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On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before the first ''This Is It'' show was due to begin in London, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died from [[cardiac arrest]].<ref>{{cite press release|title= Michael Jackson dead at 50 after cardiac arrest |publisher= CNN |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= August 31, 2009 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/michael.jackson/index.html}}</ref> [[Conrad Murray]], his personal physician, had given Jackson various medications to help him sleep at his rented mansion in [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles]]. Paramedics received a [[9-1-1|911]] call at 12:22 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific time]] (19:22 UTC), and arrived three minutes later.<ref>{{cite news|title= Los Angeles Fire Department recording of the emergency phone call made from Michael Jackson's home |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= June 27, 2009 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8121884.stm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Partial transcript of Calif. 911 call |publisher= Yahoo! News |agency= Associated Press |date= March 4, 2013 |url= https://news.yahoo.com/partial-transcript-calif-911-call-210530808.html}}</ref> Jackson was not breathing and [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]] was performed.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson's life cut shockingly short |agency= Associated Press |date= June 26, 2009 |url= http://www.today.com/id/31552029}}</ref> Resuscitation efforts continued en route to [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]], and for more than an hour after arriving there, but were unsuccessful,<ref>{{cite news|first1= Teri |last1= Whitcraft |first2= Kristin |last2= Pisarcik |first3= Kimberly |last3= Brown |title= Timeline: Michael Jackson's Final Days |publisher= ABC News |date= June 23, 2010 |access-date= March 19, 2017 |url= https://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/michael-jackson-final-days-timeline-year-death-king/story?id=10974394}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{cite news|first= Michael |last= Harvey |date= June 26, 2009 |title= Fans mourn artist for whom it didn't matter if you were black or white |newspaper= The Times |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110920052143/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece |archive-date= September 20, 2011}}</ref> and Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific time (21:26 UTC).<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|first= Matthew |last= Moore |title= Michael Jackson, King of Pop, dies of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |date= June 26, 2009 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5643916/Michael-Jackson-King-of-Pop-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-in-Los-Angeles.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|first1= Dan |last1= Whitcomb |first2= Laura |last2= Isensee |title= Michael Jackson death still unsolved after autopsy |work= Reuters |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jackson-idUSTRE55O6AK20090626}}</ref> | On June 25, 2009, less than three weeks before the first ''This Is It'' show was due to begin in London, with all concerts sold out, Jackson died from [[cardiac arrest]].<ref>{{cite press release|title= Michael Jackson dead at 50 after cardiac arrest |publisher= CNN |date= June 25, 2009 |access-date= August 31, 2009 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/06/25/michael.jackson/index.html}}</ref> [[Conrad Murray]], his personal physician, had given Jackson various medications to help him sleep at his rented mansion in [[Holmby Hills, Los Angeles]]. Paramedics received a [[9-1-1|911]] call at 12:22 pm [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific time]] (19:22 UTC), and arrived three minutes later.<ref>{{cite news|title= Los Angeles Fire Department recording of the emergency phone call made from Michael Jackson's home |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= June 27, 2009 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8121884.stm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Partial transcript of Calif. 911 call |publisher= Yahoo! News |agency= Associated Press |date= March 4, 2013 |url= https://news.yahoo.com/partial-transcript-calif-911-call-210530808.html}}</ref> Jackson was not breathing and [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]] was performed.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson's life cut shockingly short |agency= Associated Press |date= June 26, 2009 |url= http://www.today.com/id/31552029}}</ref> Resuscitation efforts continued en route to [[Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center]], and for more than an hour after arriving there, but were unsuccessful,<ref>{{cite news|first1= Teri |last1= Whitcraft |first2= Kristin |last2= Pisarcik |first3= Kimberly |last3= Brown |title= Timeline: Michael Jackson's Final Days |publisher= ABC News |date= June 23, 2010 |access-date= March 19, 2017 |url= https://abcnews.go.com/2020/MichaelJackson/michael-jackson-final-days-timeline-year-death-king/story?id=10974394}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{cite news|first= Michael |last= Harvey |date= June 26, 2009 |title= Fans mourn artist for whom it didn't matter if you were black or white |newspaper= The Times |url= http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110920052143/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6580897.ece |archive-date= September 20, 2011}}</ref> and Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific time (21:26 UTC).<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|first= Matthew |last= Moore |title= Michael Jackson, King of Pop, dies of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles |newspaper= The Daily Telegraph |date= June 26, 2009 |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/michael-jackson/5643916/Michael-Jackson-King-of-Pop-dies-of-cardiac-arrest-in-Los-Angeles.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|first1= Dan |last1= Whitcomb |first2= Laura |last2= Isensee |title= Michael Jackson death still unsolved after autopsy |work= Reuters |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-jackson-idUSTRE55O6AK20090626}}</ref> | ||
Jackson was administered [[propofol]], [[lorazepam]], and [[midazolam]];<ref>{{cite news|first= Kathleen |last= Doheny |title= Propofol Linked to Michael Jackson's Death |date= August 24, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |publisher= [[WebMD]] |url= http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20090824/propofol-linked-to-michael-jacksons-death}}</ref> his death was caused by a propofol overdose.<ref>{{cite press release|first= Alan |last= Duke |title= Coroner releases new details about Michael Jackson's death |publisher= CNN |date= February 10, 2010 |access-date= February 23, 2019 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/09/michael.jackson.autopsy/index.html}}</ref | Jackson was administered [[propofol]], [[lorazepam]], and [[midazolam]];<ref>{{cite news|first= Kathleen |last= Doheny |title= Propofol Linked to Michael Jackson's Death |date= August 24, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |publisher= [[WebMD]] |url= http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20090824/propofol-linked-to-michael-jacksons-death}}</ref> his death was caused by a propofol overdose.<ref name="Times"/><ref>{{cite press release|first= Alan |last= Duke |title= Coroner releases new details about Michael Jackson's death |publisher= CNN |date= February 10, 2010 |access-date= February 23, 2019 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/09/michael.jackson.autopsy/index.html}}</ref> News of his death spread quickly online, causing websites to slow down and [[crash (computing)|crash]] from user overload,<ref>{{cite press release|first1= Linnie |last1= Rawlinson |first2= Nick |last2= Hunt |title= Jackson dies, almost takes Internet with him |publisher= CNN |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= March 16, 2013 |url= http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/}}</ref> and putting unprecedented strain<ref name="Wood">{{cite news|first= Daniel B. |last= Wood |title= Outpouring over Michael Jackson unlike anything since Princess Di |newspaper= [[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date= June 27, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0627/p25s09-usgn.html}}</ref> on services and websites including [[Google Search|Google]],<ref name="Shiels"/> [[AOL Instant Messenger]],<ref name="Wood"/> [[Twitter]], and [[Wikipedia]].<ref name="Shiels">{{cite news|first= Maggie |last= Shiels |title= Web slows after Jackson's death |work= BBC News |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8120324.stm}}</ref> Overall, [[web traffic]] rose by between 11% and 20%.<ref name="crash">{{cite news|first= David |last= Skok |title= Internet stretched to limit as fans flock for Michael Jackson news |newspaper= [[The Vancouver Sun]] |date= June 26, 2009 |url= https://vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Internet+stretched+limit+fans+flock+Michael+Jackson+news/1736311/story.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= July 3, 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090703075357/http://www.vancouversun.com/Entertainment/Internet+stretched+limit+fans+flock+Michael+Jackson+news/1736311/story.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1= Tom |last1= Krazit |first2= Declan |last2= McCullagh |title= Debate: Can the Internet handle big breaking news |publisher= [[CNET]] |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10273854-93.html}}</ref> MTV and [[BET]] aired [[Marathon (media)|marathons]] of Jackson's music videos,<ref>{{cite news|first= Brian |last= Dtelter |title= MTV's Jackson Marathon |newspaper= The New York Times |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/the-michael-jackson-channel/?scp=2&sq=MTV&st=cse}}</ref> and Jackson specials aired on television stations around the world.<ref>{{cite news|title= Jacko news spreads to Eastenders |newspaper= [[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |date= June 26, 2009 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://metro.co.uk/2009/06/26/jacko-news-spreads-to-eastenders-228251/}}</ref> MTV briefly returned to its original music video format,<ref name="Barnes"/> and aired hours of Jackson's music videos, with live news specials featuring reactions from MTV personalities and other celebrities.<ref name="Tylerc">{{cite web|title= More adds, loose ends, and lament |work= The 120 Minutes Archive |date= July 25, 2009 |access-date= February 15, 2014 |url= http://tylerc.com/2009/08/more-adds-loose-ends-lament/}}</ref> | ||
===Memorial service=== | ===Memorial service=== | ||
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Video game developer [[Ubisoft]] released a [[music video game]] featuring Jackson for the 2010 holiday season, ''[[Michael Jackson: The Experience]];'' it was among the first games to use [[Kinect]] and [[PlayStation Move]], the motion-detecting camera systems for [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Fans Will Moonwalk in Motion-Sensing Game |magazine= Billboard |agency= Associated Press |date= June 15, 2010 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957768/michael-jackson-fans-will-moonwalk-in-motion-sensing-game}}</ref> ''[[Xscape (album)|Xscape]]'', an album of unreleased material, was released on May 13, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title= New Michael Jackson album to be released in May |work= BBC News |date= March 31, 2014 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26824983}}</ref> Later that year, [[Queen (band)|Queen]] released a duet recorded with Jackson and Freddie Mercury in the 1980s.<ref name="Greene"/> A compilation album, ''[[Scream (Michael Jackson album)|Scream]]'', was released on September 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Elias |last= Leight |title= Michael Jackson's Estate Details 'Scream' Compilation |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= September 6, 2017 |access-date= September 29, 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-estate-details-scream-compilation-w501394}}</ref> | Video game developer [[Ubisoft]] released a [[music video game]] featuring Jackson for the 2010 holiday season, ''[[Michael Jackson: The Experience]];'' it was among the first games to use [[Kinect]] and [[PlayStation Move]], the motion-detecting camera systems for [[Xbox 360]] and [[PlayStation 3]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Fans Will Moonwalk in Motion-Sensing Game |magazine= Billboard |agency= Associated Press |date= June 15, 2010 |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957768/michael-jackson-fans-will-moonwalk-in-motion-sensing-game}}</ref> ''[[Xscape (album)|Xscape]]'', an album of unreleased material, was released on May 13, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title= New Michael Jackson album to be released in May |work= BBC News |date= March 31, 2014 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26824983}}</ref> Later that year, [[Queen (band)|Queen]] released a duet recorded with Jackson and Freddie Mercury in the 1980s.<ref name="Greene"/> A compilation album, ''[[Scream (Michael Jackson album)|Scream]]'', was released on September 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Elias |last= Leight |title= Michael Jackson's Estate Details 'Scream' Compilation |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= September 6, 2017 |access-date= September 29, 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/michael-jacksons-estate-details-scream-compilation-w501394}}</ref> | ||
In October 2011, the theater company [[Cirque du Soleil]] launched ''[[Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour]],'' a $57-million production,<ref>{{cite news|title= Cirque plans $57M touring Jackson show |publisher= CBC News |date= November 3, 2010 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2010/11/03/cirque-michael-jackson-immortal-tour.html}}</ref> in Montreal, with a permanent show [[Residency show|resident]] in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news|first= Tony |last= Hicks |title= People: Cirque du Soleil mounting Michael Jackson tour |newspaper= San Jose Mercury News |date= November 3, 2010 |access-date= November 7, 2010 |url= http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment-headlines/ci_16517946}}</ref> A larger and more theatrical Cirque show, ''[[Michael Jackson: One]],'' designed for residency at the [[Mandalay Bay]] resort in Las Vegas, opened on May 23, 2013 in a renovated theater.<ref>{{cite news|first= Chris |last= Jones |title= 'Michael Jackson One' in Las Vegas: Cirque du Soleil refinds its way |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |date= July 13, 2013 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-13/entertainment/ct-ae-0714-jones-20130713_1_viva-elvis-cirque-du-soleil-cirque-show}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first= Zack |last= O'Malley Greenburg |title= Michael Jackson's New Vegas Show 'One' Will Double The Fun |magazine= Forbes |date= February 2, 2013 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/02/22/michael-jacksons-new-vegas-show-one-will-double-the-fun/}}</ref> A [[jukebox musical]], ''[[Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (musical)|Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough]],'' is due to debut on Broadway in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|author= BWW News Desk |title= MJ the Musical on Broadway Postponed to September 2021 |website= [[BroadwayWorld]] |date= October 9, 2020 |access-date= April 4, 2021 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MJ-THE-MUSICAL-Announces-New-Broadway-Dates-20201009}}</ref> | In October 2011, the theater company [[Cirque du Soleil]] launched ''[[Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour]],'' a $57-million production,<ref>{{cite news|title= Cirque plans $57M touring Jackson show |publisher= CBC News |date= November 3, 2010 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/music/story/2010/11/03/cirque-michael-jackson-immortal-tour.html}}</ref> in Montreal, with a permanent show [[Residency show|resident]] in Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news|first= Tony |last= Hicks |title= People: Cirque du Soleil mounting Michael Jackson tour |newspaper= San Jose Mercury News |date= November 3, 2010 |access-date= November 7, 2010 |url= http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment-headlines/ci_16517946}}</ref> A larger and more theatrical Cirque show, ''[[Michael Jackson: One]],'' designed for residency at the [[Mandalay Bay]] resort in Las Vegas, opened on May 23, 2013, in a renovated theater.<ref>{{cite news|first= Chris |last= Jones |title= 'Michael Jackson One' in Las Vegas: Cirque du Soleil refinds its way |newspaper= Chicago Tribune |date= July 13, 2013 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-07-13/entertainment/ct-ae-0714-jones-20130713_1_viva-elvis-cirque-du-soleil-cirque-show}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first= Zack |last= O'Malley Greenburg |title= Michael Jackson's New Vegas Show 'One' Will Double The Fun |magazine= Forbes |date= February 2, 2013 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2013/02/22/michael-jacksons-new-vegas-show-one-will-double-the-fun/}}</ref> A [[jukebox musical]], ''[[Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (musical)|Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough]],'' is due to debut on Broadway in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|author= BWW News Desk |title= MJ the Musical on Broadway Postponed to September 2021 |website= [[BroadwayWorld]] |date= October 9, 2020 |access-date= April 4, 2021 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/MJ-THE-MUSICAL-Announces-New-Broadway-Dates-20201009}}</ref> | ||
In April 2011, [[Mohamed Al-Fayed]], chairman of [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham Football Club]], unveiled a [[statue of Michael Jackson|statue of Jackson]] outside the club stadium, [[Craven Cottage]].<ref name="Fulham">{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson Fulham FC statue defended by Al Fayed |work= BBC News |date= April 3, 2011 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12950708}}</ref> It was moved to the [[National Football Museum]] in Manchester in May 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson statue moves to National Football Museum |work= BBC News |date= May 6, 2014 |access-date= February 13, 2016 |url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27302594}}</ref> and removed from display in March 2019 following renewed sexual assault allegations.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson statue: National Football Museum removes artwork |work= BBC News |date= March 6, 2019 |access-date= March 8, 2019 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47468074}}</ref> | In April 2011, [[Mohamed Al-Fayed]], chairman of [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham Football Club]], unveiled a [[statue of Michael Jackson|statue of Jackson]] outside the club stadium, [[Craven Cottage]].<ref name="Fulham">{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson Fulham FC statue defended by Al Fayed |work= BBC News |date= April 3, 2011 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12950708}}</ref> It was moved to the [[National Football Museum]] in Manchester in May 2014,<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson statue moves to National Football Museum |work= BBC News |date= May 6, 2014 |access-date= February 13, 2016 |url= https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27302594}}</ref> and removed from display in March 2019 following renewed sexual assault allegations.<ref>{{cite news|title= Michael Jackson statue: National Football Museum removes artwork |work= BBC News |date= March 6, 2019 |access-date= March 8, 2019 |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-47468074}}</ref> | ||
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[[File:Michael Jackson1 1988.jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photo of Jackson holding a microphone and singing.|Jackson during his [[Bad (tour)|Bad]] tour in Vienna, June 1988]] | [[File:Michael Jackson1 1988.jpg|thumb|alt=Black and white photo of Jackson holding a microphone and singing.|Jackson during his [[Bad (tour)|Bad]] tour in Vienna, June 1988]] | ||
Jackson explored genres including pop,<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Jet">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Turns 30! |magazine= Jet |volume= 74 |issue= 35 |date= August 29, 1988 |page= 58 |publisher= Johnson Publishing Company |issn= 0021-5996 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=L70DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58}}</ref> [[Soul music|soul]],<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Bio2"/> [[rhythm and blues]],<ref name="Jet"/> [[funk]],<ref name="Help">{{cite web|first= M. |last= Heyliger |title= A State-of-the-Art Pop Album: Thriller by Michael |website= Consumerhelpweb.com |quote= Not many artists could pull off such a variety of styles (funk, post-disco, rock, easy listening, ballads)... |url= http://music.consumerhelpweb.com/artists/jackson/thriller.htm |archive-date= December 4, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081204150926/http://music.consumerhelpweb.com/artists/jackson/thriller.htm}}</ref> rock,<ref name="Jet"/><ref name="Help"/> [[disco]],<ref name="AMOFW">{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Michael Jackson – Off the Wall – Overview |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= June 15, 2008 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/off-the-wall-mw0000190332}}</ref> [[post-disco]],<ref name="Help"/> [[dance-pop]]{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=285}} and [[new jack swing]].<ref name="allmusic"/> Steve Huey of [[AllMusic]] wrote that ''Thriller'' refined the strengths of ''Off the Wall''; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.<ref name="allmusic"/> Its tracks included the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]", and "[[The Girl Is Mine]]",<ref name=" | Jackson explored genres including pop,<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Jet">{{cite magazine|title= Michael Jackson Turns 30! |magazine= Jet |volume= 74 |issue= 35 |date= August 29, 1988 |page= 58 |publisher= Johnson Publishing Company |issn= 0021-5996 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=L70DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58}}</ref> [[Soul music|soul]],<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Bio2"/> [[rhythm and blues]],<ref name="Jet"/> [[funk]],<ref name="Help">{{cite web|first= M. |last= Heyliger |title= A State-of-the-Art Pop Album: Thriller by Michael |website= Consumerhelpweb.com |quote= Not many artists could pull off such a variety of styles (funk, post-disco, rock, easy listening, ballads)... |url= http://music.consumerhelpweb.com/artists/jackson/thriller.htm |archive-date= December 4, 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081204150926/http://music.consumerhelpweb.com/artists/jackson/thriller.htm}}</ref> rock,<ref name="Jet"/><ref name="Help"/> [[disco]],<ref name="AMOFW">{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Michael Jackson – Off the Wall – Overview |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= June 15, 2008 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/off-the-wall-mw0000190332}}</ref> [[post-disco]],<ref name="Help"/> [[dance-pop]]{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=285}} and [[new jack swing]].<ref name="allmusic"/> Steve Huey of [[AllMusic]] wrote that ''Thriller'' refined the strengths of ''Off the Wall''; the dance and rock tracks were more aggressive, while the pop tunes and ballads were softer and more soulful.<ref name="allmusic"/> Its tracks included the ballads "The Lady in My Life", "[[Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)|Human Nature]]", and "[[The Girl Is Mine]]",<ref name="Thriller">{{cite magazine|first= Christopher |last= Connelly |title= Michael Jackson: Thriller |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= January 28, 1983 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/thriller-19830128}}</ref><ref name="AMThriller">{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= Michael Jackson – Thriller – Overview |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/thriller-mw0000056882}}</ref><ref name="Slant">{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Henderson |title= Michael Jackson – Thriller |work= [[Slant Magazine]] |date= October 18, 2003 |access-date= May 31, 2015 |url= https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/michael-jackson-thriller}}</ref> the funk pieces "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'",<ref name="Thriller"/><ref name="AMThriller"/> and the disco set "[[Baby Be Mine (Michael Jackson song)|Baby Be Mine]]" and "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]".<ref name="Slant"/> | ||
With ''Off the Wall'', Jackson's "vocabulary of grunts, squeals, hiccups, moans, and asides" vividly showed his maturation into an adult, [[Robert Christgau]] wrote in ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981). The album's title track suggested to the critic a parallel between Jackson and [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "oddball" music personas: "Since childhood his main contact with the real world has been on stage and in bed."{{sfn|Christgau|1981|loc=Consumer Guide '70s: J}} With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of [[paranoia]] and darker imagery.<ref name="Thriller"/> AllMusic's [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] noted this on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".<ref name="AMThriller"/> In "Billie Jean", Jackson depicts an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered her child,<ref name="allmusic"/> and in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.<ref name="Thriller"/> "Beat It" decried gang violence in a homage to ''[[West Side Story]]'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Bio"/> He observed that "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the [[supernatural]], a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.<ref name="allmusic"/> | With ''Off the Wall'', Jackson's "vocabulary of grunts, squeals, hiccups, moans, and asides" vividly showed his maturation into an adult, [[Robert Christgau]] wrote in ''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981). The album's title track suggested to the critic a parallel between Jackson and [[Stevie Wonder]]'s "oddball" music personas: "Since childhood his main contact with the real world has been on stage and in bed."{{sfn|Christgau|1981|loc=Consumer Guide '70s: J}} With ''Thriller'', Christopher Connelly of ''Rolling Stone'' commented that Jackson developed his long association with the subliminal theme of [[paranoia]] and darker imagery.<ref name="Thriller"/> AllMusic's [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] noted this on the songs "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'".<ref name="AMThriller"/> In "Billie Jean", Jackson depicts an obsessive fan who alleges he has fathered her child,<ref name="allmusic"/> and in "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" he argues against gossip and the media.<ref name="Thriller"/> "Beat It" decried gang violence in a homage to ''[[West Side Story]]'', and was Jackson's first successful rock cross-over piece, according to Huey.<ref name="allmusic"/><ref name="Bio"/> He observed that "[[Thriller (song)|Thriller]]" began Jackson's interest with the theme of the [[supernatural]], a topic he revisited in subsequent years. In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a recurring theme in his lyrics and public persona.<ref name="allmusic"/> | ||