Meeting a stranger should be simple. But for a woman named Annie, it is a social trap. For thirty-eight years, these women named ‘Annie’ have been teased by being asked if they are okay.
This calls for Michael Jackson’s masterpiece Smooth Criminal. The bassline hooks you in two seconds. But for the people living with that name, the music carries a weight that is not always easy to carry.
The energy in the air changes the moment that staccato beat begins to pulse. His gangster style was a nod to old Hollywood films. Yet it created a modern problem for every Annie in America.
Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal (Official Video)
People often forget that there is a person behind the name who has heard the reference a thousand times. One viewer mentioned that they can no longer introduce themselves. Another woman said it is a strange type of fame that you did not ask for.
While the world was busy asking Annie if she was okay, the man behind the music was busy reinventing how we see stories. This drive to be the best took him from the flashy streets of a gangster film into the dark woods of a horror movie.
Michael Jackson Behind the Scenes – “Making of a Masterpiece”
He sat in a makeup chair for countless hours while artists glued rubber to his face. He worked with a choreographer to make sure the dancers moved like clunky creatures.
Michael Jackson lived his life in a way most people only dream of. He poured his heart into every frame and every note until it was perfect for his audience.
Follow Michael Jackson on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. There is always a deeper story waiting to be found behind the songs we think we know so well.