A Sense of Style

It was obvious that Michael Jackson had a unique sense of style; one that many fashion industries were inspired by. The fall fashion lineups have taken a cue from his 80s style with sequins, military jackets, skinny silhouettes, exaggerated shoulders and excessive zippers. 

The Life of a Legend Is Not Always Perfect

During Michael's lifetime, Michael Jackson has had many accidents happen while filming music videos, but there is one in particular that injured Michael terribly. On January 27th, 1984, Jackson filmed a Pepsi commercial at L.A.'s Shrine Auditorium in front of 3,000 fans. On first take, the pyrotechnics exploded as planned. Michael went on with filming. However, the sixth take went horribly wrong. The pyrotechnics went off too early, and lit Michael's hair on fire. Michael suffered second and third degree burns on his face and scalp.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBUZrW8X5TI&feature=fvst

Michael's Number One Hits

Michael Jackson had an extended amount of number one hits. Beginning with the single "Ben" at a very young age, his career immediately escalated. His most famous was "Thriller", released in 1982. Michael Jackson sold over 40 million albums worldwide throughout his lifetime.



http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/yradish/michael-jacksons-number-one-hits.html

Michael's Family Life

Michael Jackson's first wife was Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie. Michael's three children, Paris, Prince and Blanket, were never really shown to the public. Michael explains how the reason for him hiding their faces in front of the press was because he didn't want pictures of them ending up in the media or tabloids.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090605025007AAS9qHv

Michael's Dance Moves

Contrary to what most people believe, Michael Jackson did not invent this very famous move. Even though this move was not originally his, he personalized it to such a degree that whenever somebody hears the word "moonwalk," the person they think of is Michael Jackson. When he performed the dance step, it was believed that this particular move was impossible for humans to do.

http://www.mtdanceassociation.org/52-the-most-popular-michael-jackson-dance-moves.html

Overall Reflection: The Life of a Pop Legend

This research project has been an interesting and fun way of learning. Through my research, I believe I have a great deal of factors that are leading to the answer to my essential question.

Research Project Part Two: The Life of a Pop Legend

Throughout my research, I have come to find many characteristics of Michael's life that I never even knew were true. With me being such a huge fan, I was in shock. The research that I have come to find so far has really helped me better understand what Michael Jackson had to go through in order to get the fame and publicity he did.

The Real Michael

As Michael grew older and his career progressed, many rumors started to spread around about him. Ones that questioned his sexual orientation, his absurd skin changes, and what seemed to be plastic surgery that had been done to his face. In this interview, Michael says, "Once you hear a lie for long enough, it begins to seem true." Michael explains that his sexual orientation is not to be questioned, because the rumors going around saying that he was homosexual were not true. He also had a skin disorder called vitiligo, which causes his skin to become lighter. This was also the reason for him walking around outside always carrying an umbrella, because the sun could severely damage his skin. Michael also states how he had only had two types of cosmetic surgeries done to his nose, so he could hit higher notes when singing. it is shown that Michael was extremely misunderstood, and that the media can be cruel. This also teaches us humans that we shouldn't believe everything we hear or read from the media, whether it be on television, or in a magazine or newspaper. With this I question; where did these rumors unfold and why did people believe them?

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-pBwtANuho

Jackson Brothers: Supportive or Not?

At the Jackson 5's last concert on their worldwide Victory Tour, Michael announced that he was splitting from the group and going solo. The other members of the Jackson 5 were extremely supportive of their brother, as they too wanted to continue on with their careers. In 1991, a few years alter, Michael signed with Sony music. In 1992, he began his first world tour, performing in countries that had never been visited by a pop/rock artist. From that tour, Michael founded the "Heal the World Foundation" to help the lives of children in need around the globe. It is said that Michael loved children and was always finding a new way to give back. My question is, in what ways did Michael give back to his loyal devoted fans?





Source: http://www.kbtx.com/home/misc/49176242.html

Michael's Solo Career

The Jackson 5’s first national TV appearance was on the Miss Black America Pageant, where they played “It’s Your Thing”. They then later appeared on a show presented by Diana Ross, called The Hollywood Palace. They performed their single, “I Want You Back," and got a remarkable response. The group’s natural ability both musical and vocally, surprised the world. Michael Jackson, the lead singer, had all the vocal and soul qualities of an experienced performer over three times his age. No one had ever seen an 11 year old with such strong stage presence, vocal and dancing ability and soul. This young performer knew how to capture an audience. Michael Jackson had technique and style that came naturally to him, even at such a young age. This is what made Michael's solo career begin to expand instantly. Because of his incredible talent, and with him being the lead singer, his talent stood out from that of his siblings. Michael Jackson's solo career began in 1979, with his first album he did with Quincy Jones, which was "Off the Wall." He didn't leave the Jackson 5 until after the Victory Tour in 1984. Was Michael so caught up in having his own career he left his brothers behind? Or did the other members of the Jackson 5 realize what talent his brother has and encouraged him to pursue a solo career?











Source: allmichaeljackson.com

The Beginning of a Legend

The Jackson children were raised in a family that constantly listened to and appreciated music. Their father, always was driven and motivated to promote the careers of his children. From the age of five, Michael's amazing talent emphasized itself. His incredible dancing and stage presence caused him to become the focus of the five. The fame and popularity of the group rose until they were booked in the Apollo Theater in New York City. During this performance at the Apollo in 1968, it led the group to be discovered by Motown recording artist Galdys Knight. Later within that year, Diana Ross became associated with the famous group. With this support, the Jackson 5 signed a contract with Motown records. Berry Gordy, the legendary Motown entrepreneur, became the caretaker of the Jacksons' careers. As the lead singer, Micheal Jackson  brought him and his brothers to the top of the charts with his tremendous talent. Gordy instantly recognized Michael's talent in particular and released solo albums of the young star. These solo albums were as popular as the jackson 5 albums. In 1970, the Jackson 5 were topping the charts with famous hits such as "ABC," "The Love You Save," and "I'll Be There." The longer the group existed, the more evident Michael's value to the group's success became. For this reason, I want to know, why was Michael's talent valued more than the rest of the group?

Source: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GPS&userGroupName=west51213&tabID=T001&searchId=R1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=2&contentSet=GALE%7CK1631003308&&docId=GALE|K1631003308&docType=GALE&role=AONE&docLevel=FULLTEXT

My Biggest Inspiration

Michael Jackson has always been one of my favorite musical icons. With me being extremely passionate about my music, I see him as a role model. Pursuing a career in music would be a dream come true, and researching his accomplishments throughout his lifetime would help me learn about how he got to the fame he had. So my question is, what was the sort of "x factor" Michael Jackson had that everybody loved?