Dance Video: Darn it, I still miss Michael Jackson
October 20th, 2009 by soullldiva
Tonight Dancing with the Stars had a nice tribute to Michael Jackson, with LaToya and Jermaine Jackson in attendance. It was well done, and just slightly different as Michael didn’t really choreograph couples dancing. But of course they reserved the best for the end: I NEVER get tired of the choreography from the “Thriller” video. This video changed the way music videos were done, does everyone realize this?? John Landis, a motion picture director, famous for Animal House and American Werewolf in London directed this, people. Michael hand-picked him and called him and said “you and I are going to do something awesome together “. Well, I like to imagine that’s what he said.
Thriller Video, 1983
In any case, the production value was off the charts and I remember watching not only the video countless times in my parent’s bedroom (cable TV), but also the making of the video on HBO and being amazed every time. And the dancing just made me so excited, I’d never quite seen anything like it. Dancing like zombies? Sounded odd, turned out to be super cool and scary.
Way to go Michael. You were a revolutionary. And I still miss you.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:33 am
Michael was indeed amazing and I still remember watching Thriller for the first time. MTV did a special with the making-of first and then premiered the full length video for the first time. I’ll never forget because my mom and I had just moved here and were still living with her brother and his family. My cousin (only 2 months older than me) is a HUGE Michael fan and begged her dad to get a VCR so she could record it. It was a beta (remember those??) and when we all sat down to watch my cousin hit “record” and all of us were silent. Then my uncle turned to us and laughed, telling us that is was okay to talk. Well all though it was like a tape recorder, LOL. Good memories…
October 21st, 2009 at 11:53 am
We totally had a BETA, too! Then six months later when VHS high-fi came out my dad was kicking himself because the Beta was twice as expensive. Wow, that’s when MTV was still playing music videos!!!