It references numerous horror films, and stars jackson performing a dance routine with a horde of the undead. Thriller is a song recorded by american recording artist michael jackson, composed by rod temperton, and produced by quincy jones. Michael jackson towered over the 1980s the way elvis presley dominated the 1950s, and heres why. In 2004, 34 years after its original release, let it be, the song, was inducted into the grammy hall of fame, forever solidifying the accompanying track, album, film and soundtrack in grammy and beatles history.
I watched this short film music video with my mouth agape for the second time. The jacket became the hottest outerwear fad of the mid1980s and was widely emulated. It stars jessica allain, tequan richmond, chelsea rendon, mitchell edwards, pepi sonuga, maestro harrell, rza and mykelti williamson. Jacksons record company refused to finance it, believing thriller had peaked, so a makingof documentary, making michael jacksons thriller, was produced to receive financing from television networks.
Michael jacksons son hosts thriller halloween party at. Thriller live, a musical featuring the music of the jackson 5 and michael jackson. Thriller, known for having what is arguably the most significant music video and dance moves in pop culture, is the seventh and final single from michael jacksons thriller. Michael jacksons thriller 31st anniversary celebration of short film. Although the album generated four numberone hits, jackson felt that he had the capability of achieving even greater commercial success. Michael jacksons son hosts thriller halloween party at family estate michael jackson son hosts thriller party talks about past halloweens w dad.
Due to my strong personal convictions, i wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult. Michael jackson changed the music game forever back in the day. Michael jackson thriller stephen gilham phd extended. The 14minute short film, as the late singer preferred to call it, was shot on 35mm in. Thriller was made because michael jackson wanted to be a. It was released as the seventh and final single from jacksons album thriller 1982 on january 23, 1984. Michael jacksons bad, perhaps the most highly anticipated album of all time, took the multiformat approach of 1982s thriller and magnified it to largerthanlife proportions. Anthology movie by, and starring, michael jackson in his prime, combining a number of music videos from his bestselling bad album with a fantasy tale of michaels confrontation with a ruthless drug dealer known as mr. Songwriter rod temperton wanted to write a theatrical song to suit jacksons love of film. How michael jacksons thriller changed music videos for ever.
The campy horrorfest with dancing zombies that is michael jacksons thriller, originally conceived as a 14minute short film, is the most. The amazing video but never fact by the incredible artist but of all the history the album that vendio but 100 million copies throughout the world and that never sera surpassed long life to the king. How michael jacksons thriller changed music videos for. Thriller video 1983 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Michael jackson thriller listen to more michael jackson. As this year the world celebrates 31 years since the. Thriller is statement that music is more than that, and michael jackson conceived a short film that no matter how many so called talents try to outdo, theyll. John landis on the making of michael jacksons thriller. Thriller michael jackson tribute to halloween duration. Michael jacksons 14minute short film thriller revolutionized the music video genre forever. Michael turns into a werepanthertype creature, and then later a zombie, as he gets down and funky in a tremendous dance scene to the tune of his song thriller. Designed by deborah nadoolman landis, the candyapplered jacket, with black strips, was noted for its many zips, its m logo and star trekesque angular, rigid shoulder design.
Michael jacksons thriller is the eternal halloween bop and so much more. Michael jacksons thriller is the eternal halloween bop and so much. He is a mount rushmore artist who changed the course of popular music a couple of times. It explores genres similar to jacksons previous album, off the wall 1979, including pop, postdisco, rock and funk. Thriller remains the greatest of the pop music promos to have a plot, great visuals, and a tiptop song to wrap the film around. Camila cabello havana filming locations global film locations. A book chronicles the making of the groundbreaking film. His first major commercial success was the 1979 album, off the wall this was his first collaboration with quincy jones, who would later produce the thriller album. The 1982 album was also a success from which the pop superstar never really recoveredsubsequent albums seemed to have no other goal than to beat the records set by thriller. The amazing video but never fact by the incredible artist but of all the history the album that vendio but 100 million copies throughout the world. Michael jacksons thriller letterboxd your life in film.
On the set i explained that we were doing a film and that was how i. Thriller is arguably the best music video of all time, funny thing is people who wanna argue that is with other michael jackson videos, but what makes thriller so special is the dance, the story, the effects, this at the time was the most expensive music video of its day. This film, michael jacksons journey from motown to off the wall, directed by spike lee, starts with a glimpse into michaels evolution from the early days as a member of the jackson five to the point michael decides it is finally time to release his first solo album featuring his own music and with him having ultimate creative control. They leave, and take a shortcut through the graveyard on the way home. Michael jackson thriller robin skouteris 2016 mashup feat. Michael jacksons thriller was launched to great anticipation and played regularly on mtv. Thriller is the sixth studio album by american singer michael jackson, released on november 30, 1982, in the united states by epic records and internationally by cbs records. Zombie uncredited zombie opening the crypt uncredited. Michael jackson was at the top of the tree at this time and not so altered in his plastic surgery regime for it to matter. As with most albums or ground breaking music, an anniversary edition cash cow edition becomes the standard and this is what this album kinda is for me.
Michael jacksons thriller is the bestselling album of all time, with 45 million worldwide sales powered by seven top 10 u. The pair conceived a short film with a budget much larger than previous music videos. Thriller is in my opinion the michael jackson album and the short film music videos for them set the standard for future videos. Michael jackson thriller shortened version youtube. The red jacket worn by michael jackson in the michael jacksons thriller video in 1983 has been referred to as the thriller jacket. Paris jackson, the 22yearold daughter of michael jackson, is set to star as jesus christ in a new film called habit opposite bella thorne, the producers of the movie told thewrap. Prior to the release of thriller, michael jackson released five other albums. Thriller 25 super deluxe edition by michael jackson on. This track was written by rod temperton, the main songwriter in his band heatwave. Michael jackson thriller official video michael jackson. Recordings concluded with the last day of mixing on monday 8th november 1982.
Thriller viral video, a 2007 video featuring prison inmates in cebu, philippines recreating the dance from michael jacksons music video. The john landisdirected minimovie influenced a generation of directors including spike jonze, turned music promos into an industry, and. Thriller is a 2018 american slasher film directed by dallas jackson in his directorial debut. This iconic mark in pop culture is an important piece of history. Music video thriller was not the product of a brilliant idea but was made because pop star michael jackson wanted to be a monster, director john landis said at the venice film festival on monday. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album thriller. When michael jackson made the music video for thriller, he was the biggest star in the world. Tv john landis was in london in 1983 when michael jackson called to ask if he was interested in making a.
A night at the movies turns into a nightmare when michael and his date are attacked by a hoard of bloodthirsty zombies only a thriller can save them now. This video is a tribute to michael jacksons thriller short film. The film is a coproduction between divideconquer and blumhouse productions. Michael jacksons thriller is a 1983 music video for the michael jackson song thriller, directed by john landis and written by landis and jackson. Michael jacksons thriller 31st anniversary celebration of. Thriller may not be michael jacksons 1999, but its a gorgeous, snappy. The pop was poppier, the rock was rockier, the dance was dancier.