The Power of Michael Jackson - Essay Example

Michael Jackson was regarded as the greatest artist of the 20th century. Jackson's legacy deserves attention as an African-American artist in an industry that was overwhelmed by segregation and stereotypical representations. Michael Jackson never made any doubts about his aspirations of wanting to be the best. This paper will analyze three songs from Michael Jackson’s body of work which best exemplify the man’s contribution to American popular music, where Michael Jackson belongs in a musical pantheon, and will trace the arc of Michael Jackson’s career from bubblegum idol to the so-called ‘King of pop’ including his trajectory had he lived.       

Three songs that best exemplify Michael Jackson’s work were off of his 1991 Dangerous album which were Will You Be There, Give It to Me, and Jam. By listening to his virtuosic rhythms as well as rich harmony; the signature bass lines and the detailed layers of unusual sounds, which went beyond the typical classics, as well as song play (Vogel, 2012). In addition, the song transitions are made from New Jack Swing, R&B, as well as rock. His music was without barriers or borders and echoed globally. These three songs although not that great in regards to Jackson’s musical stardom can be viewed as risky songs he took as well as experimental ones which ended up being huge successes among many others from the dangerous album. The reason behind this is that Jackson wanted songs that were a cleaner, more calculated and colder version of some of the songs that were on the thriller album and partially the bad album as well. The result of the risk songs was a sharper and harder song production, which were meant to hit the streets (jam was a street song), as well as touch the hearts of the middle-class listeners (with will you be there) and appeal to the rock fans and general fans with the hard-hitting fusion of rock and R&B (with Give It to Me). These three songs cut across everybody’s music taste in one way or another.

Michael Jackson’s position in the musical pantheon was very opinionated. This entire artist had one thing in common, they were music geniuses in their own right and during their times. But what sets Michael Jackson apart is that his music broke cultural and racial grounds which is something that lacked in the likes of Mozart and Beethoven. Furthermore, he commanded and entertained millions of fans globally. The bottom line of the various opinions was founded on racial grounds especially black artists who were considered to be lacking in substance in new music forms and styles (Vogel, 2012). On the other hand, Jackson fused all forms of popular and classical music, and incorporated dance, and he took the art of music and dance to a whole new level.

Michael Jackson, the king of pop, is something the media had issues with, but without a doubt, his achievements merited that title. Jackson’s greatness was in his ability to transcend his words visually, vocally, sonically and physically, for the whole to be greater than the sum of parts. As a competitor on equality with other music geniuses, Michael Jackson would not be satisfied. His trajectory was to show that a black artist could do anything a white artist could do. He wanted to go past all boundaries, earn all recognition, break all records, and attain immortal artistry. Michael Jackson’s main aim was not fame and money; it was respect (Vogel, 2012).

In summary, in the middle of the drama that surrounded him, Michael Jackson succeeded in leaving behind impressive records in music history. Rarely has an artist had so much skill at communicating the vulnerability and vitality of the human condition: the yearning, exhilaration, transcendence, and despair. Truly, Michael Jackson embodied music. It was as though he were charged with electricity, and he facilitated it through all necessary bodily means which included his voice, dances, body, films, words, and performances. His artistic work was a form never experienced before. In addition, the hallmark of Michael Jackson’s art was fusion, and the ability to put together different styles, mediums and genres to create something new.