Jan. 31 in history

26 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson Off The Wall Review Boston Globe January 31, 1980 The most famous child in American show business since Shirley Temple when he fronted the Jackson Five, Michael Jackson has grown up. But he still sings love songs and dance beats in a choir boy's innocent tenor. There is a veneer of soul distortion to his voice, a shade of Stevie Wonder and perhaps a note of Smokey Robinson. But the Jackson style basically puts too little pressure on the listener to be called soul. The songwriters tell you Jackson's art is straight pop: Ted Templeman of the Doobie Brothers contributes "Rock with You" and "Off the Wall"; the Beatles give him "Girlfriend" and Jackson himself wrote "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" and "Working Day and Night." These are the set's five best songs, and their spirit ranges from Michael's own songs' throwback to the Jackson Five to the bubblegum teasing of Templeman and the Beatles. Producer Quincy Jones reinforces the pressureless, goofiness of Jackson's singing with zesty melodies and dance tempos, a sort of crystalized laugh that belittles rock and imitates soul - but then that's what Jackson has always done best... --- 19 Years Ago --- Rehash of American Music Awards San Francisco Chronicle January 31, 1987 Rehashing the American Music Awards - Madonna's surprise appearance was to pick up her prize as the favorite female video artist. She looked gorgeous in her Marilyn Monroe get-up, materializing dramatically from behind a curtain when her name was announced... Even though Whitney Houston walked away with more awards, it was Janet Jackson who won the biggest crowd response. The shrieking, whistling and clapping reminded me of her brother Michael Jackson's now legendary appearance on the Motown Anniversary Special some seasons back. And although Janet projects a strong, aggressive image, she broke down and cried as she accepted her second award of the night... --- 18 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson To Do Europe Chicago Sun Times January 31, 1988 Michael Jackson will hit 10 cities in Europe starting June 2 in Vienna. More than 1 million tickets already have been sold for the shows in London; Rotterdam; the Netherlands; Gothenberg, Sweden; Basel, Switzerland, and Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich and Mannheim in West Germany... --- 17 Years Ago --- Moon Walker: The Story Book Columbus Times January 31, 1989 The man who made the Moon-Walk more famous than NASA, is dazzling book buyers with Mon Walker: The Storybook, an 80-page, full-color, oversize trade paperback that is the companion volume to his spectacular new motion picture extravaganza, "Moon Walker." Starring Michael Jackson, "Moon Walker" is a fantastic journey into the realm of villains and heroes. This magical journey, led by megastar Michael Jackson emerses the reader into a thoroughly creative and imaginative world. The original story for Moon Walker: "The Storybook is by Michael Jackson and is the tale of three children who help Michael prevent an evil mastermind named Mr. Big from realizing his wicked plan to ruin the lives of children all around the world. Moon Walker. The Storybook will enchant children from six to sixty. It is available at a suggested retail price of $9.95. Also available from Doubleday is Moon Walker: The Calendar 1989 Starring Michael Jackson. This calendar includes thirteen never-before-published photographs from the film, "Moon Walker." Michael Jackson's first book, Moon Walk, was a #1 international bestseller and was published by Doubleday in April. Moon Walk is also available in bookstores nationwide. --- --- Harassed Singer Woman Gets 2 1/2 Years To Ponder Song Los Angeles Times January 31, 1989 A Van Nuys Municipal Court judge quoted lyrics from a Michael Jackson song as he sentenced a woman Monday to 2 1/2 years in jail for repeatedly harassing the singer and claiming to be his wife "Billie Jean." Lavon A. Muhammad, 41, was found guilty last week of eight misdemeanor charges stemming from her violation of a 1986 court order that she not pose as the singer's wife or visit his Encino home. As he imposed the maximum allowable sentence, Van Nuys Municipal Court Judge Stephen E. O'Neil urged that Muhammad-who insisted that court officials call her Billie Jean Jackson-listen to lyrics from a song on Michael Jackson's latest album, "Bad." The song is titled "Leave Me Alone." "I want you to listen to the current Michael Jackson song that's been released," O'Neil said. "The chorus says: 'So just leave me alone, girl. Just stop me dogging me, girl...' You listen to the chorus of that song and you listen to those words." Muhammad has never met Jackson but claims that the singer fathered her three children, said Deputy City Atty. David S. Kestenbaum. --- 14 Years Ago --- Pepsi Advertising Los Angeles Times January 31, 1992 Jackson and Pepsi Link Again: Pepsi has once again turned to pop star Michael Jackson to give its image a boost. The soft-drink giant will announce next week details of Jackson's upcoming international concert tour that it will sponsor-and the formation of a Michael Jackson Foundation. Pepsi will also unleash a new ad campaign featuring Jackson. Ironically, the move comes at a time when Pepsi is trying hard to revamp its image as a product aimed mostly at youth. During the Super Bowl, Pepsi introduced the new ad slogan, "Gotta have it." This will be Jackson's third sponsorship go-round with Pepsi... --- 10 Years Ago --- Turning Out the Hits Emerge January 31, 1996 ...Creating distinctive styles for celebrated performers has made the pair award winners. In September, LTC won its fourth straight MTV Music Video Award for Best Choreography for Michael Jackson's "Scream" video. In 1994, the pair won for the video, "What A Man," by En Vogue and Salt-'n-Pepa. Then, in 1993, LTC took the same award for En Vogue's "Free Your Mind," having won the year before for En Vogue's "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)" video. Smith, of Louisville, and Payne, of Atlanta, met in 1991 while dancing on Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation Tour. Two years later, they choreographed Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" show-opening performance at 1993's American Music Awards. Afterwards, the two choreographed concert tours for Michael Jackson and En Vogue simultaneously (they were featured performers in both). They now are working on Michael Jackson's History album tour, in addition to choreographing Diana Ross' new tour and video, "Higher, Higher..." --- 8 Years Ago --- Chance To Win Latest Jackson Film: Ghosts Birmingham Post January 31, 1998 In the 80s, he Invented the art of the musical short film with such masterpieces as Thriller and Bad. In the 90s, he revoiutionised the long form medium with Moon walker and History. Now Michael Jackson stars in a new short film - Ghosts- a spectacular 40-minute blend of drama and dance including the tracks 2 Bad (from HIStory) and Ghosts and Is It Scary from his latest album Blood On The Dance Floor - HIStory In The Mix. Premiered at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, Michael Jackson's critically-acclaimed video Ghosts features stunning choreography and state of the art special effects. The short film is based upon an original concept by Stephen King and Michael Jackson. Stan Winston, who directed the film, is the world's foremost creator of filmic creatures and his character designs in such films as Jurassic Park, The Terminator, Aliens, Edward Scissorhands and Interview With The Vampire have earned him four AcademyAwards. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two Emmy Awards; he also directed the feature film Pumpkinhead, for which he won the best time director award at the Paris Film Festival. In Michael Jackson's Ghosts, Stan Winston's artistry transforms Michael Jackson Into multiple characters who will thrill and delight audiences - it's magic. We have five copies of Ghosts to give away. Just tell us the title of Michael Jackson's latest album. Send our entry to: Michael Jackson competition, Post Features, 28 Colmore Circus, Birmingham B4 6AX. Entries should be received by February 6. --- 4 Years Ago --- Jackson Back In Form (Inivincible Review) Montreal Community Contact January 31, 2002 Amidst an ever changing music industry, a recovery period after an early 90s white media attack, a new lifestyle which followed after fathering 2 children and 2 divorces, a monster tribute concert usually accorded to golden-oldies acts, and faced with the constant challenge of topping the biggest-selling recording of all time, Michael Jackson quietly releases a new album... Like he did with Teddy Riley on the '92 hit "Dangerous," Mike brings producer Darkchild's work to a whole other level. On the album's opener "Unbreakable," Darkchild's usually conservative production is "Funk-a-delified" to the extreme, much the way Riley visited brand new ground on "Why You Wanna Trip On Me." With a guest verse from the late Notorious B.I.G, repeating their collaboration from 95s "This Time Around," produced by R. Kelly, Mike takes Darkchild's Keyboard dominated style to a place between Usher's "You Remind Me" and the Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine." Mike easily bounces on "Heart Breaker" because of his vocal prowess which allows his melodies with ease. The title track will dominate the dance floors of clubs if ever released as a single with it's pump-organ powered hip-hop feel with a touch of vintage" new jack swing." "Break of Dawn" is so rim-shot jazzy, and neosoul one would think it's from an Eric Benet or Jill Scott joint. The Teddy Riley produced "Heaven Can Wait" sounds a bit familiar but succeeds because of delicious chord changes reminiscent of Guy. "You Rock My World" takes the kind of beat Darkchild would predictably turn in for Jennifer Lopez and Brandy and exhausts it to a level only Jackson can attain. "Butterflies," possibly the center-piece for this album, delivers. "The Lady In My Life" type of atmosphere with new age funk over-tones, coupled with possibly one of his greatest studio vocal performances ever. "Speechless" and the R. Kelly penned "Cry" are indeed "Free Willy" type fluff better suited on a corny soundtrack but nonetheless expose his crooning ability. The Tyrese composed "2000 Watts" showcases Michael's lower register like never before over a bump-heavy funk work-out. "You Are My Life," "Privacy," "Don't Walk Away," "The Lost Children" and "Threatened" border filler, but "Whatever Happens" with it's spaghetti western intro continues to push Michael to new musical ground courtesy of Carlos Santana. As a pop craftsman Michael is still king... --- --- Scary Pittsburgh Post January 31, 2002 As if Sept. 11 weren't surreal enough, we bring you Michael Jackson's reaction to the terrorist attacks. Even though he was in New York, having performed the night before at Madison Square Garden, Jackson says he learned about the attack "from friends in Saudi Arabia," presumably his former investment partner Prince al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdulazi. "I screamed down the hotel hallway to all our people, 'Everybody get out, let's leave now!' " Jackson tells Vibe magazine. "Marlon Brando was on one end [of the hotel]... But Elizabeth Taylor was at another hotel." As they left, "There were these girls who had been at the show the night before, and they were banging on the windows, running down the street screaming. Fans are so loyal," he thought as the car pealed rubber and sped away. --- --- World Needs Children's Day, Michael Jackson Says The Ottawa Citizen January 31, 2002 Pop star Michael Jackson thinks children are so cool the world should set aside an annual holiday to celebrate them. "There's a Mother's Day and there's a Father's Day, but there's no Children's Day," he said in the upcoming cover story of Vibe magazine. "It would mean a lot. World peace. I hope that our next generation will get to see a peaceful world, not the way things are going now." He often surrounds himself with children, and buses in terminally ill children to play at his sprawling Neverland Valley ranch in California. In the Vibe interview, he said he unwinds by holding water balloon fights involving slings and cannons in a fort on his property. One water balloon fight with children in Germany left him so happy that he immediately ran upstairs in their house and wrote a song, Speechless, for his new album, Invincible. On life as a single parent of five-year-old son Prince and three- year-old daughter Paris, Jackson said he has never had so much fun in his life. "Because I am this big kid, and now I get to see the world through the eyes of the really young ones. I learn more from them than they learn from me." --- 3 Years Ago --- Networks Like Mike Chicago Tribune January 31, 2003 ABC paid an estimated $4 million to $5 million, according to the New York Daily News, to beat out CBS, NBC and Fox for rights to a documentary about Michael Jackson. --- 1 Years Ago --- Pop Star's Trial Starts Today Chicago Tribune January 31, 2005 The child-molestation case against Michael Jackson is finally ready for a trial that promises to be like no other. Jury selection begins today, with Jackson expected to appear, in a case that has become a symbol of the American obsession with celebrity. Early Sunday, Jackson issued a court-approved video statement on his Web site, calling recent media leaks in the case "disgusting and false" and predicting he would be acquitted. "Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court," Jackson said, looking directly into the camera. "I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told..." --- --- Michael Jackson Blasts Leaks, Predicts Acquittal Times Union January 31, 2005 Michael Jackson on Sunday condemned recent media leaks in his child molestation case as "disgusting and false," predicting on the eve of his trial that he would be acquitted. "In the last few weeks, a large amount of ugly, malicious information has been released into the media about me," the singer said in a court-approved video statement released on his Web site. "The information is disgusting and false." Jackson said he helps thousands of children and allowed the accuser into his Neverland Ranch only after the boy's family said he was battling cancer and needed help. "I never intend to place myself in so vulnerable a position ever again. I love my community and I have great faith in our justice system. Please keep an open mind and let me have my day in court," said Jackson. "I deserve a fair trial like every other American citizen. I will be acquitted and vindicated when the truth is told," he added. Jury selection was set to begin today and could last a month. The trial itself could take five more months. --- --------------------