Whatever you think of Michael Jackson these days, in the wake of child molestation allegations and court appearances, you can't deny the man was (is?) a musical genius.
Thriller is Jacko's most popular album; released on 1 December 1982, it stayed at #1 for 37 weeks on the Billboard Chart and has currently sold over 100 million copies. An estimated 60,000 units continue to be sold every year in the U.S!
The title track is the most famous single taken from the album, particularly celebrated for its innovative music video. The story goes that Michael Jackson was so impressed with An American Werewolf In London's special effects he asked its director, John Landis, to direct Thriller – a 14-minute music video that also acts as a short horror film.
American Werewolf's creature effects whizz, Rick Baker, was hired to create the monster Jackson turns into in front of his girlfriend -- before it's revealed Jackson and his girl (former Playboy model Ola Ray) were only watching themselves in a movie.
From there, the music video moves to outside the cinema... and the music begins, with Jackson trying to impress Ray with his dance moves. Then, narration from horror icon Vincent Price heralds the arrival of zombies… which Jackson proceeds to dance with, quickly transformed into one of the undead himself!
Created for $800,000 ($1.4 million today – which, in 1982, made it the most expensive music video ever), Thriller was an instant smash-hit. Today, 25 years later, it continues to top most polls as the Best Music Video. At the time, Thriller's video was even released as a separate VHS tape, that included a making-of documentary, and sold 9 million copies just by itself!
While never totally frightening, the visuals are certainly not for young children. Jackson, who was a Jehovah's Witness at the time, even added a disclaimer at the start of Thriller, saying:
"Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult."
Trivia
1. When Michael leaves the cinema, an announcer says "see you next Wednesday" (a recurring in-joke used in many of John Landis' films, taken from a line in 2001: A Space Odyssey.)
2. The reason Michael's face isn't always that of a zombie during the dance sequence is that he found the make-up too uncomfortable.
3. Grape jelly was used for all the gory effects.
4. Famous composer Elmer Bernstein did the incidental music for the video.
5. The sound of the growling animal, used for Michael's transformation, is the exact same sound Landis used in An American Werewolf In London.
6. The music video qualified for an Academy Award nomination, because it debuted before a screening of Fantasia -- with most audiences leaving once Thriller had finished!
LinksThe Full-Length Thriller Music Video
A Prison-set Thriller Spoof
The Thriller Lyrics
A Bollywood Remake of Thriller
Thriller - Using LEGO
Thriller - Reenacted by Final Fantasy CGI people
