So I was in a thread and a Michael Jackson stan said that Michael Jackson inspired Madonna and then he showed me this picture:



What do you think?

EDIT: He actually said that she was "trying to be him" but I won't go there.

Yes. He was such an inspiration

Have you ever seen that performance? The stairs lighting up as she's walking on them, like in the BIllie Jean video... She shows her off her white socks at one point, just like MJ did in the Billie Jean performance She's wearing loafers....

She even admitted it to grabbing her crotch because MJ did it. She talked about his influence plenty of times. Of course he was an inspiration. She moved on though, that's what artists do, they evolve.

Pretty much, he made nearly everyone have to step their game up in the 80s. Man slayed hardly doing anything.

Yes, I've seen the performance.

He inspired lots of artists.

No. Madonna does her own thing clearly.
MJ did it as part of his regular routine... it's his iconic dance move.
Madonna did it only when dressed as a man.. grabbing her crotch as a sign of masculinity.
Although it might have been inspired by MJ.. I still see them different from each other.

Oh. And listen to Like a Virgin and then listen to Billie Jean

Yes.

Although I think she was more inspired by Marilyn Monroe.

...okay? I don't see your point.

Yes, and Madonna inspired almost all of our faves. So it rounds up very well.

Melodically they're very very similar. And BJ was soooo big that you can't claim coincidence as an excuse.

No.

She liked him though. As a child she like The Jackson 5, and she covered Billie Jean (his best song) on the Virgin Tour.

Then he was a bit of a jackass to her in '89, but they made up and hung out for a while (dinners/Oscars) and worked on a song called In The Closet, which never came to fruition.

Then the child abuse cases came out.

As far as I know, that's the extent of their professional and personal relationship and influence on eachother.

Exactly. That beat.

...Interesting poll results.

He also said that she was jealous of him because she is a woman.