TIME Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
The Man in the Mirror • The Michael Jackson biopic lands in an algorithmic age that is still chasing the blueprint he built and perfected.
A Thrilling Talent • Michael Jackson began his career as a pop phenom with his standout performances in the Jackson 5. Later, hits like “Thriller” and “Billie Jean” elevated him to international superstardom.
The Rise of a Singing Wonder • The Jackson 5 did not include Michael at first. But at age 3, the toddler started singing, and his talent announced itself. Michael was not only brought into the band—he took charge of it, defined it, then left it behind.
The Wiz • The movie, Jackson’s screen debut, is now a cult classic, celebrated for both its music and for making a familiar story culturally relevant for Black audiences. But when The Wiz was released in 1978, it was panned by critics—including TIME’s.
Off the Charts • Off the Wall, Jackson’s breakout solo album, sold fewer copies than Thriller but is considered by some to be the singer’s best, most cohesive recording.
Setting the Beat for the Decade • In 1984, when Thriller was selling a million copies a week and rejuvenating the record business, TIME considered the phenomenon of its 25-year-old auteur, Michael Jackson.
I Want My MJTV • Jackson was so key to MTV’s success, fans incorporated his initials into the network’s name.
A Monster Smash • Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, was a sonic mind meld between Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones that borrowed from jazz, pop, marching bands, and bar mitzvah music.
The Greatest Night in Pop • In 2024, on the cusp of the 40th anniversary of the charity single “We Are the World,” TIME considered the Netflix special documenting the recording session that produced the smash track.
An Oral History of Michael Jackson’s Bad • In 2012, as the 25th anniversary of the album approached, TIME examined the creation and legacy of the record-setting release.
A Catalog of Greats • Jackson’s most celebrated songs include hat tips and riffs from across time and continents. Think Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo in “Billie Jean,” Manu Dibango’s refrain “Mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa” in “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” and the gospel choir in “Man in the Mirror.”
Peter Pan Speaks • In 1993, TIME covered Jackson’s intervew with Oprah Winfrey, when the singer tried to rebut some of the rumors that swirled around him.
The Sad End of an American Icon • While Jackson could still sell hundreds of thousands of concert tickets at the end of his life, he had been transformed by surgery, scandal, and financial woes.
This Is It • Just months after Jackson’s death, Columbia released a documentary about rehearsals for the star’s planned comeback tour. Here, an excerpt of the review by TIME’s film critic.
His Death and Legacy • On June 25, 2009, as word spread of Jackson’s passing, shocked fans around the globe struggled to make sense of the news. Some still struggle today.
Mourning a Brilliant but Troubling Idol • When news of Jackson’s death broke, Google buckled under the weight of searches, and tweets related to the singer hit 5,000 per minute while crowds around the world gathered to pay tribute.
A Spectacular Goodbye • Jackson’s memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles was watched by 31 million people around the world.
Paris Jackson’s Heartfelt Farewell • The 11-year-old, speaking at the Staples Center memorial service, choked up the audience when she called Jackson “the best father you could ever imagine.”
After Leaving Neverland, What Do We Do with Michael Jackson? • In 2019, TIME discussed the documentary in which two grown men accused the singer of having molested them as children....