Influence Of Jackson's Thriller Video Still Amazing

CLEVELAND - I'll never forget how I felt the first time I watched "Michael Jackson's Thriller" video because even though I was just six years old, I knew that is was a masterpiece of originality and brilliance.

I'm not kidding.

It was 26 years ago today that the groundbreaking music video premiered on MTV after a much ballyhooed promo campaign in the weeks leading up to its release. Even though it was officially a music video for the title track of Michael's unstoppable album, it was ostensibly a short film musical complete with a storyline, horror film motifs and expensive special effects. Jackson had already wowed the world with his creativity in music videos with the early 1983 clips for "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." But "Thriller" was a far more ambitious endeavor as Jackson treated it like a feature length film from the start. The 25-year old megastar eschewed traditional music video protocol and instead enlisted film director John Landis to helm the project.

It had never been done before.

MJ also brought in acclaimed film make-up artist Rick Baker to make the gore of the flick as realistic as possible. In other words, he went all out and spared no expense to craft a stunning film that would amaze its viewers and acquire a lasting legacy. As a result, the budget was outlandishly high for '83 and nearly derailed the film's production.

Nearly.

Looking back, it stuns and amazes me when I think of how ahead of his time Michael was. Nothing about the "Thriller" video was standard or commonplace and its tour-de-force nature inspired artists then and since then to up their game and their creativity. While it is very true that the "scary" nature of the video terrorized countless children nationwide, the true scariness was in just how brilliant Jackson's mind was. He trumped every one of his peers, not just because he outworked them, but because his outside-the-box thinking was fourth dimensional.

If anyone wants to know how enormous of an impact "Michael Jackson's Thriller" still has, take one look at the recently completed worldwide "Thriller dance" in which prisoners and scores of individuals from foreign countries get together in their streets and re-create the famous, synchronized choreography of the video. Take a look at any contemporary music video and notice the "story" as well as the costumery and how slick the production is. Those characteristics derived from the ultimate game changer; "Thriller" and today's artists readily admit its influence on them.

Just one more reason why Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer in history.

Jackson's Concept For Thriller Film Was Scary Brilliant

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson revolutionized the music video in the 1980's to such an enormous degree that his impact continues to resonate today in spite of his long absence from public view.

Credit Thriller for that.

Thriller, the seminal music video which Jackson correctly referred to as a short film made its world premiere on MTV 25 years ago today to stunning global reviews. The album of the same name had been released a full year earlier and had sold an unprecedented amount of copies throughout the close of 1982 and much of 1983. Sales began to decline sometime around the fall of '83 but with the release of the unbelievable Thriller film, the album began an eye-popping climb back up the charts and sold better than it had previously!

Before Jackson's historic Thriller album, music videos were very basic and watered down. Often, the performer of the song would be different from the performer in the video. It was Jackson that transformed conventional thinking and used his formidable creativity to fuel his project's singular uniqueness.

Jackson's fame had risen to astronomical levels in early 1983 with the release of his classic "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" videos. Then, a Spring appearance on Motown 25 and a super stylized public image catapulted him into the realm of legendary pop star. He was ultra popular worldwide but no one expected the groundbreaking success that would become the Thriller film.

Directed by film director John Landis, Thriller was a semi-macabre 13-minute horror/musical complete with a storyline and closing credits. It was even released theatrically for a brief time to make it eligible for an Academy Award.

The Thriller album went on to garner eight American Music Awards and another seven Grammys. It sold an astounding 104 million copies worldwide, a historical accomplishment so staggering that most of the greatest artists of all-time haven't even sold that much with their entire discography. As for the film, the quarter century since its premiere has given it a firm place in pop culture lore and it has been mimicked and praised as an iconic creation that has raised the bar tremendously on creativity in the music industry.

Special salute to the great Michael Jackson for making every creative person on the planet better than we ever dreamed of being.

25 Years Ago Today: Jackson Begins Filming 'Thriller'

CLEVELAND - The legendary Michael Jackson began filming scenes for the most influential music video in history a quarter century ago today and even though no other website, television program or print publication will mention it, I feel as though the moment deserves attention.

I'm talking about Thriller.

The groundbreaking clip, more of a short film than music video, has had an enormous impact on the music industry as well as American culture at large since its debut twenty-five years ago and earned Jackson, 25 at the time the incredible distinction of "music video pioneer." Indeed, the reclusive entertainer still gets awarded accolades from that transcendent effort all these years later.

Filmmaker John Landis, along with Jackson, co-star Ola Ray and a crew large enough for a feature film took to the streets of Los Angeles late at night, namely on Union Pacific Avenue to film the video's centerpiece dance number. When all was said and done, a seminal masterpiece had been constructed and had its ballyhooed world premiere on December 2, 1983 on the previously segregated MTV network.

The 13-minute film was so incredible, indelible and insanely popular that the album of the same name skyrocketed back up the charts despite being released an entire year earlier!

Unprecedented.

When Vestron Video released "Making Michael Jackson's Thriller" a short time later, it became the biggest selling home videocassette in history. My six year old self was having the time of my life basking in the blinding glow emanating from Jackson's fame.

And it all started 25 years ago today. Wow.