In collaboration with Jeroen Hamelink - Records/Vinyl expert
One of the most iconic music albums of all time is Thriller by Michael Jackson (1982), and the 14-minute music video (1983) he made for the 'Thriller' single was the cherry on top. What is the story behind this legendary video that has had such a great influence on the music industry? Keep reading to find out.
The Thriller Album
Thriller is Michael Jackson’s most popular album with about 65 million copies sold all over the world. It achieved 33 Platinum certifications in the US. Seven songs on the Thriller album were successfully released as singles – including 'Beat It' and' Billie Jean' - and all reached the top 10 in US charts. Although it is obvious this amazing album would have made history without adding a 14-minute 'Thriller' video, it sure turned the album into an even greater success.
Next Level
From the start, Jackson had every intention to take the Thriller album to the next level and to combine his music with visuals was a very smart move. The first single from the album to be accompanied by a music video was 'Billie Jean' (the one where Jackson dances on illuminating tiles on the street), opening the door for many more R&B music videos. Michael Jackson’s music also opened the door for a new form of marketing in the area of 'black' music, which didn't get the attention it deserved at the time.
The next video, 'Beat It', ensured Michael Jackson’s status as an international pop icon. But it was the 'Thriller' video, or actually short movie, that got by far the most attention. It was produced by film director John Landis, which was very unusual in those days, as was the one million dollar budget – the 'Making Of' documentary included. MTV also paid big bucks to own the exclusive rights to air the video and both investments turned out to be worthwhile; MTV ratings had never been higher and the music video won a Grammy for best video.
The Dark Side of Adolescence
The idea for the 'Thriller' video came from Michael Jackson himself, in order to keep the album scoring high in the hit lists. After seeing 'An American Werewolf' in London he contacted film director John Landis and asked him to turn Jackson into a monster. The main theme in the 14-minute video is the transition from childhood to adolescence; the boy next door changing into a monster represents the changing adolescent body, the bestial side of male sexuality. Together with choreographer Michael Peters, Jackson worked hard to make sure the zombies dancing would look cool and scary instead of comical. Well, they succeeded; even today the 'Thriller' dance is copied all over the world in flash mobs, Youtube videos, parties and as tribute to Jackson.
Legacy
The music video did much more than just establish Jackson’s iconic pop status and sending sales of the Thriller album through the roof. Thanks to the merge of music and filmmaking, the 'Thriller' video created a market for commercial videos. The 'Thriller' video had a significant influence on the music industry. After its debut, MTV aired more and more 'black' music videos and radios played more and more R&B.
Michael Jackson’s career was an ongoing list of success stories; everything he created seemed to turn to gold...and platinum. Is your MJ collection complete? Take a look at our Vinyl auction for copies of Jackson's albums, or register here if you wish to sell one.