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Thriller: The Musical Life of Michael Jackson
Thriller takes us back to a time in 1982 when Michael Jackson was king of the charts, breaking the color barrier on MTV, heralding the age of video, and becoming the ultimate representation of the crossover dreams of Motown's Berry Gordy, who helped launch Jackson's career with the Jackson 5. In this incisive and revealing examination of the making and meaning of Thriller , Nelson George illuminates the brilliant creative process (and work ethic) of Jackson and producer Quincy Jones, deftly exploring the larger context of the music, life, and seismic impact of Michael Jackson on three generations. All this from a groundbreaking journalist and cultural critic who was there. George questions whether the phenomenon Jackson became is even possible today. He revisits his early writings on the King of Pop and examines not only the stunning success of Thriller but also Jackson as an artist, public figure, and racial enigma—including the details surrounding his death on June 25, 2009.
- GenresMusicNonfictionBiography
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 3, 2010
8 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Nelson George
77 books117 followersNelson George is an author, filmmaker, television producer, and critic with a long career in analyzing and presenting the diverse elements of African-American culture.
Queen Latifah won the Golden Globe for playing the lead in his directorial debut, the HBO movie 'Life Support'. The critically acclaimed drama looked at the effects of HIV on a troubled black family in his native Brooklyn, New York. He recently co-edited, with Alan Leeds, 'The James Brown Reader (Plume)', a collection of previously published articles about the Godfather of Soul that date as far back the late '50s. Plume published the book in May '08.
He is an executive producer on two returning cable shows: the third season of BET's American Gangster and the fifth airing of VH1's Hip Hop Honors. George is the executive producer of the Chris Rock hosted feature documentary, Good Hair, a look at hair weaves, relaxers and the international black hair economy that's premiering at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Nelson George serves as host of Soul Cities, a travel show that debuted in November 2008. on VH1 Soul. Nelson visited Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Memphis, New Orleans and the Bay Area. He eats food, visits historic sites, and hears lots of music. LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Babyface, Rafael Saadiq, Angie Stone and Jazmine Sullivan are among the many artists who talked with Nelson and perform. The second season starts shooting in Spring 2009.
Throughout the '80s and '90s George was an columnist for Billboard magazine and the Village Voice newspaper, work that led him to write a series of award winning black music histories: 'Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound'; 'The Death of Rythm & Blues'; and 'Hip Hop America'. He won a Grammy for his contribution to the linear notes package on the James Brown 'Star Time' boxed set. George co-wrote 'Life and Def', the autobiography of his old friend Russell Simmons. He's also had a career writing fiction, including the bestselling 'One Woman Short', and the story, 'It's Never Too Late in New York', which has been in several anthologies of erotica.
As a screenwriter George co-wrote 'Strictly Business', which starred Halle Berry, and 'CB4', a vehicle for Chris Rock. His work with Rock led to his involvement with 'The Chris Rock Show', an Emmy award winning HBO late night series. He was an executive producer of Jim McKay's film, 'Everyday People', which premiered at the Sundance festival, and Todd Williams' Peabody award winning documentary 'The N Word'. In 2009 Viking will publish his memoir, 'City Kid', a look at the connections between childhood in Brooklyn and his adult career in Manhattan, Los Angeles and Detroit.
Queen Latifah won the Golden Globe for playing the lead in his directorial debut, the HBO movie 'Life Support'. The critically acclaimed drama looked at the effects of HIV on a troubled black family in his native Brooklyn, New York. He recently co-edited, with Alan Leeds, 'The James Brown Reader (Plume)', a collection of previously published articles about the Godfather of Soul that date as far back the late '50s. Plume published the book in May '08.
He is an executive producer on two returning cable shows: the third season of BET's American Gangster and the fifth airing of VH1's Hip Hop Honors. George is the executive producer of the Chris Rock hosted feature documentary, Good Hair, a look at hair weaves, relaxers and the international black hair economy that's premiering at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Nelson George serves as host of Soul Cities, a travel show that debuted in November 2008. on VH1 Soul. Nelson visited Los Angeles, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Memphis, New Orleans and the Bay Area. He eats food, visits historic sites, and hears lots of music. LaBelle, Robin Thicke, Babyface, Rafael Saadiq, Angie Stone and Jazmine Sullivan are among the many artists who talked with Nelson and perform. The second season starts shooting in Spring 2009.
Throughout the '80s and '90s George was an columnist for Billboard magazine and the Village Voice newspaper, work that led him to write a series of award winning black music histories: 'Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise and Fall of the Motown Sound'; 'The Death of Rythm & Blues'; and 'Hip Hop America'. He won a Grammy for his contribution to the linear notes package on the James Brown 'Star Time' boxed set. George co-wrote 'Life and Def', the autobiography of his old friend Russell Simmons. He's also had a career writing fiction, including the bestselling 'One Woman Short', and the story, 'It's Never Too Late in New York', which has been in several anthologies of erotica.
As a screenwriter George co-wrote 'Strictly Business', which starred Halle Berry, and 'CB4', a vehicle for Chris Rock. His work with Rock led to his involvement with 'The Chris Rock Show', an Emmy award winning HBO late night series. He was an executive producer of Jim McKay's film, 'Everyday People', which premiered at the Sundance festival, and Todd Williams' Peabody award winning documentary 'The N Word'. In 2009 Viking will publish his memoir, 'City Kid', a look at the connections between childhood in Brooklyn and his adult career in Manhattan, Los Angeles and Detroit.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 21, 2011
Here, Nelson George commits one of my biggest pet peeves: the writer inserting himself into the narrative of his subject. And he does it A LOT. I generally don't pick up a biography in order to read about the life of the author. I don't understand why they do this.
However, the musical history and the analysis he gives to each song in Thriller is really interesting stuff. George obviously knows what he's talking about here.
I could've also done without George's tipping his toe into the waters of psychoanalysis. When he tries to examine Jackson's psychological state, he definitely seems like a music critic suddenly enamored with Jung.
All that being said, it is an interesting read.
However, the musical history and the analysis he gives to each song in Thriller is really interesting stuff. George obviously knows what he's talking about here.
I could've also done without George's tipping his toe into the waters of psychoanalysis. When he tries to examine Jackson's psychological state, he definitely seems like a music critic suddenly enamored with Jung.
All that being said, it is an interesting read.
July 19, 2010
I expected more. This book wasn't thorough enough for me. Explanations of how the music came to fruition were not good enough for me. There are a few interesting bits in this book, just musings coming from Nelson George. Someone will get the musical criticism of Michael Jackson right one day, but not with this book.
January 13, 2011
The book was ok. I was expecting a whole "life" of Michael's musical career from the Jackson 5 until his death. The way his music changed with the different eras...I did not get this, I got a little bit of history with an analysis of the Thriller album. I was disappointed.
March 6, 2023
i got the worst jealous vibes from this book :( it’s like a whole book evading giving michael jackson a single compliment. there’s so much passive aggressiveness towards him and even his religion?
the whole book just proved the author doesn’t michael at all. he wrote that beat it is about people attacking you when it’s about anti-violence and anti-gang activity?? and billy jean is about an affair which michael regrets when it’s really about fans falsely claiming that they’re his family?! was also judgemental towards michael’s voice, not realizing he had to purposefully talk high-toned to preserve his vocal cords / prevent vocal fry, and that his natural voice is deep. (see alicia keys saying she has to do the same thing).
George makes it abundantly clear in the beginning of the book that writing about MJ earned him bank—something he repeats which shows he basically views michael as a monetary outlet. someone who genuinely cared about the person & legend of michael jackson would have done enough research to discover his complete and unarguable innocence, instead of writing the sentence “how do we collectively balance his musical/performing brilliance with his inappropriate relationship with a litany of young boys?” what inappropriate relationships? the only relationships he had with children were those that benefitted underprivileged and terminally ill individuals. i wish George would have read the plethora of FBI documents, police investigations, depositions, and testimonies from the children themselves to realize that this star should be praised for so much more than being an epic artist—he was a humanitarian whose impacts would be hard to recreate in the coming centuries.
the whole book just proved the author doesn’t michael at all. he wrote that beat it is about people attacking you when it’s about anti-violence and anti-gang activity?? and billy jean is about an affair which michael regrets when it’s really about fans falsely claiming that they’re his family?! was also judgemental towards michael’s voice, not realizing he had to purposefully talk high-toned to preserve his vocal cords / prevent vocal fry, and that his natural voice is deep. (see alicia keys saying she has to do the same thing).
George makes it abundantly clear in the beginning of the book that writing about MJ earned him bank—something he repeats which shows he basically views michael as a monetary outlet. someone who genuinely cared about the person & legend of michael jackson would have done enough research to discover his complete and unarguable innocence, instead of writing the sentence “how do we collectively balance his musical/performing brilliance with his inappropriate relationship with a litany of young boys?” what inappropriate relationships? the only relationships he had with children were those that benefitted underprivileged and terminally ill individuals. i wish George would have read the plethora of FBI documents, police investigations, depositions, and testimonies from the children themselves to realize that this star should be praised for so much more than being an epic artist—he was a humanitarian whose impacts would be hard to recreate in the coming centuries.
August 1, 2023
It was good it just wasn't whow
January 9, 2011
Overall an interesting and thorough exploration of what made "Thriller" the album it was, and possibly more importantly, what it is today. Why exactly is it the greatest selling album of all time, and what transpired in the industry, pop culture and history in order to make that possible? More to the point, what journey did Michael take, both personal and musical, in order to arrive at the necessary place himself from which to create it? George is a reasonable critic who makes clear efforts to keep his perspectives on musical matters wide and informed.
The book is split into three sections, after a short introduction that offers insight into both George’s personal and professional connections to Michael and his work. The first section explores Michael's beginnings (as well as those of his family, particularly his father Joe), and gives a good overview of the layout of the music industry in America, most specifically for black musicians, around the time when the Jackson 5 made their debut, and why their impact was what it was. The second examines "Thriller" as a critical text, one chapter designated to each track. The third explores a bit of Michael's musical growth post-"Thriller" (though not in very great detail, as that's not the intended overall focus of this book), touches on "This Is It", and overall critical reception to Michael during his post-1985 life.
It's not meant to be a biography of Michael, nor an outright criticism of him; it's simply an examination of his most popular and well-known work from someone who has spent decades as a music critic, who was working in this field when "Thriller" hit and covered its impact as it happened, and has had several direct ties to Michael’s career. Overall, a worthwhile read.
The book is split into three sections, after a short introduction that offers insight into both George’s personal and professional connections to Michael and his work. The first section explores Michael's beginnings (as well as those of his family, particularly his father Joe), and gives a good overview of the layout of the music industry in America, most specifically for black musicians, around the time when the Jackson 5 made their debut, and why their impact was what it was. The second examines "Thriller" as a critical text, one chapter designated to each track. The third explores a bit of Michael's musical growth post-"Thriller" (though not in very great detail, as that's not the intended overall focus of this book), touches on "This Is It", and overall critical reception to Michael during his post-1985 life.
It's not meant to be a biography of Michael, nor an outright criticism of him; it's simply an examination of his most popular and well-known work from someone who has spent decades as a music critic, who was working in this field when "Thriller" hit and covered its impact as it happened, and has had several direct ties to Michael’s career. Overall, a worthwhile read.
April 15, 2012
Good emphasis on the music, but a little scrappily researched (Michael was married to Priscilla Presley and Debbie Rows according to Nelson, and had a brother called Tariano Adoyl, and wore too much rouge, rather than suffered from rosacea, a common side effect of lupus and vitiligo).
As a fan, I can't help but defend him, though can admit this was not the aim of the book. It was to give context to Michael's extraordinary talent and skills, and place him squarely in the black soul tradition, registering all the discomfort with the change in his appearance such a focus produces. Jackson's story is so compelling, however, that sometimes context seems feeble in comparison.
Also, in his run-down of every track on Thriller, I cannot *believe* he doesn't rate Baby Be Mine! On eof Michael's most virtuoso vocal performances.
As a fan, I can't help but defend him, though can admit this was not the aim of the book. It was to give context to Michael's extraordinary talent and skills, and place him squarely in the black soul tradition, registering all the discomfort with the change in his appearance such a focus produces. Jackson's story is so compelling, however, that sometimes context seems feeble in comparison.
Also, in his run-down of every track on Thriller, I cannot *believe* he doesn't rate Baby Be Mine! On eof Michael's most virtuoso vocal performances.
March 4, 2015
O livro poderia ter sido muito melhor se Nelson George não tivesse falado tanto de si mesmo. Ainda que muito sirva para contextualizar, havia porções que poderiam ter sido completamente eliminadas e que nada acrescentam. Mas quando ele acerta, ela acerta em cheio. Ele sabe do que tá falando e ele descreve perfeitamente o cenário musical e da vida na época do surgimento dos Jackson 5, do boom de Thriller e dos anos seguintes (ainda que ele se dedique bem mais às duas primeiras partes) para quem não vivenciou aquela época, ou viu com olhos diferentes, através de documentários mais frios e leituras que não inserem o MJ na cultura da época. Então ainda que dê pra extrair muito pelos olhos do autor, em outras partes o ego dele fala mais alto e acaba atrapalhando a leitura. Fora isso, é bom sim para fãs de Michael Jackson e fãs de música em geral.
April 1, 2016
I remember reading this book and I also remember not even being able to make it through the first chapter because instead of giving me a recap on Michael Jackson's life I got a steady stream of insults and erratic questioning of Michael's behavior. I just couldn't do it. According to the reviews it got better but I just couldn't bring myself to read anymore. I got this book from the library. I took it back the very same day.
August 16, 2012
George is an experienced music writer with an understanding of the pop and hiphop industry. He gives an enthralling, thorough and unbiased look at the King of Pop's rise to fame.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews