Ajay Mankotia is a former taxman and a chief executive of a media company. His fondness for western and Indian music is well known. His friends like the articulate parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor find his book awash with whimsical warmth. Ian Anderson describes ‘Not Just Rock n Roll’ as a knowledgeable and nostalgic and acceptable face of Rock music, as it searched not for an empire, but a second homecoming. “
Extract from the book by Ajay Mankotia-
When I was still in school, Doordarshan used to air the TV cartoon series Jackson Sive. It was a fictionalised portrayal of the music group The Jackson 5 comprising brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael. I would watch the adventures of the five brothers with fascination. The songs of The Jackson 5, the pets, the jokes, the mischief and the escapades held me. and countless other viewers, in thrall. But the character that stood out for me was the youngest brother, Michael.
Michael, not many years later, was to become the King of Pop. His contribution to music, dance and fashion would make him the ruler of popular culture for many decades. Even after his death, Michael’s legacy and influence would live forever.
Michael joined The Jackson 5 in 1964 and went solo in 1971 He reached stratospheric heights with Thriller in 1982-the best-selling album of all time.
The music videos of the songs, especially Thriller revolutionised the art of the music video. MTV launched its world premiere with the video. It was voted as the most influential pop music video of all time.
It was, indeed, a watershed moment for the music industry Doordarshan (then in colour) aired it regularly. The zombies, the graves, the werecat, the foggy road, Michael’s dancing, the ghoul-themed lyrics had a profound impact on the viewers. This was something seriously different; seriously good.
His subsequent albums also did outstandingly well. Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995), rank among the world’s best-selling albums. Michael became such a music colossus that when I was in training in Paris in 1987, news channel hosts announced the launch of his album Bad and held up the record cover for viewers to see. For Parisians not well versed in English, they helpfully translated the title as Mauvaise. He was an unstoppable juggernaut who dominated the charts at will.
Who can forget his ‘We Are the World’ (1985), co-written with Lionel Richie, to aid the poor of the world by providing famine relief?
The dance technique he popularised-the robotic Moonwalk-became a rage. His dancing was eye-popping and kept the viewers entranced.
The accolades that came his way are too many to enumerate. The only musician in three halls of fame-Rock and Roll (twice), Songwriters, and Dance.
He was the most successful entertainer of all time; the most awarded musician of all time. Top 10 single in five different decades. Most charities supported by an entertainer. We are talking of a super human being here: never mind the controversies that dogged his career-change in appearance, accusations of child sexual abuse, behavioural issues. Even his death was surrounded by controversy. After death too he remained a top-earning celebrity.
His musical genre encompassed pop, dance, ballads and rock. His singing could be aggressive, as well as soft and soulful. Themes were many including supernatural, paranoia, humanitarian, social ills, personal struggles.
His voice was tinged with sadness and wretchedness. He developed a singing technique called a ‘vocal hiccup’ wherein be gulped for breath. He honed it and used it very evocatively in many songs. His voice had a quiver, a grace and an aggression.
He had the ability to convey emotions without uttering a word-the growling, the shrieks, the gasps, the exclamations He was a master at vocal trickery. He could do an ethereal falsetto: he could hiss through clenched teeth. His unorthodox singing style was distinctive.
I had the good fortune of seeing Michael perform in Mumbai on November 1. 1996. When he arrived a day earlier, the fan turnout at the airport was phenomenal. It was sheer madness Sonali Bendre gave Michael-attired in red Napoleon Jacket, hat and sunglasses-a traditional Indian welcome: aarti, tecka and all. He joined the traditional Maharashtrian Lezim dancers and percussionists who were working up a frenzy outside the airport.
Crowds had lined up the entire route to the city. At Dharavi, he walked out of the car and met the residents. The hotel was choc-a-bloc with hopefuls waiting to shake his hand or at least get a glimpse of him up close.
Hundreds of fans had laid siege outside the hotel during his entire stay. Everybody wanted a piece of Michael.
The show was simply outstanding. Michael was the ultimate performer. A packed Andheri Sports Complex was witness to a show they will never forget; even people outside who had jammed the streets.
Michael emerged dramatically from a rocket-like capsule in a gold and black suit. He regaled the crowd for two hours with his music and dance. The audience went crazy and lapped up every moment. Many were on their feet swaying and singing along. His stunning music versatility and his sheer star power were on full display. Asha Bhosle could not restrain herself and started dancing, goading others in the VIP box to do likewise. Gavaskar was on his feet, as was India’s very own Michael-Prabhu Deva. It was magic and finished too soon.
We were completely bowled over by Michael’s showmanship. It was a totally captivating show and we enjoyed every moment of it.
The event had been organised by Shiv Udyog Sena, an outfit loated by Shiv Sena with the objective of providing jobs to 27 lakh youth in Maharashtra. In fact, on the way to the hotel from the airport, Michael met the Shiv Sena chief. Bal Thackeray at his residence.
Some critics had carped about the Sena’s notion of ‘culture’.
But Michael had a strong defender. Said Thackeray, “Jackson is a great artist, and we must accept him as an artist. His movements are terrific. Not many people can dance that way. And, well what is culture? He represents certain values in America, which India should not have any qualms in accepting. We would like to accept that part of America that is represented by Jackson.”
We saw the musical Thriller in London. The show lasting for than two-and-a-half hours, encapsulated, in a most thrilling manner, the entire career span of Michael-from The Jackson 5 to the mid-90s. The lookalike and sound-alike cast for each stage of Michael’s evolution captured Michael’s spirit and essence very faithfully and flagged up his greatness as a musician and dancer. The cast was diverse and would have met with Michael’s approval who had himself defied racial and gender categorisation.
After Michael had left Mumbai, the hotel found that he had scribbled on the pillow: “India, all my life I have longed to see your face. I met you and your people and fell in love with you. Now my heart is filled with sorrow and despair for 1 have to leave, but I promise I shall return to love you and caress you again. You are my special love, India. Forever, may God always bless you.”
He had said: “Music has been my outlet, my gift to all of the lovers in this world. Through it, my music, I know I will live forever.”
Michael, you indeed will!
(Cover Photo: Not Just Rock n Roll and King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Courtesy: Canva)
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