Territorial Bloggings

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was a watershed event back in early 1983. Not only did it offer a stunningly good slate of classic Motown talent, including a Temps vs. Tops “showdown”, a mini-reunion by Diana Ross & the Supremes, a powerful performance of What’s Goin’ On? by Marvin Gaye, and a performance by The Jackson 5, it also heralded the ascension of the King of Pop, with Michael Jackson’s seminal performance of Billie Jean, during which he unveiled the Moonwalk.

I still remember watching this show when it originally aired. It’s hard to put into words just how powerful and exciting it was. This was the rocket that boosted Michael Jackson into the stratosphere, and propelled Thriller to it’s status as the top-selling (non greatest hits) album of all time. Prior to this, MJ was “merely” the talented breakout star from the Jackson 5, who had grown up to have a pretty darned good solo album with Off The Wall. Afterwards, he began his long road to iconic superstardom & subsequent descent into bizarre eccentricity. But at that moment in time, Michael Jackson was an unbelievably talented, seemingly normal, and undeniably black man who was blowing an industry out of the water.

Here’s a video clip (5:05) that examines the Moonwalk and its impact.

-ghp