[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The story of Michael Jackson is an inspiring and heady one. The boy from the Gary, Indiana ghettos made a legend of transcending boundaries and classifications. Through his talent, through his circumstances, through his perseverance the man who would be musical King became a figure of great global influence as well as a figure of significant social argument. As the 7th surviving child of 9 from parents Joe and Katherine, Michael Jackson evokes a emotional response like few others: extreme love as well as extreme hate. Some would say these two poles were actually one and the same but there’s no denying that the preeminent performer has had a significant impact on nearly every person on Planet Earth in his 49 going on 50 years of existence. And with this knowledge the artist rightfully called the King of Pop, Rock, and Soul released a revamped version of his most significant commercial contribution to the music world named Thriller 25.
The 25th anniversary of the revolutionary record-decimating Thriller album showcased the original’s lasting legacy with interpretations of the album’s classic tunes by modern artists will.i.am and Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas, Akon, and Kanye West. Though the 2008 versions could never hold a candle to the 1982 originals (and how could they really?), the participation of these top-charted stars shows that Michael is serious business. LL Cool J doesn’t have to tell you the opening lyrics of Mama Said Knock You Out for you to know that MJ’s phoenix-like rise from the scandalous ashes has just begun. The world’s all-time greatest selling album became the #1 album on Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums charts and Top Comprehensive Albums charts as well as hitting #1 and Top Ten positions in nations from France to the Philippines from Korea to Canada from the Netherlands to New Zealand.
But then a robbery occurred. Outside of the classic album reissue classification of the Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums chart, Thriller 25 would have entered the big money Billboard’s 200 charts at #2 but because of a schizophrenic stipulation regarding albums older than 18 months that have fallen out of the top 200 it was mysteriously absent. Instead we saw a chart with Jack Johnson’s Sleep Through The Static at #1 and a scroll of performers who appeared on the recent 2008 Grammy Awards starting with Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black at #2, Alicia Keys’ As I Am at #3, Grammy Nominees 2008 at #4, and Herbie Hancock’s River: The Joni Letters at #5.
The King was back but did anybody even hear about it? The Top Comprehensive Albums charts covered all albums regardless of age or method of sales but the Billboard 200 was playing shysty. Number 1 Jack Johnson, the surfer turned singer, sold about 180,000 maintaining his top position in his album’s second week on the charts. Number 2 Amy Winehouse, the troubled singer in serious need of rehab, sold about 115,000 in a chart rebound from #24 up to #2 in a week for the 49 week old album. Michael, however, sold about 166,000 on his opening week in these U.S. charts but despite the album treatment as a new release elsewhere in the world, home territory denies the full recognition due to the album’s classification as a catalog sale (most of which usually sell about 15,000 to 20,000 copies per week).
It didn’t matter that the album had new songs, and an accompanying DVD of Thriller era short films. Rules were rules. But are these rules consistent or do they flip-flop like a certain NAFTA advocate in the current election news? Billboard confuses music industry observers with how it orients the standards of Billboard 200 membership. Usually a big current star like Mary J. Blige or Beyoncé could release a special second edition of a hit album including new songs, remixes, and videos but those sales would be tallied with the original album. Other music sets like soundtracks are nearly always coming out in original and deluxe editions and counted together just the same. But strangely curious exceptions are made on these matters too. And for more complication, Billboard eliminated a rule last year that walled off releases at a single retailer from being able to make the Billboard 200. A retailer like Wal-Mart and a release like Long Road to Eden by top-selling 70’s band The Eagles which sold over 700,000 at the infamous megalomart.
Anybody who keeps up with Michael’s record-making musical achievements knows that there seems to be some conspiracy at work with getting Thriller dethroned as the greatest selling-album of all time. Certain members of the press and public alike over the years take pride in announcing some release from The Eagles beating Thriller as best-selling of all-time…if only in the U.S. Could these shifty rules be a part of that campaign? In any event, Thriller 25 enhances that globally untouchable 104 million plus sales arc and lays the groundwork for the master with nearly 45 years under his belt in the world of performing to complete his homecoming with the long-awaited album of all new material later this year.
By no means the end-all be-all of Michael’s musical mastery with his vast span of masterpieces, Thriller still represents that Standard of Quality all artists worth their saltshakers hope to achieve. When that skinny soul dynamo with the jhericurl, the black highwaters, the red zipper jackets, and the glitter socks put on that magic glove stamping his footprint on the world as he moonwalked across the stage and achieved the Victory. That’s why the buyers in this age of downloadables went to the stores and pushed Thriller 25 right to the top of the charts. That means something. And no matter the gossip or rumor or lore floating in the atmosphere, believe this: Michael means something.
Hee Hee Hees to Variety’s The Set List.
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