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Michael Jackson's iconic live TV performance of 'Billie Jean' & 'Moonwalk' at the 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever' event, Pasadena, California, March 25, 1983. A real star at the top of his game

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MJ Does 'Billy Jean' @ Motown 25
Michael Jackson's iconic live TV performance of 'Billie Jean' & 'Moonwalk' at the 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever' event, Pasadena, California, March 25, 1983. A real star at the top of his game

A TV audience of 35 million, the feature track from the highest selling album of all time, 'Billy Jean' & MJ's signature 'Moonwalk' debuted live on TV, March 25th 1983, when the Jackson 5 reunited for 'Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever' at California's Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

There are certain world-changing events that stick with us forever.

For example, I remember where I was the day 2Pac died, I remember where I was the day Princess Diana died, and I remember where I was the day of the 911 attacks.

Speaking to people from the generation before mine they all say the same thing:

"I remember the day Michael Jackson first performed Billy Jean & the moonwalk."

While it barely lasted a few seconds it went on to live in pop culture forever.

It is said that MJ had not practised the dance move in rehearsals for the show. That must have been a surprise to everyone, including the 35 million people watching live at home.

He was a star, so when he took to the stage on his own to perform his Billboard number one hit "Billie Jean" the crowd were already excited, but once he moonwalked his fame jumped to light speed like the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars.

He owned the moment and he owned the dance move that went on to be his trademark.

The actual moment when Mike first learned the moonwalk came after seeing breakdancers Geron "Caszper" Canidate and Cooley Jaxson appear on a 1979 episode of Soul Train. During the show the guys performed a routine to Jackson’s own "Workin’ Day and Night".

Mike then asked to meet Candidate and Jaxson prior to preparing for the Motown special in early 1983. It was then that he asked them to teach him the back slide dance, which he continually practiced until he got it right.

While I'm certain we were always going to get the moonwalk, and it was going to be Michael Jackson that gave it to us, we almost never got it on the night of Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever because of the show's producer and Motown owner Berry Gordy.

Released in November of 1982, Michael Jackson's Thriller was out and was rapidly on its way to becoming the most successful album of all-time. The story goes that Mike didn't feel like he needed to appear alongside his brothers on the show and that he was initially reluctant to do so because he feared he might be overexposing himself.

Telling Berry Gordy, who for years has been known as a very proud man, that he would only appear with the Jackson 5 if he was allowed a solo performance, it was Gordy’s producer, Suzanne de Passe, that convinced him the show wouldn’t be the same without the Jackson 5.

So, thank you Suzanne de Passe, without you we might never have witnessed one of the most iconic live performances of all-time.

Singing for nearly three and a half minutes before debuting the moonwalk, it lasted just a few seconds but went on to live forever.

Ending his performance to an eruption of applause that was heard all around the world, Mike came, saw and conquered, so much so that Fred Astaire even called to congratulate him, a gesture that the King of Pop - a huge fan of the legendary entertainer - could never quite believe.

Comments:

Anime Nash Gamingo

That night Michael Joseph Jackson claimed his rightful place on the throne as The King of Pop

 jackattack212

The Performance and that 1st ever Moonwalk that sent Michael Jackson from being a PopStar into a Superstar, from Earth into the Stratosphere!! Nobody can dance like Mike, no one will ever be like him. 1 of a kind entertainer and great person / human being. 

The look - fedora hat, sequined glove - black jacket, shirt n white socks!!

The Moves - Moonwalk, Spins toes plus end segment on Tours.

Hannah Faith

He revolutionised pop music. He has an award named after him. He has been inducted into the Rock N Roll Of Fame twice.

He has 2 stars of the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. He swept 2 award shows in the same year. His album Thriller is the biggest selling album of all time. He is the greatest entertainer that ever lived.

'Video Producer : Staff-Editor-02

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