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February 11, 2008
Thriller
I tore my apartment upside down looking for this. I have no way of listening to it.
Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary re-issue of Michael Jackson's Thriller. For a long time, my favorite song was "Beat It". It mostly had to do with the video. There's Michael, waking up from a nap or something? Just missing those dudes at the diner and the pool hall, hoping to catch up with them and stop the rumble, but not before dancing and singing at the camera. Nowadays, I prefer "Billie Jean".
That album was ubiquitous for its entire first year--consequently, most of my memories from that time are linked to this record. For example, I remember going to a sixth-grade dance in my pastel-striped Izod sweater (I almost typed that as 'iZod'--thanks Apple!), permed mullet haircut, and grey leather jazz shoes (which I tend to see in the morning on local high school girls as they walk to school--thanks Mary-Kate Olsen!) anxiously awaiting the secret performance that my fellow sixers Tim Koehl, Jay Spivey, Davey Reed and others had planned. (I already knew what the secret was because Tim let the cat out of the bag in CCD class.) It involved "Billie Jean" and a carefully rehearsed break-dancing routine and a single white glove on Tim's hand, little white boy from rural Ohio that he was. Among us girls hanging off to the side, Kristin Barrett was embarrassed to demonstrate how far she'd come in mastering the moonwalk, which she (and, c'mon, all of us) had practiced in her socks on the linoleum kitchen floor.
There was the time several of us raced from school to Sharma Billups' house to watch the world premiere of the video for "Thriller". "World Premiere" in those days meant showing a video about 8 times an hour all day long. We would later memorize the zombie dance. In the summer, at a cheerleading day camp for girls held at the local armory/YMCA by the high school cheerleaders, I learned a pom pom routine to "P.Y.T." Now that I think about it, that last bit is kind of creepy.
I have no interest in the re-imagined re-issue, which features the likes of Kanye--whom I maintain, correctly or incorrectly, is a flash in the pan--and Fergie--Fergie? Really? It's probably better to keep "Thriller" tucked away in my memory. I'm sorry, children of today, that you have no comparable blockbuster megalith like "Thriller" or that you cannot possibly comprehend the magnitude of Michael Jackson's impact on popular culture such that a significant piece of one's childhood is defined right along side it, unapologetically cheesy as it now seems. You'll just have to take my word for it.
Posted by Missy
Comments
I was in the second grade. I went to a small, private, Christian elementary school (Methodist, not Catholic), and my parents only listened to oldies radio. We lived out in the country where there was no such thing as cable TV. Thus, I had heard of, but had never heard, Michael Jackson. One day, we went to music class, and the music teacher said "I think it's important that you hear the popular music of the day." And she played both "Thriller" and "Beat It." They totally blew my mind. My whole class was really into it.
Of course, this being South Carolina, that poor woman was fired shortly thereafter for exposing impressionable young children to the devil's music.
Posted by: Lane at February 12, 2008 08:47 AM
How awesome was it after Kanye announced he owned the Grammy's that Vince Gill got up and asked him if a Beatle ever handed him one?
Touche'
Posted by: 5chw4r7z at February 12, 2008 09:18 AM
Lane - Hah. You just triggered another memory: when Thriller was first released, I was still in the 5th grade. One day in music class, we were having some sort of music quiz contest. It was my turn and I was asked to name three composers. I replied, "Beethoven, Bach, and.....and.....Michael Jackson?" I TOTALLY got credit for that.
5chw4r7z - I didn't see it but I heard the clip on NPR. Everyone deserves some ribbing from time to time, especially someone with his ego.
Finally, may I just emphasize the following: 25 YEARS.
Posted by: Missy at February 12, 2008 11:31 AM
Thank you for bringing some of those 6th grade memories back! Thriller is the epitome of sixth grade to me. I had forgotten about the Tim, Jay, and Davey surprise. Are you kidding that the jazz shoes are back in fashion?? Yikes!
Posted by: Julie at February 12, 2008 01:00 PM
I wish I was kidding.
Posted by: Missy at February 12, 2008 01:59 PM
I was always more of a "Billie Jean" man. Over "Beat It," anyway. "Thriller" was its own magical beast.
To be honest, I was a little on the young side for Thriller (Let's see -25 makes me...eight?) But I was enthralled by the videos as a kid (along with those for the Human League, Howard Jones, Kate Bush, and Joe Jackson's "Stepping Out" -- I was living overseas at the time, and they got a lot more run than they probably did in the States) and my older brother played it constantly. I remember him cueing up the "hidden voices" in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" on his Walkman to impress me.
The equivalent album for people my age a few years later (in my corner of South Carolina) was Beastie Boys' License to Ill, which was chanted constantly by everybody in 5th and 6th grade.
And now I feel like hearing "Human Nature."
Posted by: Kevin at February 12, 2008 02:26 PM
I'm thinking I may have to purchase "Thriller" on iTunes, though I wonder if it's re-issue or nothing. I'm also doubting my ability to listen to the title track with a straight face.
Posted by: Missy at February 12, 2008 02:49 PM
I hate to take food out of Michael Jackson's mouth, but here.
Posted by: john ex-dc at February 12, 2008 08:21 PM
I enjoyed the comment that todays kids have no comparable blockbuster like Thriller. As I am an old guy, my memories go back to Feb.9, 1964. The Beatles perfomed on Ed Sullivan for the first time. I was 9 at the time and hadn't paid much attention to pop music. The Beatles performance changed that. Listening to their music now makes me smile. Thank you Boys for some great music and memories.
Posted by: cheeseball at March 1, 2008 11:46 AM
My family and I were skiing in Utah at the time Billy Jean was released. I first heard it in a cab. I should say heard parts of it, my family was chattering like, um, like ... chatterers, so I could only pick out parts of it. I soooo wanted everybody to shut up, but they wouldn't. I knew it would be just a matter hours until I'd have another chance to hear a song I assumed would take over the world. Then I saw the dance and pissed myself. I swore I saw Marcel Marceau do that move before, a bit about closing a window in the wind. I love M.J., now there's a genius.
Posted by: bour3 at March 1, 2008 01:32 PM