Jackson's popularity and success were primarily the result of his?

Answer 1

His unprecedented ability to do EVERYTHING so well. So well, in fact, that he set the bench mark, and that he inspired later artists to pay homage to him in their work and copy him*.

1. He wrote the lyrics to his songs (very few pop artists today do that).

2. He wrote the arrangements to his songs (the beat, rhythm, notes, key, etc).

3. His voice was great for both the studio and live performances - he wasn't computerized.

4. He could beat box

5. He could dance like no other (so he didn't invent the moonwalk... but who does everyone think about when it's mentioned?). His smoothness, agility and preciseness were often noted. Jermaine, his brother, claims he improvised his dance moves when he performed Billie Jean at the Motown 25.

6. His records could be listened all the way through. Most did this with Thriller, as every song was popular, and nearly all were singles (save for "The Lady In My Life" and "Baby Be Mine").

7. He knew how to put on a live performance (watch the entrance to Super Bowl 1993 or the Motown 25 performance). He choreographed and created the sets.

8. His sense of fashion was impeccable. He didn't follow trends, he created trends. You'll notice the 80's are back in fashion now, but you're not seeing shoulder pads and leg warmers, but military jackets, high heeled, buckle boots and skinny jeans/shiny leggings. You know who to thank.

9. He was exceedingly creative. He helped put together not only his songs and dances, but album covers, show sets, and photo shoots. He simply had a mind for that.

10. And in the middle of all this, one would think he was vain. That couldn't have been further from the truth. I think what resonated with the public the most was his humility, his shyness, his desire to "Heal The World", his warmth and his readiness to accept all people (too bad everyone else couldn't do that). He holds the Guiness Book of World Record's title as the celebrity who has given the most to charity (all of the proceeds from the "Man In The Mirror" single went to charity and he gave all of his pay from the Victory tour to charity, to name a few).

* Shakira does an anti-gravity lean in her "She-Wolf" music video, like in the "Smooth Criminal" music video; Lady Gaga did her "LoveGame" music video in a subway, like in the "Bad" music video; Rihanna's "Please Don't Stop The Music" features the African chant from "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" off the Thriller album (Jackson did co-write the song); Justin Timberlake did Michael's famous pose (the toe-stand) in Entertainment Weekly's Artist's of the Decade issue.

Just a few of the many odes to MJJ.