The Jackson 5 are one of those rare groups that perfectly balance that line between Classic and Poptastic. Few will deny that they made some of the best pop music of all time – all peppy melodies, funky 70s beats, and the catchiest damn tunes around. And no matter how depressing today’s Michael Jackson gets, the Michael Jackson that existed back then was one of pop history’s greatest performers. Music that makes people feel this good will never go out of style.
On the other hand, the Jackson 5 was just a tiny bit silly – the outrageous outfits, the choreographed dance steps, and lyrics like:
Reading, writing and arithmetic
Are the branches of the learning tree.
But without the roots of love every day, girl,
Your education ain’t complete.
Teacher’s gonna show you how to get an A!
(“ABC”, 1970)
Oh, dang! That’s some skillful writing right there. And I never really thought about it before today, but is there anyone else that finds it a little odd to have a 12-year-old boy warning his girl about being trampy or else “someday [she'll] be all alone” (“The Love You Save”, 1970)? Boy, kids sure do grow up fast.
Jackson 5 – ABC
Jackson 5 – The Love You Save
Filed under: Music, Poptastic Day Tagged: | Pop, The Jackson 5
You nailed that. The whole schtick about a little kid giving love lessons to his lady really shouldn’t work, but it does. That’s the genius of Jacko. Thanks for the post
i think the jackson 5 was and is one of the best groups i all time and no matter how much there family is accused of wrong doing you just cant stop there music it will live on forever michael jackson is one of the best singers of our singer time no is the best entertainer of all time he make be talk about or even accuseed but no one can denie that michael jackson is the best iwill cherish him for my entire life i am enspired by him and he is the main reason why i love music and i dont think any musician today can top him because he was a real singer he didnt have to put all that mess on his voice because he was a real singer i think the jackson five and michael jackson will still be here after our time people will still be listenig to there music in 2100 they are the most talented family in the history included there sisters