Michael Jackson’s Mussorgsky moment
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Like seemingly everyone else in the world, we at Culture Monster have been obsessively watching the video of Michael Jackson‘s final rehearsal that was shot last month at Staples Center. One strange detail that jumped out at us during our repeat viewings was Jackson’s use of Modest Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ in the middle of one of his rock medleys. The musical snippet from ‘Pictures’ is sandwiched between an electric guitar solo and a dance number. Jackson and his back-up dancers stand at militaristic attention as the final chords from Mussorgsky’s 1874 piece play simultaneously with a recording of a speech by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Apparently, Jackson was something of a Mussorgsky fan. The singer quoted from ‘Pictures’ in his 1995 album ‘HIStory’ and used it again later during his ‘HIStory World Tour.’
You can watch the above video for the King of Pop’s brief but potent classical moment. Right now, ‘Pictures’ might be the most listened-to piece of classical music in the world.
-- David Ng
More on Michael Jackson from Culture Monster:
Why Michael Jackson danced like no one else
Kent Twitchell’s ‘lost’ mural of Michael Jackson to go public
