Tag Archives: jeffrey-daniel

Happy Birthday MJ: 5 Artists Who Were Influenced By The King of Pop

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Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Almost a decade after his passing, Michael Jackson’s influence is still ever present. In 1964, the world was introduced to a Michael Joseph Jackson, the eighth child of Katherine and Joe Jackson. Michael made his musical debut as the youngest member of his family singing group, The Jackson 5, alongside his brothers  Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon. The Jackson 5 gave us a ton of classics including, “I Want You Back” (1969), “ABC” (1970), “The Love You Save” (1970), and “I’ll Be There” (1970). In 1971, Michael embarked on his solo career. In the early 80’s, things began to really take off for Michael and he quickly solidified his place at an ultimate pop star. Songs like “Beat It”, “Billie Jean”, and “Thriller” from his 1982 album  Thriller , made it apparent that Michael Jackson wasn’t going anywhere any time soon. His music was not only entertaining but also political. Every step of the way, Michael Jackson attempted to break down racial barriers through his music and business ventures. Michael’s sophomore album, Bad, became the first album in the country to spawn 5 number one singles with  “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You”, “Bad”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, “Man in the Mirror”, and “Dirty Diana.” That wasn’t the last of Michael’s history-making and record-breaking. From his fashion to his iconic videos, everyone wanted to be Michael Jackson, a talent that has yet to be replicated in after four decades. Let’s take a look at how MJ inspired some of today’s talent.   Beyonce Source: Getty / Getty Where would Beyonce be without Michael Jackson? You can tell in her showmanship that MJ was a huge inspiration. She’s paid homage to the King of Pop in several performances, mainly her Super Bowl performance and her tribute to Jackson with Destiny’s Child.   Beyoncé’s tribute to Michael Jackson was one of the most touching tributes of all time. pic.twitter.com/bkczJFKznU —

Would Michael Jackson Approve? Celebrity Moonwalks Ranked From Best To Worst

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Source: Bob King / Getty If you’re a Michael Jackson fan, nine times out of ten you’ve tried the moonwalk in the comfort of your solitude. Though the concept of the dance seems simple, it’s definitely no easy task. Michael Jackson first performed the dance on TV for the special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,  which aired on NBC on May 16, 1983, according to Billboard . However, it’s pretty well known that M.J. didn’t invent the moonwalk and up until his performance, it wasn’t really known by that name. Dancer Jeffrey Daniel notably performed the move on the U.K. show Top of the Pops  in 1982 and back then, it was known as the “backslide.” Peep the moves around the 1:58 mark below!   Even before Jeffrey’s performance, poppers and b-boy dancers were known to do the dance in city streets and clubs. Mr. Freeze of the influential Rock Steady b-boy crew even did the moves in a scene from Flashdance , which was released on April 15, 1983. Check out his variation of the backslide around the 0:25 mark below!   A recorded variation of the backslide can also be found from the 1950s thanks to dancer Bill Bailey … (2:04 mark)   Despite who “created” the “backslide” or the “moonwalk,” there’s no question that M.J. popularized the move and turned it into a global phenomenon. According to Yahoo , Michael wasn’t specific on who taught him the dance (and there’s still much debate about this), but he still gave credit to the streets in his 1988 memoir Moonwalker. “I would finally do the Moonwalk in public on  Motown 25. Now the Moonwalk was already out on the street by this time, but I enhanced it a little when I did it. It was born as a breakdance step, a ‘popping’ type of thing that black kids had created dancing on the street corners in the ghetto…So I said, ‘This is my chance to do it,’ and I did it. These three kids taught it to me.”   Since Michael showed off his skills to the world, countless folks have tried the iconic footwork — from eager fans to talented celebrities. Unfortunately, on the celebrity side, it hasn’t been all success. In honor of Michael Jackson’s 60th birthday, check out some stars who nailed the dance as well as others who were not so smooth.

Would Michael Jackson Approve? Celebrity Moonwalks Ranked From Best To Worst