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Thriller Turns 31 : 6 WAYS Best Selling Album Changed Music
When it comes to achievement, no one can match up to Thriller’s magnitude of success. Jackson achieved new heights of celebrity after the album, an impressive feat given his smash-hit success in touring with his siblings as a child and then again as a solo artist.This album has sold 45 million copies in its initial chart run, and as it celebrates 31 years today, we present you with a list of how it revolutionized music.
1) The best-selling album of all time
Within a year of its release, Thriller became (and still remains) the best-selling album of all time, estimated to have sold over 65 million albums worldwide with 7 out of its 9 tracks reaching the top 10 on the Billboard 100. The album also won a record-breaking 8 Grammy Awards in 1984, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year for Beat It
2) The Thriller mini-movie changed music videos forever
Directed by John Landis, this legendary 14 minute music video influenced a generation of directors and turned music promos into an industry by revolutionizing music video production. It helped create a market for VHS rentals and sales as fans did not want to wait around for television stations to play it. A making-of video was also made, whose rights were bought by MTV and Showtime. It attracted more than 100,000 advance orders when the documentary was released on VHS.
In 2009, Thriller became the first music video to be inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
3) Conquered racial divides
During the 80s, MTV was a big deal among teenagers in America, and would hardly play any clips by black artists. Jackson and other black artists struggled to get airtime. However, Thriller’s success sealed MTV’s reputation as a new cultural force by dissolving racial barriers in the station’s treatment of music. It broke industry sales records which in turn paved the way for other African-American artists, including Prince and Marvin Gaye.
4) A variety of genres – something for everybody
Thriller expanded the approachfrom Jackson’s previous album Off The Wall by adding tracks that contained a wide range of genres including pop, R&B, adult contemporary, and rock. The album consisted of the soft and gentle sound of Human Nature, the tough Beat It, along with the sweet schmaltz of the Paul McCartney duet, The Girl Is Mine, making it appealing to almost every kind of audience.
This is probably why it came as no surprise that the album spent the most weeks (37) atop the Billboard 200 of any album by a single artist.
5) The Moonwalk
In an article about Michael Jackson, it would be a crime to neglect his dance moves. After the success of Thriller, he gave his iconic legendary Billie Jean performance at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever where he executed The Moonwalk, soon to become his signature move, and to the world most iconic dance move of all time.
6) Influence on popular culture
Thriller’s influence on popular culture has truly been extraordinary. It has tributes the world over in the form of hybrid street dances and even a synchronized prison dance to the Thriller video which was performed by 1500 inmates in the Philippines.
Its impact on fashion has also been profound with a Michael Jackson Juun J Spring/Summer 2011 Collection being launched which included sparkly gloves, red leather jackets, and red and black high-top sneakers like the ones he wore in the Thriller music video.
The dance has appeared in many movies including 13 Going On 30 and was the inspiration behind Backstreet’s Everybody video released in 1997.
http://www.bidnessetc.com/entertainm...chael-jackson/
http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2013/1...ller-turns-31/
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