How well do you know the King of Pop?
Michael Jackson changed music, dance and music videos. These six questions, from easy to hard, look at the career behind the legend.
Did you know?
- Jackson's single glove became one of the most recognisable fashion items in music history. He began wearing a single sequined glove in the early 1980s, and it became part of his stage identity during the 'Thriller' era.
- The 'Thriller' video was the first music video selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry, in 2009. The registry preserves films considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.
- Jackson won eight Grammy Awards in a single night in 1984, a record at the time. Most of the awards were for 'Thriller' and its songs.
Changing the shape of pop culture
Michael Jackson's influence reaches beyond record sales. He combined singing, dance and film-like videos into a single performance style, and many artists today still follow the template he created. His career spanned more than four decades, from a child star in the late 1960s to global stadium tours in the 1990s.
The music video as cinema
Jackson treated music videos like short films. 'Thriller', released in 1983, ran for about 14 minutes, had a film director and a story, and featured elaborate make-up and choreography. It was later added to the US National Film Registry, the first music video to receive that honour, showing how seriously it is taken as a piece of film history.
Dance that crossed borders
His moves — the moonwalk, spins, toe stands and sharp, rhythmic gestures — were copied by dancers around the world. Jackson rehearsed intensely and worked with choreographers, but many of his signature moves grew out of his own improvisation. Dancers from street dance to ballet have cited him as an inspiration.
Breaking barriers
Jackson's success on MTV and radio helped change which artists global media promoted. As one of the first Black artists to dominate music television, he opened doors for others and showed that audiences across cultures would embrace the same performer. His concerts drew huge crowds on every continent he toured.
Humanitarian work
Beyond entertainment, Jackson supported many charitable causes. In 1985 he co-wrote 'We Are the World' with Lionel Richie, a song recorded by dozens of stars to raise money for famine relief in Africa. It became one of the best-selling singles ever, and its model of artists joining forces for a cause was copied by many later charity projects around the world.