Midterm Exam - A Breakthrough Performance by an Artist

Writing Assignment: 

Watch the video clip of Michael Jackson performing a breakthrough version of Billie Jean for the 1983 Motown Records 25th Anniversary Special. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ8ce4Jdp-Y  

 Name an artist whom you know something about—or would like to learn more about—who has had a breakthrough performance in their career.  

My Response:
 

Chris Brown’s Breakthrough Performance

Link to Chris Brown's
Michael Jackson Tribute June 27, 2010

It’s funny, but I can remember sitting in front of the television that Friday night of March 25, 1983 at the age of 12 years old.  Everyone had been talking about the “Motown 25 Special” for days prior and the same would be said about the days after.  Sure it was due to all the great acts that hit the stage that evening, but Michael Jackson would be the performer to go down in history that evening.  Jackson took the stage with his brothers to perform some of their greatest hits as the Jackson 5, bringing everyone to their feet.  Then he made history with his breakthrough solo performance of “Billie Jean” that would help Jackson emerge as the “The King of Pop” in the opinion of most critics and audiences alike.  He would continue from here to be the poster child in highbrow as well as lowbrow pop music culture for many years to come from the streets of Detroit, to the suburban areas of Nebraska as well as overseas. 

So now asked to find another performance cite another breakthrough performance, I knew that using Chris Brown’s Tribute to Michael Jackson performed at the BET Awards, on June 27, 2010 was the perfect choice.  Now even after a year from the date the world received shocking news of Michael’s passing on June 25, 2009, the world could still hardly believe that we would no longer have his talent on Earth.  Many tributes, references and samplings were seen over the course of that year, but none would be as memorable and authentic as the assemblage of some of Jackson’s greatest hits and dance moves with a little bit of personal flair from Chris Brown given that night. This performance will be recorded in history as being one of his best – if not the best - performance as he invites audience viewers to partake in a personal glimpse of his soul.  

The singer would start behind a large white curtain showing a silhouette of Michael’s signature pose and enter singing, “The Way You Make Me Feel”.  Audience members, young and old alike, rose to their feet realizing that person was Chris Brown.  Dressed similar to Michael’s video for the song, Brown sang a verse of the song lyrics with ease bringing audience excitement and anticipation as to what would come next. 

Brown was then joined onstage by some of Michael’s personal background dancers to perform two perfectly choreographed replicas of the Jackson's dance moves in the hits, “Do You Remember the Time” and “Smooth Criminal”. 

While backup dancers continued dancing, Brown disappeared to make a quick wardrobe change returning in a top hat and sequined jacket, socks and glove to the music of “Billie Jean” posing eerily similarly to Jackson showing on a video behind him.  The crowd went wild! 

Chris Brown replicated Michael’s signature dance moves from his live Billie Jean performance with sheer perfection with the right leg kick, to the gyrating side to side hip movement and bounce, to the infamous “grabbing of the groin” and of course the moonwalk with unbelievable simplicity!  Visuals of Michael filled the stage’s background of him through the years and for audience members like me ranging in the ages of 35-50, it took us back to that special moment 27 years ago, as well as gave younger audience members a taste of what Michael meant to many as one of the world’s greatest performers.  Chris Brown successfully embodied the BEST of Michael Jackson at that moment and those who saw it would all agree.  This performance would label Brown as a force to be reckoned with in the current pop-arena once again after his own personal (somewhat forced) year-long hiatus.  To end Brown’s performance here would have been MORE than enough to label it as a memorable breakthrough act, but he doesn’t stop there. 

The stage goes dark again at Brown strikes an ending pose and there is a moment of silence as the audience cheers.  After the pause, we hear the musical interlude to Jackson’s famous hit “Man in the Mirror” while viewing stirring background images from Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake, the Gulf Oil Spill and more.  What we thought we would be another rendition of Jackson’s famous hit turned into something much more.  As the music softens, Brown slightly sings the first line, “Gonna make a change for once in my life” in a shaky / emotional voice but becomes overwhelmed with emotion and begins to cry.  He attempts several times continue but to no avail before bursting into the “ugly cry” as Oprah Winfrey has become famous for saying and is unable to finish the song as the music continues.  Although, we don’t hear him sing, we are able to FEEL the authenticity of the lyrics and Brown’s voice stronger than any vocal he had ever performed including those just a few moments earlier.  The song continues with Brown pacing the floor, listening and “feeling” the lyrics with audience members either helping him sing or watching in awe and raw emotion in tandem.  

As I’ve said, to end his performance at “Billie Jean” would have elevated Brown to breakthrough performance status.  As he seemed to effortlessly embody the very essence of Michael Jackson, audience members wondered could he be the next “to take the throne” as the reigning King of Pop?   BUT the FINAL selection DEFINTIELY sealed it for me along with audience and critics as a performance none could ever forget as we all caught a rare glimpse of the personal and vulnerable side of Chris Brown weeping on stage to the lyrics of, “Man in the Mirror.”  

What could make the singer so emotional on stage many would ask?  Could it be that he was overtaken with the grief and realization of the loss such a tremendous pop icon as Michael Jackson?  Brown had been noted for saying in many interviews throughout the years that Jackson was his ultimate idol and inspiration. 

Or could it be due to Brown’s inner battles with HIS own “Man in the Mirror” sited in relation to his very public court arrest and trial for domestic violence involving his long-time girlfriend at the time, singer Rihanna just a year earlier on February 8, 2009?  After that day, the public took a very different opinion of Chris Brown in a negative way as we watched him drop out of the social graces of fans, media and financial sponsors alike. 

Or lastly, could it just be a public relation stunt to help re-elevate Brown into mainstream pop audience’s acceptance after falling so far from grace?  Many turned their backs on Brown in disgust and in support of law against domestic violence including other artists and public figures who had once claimed to be his friend and lover of his music. Brown had spent the past year in seclusion continuously apologizing and trying to rebuild him.  Could this “planned” emotional moment be what he needed to show us in order to be forgiven?  

The debate over what brought him to such a state quickly became the topic of conversation immediately after the performance and for weeks to come. (Here is a just a sample.)   The media and the public audience gave mixed reviews of empathy and criticism of Brown’s choice of ending song and its contributing factor.  But all seem to agree it was Brown’s ultimate performance and will go down in history.  So what do I think?  It is MY OPINION the strongest argument is that it was moment Brown’s moment of self-reckoning as he publicly reviewed the past 18 months of his life. 

I imagine he wondered how he could have committed the same act of violence he witnessed as a young child done to his mother at the hands of his step-father.  I imagine a film playing in his head of the public arrest, numerous court battles, controversial paparazzi sitings and questionable public interviews, appearances and apologies made to fans after being ostracized and uninvited to many awards shows – including the BET Awards – just one short year ago.  It was AT THAT MOMENT, he realized he had actually overcome his own personal demons and had possibly been welcomed back into the public fold and forgiven for his past bad actions.  

The aesthetics of Brown’s compilation tribute will most definitely go down in history as being one of the best – if not the best – Michael Jackson remembrance performances of all times.  But in tandem, we are able to share a rare personal with Chris Brown as just a man … flaws, bad decisions, mistakes and all. 

Thank you for inviting us into that moment Chris and in the words of Christ,
“Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone,” John 8:7.