
Official website
Randy Jackson (randyjackson8) on Twitter


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 VIAF: 54336449 ·
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 ISNI: 0000 0001 1444 3986 ·
 GND: 134415434 ·
 BNF: cb139370411 (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: 593abf14-4292-4d62-b365-79c7674cd1a5
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1961 births
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Randy Jackson (The Jacksons)

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For other people named Randy Jackson, see Randy Jackson (disambiguation).


 This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (February 2012)

Randy Jackson

Birth name
Steven Randall Jackson
Born
October 29, 1961 (age 53)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
R&B, pop, new jack swing
Occupation(s)
Musician, singer, songwriter
Instruments
Vocals, percussion, keyboards, bass guitar
Years active
1971–90, 2001
Labels
CBS, Epic, A&M
Associated acts
The Jacksons



 First row, from left: Janet Jackson, Randy Jackson, La Toya Jackson, Rebbie Jackson (1977)
Steven Randall "Randy" Jackson (born October 29, 1961) is an American singer and musician. He is best known as a former member of The Jacksons. Nicknamed "Little Randy", he is the youngest of the Jackson brothers, and the second youngest of the nine Jackson whole siblings, before sister Janet.
Randy was only three when the Jackson 5 was formed and therefore was not an original member. While his brothers toured, he honed his skills as a musician, mastering piano.


Contents  [hide]
1 Personal life
2 Career 2.1 The Jacksons
2.2 After The Jacksons
3 Discography 3.1 Promotional singles
4 Randy and the Gypsys discography 4.1 Studio albums
4.2 Singles
4.3 Promotional singles
5 References
6 External links

Personal life[edit]
Randy was born in Gary, Indiana to Joseph Jackson and Katherine Jackson. He was the youngest son and the second youngest Jackson sibling before his sister Janet Jackson.
Jackson has two children with his ex-girlfriend Alejandra Oaziaza. He also has one daughter with his ex-wife Eliza Shaffy.[citation needed]
Career[edit]
The Jacksons[edit]
Randy first officially appeared live with his brothers at the end of 1971. The event was a Christmas show the Jackson 5 held for blind children. Although he was on every Jackson 5 tour from 1972 forward mainly playing the congas among other instruments, Randy didn't officially join the family band until 1975 when they left Motown Records for Epic Records and older brother Jermaine chose to stay with Motown, prompting Randy to replace him. The Jackson 5 officially changed their name to The Jacksons when they signed with Epic due in part to the fact Motown owned the name The Jackson 5. At the age of 16, he co-wrote The Jacksons' most successful single on Epic, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" with Michael. He is widely thought of as the most talented instrumentalist of the Jackson brothers, playing congas, percussion, drums, keyboards, piano, bass, guitar and assorted other instruments. In addition to singing and playing on the Jacksons' recordings, he worked with Michael on his Off the Wall album.
On February 4, 1980, Randy was seriously injured in a car crash in Hollywood, California. In June 1980, he appeared on the cover of the weekly African-American newsmagazine Jet. The cover headline read: "Randy Jackson Walks Again: Talks About His Future."[1]
Jackson was able to fully participate in the Jacksons' 1981 Triumph Tour and in the band's later projects. After the record-setting Victory Tour in 1984, Michael and Marlon left the band. Randy and his remaining three brothers later made one last album. He was part of the Jacksons 2001 reunion at Madison Square Garden, but chose not to appear on their 2009 A&E reality series The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty. However, he did contribute backing vocals with Jackie, Tito and Jermaine for Michael's This Is It.
After The Jacksons[edit]
After recording the 2300 Jackson Street album, the group disbanded and focused on separate projects in 1990. After this split, Jackson formed his own band, Randy & the Gypsys. The group only released one album before breaking up. On June 28, 1998, Jackson opened up his own record label Modern Records.
On June 25, 2009, his older brother Michael Jackson died after suffering a cardiac arrest at his home. On July 7, 2009, Jackson attended Michael's memorial service along with his brothers and family. Randy gave his first interview since the death of his brother on CNN during a live segment on June 10, 2010.
Discography[edit]
Promotional singles[edit]

Title
Year

"How Can I Be Sure"
1978
Randy and the Gypsys discography[edit]
Studio albums[edit]

Title
Album details

Randy & the Gypsys
Released: October 4, 1989
Formats: LP, CD, cassette
Label: A&M

Singles[edit]

Title
Year
Album

"Perpetrators"
1989 Randy & the Gypsys
"Not Because of Me"

"Love You Honey"

Promotional singles[edit]

Title
Year
Album

"The Love We Almost Had"
1989 Randy & the Gypsys
References[edit]

Portal icon The Jackson Family portal
1.Jump up ^ Jet magazine; June 19, 1980
External links[edit]
Official website
Randy Jackson (randyjackson8) on Twitter


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 VIAF: 54336449 ·
 LCCN: n91082945 ·
 ISNI: 0000 0001 1444 3986 ·
 GND: 134415434 ·
 BNF: cb139370411 (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: 593abf14-4292-4d62-b365-79c7674cd1a5
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


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Tito Jackson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
For the Boston City Council member, see Tito Jackson
Tito Jackson

Birth name
Toriano Adaryll Jackson
Born
October 15, 1953 (age 61)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
Blues, R&B
Occupation(s)
Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist
Instruments
Vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, programming
Years active
1964–present
Labels
Steeltown, Epic, Motown
Associated acts
The Jackson 5
Website
www.titojackson.com
Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson[citation needed] (born October 14, 1953)[citation needed] is an American singer and guitarist and original member of The Jackson 5 and The Jacksons, who rose to fame in the late 1960s with the Motown label, later finding success under the Epic label in the 1970s and 1980s.


Contents  [hide]
1 Early life
2 Career 2.1 Solo work and other projects
3 Personal life
4 In popular culture
5 Discography 5.1 Singles
6 References

Early life[edit]
Jackson was born the third of ten children in a black working-class family who lived in a three-room house in Gary, Indiana, an industrial city near Chicago. His father, Joe, was a steel mill worker while his mother, Katherine, was a devout Jehovah's Witness. At ten years of age, he was caught performing his father's guitar after he broke a string.[1] After fixing the string, Joe demanded his son to play for him. Once he was finished, Jackson's father bought him his own guitar. Shortly thereafter, Joseph convinced Tito, Jackie and Jermaine to form a singing group, having been impressed with the vocals of Jackie and Jermaine. Tito did not sing much with his brothers, a pattern that continued even after signing with Motown.
Career[edit]
Main article: The Jackson 5
After first performing in school functions and supermarkets, the brothers began participating in local talent shows when Jackson was 12. By then, his younger brother Michael, then seven, had become the official lead singer of the group. In 1966, they changed their name from The Jackson Brothers to The Jackson Five, and won several talent shows around the Gary area. After winning the Amateur Night competition for The Apollo Theater in August 1967, Joe Jackson only began to work part-time at the steel mills to help his sons secure a recording contract, signing with Steeltown Records in November of the year. In January 1968, the Jackson Five's first single, "Big Boy", was released on Steeltown.
In 1969, they signed with Motown Records and scored several hit songs, including the number-one singles, "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There". Though Tito sometimes added brief lead vocals on some songs, he and Marlon rarely sang background harmony work with the other brothers until much later in their careers. Despite his talent as a guitar player, Motown refused to allow Tito to perform guitar on any of the Jackson 5 recording sessions. All of their guitar parts were performed by session musicians. Tito's guitar work made its debut after he and the Jacksons left Motown for CBS Records in 1976. He also began writing songs with his brothers during this period though he didn't sing any lead parts and, like before, didn't participate in harmony work.
Tito, along with Jackie, were the most consistent members of the Jacksons, with Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and Randy, leaving at different times. After the end of the Victory Tour, Tito performed session work and also as a record producer. After releasing 2300 Jackson Street, the Jacksons ceased recording work. After years managing his sons' family group, 3T, Jackson returned to the national spotlight after reuniting with his brothers on Michael's 30th anniversary concert special at Madison Square Garden.
Solo work and other projects[edit]
Jackson began a solo career in 2003 performing as a blues musician in various clubs with his band, which includes producer and guitarist Angelo Earl and a management team that includes Ed Tate. In 2007, in the United Kingdom, Jackson appeared as a judge on the BBC celebrity singing competition Just the Two of Us for series two of the show. He replaced singer Lulu who was a judge on series one. His co-judges were vocal coach CeCe Sammy, musician Stewart Copeland and radio DJ Trevor Nelson. During the tenure of his brothers' reality series, 2009's The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, he served as one of the executive producers alongside his other brothers.
During the summer of 2012, Jackson reunited with brothers Jackie, Marlon, and Jermaine by going on tour.
Personal life[edit]



Taryll, TJ and Taj Jackson
Tito married Delores "Dee Dee" Martes (April 1, 1955 – August 27, 1994) in June 1972 at the age of 18, and later divorced in 1993.[2] In 1994, Martes was found dead floating in a swimming pool. The death was originally ruled accidental, however a Los Angeles business man, Donald Bohana, was subsequently charged with murdering her and later found guilty of second-degree murder in 2000.[3] The couple had three sons, who compose the musical group 3T:
Toriano Adaryll Jackson II. ("Taj") (born August 4, 1973)
Taryll Adren Jackson (born August 8, 1975)
Tito Joe Jackson ("TJ") (born July 16, 1978)
He also has six grandchildren. He has four through TJ, two from Taryll (Bryce and Adren).[4][5]
In popular culture[edit]
Tito was portrayed by Gerrick Winston in the 2004 film Man in the Mirror: The Michael Jackson Story, the biopic of Michael Jackson which first aired on VH1 and was satirized by comedian Aries Spears in an episode of MadTV that featured La Toya Jackson as she played in a skit attacking TV host Jay Leno for his constant jokes on her family.
In the 1992 biopic The Jacksons: An American Dream in which the Jackson family's rise to fame was chronicled, younger Tito was portrayed by Shakiem Jamar Evans while the older Tito was portrayed by Angel Vargas.
In a famous scene from the film Rush Hour, Chris Tucker told Jackie Chan, "I'm Michael Jackson, you're Tito." The same quote is repeated in Rush Hour 2.
In the 1998 Adam Sandler film The Wedding Singer, the line "say hello to your brother Tito for me" was said by Sandler's character to his friend who was wearing a jacket similar to the red one worn and made famous by Tito's brother Michael in his video for "Beat It".
Discography[edit]
Singles[edit]

Title
Year

"We Made It"
2011
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ Jackson, La Toya; Patricia Romanowski (1991). La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family. New American Library. ISBN 0-451-17415-1.
2.Jump up ^ Dillon, Nancy; McShane, Larry; Schapiro, Rich (June 28, 2008). "Nanny says Michael Jackson's stomach had to be pumped regularly". nydailynews.com (New York Daily News). Retrieved 2009-06-28.
3.Jump up ^ "Michael Jackson's Nephew Discusses Court Proceedings". OK! Magazine. August 21, 2009. Retrieved 2013-09-29.
4.Jump up ^ "TJ". Retrieved 2014-02-26.
5.Jump up ^ "Taryll". Retrieved 2014-02-26.

Portal icon The Jackson Family portal


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 VIAF: 79613337 ·
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 ISNI: 0000 0000 7826 5675 ·
 GND: 134415493 ·
 BNF: cb140472792 (data) ·
 MusicBrainz: 19a3943b-19fb-4781-a585-afe9f46fd6d1
 




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  


Categories: 1953 births
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