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Web Digest Weekly
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Originally released in 1992, Moon Walk was Michael Jackson’s attempt to tell
his story in his own words. This book came before the legendary scandals and
increasing weirdness that came to define his later life, and it really wasn’t a
memoir in the traditional sense, but reading it again one can sense the loneliness
he felt as a child who had become a superstar, but was alienated from other
children his age as his career took the forefront of his world. Michael recalled his
feelings for his often overbearing father as well as the adoration he felt for his
mother, and of course the devotion shared between him and his siblings. Diana
Ross, Elizabeth Taylor, Liza Minelli and others pop up here and there, as he
touches on their influences on him and his work, but the Michael Jackson fans
wanted to know about doesn’t really surface within these pages except through
veiled references throughout. Still this is a fascinating read because it came from
Michael himself and the world as he saw it relates well to the reader. It’s a little
gem from his body of work that will likely shine brightly once again now that he’s
gone.
Grade: A+
Although now almost two decades old, this miniseries focusing on the legendary
Jackson family is still a fascinating watch. The Jacksons – An American Dream
begins in the 1940’s when Joseph and Katherine were first married and follows the
family through the births of their famed children and how the brothers began
performing together, at Joseph’s behest, until they won a local talent show in Gary,
Indiana, and were brought to the attention of Motown Records as a result.
Superstardom of course followed as the Jackson 5 became the biggest act of the
early 70’s. The career of the group, from their departure to Epic Records, and then
Michael’s burgeoning solo career, take up most of this telepic, but it is the
performances of Angela Basset and Lawrence Hilton Jacobs as Katherine and Joseph
Jackson that galvanize this slightly overlong film and make it a spectacular experience.
The actors who portray the brothers are all fine and give convincing portrayals, with
Jason Weaver a great Michael and Holly Robinson glorious as Diana Ross, but
Basset and Jacobs are the reasons for watching this again and again. It’s sometimes
like voyeurism to an extent, but you can’t take your eyes off it. This film is worthy of
being the classic it has become.
Grade: A+
Still celebrating the music of The Jacksons, having last week featured Michael’s
solo work, the light shines on that of The Jacksons. From their earliest beginnings
as Jackson 5 at Motown, to their later work at Epic Records as The Jacksons,
The Very Best of The Jacksons celebrates the music that talented band of
brothers created. Music which still endures to this day. I Want You Back, ABC,
The Love You Save, I’ll Be There, Goin’ Places, Never Can Say Goodbye,
Dancing Machine, Shake Your Body Down To The Ground, Enjoy Yourself,
Dreamer, and Lovely One, are only a few of the exciting tracks that light up this
anthology like few other greatest hits packages can boast. Today it is hard to find a
family act as tight and as diaphanous as the Jacksons were – and are – but even
with Michael now gone on before them, an anthology such as this will continue to
thrill listeners for years to come. The Very Best of The Jacksons is a winner all
around.
Grade: A+