hard to Believe next year will mark the 20nth Anniversary on that Special Show.for Me Michael Jackson Stole the Show but Marvin Gaye as High as He was Threw Down as well.He played Piano Rolls that Most Cats it takes a few years to get at if Ever?the trip out thing I was waiting more for Rick James before the Show started but He had His Issues with Motown at the time.Classic Show IMHO

I'm convinced that Michael's performance on this show is what really made the 'Thriller' album sell all those copies.I remember going to school the next day after this special aired,and EVERYBODY,even the teachers,were talking about MJ's awesome performance of "Billie Jean".That was a kickass performance that made him the hottest star on the planet.

DavidEye said:

yeah&hard to Believe that it almost didn't happen? MJ told Berry Gordy&the Motown staff that He had to do "Billie Jean"&also He had to have the Final say on the Editing of it.Needless to say the Rest was History.yeah at my Bus Stop going to School Even the Bums had a Bag Rap on there Hands as Glitter Glove&Were Moonwalking all down the Street.those were the days when a TV Performance or soemthing along those lines was talked about all through the Neighborhood&elsewhere you know?

Imagine having the power & popularity 2 go 2 Berry Gordy, Jr., and 2 tell him, yeah, I'll do ur show, but only if I get 2 sing my new song off another label!!!

Now imagine getting ur way.

Michael did just that. He knew it was a show 2 honor Motown and Berry...he knew they wanted him and his brothers 2 jam on it...and he knew he was hot enough 2 request the seemingly impossible, and get it.

Kudos 2 Mike.

It turned his shit 2 high gear!

I also can remember talking about this show in school the next day. The girls would wear the Michael Jackson buttons to school.

For me, seeing the When Doves Cry video for the first time was a bigger experience. I couldn't wait for the movie.

mistermaxxx said:

OMG it's been almost 20 years.!!!..oh say it isn't so...Well at least I only have a "few" gray hairs
(hidden to the naked eye)

and I CAN DO THE MOONWALK...neener neener neener...LOL


Michael kicked Ass!! and Marvin Gaye definetly lit up the stage, man...do I miss Marvin, He gave us such great commentary on social struggle...

DavidEye said:

Good Morning Everyone,

Yes everybody at my school the next day was talking about this performance as well. It was one of those moments that deserved to go down in history. However, Michael said that the performance wasn't perfect. He had planned to pause while on his toes for a few seconds, but if you look at the performance you can plainly see that he slipped up. Landmark performance though because everybody thought he would only perform Motown songs. Yep that was the performance that sent people to the record stores in droves. But critics were saying that this was one of the performances that influence pop music performance from that point on (negatively)because he lip-synched it.

However our liked his live performance of Billie Jean he did while on his Dangerous tour that MTV aired in 1992 the best. Those moves he does on that particular performance were awesome. He was in the zone that night.

Motown 25 was one of the best music specials on TV. I rented that tape from Blockbuster Video and almost wore it out I played it so much!

Michael Jackson was already a star, but after that performance of Billie Jean, he became the biggest pop star on the planet.

Motown 25 is no longer on the shelf at my local Blockbuster, probably because somebody played it much

June7 said:

dang...mj is one SMART dude in business. and look what happened to him!!!
the lesson is to take chances, and if the opportunity is given, make sure it is the best and the most orginal thing ever!
what i would like to know why the wolrd fell in love with maddy after she practically humped her dress and rolled on the ground during her VMA's performace! and how the everybody talked about the Beatles when all they did was play their insturments and sing.

DavidEye said:

I will never forget this moment. My whole family was watching. This was before the internet and cable TV was really popular so most people still watched the 3 networks. Everyone in school the next day was attempting the moonwalk. I had to get the glove too and the Thriller jacket! Unfortunately VCR's were still new too, I didn't have one yet so I couldn't tape it, so I had to wait for the rerun a few months later and I believe Entertainment Tonight showed a clip of the moonwalk. It was one of the few times I really have been spellbound by a performer. Of course Prince did this as well- the first time I heard 1999 and When Doves Cry.

P.S. Ya know what's kind of funny is this was probably the only performance on the show that was lip synched, but noone cared it was still awesome!

DMSR said:

I think it Showed A Artist in Tune with a Audience.folks had Grown up on MJ&He was Growing Up&Peaking at the Right time IMHO.