All these guys need is Michael Jackson’s scarecrow to dance around.
*Oh snap! A photo a day for 365 days. My 365Project – A daily digital diary.*
Michael Jackson
Rock with You
Girl, close your eyes
Let that rhythm get into you
Don’t try to fight it
There ain’t nothin’ that you can do
Relax your mind
Lay back and groove with mine
You got to feel that heat
And we can ride the boogie
Share that beat of love
Three years after his passing, we’re all still rockin’ to Michael Jackson’s music. We’ll never get enough, so we’re never gonna stop. Shamone! Hee Hee!
*In 1979 President Jimmy Carter decreed that June would be Black Music Month. Three decades later in 2009 President Barack Obama revamped the title and declared June African-American Music Appreciation Month. Each day this month I am turning up the volume on an artist or song brought to you by the letter R. Enjoy!*
Remember the Time
John Singleton directed Remember the Time – one of Michael Jackson’s short films featuring Eddie Murphy and his raised eyebrow, an Oscar-winning performance by Magic Johnson (smile!) and model Iman, who shared a rare on-screen kiss with Michael.
*In 1979 President Jimmy Carter decreed that June would be Black Music Month. Three decades later in 2009 President Barack Obama revamped the title and declared June African-American Music Appreciation Month. Each day this month I am turning up the volume on an artist or song brought to you by the letter R. Enjoy!*
For The Record
On this date in 1984, Michael Jackson won eight Grammy Awards for the groundbreaking album Thriller. To this date he holds the record for being the most decorated male artist in one night.* It was a special time in music. Thriller raised the bar and set the benchmark for all artist that followed. If you didn’t have his poster on your wall or an MJ inspired leather jacket in your closet, you more than likely tried to dance like him. Who didn’t? Almost 30 years later, people are still imitating him. Maybe today, you’ll hike up your trousers, slide into some penny loafers and moonwalk your way through the nine tunes that still make up the greatest selling album of all time.
- Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
- Baby Be Mine
- The Girl Is Mine
- Thriller
- Beat It
- Billie Jean
- Human Nature
- P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
- The Lady In My Life
*In 2000, Santana tied MJ’s award count for Supernatural. Santana holds the record for most Grammys won by a group in one night.
Rewind. Stop. Press Play.
In the 1980s the VHS machine and tape revolutionized how we watched television. Setting the timer for your favorite shows while you were out of the house was the newest luxury. Finding out that someone in your household recorded over the episodes of Friday Night Videos was grounds for World War III. Before Blockbuster video became a household name in 1985, I got video rentals from the local mom and pop shop. The first video I ever rented was Michael Jackson’s The Making of Thriller documentary in 1983. I was 13 years old and I must have driven my family crazy with the repetitious play. Michael and his desire to elevate music videos into short movies mesmerized the whole world. With Thriller he changed the game for the music industry.
Fast forward to February 8, 1986 – another game changer was about to take place. On this date Oprah Winfrey became the first African-American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show, and daytime television would never be the same.
First Oprah Winfrey Show
My VCR went into overdrive. Recordings of her talk show was imperative so I could respond to the lunchroom conversation when someone asked, “Did you see Oprah yesterday?” For 25 years that question continued to be asked. Whether you are a fan or foe, you must admit the lessons from those shows infiltrated the consciousness of the world. I’ve always been a fan. Thank you Oprah for shining your light on me. I think today I’ll dust of a VHS tape for old times sake.
A Dose of R&R 