MICHAEL JACKSON - Billie Jean (1982)

 March 5, 1983 - 38 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson began a 7-week run at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart with his single, "Billie Jean." This was Jackson's second single release from his album, "Thriller," which was in its second week of a 37-week non-consecutive run at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. This was one of four singles Jackson solely composed and is arguably his most remarkable recording. The song was performed three weeks later on March 25, 1983, at a celebration to commemorate Motown's 25th Anniversary. The program was taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and broadcast on NBC on May 16, 1983. Jackson's performance brought down the house with his first recorded Moonwalk that he was preparing for his worldwide tour. The song also made history as it broke down MTV's racial barrier as the first video by an African-American artist to be aired in heavy rotation. When MTV resisted the video, Columbia Records, the parent of Jackson's Epic label, threatened to pull all of their artists' videos from the popular network. "Billie Jean" earned two Grammy Awards, one American Music Award and an induction into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame — the song and corresponding music video propelled "Thriller" to the status of best-selling album of all time. "Billie Jean," also ranks at No. 58 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The album "Thriller" was certified 30X Platinum and recently 33X Platinum behind the Eagles' 1976 compilation, "Eagles: Their Greatest Hits/1971-1975," which was certified 38X Platinum in the U.S. Michael Jackson was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5 and in 2001 as a solo artist. 




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