MJV - A Life in Videos

Since Michael's passing, I've come across several sites that are listing his best music videos. For those reading this that grew up watching MTV when they actually played music videos for more than 45 minutes a day, then you'll understand the importance of them and how they revolutionized the music industry.

With that being said, Michael Jackson's videos were about 12 levels above almost anyone elses, since a majority of them were mini-movies, or better stated, short films. MTV wasn't really tolerated in my house (and for a very good reason). But that didn't mean I wouldn't watch it when my parents weren't around.

Whenever Michael Jackson premiered a new music video, the broadcast always became a major event. In the 1980s, the world stopped what they were doing, gathered around the television, and waited to see what wonderful sights and sounds Michael was going to present to them.

So, in honor of the "King of Pop" passing, I'm going to share with you my favorite Michael Jackson music videos.

One additional note before I proceed: I have only selected a few to show you. The reasoning behind this is that as much as I am a fan of his early material, some of his videos, as spectacular as they may be, felt too corny upon revisiting them.

Smooth Criminal was Michael Jackson's seventh single release from his album Bad (1987). It was watching this video that I realized how brilliant a physical performer Michael Jackson could be. Everyone was amazed when they first saw him "moonwalk" on stage for the first time, but this video transended his physical abilities way beyond what I could comprehend. This was, however, where I first started to notice the the downward slide in quality performances by Michael (screaming while firing a tommy gun, for example), as well as any other big celebrity name they got to star along side him.



Bad was Michael Jackson's first single release from his 1987 album of the same name. An 18 minute short film written by Richard Price (Clockers) and directed by Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas) that stars Michael portraying a androgynous-looking (which was kind of a new image for him, and something that he unfortunately never got away from after this video) high school-aged kid returning home to the projects after completing a semester at a private school. He comes to discover that his old "gang" of friends have turned to a life of crime. Almost every Michael Jackson video features an entire section dedicated to his dance choreography, and this one isn't any different. It's too bad Scorsese wasn't as good with the whole music part of the music video, since it's really difficult to see Michael Jackson as anything but bad.

Michael Jackson MTV Music

Billie Jean was the second single released off of Jackson's 1982 Thriller album. Considered by many as the video that brought MTV, an unknown music channel, into mainstream attention. It was also the first video by a black artist to be aired by the channel, as they felt that most "black music" wasn't "rock" enough. It's probably one of Jackson's shortest music videos, where he didn't get the taste of lengthy musical celluloid until the release of his single, Thriller, at the end of 1983. What fascinated me most about this video was how they illuminated almost everything that came into contact with Michael, especially the concrete beneath his feet. Simple by today's standards, but still rather effective.



Thriller was the sixth single release off of Jackson's 1982 album release of the same name. A true masterpeice in it's own right and considered by many as the greatest music video ever made. Directed by John Landis, Thriller follows Michael and his date, Ola Ray, at the movie theater. His date isn't thrilled at all with the horror movie their watching, so she storms out. As Michael chases her down, and begins to tease her with the opening verses of the song. I don't really remember catching the "World Premiere" of this video, but I sure do remember seeing it dozens upon dozens of times as it played on MTV endlessly, eventually being reduced to under a running time of 5 minutes.

Michael Jackson MTV Music

In closing, I've selected the words of one of my close personal friends who said it best:

"Michael Jackson, no matter your feelings on the mans private life and legal troubles, was an amazing man. His music, charity and presence touched millions and millions of people all over the world. He adored children, which in case caused some of the trouble he ran into. He felt the pain and did millions of things to end suffering and starvation of people and children all over this world. From his appearance and the first time he did the moonwalk on stage to his last appearance and plans for a new tour, the man defined the Motown experience and defined pop music."