And so, that's what happened, although Jackson's character doesn't, per common knowledge, become a werewolf. Early music videos were usually shot on video, not film, adding a cheap look to a cheap production a singer or a band might do little more than stand in an unadorned studio and lip-sync to their recording. [10] MTV paid $250,000 for the exclusive rights to show the documentary; Showtime paid $300,000 for pay-cable rights. It was shown as a 'Tube' exclusive at midnight (ish) on Channel four. Here's the inside story on the development, production, and impact of the video for Michael Jackson's spookiest hit. In 2018 it was further remastered by IMAX and preceded screenings of. [5], The zombie dance sequence corresponds the lyric about a masquerade ball of the dead. [6] Jackson's make-up casts "a ghostly pallor" over his skin and emphasizes the outline of his skull, an allusion to the mask from The Phantom of the Opera (1925). When he raps about Photoshop, a woman is shown all made up and without makeup. [25] In a poll of over one thousand users conducted by Myspace in 2010, it was voted the most influential music video. It's hard to forget. Miss Scarlet and The Duke, starring Kate Phillips and Stuart Martin, is a high-octane, smart and sassy mystery series filled set in 1882 . It references numerous horror films and sees Jackson dancing with a horde of zombies. Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly lined up Loose Women star Sophie Morgan to be the show's first ever wheelchair-using contestant. She and other dancers groove and show off their moves throughout the video. "Girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy has big secret, now what." 1 Thriller Michael Jackson 2 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen 3 Take On Me A-ha 4 My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion 5 Virtual Insanity Jamiroquai 6 Vogue Madonnna 7 Fastlove George Michael 8 Say You'll Be There Spice Girls 9 Earth Song Michael Jackson 10 Sledgehammer Peter Gabriel, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. And yet despite all these fancy awards, "Thriller" didn't win the one prize that seemed like a lock. It's all just brilliant to watch. She ran around with her friends bothering patrons and employees, trying on a bunch of clothes, and making a giant mess. [10] Makeup artist Rick Baker decided to turn Jackson into a werecat "because I just didn't want to do another werewolf". From "Leave it to Beaver" to Marilyn Manson to Bill Clinton to "The Brady Bunch," Eminem doesn't hold back on pop culture references or the barbs he makes in his lyrics. Taking place on New Year's Eve, the video shows J-Lo and her friends getting ready for a party. Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson had a hit with "Uptown Funk," and the vibrant, simple video was the perfect fit. But that night is also known as the night Kanye West got on stage and interrupted Taylor Swift's speech after she beat Beyonc in the best female video category. In one scene, Michael's right "cat's eye" contact lens is askew and not in straight. "The Thriller video became a worldwide megahit and an iconic pop culture phenomenon that has continued to generate profits for defendants Optimum Productions and Michael Jackson, who have wrongfully refused to pay or account for such profits to plaintiff," the suit read (via The Guardian). [8], Weeks before the premiere, Jackson, then a Jehovah's Witness, was told by the organization leaders that the film promoted demonology and that he would be excommunicated. At Murphy's insistence, the film was played again. Every Beyonc video deserves a spot on this list, but "Single Ladies" has a special legacy. It's a moot point whether or not a bit of fear does them any harm in the long term. The Pale Blue Eye (2022) Image via Netflix. Dinsdale Landen is the only actor who plays the same named role that of private investigator Matthew Earp in two episodes, "An Echo of Theresa" and "The Next Scream You Hear", although Reg Lye plays an unnamed 'Caretaker' in both "Spell of Evil" and "Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin" who could conceivably be the same character. [17], On November 14, 1983, Thriller was shown to a private audience at the Crest Theater in Los Angeles. As fun as Smash Mouth's song is, the video is even more wild. What's likely the most popular second-generation "Thriller" video came from an unlikely place: a prison in the Philippines. During the closing credits, a reprise of the zombies dancing is shown. Directed by Colin Trevorrow. | [8] The production team agreed to protect the negatives and locked them in Branca's office. "Everybody Hurts" is a heavy song, and the corresponding video highlights the emotional lyrics. In attendance were celebrities including Diana Ross, Warren Beatty, Prince, and Eddie Murphy. Outlander. The singer and the filmmaker met, and Landis dismissed the notion of presenting "Thriller" as a typical, cheaply made music video. There's shots of them on a boat in a "storm," there's memorable camouflage outfits, and a truly special dance break in front of a temple. According to Vanity Fair, Vestron Video helped offset the high production cost of "Thriller" by paying for the VHS and Betamax distribution rights for the Making Michael Jackson's Thriller documentary and then gave it a $29.95 retail price tag. Millions of people who somehow hadn't yet purchased Thriller were inspired to do so, and during the peak of the video's popularity, the album sold more than a million copies a week, according to Vanity Fair. [2] As the title suggests, each story is a thriller of some variety, from tales of the supernatural to down-to-earth whodunits. 1983 - Channel 4 premiere of Michael Jackson's Thriller video - YouTube 0:00 / 0:30 1983 - Channel 4 premiere of Michael Jackson's Thriller video Blocks Videos 11.2K subscribers 65 7.4K. However, Epic wouldn't pay for it the label spent $250,000 on the video for "Billie Jean" but made Jackson pay the $150,000 budget for "Beat It" himself. Jackson stayed in the projection booth, declining Ray's invitation to join the audience. It continuously shifts through a series of triangles shifting between images of Meg and Jack White playing instruments. The girlfriend leaves, scared by the film. The changes applied starting with the Game of the Year edition and all future releases since. 5 Virtual Insanity Jamiroquai. Ray Tintori, who did MGMT's Kids is really good, too. Choreographer and singer Paula Abdul danced alongside a cartoon cat named MC Skat Cat in the video for "Opposites Attract." However, Ray sued Jackson on May 6, 2009, less than two months before his death on June 25. [5][6] Original music, including the theme tune, was supplied by Clemens' regular collaborator Laurie Johnson.[7]. [9][14] Brian Clemens' own favourite episode, "A Coffin for the Bride" (US: Kiss Kiss, Kill Kill), featured a performance from a young Helen Mirren.[15]. The trivia item below may give away important plot points. Here are 55 of the most iconic music videos of all time. They made something that was so perfect for the early 80s. In May 2009, Ray sued Jackson, along with his production company, for breach of contract. 's Bad Girls and that's got to be one of the best videos ever. at the Disco's first music video features a wedding where the bride's family is asleep and have their faces and eyelids painted. It was Landis's producer George Folsey Jr who came up with the idea of the making-of video, which could be sold to networks as bespoke content. According to The Guardian, Jackson made up a lot of the difference out of his own pocket. It took videos to another level, but in my world and in the world of artists I was dealing with, it's almost like it didn't relate.". Avril Lavigne's disastrous romp through a mall was every teen's dream in the early 2000s. "[11], Thriller was the first time Jackson had interacted with a woman in a video, which Landis described as a "breakthrough". Samuel L. Jackson in "Unbreakable." Credit: Getty Images. T. (Pretty Young Thing)," all hit the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, with "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" going the extra mile, all the way to #1. The video includes clips from "Purple Rain," too. Connections | Here are 55 of the most iconic music . The "Love Shack" video was filmed at the home of ceramic artists Philip Maberry and Scott Walker and shows people grooving and having a fun party in this place in the middle of some woods. Filmeditor Marshall Harvey had previously been hired by John Landis to make the behind the scenes footage to his movies An American Werewolf in London and Blues Brothers. In a 2009 interview with Billboard, Bey said she was surprised by the reaction. Directed by F. Gary Gray, who also directed "Straight Out of Compton" and "The Fate of the Furious," the "Waterfalls" video is emotional. | According to Baker, he technically portrays a "werecat. Set in a futuristic looking white room, the video stands out for the illusions it features. By the time Thriller's sales cycle wound down in 1984, it was the best-selling LP of all time in the United States, with sales of 33 million. "She had such a great smile. According to Landis, Michael asked Joseph to be removed; he refused and had to be escorted off the set by police. The theatre in the movie is the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles, where, The short film was packaged on home video with, The score heard in this music video is actually unused music from composer. "Out of all my videos, it was the least expensive and took the least amount of time. Between the visuals and the overall story, West's artful vision is memorable. The audience gave the film a standing ovation. Every shot in the "Bye Bye Bye" video is memorable. [23], Michael Jackson's Thriller was named the "greatest video" by MTV in 1999,[24] and by VH1[22] and Time in 2001. [8] Within months, the documentary sold a million copies, making it the bestselling video release at that point. [14] He initially imagined the werecat would resemble a black panther, but added a longer mane and larger ears. It won a Grammy as part of a long-form video project titled "Rhythm Nation 1814 Film.". Title track "Thriller" was the seventh and final Thriller single, released to stores and radio in January 1984, well over a year after the album debuted. From his Pope outfit to the reenactment of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" painting, Lamar doesn't shy away from religious visuals. Directed by John Landis, known for "Animal House" and "An American Werewolf in London," the mini-movie has the perfect horror aesthetic. To be eligible for the Oscars, it needed a week-long theatrical release, so Landis arranged for it to open, bizarrely, for Disney's Fantasia at a single cinema in LA. The simple black-and-white video features Beyonc in a leotard flanked on either side by a dancer in a similar outfit. In 2006, the Guinness World Records listed it as the "most successful music video of all time. "Even him bantering with the girl after they come out of the movie; you're seeing him at this incredible age and at this moment in his life. Contents 1 Background 2 Releases 2.1 Hosted by Elvira 2.2 Non-Elvira releases 3 References 4 External links Background [ edit] [32], In 2017, the video made its debut in a newly restored 3D version at the 74th annual Venice Film Festival, accompanied by the Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller documentary, also newly remastered. A defense barrister is faced with the proposition: what can you do when you have defended the indefensible? as well as other partner offers and accept our, 300 people dressed as Bush in the red dress, the popular "Michael Jackson eating popcorn" GIF. [15], Landis said directing Jackson was "like dealing with a gifted 10-year-old". But what truly stands out about the video is Cher's iconic sheer body suit and leather jacket. It's an unexpected video in the best way. Cannot remember the excate time but dout it was 1 am as we would of not been allowed to stay up. [3], The series was created by Brian Clemens, who also scripted the majority of the episodes and story-lined every installment. I was yet another taper of the original Channel 4 broadcast. There's a lot to unpack in Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" video. The video shows two stories: one in which a boy is killed in a drug deal after not listening to his mom to stop and another where a man contracts AIDS after having unprotected sex with a woman. Jackson hired Landis after seeing his 1981 film An American Werewolf in London. The cat's dance moves even mirror her's. [11], Landis's wife Deborah Nadoolman, who had recently worked on the film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), designed the costumes, including Jackson's red jacket. The storyline follows newly-qualified vet James as he leaves his home in Glasgow during 1937 to start working for head vet Siegfried in the fictional Yorkshire village of Darrowby. "We came to the conclusion that if Michael was going to dance, it would be a hell of a lot easier for his monster to have two legs instead of four." With Patrick Gibson . The "Life on Mars" music video was filmed for the song's release as a single. The second stars Bush in a red dress doing the same memorable dance moves and emotive faces, but instead of a room, she is in the middle of the woods. Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" has two iconic videos. [8] Vestron Music Video offered to distribute Making Michael Jackson's Thriller on VHS and Betamax; this was a pioneering concept, as most video cassettes at the time were sold to rental stores rather than directly to viewers. In 2017, it was remastered from the original 35mm negative and converted into 3D under John Landis' supervision. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is considered one of the greatest songs of all time, and the video is a testament to the song as a teen rock anthem. It's full of genius symbolism and won Lamar a Grammy for best video. Directed by Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl, the video follows a man, whose face is never shown, as he rescues a baby, a dog, and grabs a photo from a burning building. [8] It was backed by successful music videos for the singles "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", which are credited for raising creative standards for music videos and demonstrating their promotional power. She was the mother of the character Ken Reeves from the TV Show "The White Shadow". In 2008 a DVD box set containing all six series was released. It was shown on Channel 4 in November 1983 at something like 1 in the morning, as I remember sitting up waiting for it to come on and then being amazed and a little bit scared as I was only 13 at. This short film displays the absolute highest standard in music video and no-one will ever be able to out-beat this 'King Of Pop' masterpiece! A-ha pushed boundaries with their creative video, actually the song's second video, for "Take on Me." TV-MA | 240 min | Drama, Mystery, Thriller 7.4 Rate A young couple move into an apartment only to find the body of a young woman that had been missing for 2 years but never registered as missing which leads to a deeper investigation into what actually happened. Amazon Studios. A particular trademark of the series' storytelling was to hook the viewer with a simple yet totally baffling situation, of the kind seen in films such as Les Diaboliques (1955). It got video of the year at the MTV VMAs. Here, in no particular order, are the eight best thrillers on Prime Video. No wonder we readily accept the concept of a literal metamorphosis. [8] Jackson covered additional costs, for which he would be reimbursed. [11] Landis and Jackson conceived a short film shot on 35mm film with the production values of a feature film, with a budget of $900,000, much larger than any previous music video. Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Rock Hudson and Jackie Kennedy Onassis all turned up on set, and Eddie Murphy, Prince and Diana. Eminem impersonates various TV shows and people throughout the video for "My Name Is." There's even data to suggest that the existence of Making Michael Jackson's Thriller helped fuel the massive rise of VCR sales in late 1983. "Thriller" was a watershed moment in music video. Also, the group performs in water and in liquefied forms in front of a waterfall. I remember watching it on C4 late at night. [30] "Thriller" has become closely associated with Halloween;[31][14] in 2016, US president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama danced to the song with schoolchildren at a White House Halloween event. The signs on the theater are as follows: The main sign reads "Vincent Price's Thriller". Peter Gabriel's video for "Sledgehammer" was an impressive 16-hour feat. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. As Psy's Gangnam Style proved, films shot relatively cheaply and quickly, and which don't require pluggers, or for the artist to necessarily have an existing profile, can have a global impact comparable to Thriller. This is to say nothing of the countless videos, viral and otherwise, of people re-creating the familiar "Thriller" dance moves particularly the stylized zombie movements at weddings, block parties, and Halloween celebrations. 23 of 25 found this interesting | Share this On June 27, 2011, the red jacket Jackson wore in this video sold for 1.8 million dollars at Julien's Auctions of Beverly Hills. It was filmed at various locations in Los Angeles, including the Palace Theater. "Romain Gavras he did M.I.A. But the camera also captures a shot of Cyrus licking a sledgehammer and riding a wrecking ball while dressed in underwear, a white tank, and boots. [8], According to Landis, when he called Yetnikoff to propose the film, he swore so loudly he had to remove the phone from his ear. The song was originally going to be called "Starlight". [9][8] These title sequences were used in Britain when the series was repeated on regional ITV stations in the 1980s, and are also included as extras on the Complete Series box set. Thriller sealed MTV's reputation as a new cultural force; dissolved racial barriers in the station's treatment of music (though MTV has always denied they existed); revolutionised music video production; spawned the "making of" genre of documentary ("The Making of Filler," as Landis said at the time); helped create a market for VHS rentals and sales, because fans were desperate to see it when they wanted, rather than at the will of TV stations; and, in 2009, became the first music video to be inducted into the Library of Congress's National Film Registry. In July 1983, after Thriller was displaced from the top of the chart, Jackson's manager Frank DiLeo suggested making a music video for "Thriller". [23] He said it was the "mini-movie that revolutionized music videos" and "cemented Jackson's status as one of the most ambitious, innovative pop stars of all time". At the end of the credits, they all dance back into their graves, with one of them gruesomely grimacing at the screen. In 1984, Making Michael Jackson's Thriller won the Grammy Award for Best Video Album, and in a 1999 end-of-the-century countdown, MTV named "Thriller" the #1 music video of all time. [8], The video debuted on MTV alongside Making Michael Jackson's Thriller on December 2, 1983. ", Jonze took the freedom he sensed in Thriller and also its eccentricity and humour and ran with it, creating some of the 90s' most famous music videos, including the Beastie Boys' Sabotage and Praise You by Fatboy Slim, which also get continually spoofed. [8], In early August, after seeing his horror film An American Werewolf in London (1981), Jackson contacted the director John Landis. Before any of the "Thriller" fun monster transformations, choreographed zombie dances, creepy yellow eyes the video begins with a brief bit of text on screen. [8] Epic had little interest in making another video for Thriller, believing that the album had peaked,[10] and eventually agreed to contribute only $100,000. Jennifer Beals turned down an offer to play Jackson's girlfriend. [19] The success transformed Jackson into a dominant force in global pop culture, and cemented his status as the "king of pop". The short film premiered on NBC's music video block Friday Night Videos. [4] The series evolved from Clemens' previous work, in particular two films in a similar style: And Soon the Darkness (1970) and Blind Terror (aka See No Evil, 1971); the latter shares plot similarities with the Thriller episodes "The Eyes Have It" and "The Next Voice You See". Cyrus' provocative videos were a shock to people who had watched her on "Hannah Montana.". From the first moment doves fly through a door and a camera zooms in on Prince in a bathtub, viewers know that the video is not going to be simple. The video features a ghost, tombstones rising from the ground, zombie gorillas, and pop culture references including ones to "Resident Evil" and "Braindead.". The "All the Small Things" video is a hilarious parody of other boy bands and pop artists of the '90s. Thoroughly upset, Jackson ordered his lawyer, John Branca, to destroy the "Thriller" negatives. Michael Jackson is amazing. The music video for "Survivor" takes place "somewhere in the South Pacific," as stated in the beginning and begins with Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and Beyonc shipwrecked on an island. Then it shifts to the musicians performing on stage. Most clips just show him and a few others doing his signature moves like the running man and hammer dance. Less than two years later, sister network VH1 would also name "Thriller" the top video ever made. [26] In 2009, it became the first music video to be selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. Fans worldwide re-enact its zombie dance and it remains popular on YouTube. "As soon as the Americans got involved, things became monetised, turning music videos into a proper industry, which operated alongside MTV. 4 My Heart Will Go On Celine Dion. But then there's also some random dance scenes with her on a boat. Missy Elliot is also featured in the video and song. The film had a brief theatrical release in Los Angeles at the AVCO Theater - it played for three weeks along with Disney's. [29], Jackson's red leather jacket became a fashion icon and has been widely emulated. The video won for video of the year at the MTV VMAs. Jackson said his first concern was to create a zombie dance that did not seem comical. The singer liked that idea and later told Jehovah's Witness publication Awakethat he "just intended to do a good, fun short film, not to purposely bring to the screen something to scare people or to do anything bad.". 1. DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK. From the movie theater setting that resulted in the popular "Michael Jackson eating popcorn" GIF to the choreographed zombie dance, it's 14 minutes of pure enjoyment. Michael Jackson, at the time being a devout Jehovah's Witness, feared that the video would go against his fans' religious beliefs and feared backlash. But the image forever in people's minds is Lopez dancing around in the forest with green lasers behind her. When Michael Jackson's Thriller started to drop down the charts in 1983, according to Vanity Fair, Jackson grew unnerved and pressed executives on how to restore the LP to its #1 perch. To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account. This ground-breaking video is the toast of MTV and will forever be remembered for what is the greatest music video of all time!! Andr 3000 plays all eight characters featured in the band. John Landis was in London in 1983 when Michael Jackson called to ask if he was interested in making a video for Thriller, the title track of the album he'd released a little under a year before. Much of Cher's body is exposed and both she and the Navy received criticism for it. And then for some reason, she is naked on a cotton candy cloud for certain parts. Epic saw it as a novelty song;[9] Yetnikoff asked, "Who wants a single about monsters? "It had some magic that made it shine. Why did you need to stay up late if you were 'tape'ing it? The video features the four guys of OK Go doing a choreographed dance on treadmills all filmed in one shot. "I had some intimate moments with him in his trailer," Ray said. Director John Landis Writers John Landis Michael Jackson Stars Michael Jackson Ola Ray Jackson was all in, especially after Landis said he could probably get An American Werewolf in London makeup master Rick Baker involved. Michael Jackson's estate owes Quincy Jones $9.4m in royalties, jury decides, NewMichael Jackson music to be produced by Timbaland, Michael Jackson is top-earning dead celebrity, beating Prince and Bowie, Mysurreal 1980 interview with Michael Jackson: Direct your questions to Janet; shell put them to Michael, Michael Jackson's Thriller becomes first album to sell 30m copies in the US, Michael Jackson: Five years after his death, how his influence lives on, Michael Jackson: Xscape review - a fitting bookend to the man's career, Kirsty Wark can perform the Thriller dance. [12] Perhaps the most ingenious[editorializing] episode is the Dial M for Murder-style "The Double Kill", in which a man hires a hitman to kill his wife, but makes a fatal error in his otherwise meticulous planning. Michael Jackson's Thriller was launched to great anticipation and played regularly on MTV. Some music videos are more memorable than others. It really opened our eyes to music videos as a creative form of film-making, and a potential career." It's trippy to watch and makes the video one of the most recognizable of all time. Michael Jackson's Thriller is a 1983 music video for the song "Thriller" by the American singer Michael Jackson, released on December 2, 1983. The first collaboration between Alicia Silverstone and Aerosmith featured Silverstone as a girl who catches her boyfriend cheating. Jackson called his assistant, John Branca, and ordered him to destroy the negatives. [8] Thriller is popular on YouTube, which hosts user-submitted videos of reenactments of the dance. It even stops briefly for a countdown. [8] Entertainment figures including Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, Rock Hudson and Jackie Kennedy Onassis visited the set. Some of the biggest Broadway productions of recent years are musicals based on preexisting, well-known media. This steamy drama, which is adapted from a book series by Diana Gabaldon of the same name, follows former World War II nurse Claire Randall as she unexpectedly travels back in time to . So in the beginning of the video, Michael has a message stating that "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film is no way endorses a belief in the occult". The video was a bit controversial for its sexual visuals. She has visions of her dead lover in the mansion and remembers moments when they were together. 2 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" clip permanently elevated the medium of music video to artistic and cinematic relevance at a time when it was still relatively new and directionless.
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