Who here was a teen or older when Thriller was released?

Question

Did you like the album or think it was the worst thing to happen to music ever?
What was the whole hype surrounding this first "pop sensation"?
Additional comments allowed

And, Do you think MTV killed music?

Long live the radio and album stars

referring to pop sensation in todays idea of music which is pretty screwed up

Answer 1

I never did understand the hype. I listened to classic rock then, and pretty much made fun of Michael Jackson.

Answer 2

I was in High School (great, get me to admit my age!). My friends and I enjoyed the album and the videos, but no one thought "Oh, Wow, Michael Jackson is a pop sensation!" I listened to the songs on the radio, but never bought the album.

As for the hype: it was very good music in the genre of the time...the music itself always had a good hook and a good beat and the lyrics tended to tell a story. What really helped the album take off were the creative videos with high production values. The videos also told a story - many were like mini-movies- and the quality was high.

Other videos of the time dressed up the artists or bands and put them in an appropriate environment for the song, but they were more "we're singing the song here in an old hotel dressed up like the 1940's" (The Motels: "Only the Lonely") or "Gee she dances great and looks outrageous and so do the backgrounds" (Madonna - any of them) or "Look at the band play and sing... now look at a setup of the situation from the song... now look at the band for a while... now look at the setup..."

Now, I'm not sure you can even see videos on MTV, so you'd have to tell me if they're any good these days.

As for Michael Jackson... I wouldn't listen to his stuff now (let alone buy it) on a bet.

Answer 3

Thriller was the first "pop sensation?" Really? Maybe my timeline is screwed up, but I think I remember the Beatles being earlier.

Thriller was a spectacular song/album/music video. While I don't approve of Michael Jackson's current lifestyle, I can't deny that he's a talented entertainer.

And the use of Vincent Price to do the narration was a stroke of genius!

[I don't know if MTV killed music or not...do they still show music? Seems like it's all about The Real World or some crap...]

Answer 4

me! :)

I gotta be honest. Mixed feelings. That album is just plain fun. & Jacko actually penned many of the songs himself. The guy was a great entertainer/writer.

I clearly remember hearing this buzz about it when it had Just come out. I thought the kids were talkign about a new horror film. lol!

Then as some weeks went by, I realized just how freakin big this album was. At the time, I was annoyed that the media kept comparing Michaelmania to Beatlemania, but looking back, I can't deny, it was Enormous. Haven't seen anything on That level since. (grunge, *possibly*, but still not the same)

I think on the positive side, it was a great, complete fun album that nearly everyone could enjoy.

On the downside, it helped usher in the MTV age in full. Everytime you see ensemble dancing, you're looking at Jacko's influence. (eg: Britney vids)

As for the hype, yeah it was partly hype for sure, but in those days, Michael could deliver. No lip sycning or any bs like that. He could write & dance & had long proven himself since he was like 9 w/ the Jackson 5. (unlike today's pop stars who get voted by Idol)

So Thriller- undeniable big album. The Worst thing that happened to music? No.

But it helped influence things I'm not crazy about now.


MTV

Now *MTV*, That's a crappy outgrowth of the 80s for sure. By the time MTV really took hold, it all went from the music being the focus, to some director's image of the songs (as opposed to your own imagination) & how the singer combed his hair. Appearance became more important than ever.

Answer 5

I was a pre-teen (11-12) when it came out. I thought at the time it was great. In my neighborhood we all had arguments over who was better Prince "Purple Rain" or Micheal Jackson "Thriller"
I have went back several times througout my adult life and listened to Thriller and Off The Wall and I would have to say they are both great examples of timeless music and really good albums.The hype around him was there becasue that album was just that good and then to turn around and market it with the good videos and radio play that he did just added fuel to the fire.
Example:Going back to my comparison of Purple Rain and Thriller. On a pure music standpoint Purple Rain is a much better album (I mean can you really compare most artist to Prince) but Thriller had alot more hype around it so therefore at the time it was the premier album.

To answer your question did MTV destroy music, I say no the lack of talent out there right now has destroyed music, also the whats hot now mentality of the general public. Your "average" music customer wants the next catchy saying, the next dance, the next whatever while people like me still enjoy great music.
Look at it this way when a true artist like Heather Headley, or Anthony Hamilton, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Hollister, MusiqSoulchild, etc drops an album there is no hype no media blitz and hardly no radio play you have to find the music yourself while all it takes is for Young Joc, or Lil' "insert name here" to release an album and it goes platinum. It's a disgrace.

Answer 6

I was a teenager and do not like Michael Jackson at all but still think that Thriller was one of the best videos ever. And I didn't know that MTV actually played music !

Answer 7

I was a teen and I loved it. I think MJ is just plain creepy now, but you've got to respect him for that album and the videos he created. That was his hey-day. You can find the album CHEAP all over hte place now though. You can find them for 50 cents at the Goodwill store all the time. I don't know if there are just THAT many out there or if people are just getting rid of them in droves.

Answer 8

lol, I was. I was young though, maybe like 7 or 8 and loved it! It was my first cassette tape, got it for my birthday that year.
Is there music on MTV anymore??? I thought it was just a bunch of dumb reality shows and gossip?

Answer 9

Yes, I was a teen, and I loved Michael Jackson. Go figure. As someone above me just said, what a difference two decades make!!!

Answer 10

I loved it. My son would come home from kindergarten and turn on MTV. He loved Mike and the video. What a difference 2 decades make.