Michael Jackson- “Thriller”, 1983
Label: Epic
Songwriter: Rod Temperton
Producer: Quincy Jones
It’s the title track to the greatest selling album of all time, and universally lauded as the most popular song across the King of Pop’s dominant catalog. However, it’s often forgotten that Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was the late-blooming seventh and final single to be released from the blockbuster record of the same name. It’s even more difficult to fathom that Epic Records initially had no plans to release the song as a single at all, dismissing it as a mere “novelty” song. And, let’s be clear: with its spooky atmospherics, Vincent Price’s legendary spoken-horror dramatics, and iconic zombie music video, “Thriller” is undoubtedly a novelty to be sure. But it’s a novelty of the most mammoth proportions, and so much more. Four decades later, it remains one of the ultimate and definitive moments in the history of both American popular music, and pop culture in general.
Opening with the sounds of creaking doors, ominous steps, cracks of thunder, and a wolf’s howl, “Thriller” immediately establishes the horror movie atmospherics that have allowed it to endure as a Halloween-staple for decades. Once you’re lured into its spooky setting, it immediately transitions into the alluringly infectious amalgamation of R&B, funk, and disco that had emerged as Jackson’s solo calling card. All of these elements set a dazzling stage for the superstar to take the spotlight with his commanding vocal performance. It spills over with his signature charisma, smooth pop swagger, and a cinematic ebb and flow between the nuanced anticipation of the verses and bursting drama of the chorus that perfectly suits any ghoulish tale. From a sonic production standpoint, “Thriller” stands to me as a fever-pitch peak moment for Jackson’s collaborations with iconic producer, Quincy Jones. That monicker can of course be applied to any moment on the overall album, but its title track remains the supreme moment where Jones’ impeccable touch for creating a slick brand of 70s pop magic merged perfectly with Jackson’s eccentric creativity and forward-looking sonic and visual sensibilities. No matter how many times you’ve heard it, and we know it’s a zillion, every moment still sounds expertly crafted, executed, and irresistibly fresh and entertaining.
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As for those visual sensibilities? Well, we of course cannot separate any discussion about “Thriller” the single without acknowledging its industry-shaking music video. An ambitious, thirteen-minute mini-film that depicts Jackson transforming into a werewolf and climaxes with a dancing line of zombies, it was a groundbreaking, game-changing moment that helped illustrate the power of the budding music video art form. Like the record itself, its presentation was seamless and thoughtful, and remains ageless and iconic when viewed today. It’s easy today to take the role of the music video for granted, but “Thriller” ushered in an era when a video became an inextricable ingredient of the presentation of both a song and an artist. Jackson viewed his videos as more than just a promotional tool; it was a pivotal vehicle for furthering his art. This vision sent the power of the MTV-era into the stratosphere, and paved the way for cinematic video accomplishments from other monumental artists of the time, including Madonna, Duran Duran, Prince, and many more.
The enormous one-two punch of “Thriller’s” single and video releases proved significant in extending the album’s sales power further well into 1984, where it repeated its achievement from 1983 as the best-selling album of the year, and earned an astounding eight trophies at the 1984 Grammy Awards. It became one of those rare musical moments that captivated all demographics, both mature record-buyers and the younger shopping-mall generation that was starting to prove that their buying power could not be underestimated. When all was told, Thriller eventually sold seventy-million copies on its way to becoming the best selling studio album of all time worldwide, a record it seems destined to hold for eternity.
It’s impossible to imagine any of those accomplishments, not to mention the musical story of Michael Jackson, without this record. In many ways, it’s the heartbeat of his legacy. It represents the very essence of what classic pop music should be: fun and larger-than-life. It’s a nostalgic thrill-ride that never fails to transport music-lovers back to a time when it seemed like Michael Jackson’s world-domination would indeed last forever. And in many ways, through performances like “Thriller”, it ultimately has.
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