My Obligatory* Michael Jackson Tribute Post: The Chipmunks and the Superbowl
I was born in 1984, at the pinnacle of Michael Jackson's career. Growing up in a Christian household sans cable T.V., I nonetheless remember Michael Jackson being a somewhat ubiquitous presence in life. I had no clue about his music, but I knew who he was and why he was famous, even if I personally couldn't understand the appeal. He was a fact of life. My first real memory of anything related to Michael Jackson was hearing the Chipmunks' (as in, "Alvin and...") cover of "Beat It," which was featured on the soundtrack of the 1990 TV special "Rockin' Through the Decades." (I don't remember the special at all, but I do remember the music, so we must have gotten a cassette of the soundtrack somewhere.) It was sorta secretly one of my favorite songs as a kid, I think, because of how much I still remember it (ignore the opening and ending bits added by the user):
Then, in 1993, I got to watch the superbowl halftime show. That was the first and only time I ever saw Michael Jackson perform live (via television, of course, but you know what I mean). By that time, I had a general awareness that Michael Jackson had become a weirdo, a perception formed through my parents who were children of the sixties and seventies, and never that interested in mainstream pop music. They knew Michael Jackson as the talented little black boy in the Jackson Five, and when the halftime show started with the camera close-up of Jackson, I remember thinking, "Now I'll finally get to see what all the hubbub is about." (Yes, my eight-year-old self used words like "hubbub.") I remember my mom making remarks along the lines of, "What has he done to his face? He looks like a white woman!" And when the choreography started, she of course had to make lots of disapproving noises about all the crotch-grabbing (which I didn't - and don't - disagree with).
But those recollections are dim next to what I remember about Jackson, himself. I remember thinking that his face, unnatural as it looked, was really kind of pretty, especially with the curly ponytail. And I really remember the white shirt he wore. Confession time: I've always had a thing for slim guys in clean, white shirts. I don't know why, but it's always been a huge turn-on for me, and it's entirely possible that I may have first discovered that about myself while watching Michael Jackson in the superbowl halftime show, singing lines from "Black or White."
Here's the first portion of that performance, courtesy of youtube, and someone's old VHS recording of the show. It's not the best quality, but it matches my 15-year-old memories of the concert pretty vividly:
Then, he performed "Heal the World," and while I watched and listened, I suddenly knew why this man was so incredibly popular. I. Freaking. LOVED THAT SONG. I knew the lyrics were corny, but it was the early 90's, when all that "save the cheerleader whales, save the world" stuff was a Big Deal. But, oh, it was such a pretty melody, and such a fantastic presentation (lip-synched, obviously, but who cares?) with Michael and all the kids and him seeming like such a sensitive, caring, kinda normal person that I was utterly blown away (and suddenly nursing an unexpected - and short-lived - crush on the King of Pop).
Here's that part (including a bit of "We Are the World"):
Finding these videos and rewatching the halftime show, I was struck by how much I remembered, and how much I didn't, like the huge, inflatable Earth. Pretty damn cool, actually. But what really surprised me is at 2:32 in the second clip, when Michael Jackson starts to talk. I don't remember him ever sounding that deep-throated. I wonder if it was the sound system or something? Otherwise, it's kind of a shame he didn't talk like that all the time. Sounded nice, y'know?
Bottom line, not only was this a fantastic Michael Jackson experience for me, but I maintain (on 15 years of subsequent halftime viewing) that it is probably one of the best halftime shows ever. This is how I first met Michael Jackson, and how I would most like to remember him.
*I say "obligatory" because even though I wasn't really much of a fan, I've been remembering and researching him ever since his death and, in typical fashion, have now become temporarily obsessed. Posting about it will either help me move on to another subject, or at least help me justify the hours I've been spending on youtube watching his music videos. *facepalm*
Then, in 1993, I got to watch the superbowl halftime show. That was the first and only time I ever saw Michael Jackson perform live (via television, of course, but you know what I mean). By that time, I had a general awareness that Michael Jackson had become a weirdo, a perception formed through my parents who were children of the sixties and seventies, and never that interested in mainstream pop music. They knew Michael Jackson as the talented little black boy in the Jackson Five, and when the halftime show started with the camera close-up of Jackson, I remember thinking, "Now I'll finally get to see what all the hubbub is about." (Yes, my eight-year-old self used words like "hubbub.") I remember my mom making remarks along the lines of, "What has he done to his face? He looks like a white woman!" And when the choreography started, she of course had to make lots of disapproving noises about all the crotch-grabbing (which I didn't - and don't - disagree with).
Click to viewBut those recollections are dim next to what I remember about Jackson, himself. I remember thinking that his face, unnatural as it looked, was really kind of pretty, especially with the curly ponytail. And I really remember the white shirt he wore. Confession time: I've always had a thing for slim guys in clean, white shirts. I don't know why, but it's always been a huge turn-on for me, and it's entirely possible that I may have first discovered that about myself while watching Michael Jackson in the superbowl halftime show, singing lines from "Black or White."
Here's the first portion of that performance, courtesy of youtube, and someone's old VHS recording of the show. It's not the best quality, but it matches my 15-year-old memories of the concert pretty vividly:
Then, he performed "Heal the World," and while I watched and listened, I suddenly knew why this man was so incredibly popular. I. Freaking. LOVED THAT SONG. I knew the lyrics were corny, but it was the early 90's, when all that "save the cheerleader whales, save the world" stuff was a Big Deal. But, oh, it was such a pretty melody, and such a fantastic presentation (lip-synched, obviously, but who cares?) with Michael and all the kids and him seeming like such a sensitive, caring, kinda normal person that I was utterly blown away (and suddenly nursing an unexpected - and short-lived - crush on the King of Pop).
Here's that part (including a bit of "We Are the World"):
Finding these videos and rewatching the halftime show, I was struck by how much I remembered, and how much I didn't, like the huge, inflatable Earth. Pretty damn cool, actually. But what really surprised me is at 2:32 in the second clip, when Michael Jackson starts to talk. I don't remember him ever sounding that deep-throated. I wonder if it was the sound system or something? Otherwise, it's kind of a shame he didn't talk like that all the time. Sounded nice, y'know?
Bottom line, not only was this a fantastic Michael Jackson experience for me, but I maintain (on 15 years of subsequent halftime viewing) that it is probably one of the best halftime shows ever. This is how I first met Michael Jackson, and how I would most like to remember him.
*I say "obligatory" because even though I wasn't really much of a fan, I've been remembering and researching him ever since his death and, in typical fashion, have now become temporarily obsessed. Posting about it will either help me move on to another subject, or at least help me justify the hours I've been spending on youtube watching his music videos. *facepalm*