On May 16, 1983, millions of people sat in front of their televisions to watch a music special called Motown 25.
They expected a fun, nostalgic night of old hits. Instead, they witnessed a moment so magical it changed pop music forever. That was the night Michael Jackson performed “Billie Jean” and first showed the world the moonwalk.
Earlier that evening, Michael had performed with his brothers, the Jackson 5. It was a sweet reunion, but the real magic occurred when I walked back onto the stage completely alone.
He was wearing a sparkly black jacket, black cropped pants, a fedora hat, and only one shiny white glove. Funnily enough, he didn’t know what to wear that night, so he had actually grabbed that famous black jacket straight out of his mother Katherine’s closet at the last minute!
Michael Jackson – Live Motown 25
As the beat to “Billie Jean” started, Michael began to dance in the middle of the song; he did something nobody had ever seen on television before. He glided backward across the floor like a feather in the air. The legendary moonwalk lasted only about three seconds, but it was enough to make the audience explode.
People in the theater stood up, screamed, and some even cried from excitement. By the next morning, kids all across America were trying to copy his smooth moves at school.
This single performance changed everything for Michael. Before this night, many people still viewed him as just the cute kid from the Jackson 5. Afterward, he transcended and surpassed that. He was officially the King of Pop.
The Jacksons – Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Rehearsals March 1983
This look—the hat, the glove, and the glittering white socks—became his permanent blueprint for the rest of his career.
But here is the most shocking secret of all: Michael actually cried backstage after the show. Because he was such a perfectionist, he thought he messed up by not holding his tiptoe stand long enough. He was so upset that he initially didn’t even want the performance to air on TV!
Thankfully, the producers convinced him to watch the tape. He realized it was perfect, and the rest is history.