“Michael was different from the other kids. His limb movements were very well co-ordinated for kids of his age “. There, thats what Michael’s mum said and mum’s usually the word. Michael Jackson went on to do some really amazing things to the world of using technology to market his music. Today, we shall take a look at his videos which showcased his technological bent.
But before that,
Thriller was the track (and the album) which ushered in the King of Pop and his penchant for wowing the audience with whatever it took. The transforming Jacko in the moonlight, the zombies, the creaking door, the thunder, et. al kept the fans asking for more.
And while you were nodding to Billie Jean, did you notice that whatever Jacko touched, glowed? The beggars bowl, the lamp post, the tiles, the steps. And finally when he disappeared under the covers. Must have looked awesome 2 decades ago.
Even Bad, which would make you wonder, where exactly are the special effects has a trick under its sleeve. Michael Scorsese directed the title track featuring Wesley Snipes and many whirring mechanical fans to create a wind-blown look.
Then came Smooth Criminal, Jackson’s tribute to Fred Astaire that contained the famous anti-gravity lean dance move, which the singer promptly patented (US Patent no 5255452), as well as the “slow motion spinning coin into the jukebox” effect that has been copied dozens of times.
If you thought you saw it all, Leave Me Alone would have clearly made you stumble in your tracks. It wasn’t just a musical tirade against the media, but also featured loads of SFX, with Jackson flying in an old aircraft and dancing with the bones of Elephant Man.
Then there was the Scream video, which had Michael and sister Janet not just dancing and singing in a spaceship but also playing a videogame, long before videgaming became a rage.
If you thought, Michael’s tech was limited only to his videos, you will be shocked to know that Jackson also had a significant impact on gaming. He was an avid gamer himself and he had an entire array of gaming machines and games which were put up for auctions once Jackson’s bill paying process became difficult.
He was the first major figures in entertainment to have an entire game made on him and also be part of its development. The game was Sega’s Moonwalker, which basically was a beat everyone and everything in sight which was released in 1990. Although it garnered mixed reviews from critics, Jackson fans bought it by the cartridgeful to get the experience of shouting ‘woo!’ just like the King of Pop did every time a baddy bit the dust. Reports suggest that Jackson was working on a game which was to be released later this year.
Yes, the King of Pop did know his technology. In a way, the internet paid the ultimate tribute to the tech side of Michael Jackson when the man passed away. It crashed.
