alphastreet said:

The teenybopper discussion is interesting. I would have thought he was viewed like that way before Thriller while with motown and not after. It always seemed to me he was enjoyed by all ages overall that peaked with Thriller and stayed this way ever since. With globalization and MJ's music being available in overseas countries, I can see adults getting into him and remembering hearing of them being into him during Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and onwards. In the 80's through early 90's, I remember people in their 20's and 30's mostly liking him, after that, it was people in their teens and 20's in the 90's, though after it, the age wasn't limited. And regarding that "fair" article, I saw different shifts in fans. I remember fans not liking Invincible as much as HIStory or the other albums who either bought it and didn't play it, or just didn't buy it, or fans in their teens who discovered him through the MSG concerts and TRL who got the album and became fans, who may have recalled hearing of him when he was young, or even getting a compilation or the number ones CD or DVD and appreciating him (I saw this happen with youth)

[Edited 6/9/11 7:20am]

Honestly this is how I became a big fan because I was Raised on Janet for most of my life I started to get into him when I got older.

babybugz said:

Remember when Vh1 used to have those Michael marathons in the afternoon around 2001-2005? I used to come straight home from school watching them.

YEAH! God, that was fun! I used to come home to my grandma's, cuz she was the only one with cable, just to watch them.

Good times...I wish they could do it again.

MOL said:

First: I understood perfectly what you meant by "too old". However, I deliberately interpreted it/answered in a sarcastic manner as to make space for yet another observation on Jackson's post-Thriller music.

You still haven't addressed the fact that you don't understand the meaning of 'teeneybopper'. I don't really care that you hate his post-Thriller work. Some people do and that's all right, but to claim that he never improved and/or continued to make teeneybopper music is just, objectively, incorrect.

MOL said:

Not only do you do what you accuse me of doing, but you also play ad hominem while gently avoiding to address the point. Why is that?

I'm sorry. Was my post confusing or tl;dr?? I don't remember defending the family or trying to play ad hominem in my post. Let me try to re-explain it:

People can look at the same thing and get two different interpretations from it. Each of their interpretations is not a reflection of the what they are looking at, but rather of the interpreter. Whatever values resonate within you are going to reflect in your opinion/interpretation of what you are reading, hearing, or looking at.

Do their dysfucntions and/or perceived mental states are the only things that stick out to your the most, to the point where you, obsessively, have to keep repeating it everytime you make a MJ related post? Well, then I have some bad news for you MOL...

[Edited 6/9/11 14:53pm]

Anyone who thinks Michael's songwriting, music and his composition didn't evolve since Thriller haven't paid enough attention to the tracks on Dangerous and HIStory (in particular). Each album has tracks that clearly demonstrate a continued evolution in his writing, subject matter, and style.

If you need schooling on those tracks I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Swa said:

Anyone who thinks Michael's songwriting, music and his composition didn't evolve since Thriller haven't paid enough attention to the tracks on Dangerous and HIStory (in particular). Each album has tracks that clearly demonstrate a continued evolution in his writing, subject matter, and style.

If you need schooling on those tracks I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

You can't school someone who don't wanna be taught.

babybugz said:

alphastreet said:

The teenybopper discussion is interesting. I would have thought he was viewed like that way before Thriller while with motown and not after. It always seemed to me he was enjoyed by all ages overall that peaked with Thriller and stayed this way ever since. With globalization and MJ's music being available in overseas countries, I can see adults getting into him and remembering hearing of them being into him during Bad, Dangerous, HIStory and onwards. In the 80's through early 90's, I remember people in their 20's and 30's mostly liking him, after that, it was people in their teens and 20's in the 90's, though after it, the age wasn't limited. And regarding that "fair" article, I saw different shifts in fans. I remember fans not liking Invincible as much as HIStory or the other albums who either bought it and didn't play it, or just didn't buy it, or fans in their teens who discovered him through the MSG concerts and TRL who got the album and became fans, who may have recalled hearing of him when he was young, or even getting a compilation or the number ones CD or DVD and appreciating him (I saw this happen with youth)

[Edited 6/9/11 7:20am]

Honestly this is how I became a big fan because I was Raised on Janet for most of my life I started to get into him when I got older.

I was going to say something about janet too, cause I remember fans saying they liked Janet, but when Michael came back, they LOVED him! Actually I always liked/loved Michael, but in the late 90's, I got obsessed with janet during VR after the HIStory/BOTDF eras and enjoying those and all that and had posters. I didn't stop being an mj fan, but didn't pay much attention for like 2 years or something like that for a bit, but suddenly I decided to continue updating my mj collection in late 99' cause VR was over and it was still kind of small that time (some videotapes and a few cd's only) and I went crazy again and didn't back away since. And I had a job by then, so I kept buying more michael and janet stuff and going crazy, and vh1 on my american satellite was showing so many specials so I went nuts and saw stuff I missed out on and went bananas, and I had friends a little older than me who had mj footage so they would record it for me, stuff like Ghosts and Oprah and all that

[Edited 6/9/11 17:25pm]

babybugz said:

Remember when Vh1 used to have those Michael marathons in the afternoon around 2001-2005? I used to come straight home from school watching them.

YES!!! 2000-2002 was heaven for me!!! I would set my vcr before school or watch stuff after school! I even remember faking sick to come home early to tape him on TRL, cause I was worried my dad wouldn't let me watch the rerun at night cause we always fought over the tv where I got the american satellite dish. And I pretended to be sick so I could tape the bucharest concert, not knowing what the show was cause the description was vague and I didn't know how to work the vcr timer yet, and as soon as I saw it was a concert, I went crazy like those stans in the crowd and got emotional and stuff like that!!! I don't know if I will ever feel high and energetic over michael like this again, it's just too sad now watching all that stuff and remembering those days, cause I really, really believed I would see him someday cause I have seen janet in concert more than once and met her a few times and was hopeful I would see him too.

babybugz said:

I will say this I see a lot of people my age range (20-27) focus a lot on Michael Bad and Post Bad so I can’t really say if his later material get’s that overlooked. I think it was more during that time the drama started to overshadow his music career maybe it’s why people choose not to focus on that period mostly the ones who grew up with Michael... I see some that prefer him with his brothers to thriller some that prefer him after. Even I at times would say that my favorite Era was Off The Wall but Michael was good in all Era’s. You can find more than one Gem in all his albums I can’t remember the last time I listened to thriller (I wore it out) I seem to be getting more into History and Blood On The Dance floor these days. Michael had something for everyone.

Bad and post Bad is my favourite too(I'm 28 and Thriller MJ was my first time knowing of mj), but I love the fact that if I've listened to it too much, then I'm crazy about Goin Places through Triumph or whatever (love Thriller too but it's in a class of it's own), and then if that's too much, I'll be into jackson 5 or solo motown MJ (Music and Me is my favourite album)

[Edited 6/9/11 17:45pm]

alphastreet said:

babybugz said:

Remember when Vh1 used to have those Michael marathons in the afternoon around 2001-2005? I used to come straight home from school watching them.

YES!!! 2000-2002 was heaven for me!!! I would set my vcr before school or watch stuff after school! I even remember faking sick to come home early to tape him on TRL, cause I was worried my dad wouldn't let me watch the rerun at night cause we always fought over the tv where I got the american satellite dish. And I pretended to be sick so I could tape the bucharest concert, not knowing what the show was cause the description was vague and I didn't know how to work the vcr timer yet, and as soon as I saw it was a concert, I went crazy like those stans in the crowd and got emotional and stuff like that!!! I don't know if I will ever feel high and energetic over michael like this again, it's just too sad now watching all that stuff and remembering those days, cause I really, really believed I would see him someday cause I have seen janet in concert more than once and met her a few times and was hopeful I would see him too.

Yes LOL I don’t know but I had to watch it and they would show it every day and I would watch it every day too lmao. I watch the Anniversary special too many times to count it really was a Michael craze at this time as well. Its interesting how when Michael passed Vh1 didn’t show those programs I thought they would have been replaying it nonstop. And yeah all you heard in my house was Janet my mother is the Janet fan I don’t remember Michael being played.

I guess I wouldn't shut up about janet too for some time cause I would be shy about michael sometimes and being teased, but I can't imagine people not being a fan at all of him if liking janet. And really, vh1 didn't do that? :*( I guess they did change their tone after 2002/2003, I remember fans saying some bad things about vh1 and seeing a couple of negative shows too after the sony protest. I didn't have the dish anymore by then, just in time I guess.

alphastreet said:

I guess I wouldn't shut up about janet too for some time cause I would be shy about michael sometimes and being teased, but I can't imagine people not being a fan at all of him if liking janet. And really, vh1 didn't do that? :*( I guess they did change their tone after 2002/2003, I remember fans saying some bad things about vh1 and seeing a couple of negative shows too after the sony protest. I didn't have the dish anymore by then, just in time I guess.

Me too. In grade 6, they were merciless on me.

That's why for the longest time, I didn't say anything unless someone asked, or during the trials. I had to show unwaivering faith in that time, especially when all my friends thought he was guilty. But really, I just didn't feel like getting ridiculed for loving and admiring someone like Michael, and I didn't want to give them a chance to hurt him, even from afar.

Wasn't till high school I just became, "eh...whatever. Michael rocks my socks...you don't like it, fuck you".

alphastreet said:

I guess I wouldn't shut up about janet too for some time cause I would be shy about michael sometimes and being teased, but I can't imagine people not being a fan at all of him if liking janet. And really, vh1 didn't do that? :*( I guess they did change their tone after 2002/2003, I remember fans saying some bad things about vh1 and seeing a couple of negative shows too after the sony protest. I didn't have the dish anymore by then, just in time I guess.

My mother didn’t hate him just she prefer Janet lol. But then after Michael I became interested in the family altogether so I checked out Jacksons albums etc. I know Vh1 still have those shows in their vault they better show it the 25

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

alphastreet said:

I guess I wouldn't shut up about janet too for some time cause I would be shy about michael sometimes and being teased, but I can't imagine people not being a fan at all of him if liking janet. And really, vh1 didn't do that? :*( I guess they did change their tone after 2002/2003, I remember fans saying some bad things about vh1 and seeing a couple of negative shows too after the sony protest. I didn't have the dish anymore by then, just in time I guess.

Me too. In grade 6, they were merciless on me.

That's why for the longest time, I didn't say anything unless someone asked, or during the trials. I had to show unwaivering faith in that time, especially when all my friends thought he was guilty. But really, I just didn't feel like getting ridiculed for loving and admiring someone like Michael, and I didn't want to give them a chance to hurt him, even from afar.

Wasn't till high school I just became, "eh...whatever. Michael rocks my socks...you don't like it, fuck you".

It was the opposite with me. I knew many in the 90's and 00's that liked him, but it was not every single person I knew, especially not during high school unless he had something out so I was all quiet, but around Invincible when I was in my late teens, I didn't give a shit what people would say about me, so I was flaunting him, and though I was so depressed about the trial and all of that mess, I would defend him and then cry later on, and even perform his stuff at school at events as a form of showing my support to him to show them all why they cared in the first place and got compliments for it despite the one time someone made a joke about him after my item (but I guess no one remembers). People remembered me too when he died and messaged me to say sorry and that they thought of me, people I hadn't spoken to in ages.

[Edited 6/9/11 19:22pm]

babybugz said:

alphastreet said:

I guess I wouldn't shut up about janet too for some time cause I would be shy about michael sometimes and being teased, but I can't imagine people not being a fan at all of him if liking janet. And really, vh1 didn't do that? :*( I guess they did change their tone after 2002/2003, I remember fans saying some bad things about vh1 and seeing a couple of negative shows too after the sony protest. I didn't have the dish anymore by then, just in time I guess.

My mother didn’t hate him just she prefer Janet lol. But then after Michael I became interested in the family altogether so I checked out Jacksons albums etc. I know Vh1 still have those shows in their vault they better show it the 25

Vh1 is full of losers (I edited the post cause I realized I didn't post who I was referring to)

[Edited 6/9/11 19:58pm]

Timmy84 said:

Marrk said:

I'm amazed there are MJJ fans that haven't seen this stuff before. It's a pity this era gets neglected, or seems to.

I'm probably lonely on this but i'm of the opinion he was a far better dancer back then. Just more fluid, natural and loose. I'd take this over anything he choreographed after the BAD era.

No you're not alone in that. He definitely was a more natural dancer then...

I have always thought the grab crotching, leg kicking MJ was naff and tacky. I also notice that's the era that the MJ impersonators tend to copy most, because it is very formulated, so even if you can't really dance it is so easy to copy.

It's much harder copying the younger MJ of the late 70s, where he was a lot more natural and free flowing. The video for Blame it on the Boogie may look more amateurish than the Black & White or Scream , but the dancing looks so much more natural and joyous to watch.

whatsgoingon said:

Timmy84 said:

No you're not alone in that. He definitely was a more natural dancer then...

I have always thought the grab crotching, leg kicking MJ was naff and tacky. I also notice that's the era that the MJ impersonators tend to copy most, because it is very formulated, so even if you can't really dance it is so easy to copy.

It's much harder copying the younger MJ of the late 70s, where he was a lot more natural and free flowing. The video for Blame it on the Boogie may look more amateurish than the Black & White or Scream , but the dancing looks so much more natural and joyous to watch.

There was a post about MJ impersonators on Okayplayer and I expressed my dislike for them for that very reason you mentioned

I cringed when Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Katherine went to to Ireland and they appeared at this Jackson family tribute party, which turned out to be a MJ fan party and they had to endure this HORRIBLE Michael impersonator who couldn't even dance

bboy87 said:

whatsgoingon said:

I have always thought the grab crotching, leg kicking MJ was naff and tacky. I also notice that's the era that the MJ impersonators tend to copy most, because it is very formulated, so even if you can't really dance it is so easy to copy.

It's much harder copying the younger MJ of the late 70s, where he was a lot more natural and free flowing. The video for Blame it on the Boogie may look more amateurish than the Black & White or Scream , but the dancing looks so much more natural and joyous to watch.

There was a post about MJ impersonators on Okayplayer and I expressed my dislike for them for that very reason you mentioned

I cringed when Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, and Katherine went to to Ireland and they appeared at this Jackson family tribute party, which turned out to be a MJ fan party and they had to endure this HORRIBLE Michael impersonator who couldn't even dance

As if they haven't suffered enough.

whatsgoingon said:

Timmy84 said:

No you're not alone in that. He definitely was a more natural dancer then...

I have always thought the grab crotching, leg kicking MJ was naff and tacky. I also notice that's the era that the MJ impersonators tend to copy most, because it is very formulated, so even if you can't really dance it is so easy to copy.

It's much harder copying the younger MJ of the late 70s, where he was a lot more natural and free flowing. The video for Blame it on the Boogie may look more amateurish than the Black & White or Scream , but the dancing looks so much more natural and joyous to watch.

True but there was still some awe moments. Like Swa pointed out, the choreography for "Ghosts" was SICK.

The reason the crotch grab, the leg kick, the point, the moonwalk are so often done as MJ moves (and over done by impersonators) is that they broke out from the mould of normal dance. They become iconic because they cut through - and as noted you have every fool busting the moves on a dance floor.

But Michael was more than just these trademark moves, and his influence is still felt in the dance community and in modern r&b and dance performers. You only have to watch videos by Usher, Ne-Yo, JT, Jason Derulo, etc and you'll be sure to find yourself saying "that's an MJ move".

Your help please.

I'm in the process of finishing off a pet MJ project which is a book about his music, and I'm looking for great images of MJ similar to the one above - shots most haven't seen before.

I know we've flooded these threads over the months with pics - but if there is one shot you think meets this brief then please either org note me it or post it here. Ideally I'm looking for interesting shots of MJ in studio, on stage, etc - but not the normal images we've all seen. Would love your input.

When I've finished the book (should be in a month or so) I will distribute it via pdf on here free for those interested.

Thanks.

I'm trying to figure out where all of this "Michael is not respected" crap is coming from. In my circle of work, friends, family, etc. Michael is VERY respected. If we are speaking of the ignorant, biased, "rock elistist" critics( I cringe at some of these bastards who call themselves critics), then that's a different story. Most of these "critics" are as fake as a 3-dollar bill when it comes to Michael. They critiqued his LIFE and not his music. These lowlifes take the cowardly way out. I remember when HIStory came out, there was this local critic who was raving about the song "Stranger in Moscow" and saying that it was the most amazing song that he had ever heard and that Michael was a genuis...However, he had to take up most of the review with bullshit about Michael's appearance, personal life and bullshit like that. I called him(his telephone number was in the newspaper) and asked him why he thought it was necessary to not just review Michael's music and not add that other crap. Surprisingly, he was very nice and MEEK and told me he really didn't know why he did that and apologized for offending me as a MJ fan. Most of these critics who don't want to give Michael his DUE respect are just cowardly punks who can't admit that they really DO like and respect him. It's as if there is a "critic's badge of honor to bash Michael and make yourself look cool". THose critics who have the balls to actually review Michael's MUSIC and leave out all of the bullshit about his life have my respect. I don't give a fuck if these other bastards "respect" him or not because they are frauds.

The same goes for those people who can't see beyond Thriller. Michael evolved so much more in his songwriting, vocally, arranging, producing,etc. with the albums Bad, Dangerous, HIStory,Blood On The DanceFloor, and even Invincible. People talk about Michael worrying about sales with every release. I don't agree with that. There was no way in hell that Michael was worrying about sales with HIStory and Blood On The Dancefloor. He even said as much and you could tell from the songs that he wrote that he didn't give a damn about what people thought of him, sales or anything else. He just wanted to get his feelings out. Of course, the idiots couldn't or didn't want to realize that and totally ignored or dismissed to lyrical content of the music on those albums. Just goes to show you that most of the people who say that Michael's music didn't grow or change after Thriller are the ones who wanted Michael to stay in the same mold as Thriller. When Michael broke out of that mold these same people complained that he didn't sell as much, or that the music hadn't changed. Michael's music changed, it was the "rock elitist critics and media"

who wouldn't ALLOW themselves to ADMIT that Michael's music changed. It wasn't Michael who talked about sales everytime he released something-it was the media and critics. Anyone who says different, all you have to do is to look at basically every so-called review of Michael's music or album releases. Very few of these critics had the courage, knowledge or professionalism to actually give a REAL review of Michael's music. Those that do/did,I salute you!!

[Edited 6/9/11 22:29pm]

mjforever said:

His cuteness is so darn rare.

Swa said:

The reason the crotch grab, the leg kick, the point, the moonwalk are so often done as MJ moves (and over done by impersonators) is that they broke out from the mould of normal dance. They become iconic because they cut through - and as noted you have every fool busting the moves on a dance floor.

But Michael was more than just these trademark moves, and his influence is still felt in the dance community and in modern r&b and dance performers. You only have to watch videos by Usher, Ne-Yo, JT, Jason Derulo, etc and you'll be sure to find yourself saying "that's an MJ move".

I don't know what kind of clubs you went to, but I didn't see people doing those kind of moves in the clubs I went to, because people knew they would look ridiculous doing those moves and peeps would laugh at them. Moves like that do not belong in clubs, they look stupid. Now take the moves from Blame it On the Boogie or even Don't stop Till You Get Enough would not look out of place in a club, well the urban clubs, anyway.

When MJ use to venture out to Studio 54 in the 70s, I doubt he was doing all that grab crotching and leg kicking on the dance floor. Infact according to people who use to watch him dance at studio 54 no one could take their eyes of him when he use to take to the dance floor.

babybugz said:

Remember when Vh1 used to have those Michael marathons in the afternoon around 2001-2005? I used to come straight home from school watching them.

I remember when MTV used to have entire WEEKS and WEEKENDS devoted to Michael. They had a week where they changed MTV to MJTV. They had an entire weekend devoted to Michael when he married LM, when LM and Michael divorced, when Prince was born,etc. In fact, MTV would come up with specials just to have a special on Michael. VH-1 used to do the same thing. They had as many specials as MTV or more. To say that those two music channels were obsessed with Michael would be an UNDERSTATEMENT. Btw, for those that think that Michael Mania only occured during the Thriller days, you are wrong. It was happening over ten years later. In fact, it happened until Mottola/Sony sabotaged Invincible and MTV decided to be punk asses and go along with this shit. MTV has been a laughing stock and embarrassment ever since. MTV used to mean something in music. Now, they represent trash and junk.

whatsgoingon said:

Swa said:

The reason the crotch grab, the leg kick, the point, the moonwalk are so often done as MJ moves (and over done by impersonators) is that they broke out from the mould of normal dance. They become iconic because they cut through - and as noted you have every fool busting the moves on a dance floor.

But Michael was more than just these trademark moves, and his influence is still felt in the dance community and in modern r&b and dance performers. You only have to watch videos by Usher, Ne-Yo, JT, Jason Derulo, etc and you'll be sure to find yourself saying "that's an MJ move".

I don't know what kind of clubs you went to, but I didn't see people doing those kind of moves in the clubs I went to, because people knew they would look ridiculous doing those moves and peeps would laugh at them. Moves like that do not belong in clubs, they look stupid. Now take the moves from Blame it On the Boogie or even Don't stop Till You Get Enough would not look out of place in a club, well the urban clubs, anyway.

When MJ use to venture out to Studio 54 in the 70s, I doubt he was doing all that grab crotching and leg kicking on the dance floor. Infact according to people who use to watch him dance at studio 54 no one could take their eyes of him when he use to take to the dance floor.

LOL - i wasn't suggesting everyone was doing it in clubs - and I wasn't saying it was cool. What I meant was those moves become quick identifiers - and if an MJ song comes on you can guarantee someone is gonna bust one of those moves.

I was noting that these were the moves that cut through other dance steps to be iconic shorthands - you see those moves and you think MJ.

whatsgoingon said:

Swa said:

The reason the crotch grab, the leg kick, the point, the moonwalk are so often done as MJ moves (and over done by impersonators) is that they broke out from the mould of normal dance. They become iconic because they cut through - and as noted you have every fool busting the moves on a dance floor.

But Michael was more than just these trademark moves, and his influence is still felt in the dance community and in modern r&b and dance performers. You only have to watch videos by Usher, Ne-Yo, JT, Jason Derulo, etc and you'll be sure to find yourself saying "that's an MJ move".

I don't know what kind of clubs you went to, but I didn't see people doing those kind of moves in the clubs I went to, because people knew they would look ridiculous doing those moves and peeps would laugh at them. Moves like that do not belong in clubs, they look stupid. Now take the moves from Blame it On the Boogie or even Don't stop Till You Get Enough would not look out of place in a club, well the urban clubs, anyway.

When MJ use to venture out to Studio 54 in the 70s, I doubt he was doing all that grab crotching and leg kicking on the dance floor. Infact according to people who use to watch him dance at studio 54 no one could take their eyes of him when he use to take to the dance floor.

well, the moonwalk was a b-boy move so it was definitely done in the club (and battles but that's another story.... LOL)

bboy87 said:

whatsgoingon said:

I don't know what kind of clubs you went to, but I didn't see people doing those kind of moves in the clubs I went to, because people knew they would look ridiculous doing those moves and peeps would laugh at them. Moves like that do not belong in clubs, they look stupid. Now take the moves from Blame it On the Boogie or even Don't stop Till You Get Enough would not look out of place in a club, well the urban clubs, anyway.

When MJ use to venture out to Studio 54 in the 70s, I doubt he was doing all that grab crotching and leg kicking on the dance floor. Infact according to people who use to watch him dance at studio 54 no one could take their eyes of him when he use to take to the dance floor.

well, the moonwalk was a b-boy move so it was definitely done in the club (and battles but that's another story.... LOL)

The moonwalk goes back to the soundie films of way back then lol

whatsgoingon said:

I have always thought the grab crotching, leg kicking MJ was naff and tacky. I also notice that's the era that the MJ impersonators tend to copy most, because it is very formulated, so even if you can't really dance it is so easy to copy.

It's much harder copying the younger MJ of the late 70s, where he was a lot more natural and free flowing. The video for Blame it on the Boogie may look more amateurish than the Black & White or Scream , but the dancing looks so much more natural and joyous to watch.

I know that you really like MJ's period in the 70s, but...I don't know if I can agree with his dancing being harder to emulate back then. Even with all the impersonators and people who learn how to dance, there's a CLEAR difference between him and them. Whenever MJ moves, I guess I can't explain it, but it seems to me that his movements were akin to water. No matter what, there was a gracefulness that could not be matched. Definitely, a huge improvement from his earlier days, even when his legs looked like rubberbands when he was younger. Though I do have a question: Do you dance? Just out of curiosity. ^^

Whats with the backlash on MJ's dancing?

I think his dancing has changed literally with every release. The dancing style fits the song he is performing. So take Blame it on the Boogie style, doesn't exactly work with later material. I think he is an incredibly adaptive dancer and can change into any style.

The crotch grabbing, the moonwalk etc are just iconic moves that have been performed in iconic performances and video's. They are done on every song since Thriller. They are just iconic moments.

The style changed everytime from Smooth Criminal, Dangerous, In the Closet, Ghost's. Yes he has trademark moves, but I still see a development process all the way through.

Look at This Is It, he was still changing the way he danced or interpreted songs.