Entertainment
Michael Jackson’s Revolutionary Album ‘Thriller’ Turns 40
Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which turns 40 next week, was the most commercially successful album of all time and helped define an era with its audiovisual aspirations. It combined rock, pop, and RnB in a way that had never been done before.
Over 100 million copies of “Thriller” have been sold globally since its November 30, 1982, debut.
It established Jackson as the “King of Pop” and is still a fundamental piece of music.
Even the latest paedophilia accusations in the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” couldn’t diminish Jackson’s appeal; his music is presently rated 60th globally on Spotify with 36.7 million monthly plays.
His influence is still all over the charts, not least in the form of The Weeknd, whose music has channelled Jackson, from an early cover of “Dirty Diana” (2010’s “DD”) through to his recent chart-topping album “Dawn FM”.
“Michael is somebody that I admire. He’s not like a real person, you know? When I started making music, that’s all I wanted to aspire to, just like every other musician,” the Canadian singer-songwriter told GQ magazine recently.
Much of the magic on “Thriller” is thanks to producer Quincy Jones, who had worked with Jackson on 1979’s “Off The Wall”.
“The record company didn’t want Quincy for ‘Off The Wall’. They took a dim view of this producer from the jazz world — music that sold peanuts in the eyes of the industry,” said Olivier Cachin, author of two books on Jackson.
But the collaboration saw sparks fly — literally on one occasion.
“When we were finishing ‘Beat It’… we were working five nights and five days, with no sleep. And at one point, the speakers overloaded and caught on fire!” Jones recalled to Rolling Stone.
– Threatening MTV –
“Thriller” was the moment when Jackson started to pull in influences from across pop culture, with Eddie Van Halen’s hard rock solo on “Beat It”, and pop ballad “The Girl is Mine” with Paul McCartney.
There were pioneering rap rhythms on “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” and a sample from “Soul Makossa” by saxophonist Manu Dibango (who got a large pay-out after Jackson’s team failed to secure authorisation).
Initially, the record failed to break on to the newly established MTV channel, which refused to show the video for megahit single “Billie Jean” on the grounds that black music did not “fit” with its white-dominated rock programming.
The boss of Jackson’s parent label at CBS, Walter Yetnikoff, “threatened to publicly denounce MTV as huge racists and block their access to videos of rock artists in its catalogue”, said Cachin.
Yetnikoff won that battle but then found himself clashing with Jackson over his plans for a $1 million video for the album’s last single, the title track “Thriller”.
Jackson wanted to work with director John Landis, having loved his movie “An American Werewolf in London”, while Yetnikoff thought the plan was pointless when the album was already at number one.
“But Michael had a vision, and he was stubborn,” said Cachin.
The ensuing 14-minute mini-film, which had its Hollywood premiere in front of a star-studded audience, helped revitalize album sales.
Not only did Jackson transform into a werewolf and raise the dead from the dead, but the elaborate and ambitious music videos that followed would go on to define the following two decades of modern culture.
The United Kingdom government has denied entry to controversial American rapper Kanye West, blocking his planned return to the European stage ahead of a highly anticipated comeback performance.
According to reports, the artist recently applied for permission to travel to the UK, where he was scheduled to headline the popular Wireless Festival in July.
SEE ALSO:Adidas, Kanye West Reach Settlement, Ending Legal Dispute
However, authorities turned down the request, citing concerns that his presence would not be in the interest of public good.
The decision is believed to be linked to widespread backlash over West’s past antisemitic remarks, which have sparked global criticism and strained his professional relationships in recent years.
The UK government’s move reflects a growing trend of holding high-profile figures accountable for statements considered harmful or divisive.
West was billed to perform across all three nights of the festival, set to take place at Finsbury Park in London, as part of what many fans saw as a major comeback tour.
His absence now leaves organizers scrambling to adjust the lineup for one of the summer’s biggest music events.
While officials have not provided further details beyond the decision, the development has stirred reactions across the entertainment industry, with fans and critics divided over the government’s stance.
As anticipation builds toward the festival, attention now shifts to how organizers will fill the void left by one of music’s most polarizing figures.
Nigerian entertainer Martin’s Ortse, popularly known as Verydarkman (VDM) has expressed skepticism over influencer Blessing CEO’s claims that she is battling breast cancer and seeking financial support for urgent surgery.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, VDM cautioned about the sensitive nature of cancer and the need for transparency before public appeals.
“I just hope what Blessing CEO is saying is true because cancer is a very sensitive matter globally. Cancer is not something that someone should joke with; it has claimed the lives of many people. A friend of mine lost his mother from cancer,” he wrote.
SEE ALSO: Blessing CEO Battles Breast Cancer, Appeals to Fans for Urgent Surgery Support
VDM questioned the authenticity of Blessing CEO’s claims, pointing out the absence of hospital documentation.
“I’m not convinced enough that Blessing CEO is telling the truth. Why? Because you did not post any proof from the hospital that diagnosed you. You did not provide the hospital or a doctor’s report.
“You said a lot of resources have gone into your health, yet you did not provide receipts for people to see. Instead, you came online appealing emotionally, saying this is the time for people to show you love,” he added.
Recall that Blessing CEO had shared in a video on Instagram that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and urgently needs surgery, including a possible amputation, to halt the progression of the illness.
She revealed that what initially seemed like a harmless lump in her right breast last year was later confirmed as cancer, and the illness has now spread to her left breast.
“I have not been able to work, and my resources have been exhausted. That is why I am appealing for support. If my words have ever had a positive impact on your life, and you are a fan, this is the time to show it. Nothing is too small. I just want to be well,” she said.
Nigerian influencer Blessing CEO has revealed that she is battling breast cancer and is seeking urgent financial support to undergo life-saving surgery.
In a video shared on Instagram, Blessing, who appeared bald, explained that she had exhausted her personal resources on treatment and felt “powerless,” prompting her to go public.
ALSO READ: I Make $40,000 Montly With Content Creation Says Blessing CEO
“I have been diagnosed with breast cancer. At this point, I urgently need surgery, including a possible amputation, to stop the spread and determine how far the tumour has gone, and whether one or both breasts will be affected,” she said.
Born Blessing Okoro Nkiruka, Blessing revealed that what initially seemed like a harmless lump in her right breast last year was later confirmed as cancer after further tests.
She disclosed that the illness has now spread to her left breast, making surgical intervention critical.
“It started last year as a lump, and I went to the hospital. Weeks after the tests, I was told it was not cancerous, so I decided not to remove it at the time because I had a lot going on.
“But when I was ready to have it removed, another test was carried out, and it was discovered that the lump was cancerous and had spread to the left breast. We are now considering an amputation,” she explained.
Blessing made a heartfelt appeal to her fans: “If my words have ever had a positive impact on your life, and you are a fan, this is the time to show it. Nothing is too small. I just want to be well.”
The influencer is urging anyone willing to offer support to contribute toward her medical expenses as she prepares for potentially life-saving surgery.
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