Ann Powers on Michael Jackson: A performer who kept transcending boundaries

 Michael Jackson was not of this world. He always seemed to defy gravity, as a dancer whose signature move was so incomprehensibly graceful that it earned the extraterrestrial title "the Moonwalk," a singer whose tenor was high but strong, a rhythmic instrument that went as sweet and tender as a clarinet on the long notes -- and as a man whose physical presence was first androgynous and then seemingly cyborgian, forcing his astounded public to puzzle over their assumptions about race, gender and age.

He was the boy who knew too much, bursting upon the pop scene in the 1970s as the neon-bright center of his family group the Jackson 5, singing songs that communicated emotions that should have been beyond the grasp of a prepubescent boy. For the cameras, he danced in a newsboy cap to childlike rhymes -- A,B,C, simple as 1,2,3 -- but the children and teens who were his primary audience loved him because his voice went beyond the guilelessness of playground games.

The fidelity he communicated in "I'll Be There," the brokenheartedness in "Maybe Tomorrow," the longing in "Never Can Say Goodbye" -- these were emotions children weren't supposed to have, but did, and Jackson gave them voice.

Then he became a man, and the biggest star in the pop universe. He kept transcending. The sound he developed with producer Quincy Jones was based in funk and old-school soul but added  elements of jazz, disco and Beatle-esque rock in a smooth mix that created new possibilities for crossover pop.

It took shape with 1979's "Off the Wall," but was fully formed on "Thriller," the 1982 masterwork that utterly changed mainstream pop, breaking down the lines between black and white music, fluff and serious art, sounds meant for the dance floor and for the headphones.

Baby boomers have "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "Pet Sounds," but for many younger than that, "Thriller" remains pop's ultimate artistic endeavor. Jackson not only crafted a sound that is still being imitated by every young star who wants to claim territory in rhythmic Top 40, a genre "Thriller" invented; he also explored serious themes -- obsessive love in "Billie Jean," street violence in the "West Side Story" homage "Beat It," the scourge of gossip in "Wanna Be Startin' Something."

Even the title track, an old-fashioned horror tale seemingly meant for kids, held something more ominous. In the groundbreaking video, director  John Landis transformed Jackson into a monster, an early metaphor for the struggles with identity that would later dominate the singer's life.

For Jackson was also completely of this world, his often tragic life and complicated art formed by the phenomenon of global celebrity in the age of late capitalism. What Marilyn Monroe's life and death said about Hollywood, and what Elvis Presley's said about the rise of rock 'n' roll, Jackson's says about pop in the time of media saturation, when our stars became truly global and omnipresent, across genres and media platforms.

In one way, Jackson's stardom was very old-fashioned. He was born in a trunk, like the vaudevillians of yesteryear, driven to perform by a classic unrelenting stage father. Possessing multiple skills, including a good sense of comic timing, he seemed like a character more than a person.

I remember the inner sleeve of the Jackson 5's 1971 release "Maybe Tomorrow," one of the very first vinyl records I ever purchased. It was full of pictures of the brothers, their Afros shaped into hearts, their boyhood turned into a charm suitable for sticking onto a schoolgirl's notebook. In reality, Jackson was a black steel-mill operator's son from Indiana, no one a white accountant's daughter from Seattle would have ever met. The teen idol machine turned him into a dream friend that any girl or boy could have.

Jackson's pioneering video work, created in collaboration with a range of directors, allowed him to elaborate on his self-construction as a fantasy figure, scaling human limits. His superstardom was linked to the rise of music videos via the MTV network; this was another way in which he was both a classic star and a groundbreaking one.

In the wake of the unkempt "real life" stars of classic rock, Jackson and his partner in glamour, Madonna, brought back the razzle-dazzle of show biz. (Both artists borrowed from disco, which never gave up on glitz.) Using the new form of music videos to plunder images from throughout the history of entertainment -- from minstrelsy to space operas -- Jackson created an archive of our pop subconscious.

The zombie game of "Thriller" was only the beginning. People laughed when he pretended to take on street gangs in "Beat It" and "Bad" -- in his neatly pressed clothes, he seemed too delicate, too fey to wield a switchblade. But his dance moves did seem fierce enough to quell violence. He became a ghost trailing light in "Billie Jean," a genie in "Remember the Time," a spaceship inhabitant in his duet with his sister Janet, "Scream." His dancing in the "Smooth Criminal" mini-film seemed to stop time.

Throughout his career, Jackson never let go of the mandate -- and privilege -- to transform. It became the great source of his art, and his biggest burden. "Magic is easy if you put your heart into it," he told Sylvie Simmons in Creem magazine in 1983. But magic, the delusion of illusion, also might be what destroyed him.

As he grew more famous, Jackson began altering his own appearance, going further into an image that appeared to be androgynous, beyond racial categorization and the bounds of age. As a performer, he was never not sexual -- after all, he was famous for hip thrusts and crotch-grabbing -- but instead of maturing, he underwent a different kind of evolution.

The songs and the videos Jackson made as his trajectory peaked and started  downward, like "Black or White" and "In the Closet," simmered with anger and fear about outside forces -- the media, the listening public -- who wanted to pin down his identity. But their power lies more in their expression of the inner torment Jackson seemed to be suffering as his attempt to elude definition turned into a tragedy of arrested development.

Childhood was the adult Jackson's notorious fascination. His preoccupation with it sometimes made for beautiful music and imagery, but also led to the scandals that wreaked havoc on his career. At first, his actions simply seemed eccentric: He kept exotic pets like the chimp Bubbles, befriended child stars and built an elaborate amusement park on his California estate, Neverland.

But then allegations arose that he had abused young boys; though never legally proved, these accusations, along with his alleged prescription drug abuse, ill health and increasing isolation, destroyed his career.

Jackson had said the comeback he was planning to stage this summer, with 50 concert dates at London's O2 Arena, was partly motivated by his desire to finally share his artistic legacy with his own three school-age children. That he died while pursuing this paternal goal is just one tragic turn in an almost unfathomably complicated life.

Those of us who grew up with Jackson's music and the glow of his fame in its prime may choose to remember him in the way he seemed to want us to perceive him, as that magical child, never struck down by ordinary life, forever singing, "I'll be there."

-- Ann Powers

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Related: Michael Jackson discography

Related: Photos: Michael Jackson | 1958-2009

Comments

[C. Alexander Brown, Rockcliffe Park, Ottawa, Canada]

Of seminal importance to the life of Michael Jackson, and something oft forgotten, is, as a young boy, the cruelty and brutality he suffered at the hands of his father. This experience psychologically deformed an authentic musical genius, and the man of high intelligence that Michael Jackson was. With all else that is being said, this important fact must never be left out.

[cyndy]

Just a small comment: One cannot "transcend" boundaries. One passes them, exceeds them. But the phrase cannot work with the word "transcend."

[claus]

I was devastated with the news - not so much that Michael Jackson has moved on - but that such a masterful artist who brought such joy - was so cruelly massacred by our culture and media. He did not bring it all on himself.

He suffered and hurt from this treatment. I hope we learn something.

And I hope he now sees how much he is loved and admired for the artist that he is.

[Beata]

RIP Michael!!! Your soul is free now!!! You are in a better place!!! You will be missed!!!
Love
B.

[Lou Bricano]

I won't miss him in the least. He was a freak. I won't miss his vulgar entertainment value at all. He appealed to lowbrows, yobboes, dummies. Go ahead and tell me what his record sales were; big freaking deal. McDonalds has sold billions of hamburgers, too, and that doesn't make it "cuisine".

Jackson's entertainment value was trash, he was a deranged freak, and quite likely he was a child molester. It will be nice not to read or hear of him ever again in another week's time.

[hollie]

Michael you were everybodys favourite...your soul is free and you are now in a better place,they can't harm you any more. the world will miss your personality and your music.god bless your family and yourself for bringing other people joy...thankyou...R.I.P

[hollie jennings]

"Some people feel the rain others just get wet"...i love this saying because it is saying that everybody is feeling for michael's family and want him to rest in peace and others dont,we all have different feelings and some people cry from his death and some people dont....god bless

[Matt Wilson]

This is the best assessment I've read of his accomplishments and shortcomings today. I'd also like to add that it was his tremendous popularity that finally cause MTV to start featuring black artists.

[Mark Espinola]

Michael Jackson was an absolutely incredible talent, deserving of the title King of Pop.

~Rest in peace~

[Caroline]

@cyndy: Just a small comment. I find grammar police like you who leave comments quite irritating. Do you see the time stamp on this well-written piece? Does that give you a clue how fast Ms. Powers was able to turn it around? Pointing to what you consider a minor error like that does nothing but try to chip away at the authority of the writer. You suck.

[Esteban Banegas]

Michael, I grew up with your music you always will be in my hart. I, like many other, was one of the one that tried hard to imitate your dancing, but in the 80´s who didn´t.
I promise I will never forget your musical legacy. Good bye Michael, rest in peace and may the Lord receives you in his arms.

[waynexd]

You do not miss your water until your well is dry. America medias and lapd you have to change and get better and give up your southen ways. Why can not we love one another.

[charles]

Let's also remember one other thing about the Fop of Kings: His studious efforts to distance himself, culturally and physiognomically, from his African American roots! He makes Sammy Davis Jr. look like Eldridge Cleaver!!!

[Scott Poston]

Clearly, upon realizing his genius after his untimely death, or perhaps re-appreciating his amazing artistry, I somehow always took him for granted while growing up. It was easy - he gave so much and asked for little from his fans in return. But I'll never forget the groups of High School kids, mostly boys, practicing their own version of his Moonwalk dance. So many people have missed out on a healthy childhood, especially when you combine stardom and abuse. Excellent article, given the deadline, and "transcend" works just fine.

[Marina]

You need to see his video " EARTH". That is what I see in Michael. It takes a great soul to make a video like that!

[mel]

What a wonderful article. So much has been lost with Michael's passing, and I just hope the world remembers all his messages. He was entertainment and love all wrapped into a wonderful soul, and I hope heaven is kinder to him than this world was.

[bryan]

people crying over a grown man who sleeps with 13 year olld boys this isnt right people this thing! is a freaking child molester!! who would be in prison if he didnt bribe the people in all the right places this makes me sick!!!! so WAKE UP and GET REAL

[Ken]

This is one of my favorite memorial pieces. It tried to explain Jackson not just remmeber him. The other one I loved was this:
http://www.moistworks.com/2009/06/dont-let-it-get-you-down-michael.html

Keep the faith.

[non us resident]

RIP Michael...
I wonder if there were ever people trying to help him from what he was suffering
or he was too stubborn to open up to people.. or he stayed to be a pre adolescent boy who doesn't want to grow up to see the ugliness of adults like sex, money, lie on and on..
Why people around him just sit back and watch him keep running from what he was scared of which eventually killed him in a way.
Were they too afraid to tell him what he didn't wanna hear?
I feel so sorry for what he's been through... and miss him so much.
Without his music legacy, he was a precious person on the planet just for a kind heart.

[cjmccrary]

To: Lou Bricano

Too bad there are such narrow-minded, heartless haters like you. You were not in Michael Jackson's skin. It takes a freak to accuse someone of something when you probably didn't know him. What have you done lately, hmmm...

Sorry to burst your little narrow bubble--Michael will talked about, televised, remembered probably long after you are gone.

He was never guilty of anything but love, something you probably know nothing about. People who didn't really care about him contributed to his death. But they can't lie on him, use him, cheat him, abuse him anymore.

[cjmccrary]

I meant what I said in the above comment. Michael was not guilty of anything but love; something he probably never got enough of. I believe that he was never able to really trust anyone to love him. He only trusted the love he gave--which was probably the only true, genuine love he could identify with.

[Toni Majic]

Michael needed the love of his fans because he thought it could fill the void in his heart but only the unconditional love of a parent can produce an individual with high self esteem. All the fame and adulation could not save Michael, the gap left in his heart by his father could never be bridged. I believe that was the root of all of Michael's troubles and the demons that tortured his beautiful heart. When a child grows up with criticism from the parent that is supposed to give them love, they take that inside and it forms their self identity. If my own father doesn't love me then I will find love somewhere else - but that somewhere else was never enough. All the screaming and adoring fans could not convince Michael that he was beautifu, lovable, gorgeous, sexy - because the oldest emotion he felt was rejection and criticism from his father. His mother must have told him but a little boy needs to be loved and accepted by his father. Michael never was. Even though Joe Jackson stood by his son in the years during his trial, it was too little too late for Michael. It is heart breaking to know that no one could have done anything except the very man who did not or could not or did not know how. Rest in peace Michael - I know you are showered by love now by the ultimate Father - who lives in heaven and heals all wounds. Love you always.

[Lou Bricano]

McCrary, you don't know what you're talking about. You didn't "know" Jackson; you've merely deluded yourself into thinking you did, because you're a celebrity-obsessed halfwit. Jackson was guilty of a heck of a lot more than "love".

I'm close to being proved right. He hasn't quite slid off the public scene for good, but that day is getting closer and closer. Once this "documentary" fades away, that will largely be it, except for the anniversaries of his death, and perhaps when this drug-injecting doctor finally is sentenced.

Good riddance.

[nhamblin]

To: Lou Bricano

If you cant see that michael jackson was one of the best, if not the best, performers of all time, then you are blind friend. I guarantee that the overwhelming majority of people cannot dance like he did. And for the few people that could dance like him, couldnt sing like him, especially not at the same time. He put on such a great show. He could also be the most successful african american artist of all time. I am also sure that he appealed to more people than the "lowbrows, lobboes, and dummies" that you speak of because of all of the album sales. Its not easy to more than double the second best album ever, which he did. And when is the last time that you sold 109 million of anything?

P.S. He could still do all of the same things with his body at 50 years old that the overwhelming majority of people could not/will not be able to do. That movie was amazing