The music video for “Thriller”, directed by John Landis, became a cultural phenomenon, revolutionizing the concept of the music video. MTV, which had previously been reluctant to feature Black artists prominently, embraced Jackson, breaking racial barriers in the industry.
Thriller went on to become the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 70 million copies sold worldwide. Jackson became a household name across continents, and his fame reached unprecedented levels.
In 1983, Jackson debuted the moonwalk while performing “Billie Jean” during the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. The move became synonymous with his persona and cemented him as one of the greatest dancers in history.
Bad, Dangerous, and HIStory
Jackson followed up Thriller with Bad (1987), another massive success. The album produced five consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles—a record at the time—including “Bad”, “Man in the Mirror”, and “The Way You Make Me Feel.” The accompanying Bad World Tour was the highest-grossing tour of the 1980s.
