Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los… Read Full Bio ↴Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 Gary, Indiana—June 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California), was an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Dubbed the King of Pop, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest entertainers of all time. He was also known for his philanthropy, charitable fundraising, and lifestyle, residing in a private amusement park he called Neverland Ranch and often becoming the focus of tabloid scrutiny. Jackson's contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture for over four decades. Through his group, solo, and family work, he became one of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame as the first (and currently only) dancer from the world of pop and rock 'n' roll. Jackson's other achievements include 39 Guinness World Records—including one for "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time"—13 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, 26 American Music Awards, 16 World Music Awards and the estimated sale of up 750 million units worldwide. Winning countless awards for his humanitarian endeavors, the singer has been honored by two Presidents of the United States. He has also been named as the artist of "the Decade", "Generation", "Century", and "Millennium" and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002. Jackson has also won hundreds of other awards, making him the most awarded recording artist in the history of popular music. He is also credited for popularizing many physically complicated dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk, and has influenced and spawned a whole generation of a wide variety of artists including Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and The Weeknd, among others.

Jackson's musical career began in 1967 as lead singer of The Jackson 5, when the group made their first recording with a local label before signing up with Motown Records in 1968. He made his first solo recordings in 1971 while still a member of the group. But it was Off the Wall (1979) which marked the start of his full-fledged solo career, and he formally parted with his siblings in 1984. In his solo career, Jackson recorded and co-produced the best-selling album of all time, Thriller (with worldwide sales over 100 million), received thirteen Grammy awards and charted thirteen #1 singles in the U.S. Throughout his four-decade career, Michael Jackson has been awarded numerous honors, including the World Music Awards Best-selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium. He is also a double-inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of The Jackson 5 in 1997, and in 2002 as a solo artist. He is also a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, TIME magazine described Jackson as "the hottest single phenomenon since Elvis Presley". He has had a notable impact on music and culture throughout the world while also tearing down racial barriers and paving the way for modern pop music.

From 1988 to 2005, Jackson lived on his Neverland Ranch property, on which he built an amusement park and private zoo for the enjoyment of economically disadvantaged and terminally ill children. In 1993 and 2003, separate accusations of child molestation that allegedly occurred in Neverland were made against Jackson, which drew intensely negative media coverage. While he was never charged for the first case, Jackson was tried and vindicated in 2005 of the latter allegation, but moved out of the US shortly thereafter. He later returned to Las Vegas in early 2007.

In the years following his acquittal, (2005-2009) Jackson made numerous public appearances including MTV Japan's VMA awards where he accepted the legends award; the World Music Awards where he accepted the Diamond Award for selling over 100 million records; James Brown's funeral where he paid tribute and delivered a sermon; and a fan appreciation event in Tokyo, Japan, where he greeted troops at US Army base Camp Zama. In early 2008, Jackson issued Thriller 25th Anniversary, a critical and commercial success that was the second-biggest selling album of 2008 with over 2.1 million copies sold worldwide.

On June 25, 2009, Jackson collapsed at a rented home in Holmby Hills in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death is currently believed to be cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, Jackson was scheduled to perform 50 sold-out concerts to over one million people, at London's O2 arena, from July 13, 2009, to March 6, 2010. During a press conference, Jackson made suggestions of possible retirement.

In the hours following Jackson's death, his record sales increased dramatically. His seminal album Thriller climbed to number one on the American iTunes music chart, while another eight made it into the top 40. In the UK, where Jackson would have performed less than three weeks after his death, fifteen of his albums occupied the top 15 spots on the Amazon music chart. Social music network website Last.fm also saw a dramatic increase in Michael Jackson plays per hour after the announcement of his death.

On December 10, 2010, a compilation album of previously unreleased material, simply entitled Michael, was released posthumously. Featuring guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent and Lenny Kravitz, the album was certified Platinum in 18 countries but received mixed reviews from most critics. This was followed in November 2011 by Immortal, a remix album; in September 2012 by Bad 25, a 25th anniversary reissue of Jackson's 1987 hit album Bad; and by Xscape, a second compilation album released in May 2014.

Official Website: http://www.michaeljackson.com

Dapper-Dan
Michael Jackson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do it do it, he can do it, watch him do it
I got rhythm and a whole lot of soul
I can dance, I can shake it baby
I'm just a little country boy
Harmonica in my hand
I got soulful rhythm in me

I'm a get down dancing man,

Sha la la la ohh

My name is Dapper Dan
Sha la la la ohh
I'm a dancin man

I'm gonna king of the discoteque
That's where I can be found (huh)
Master of the ryhtm beat ohh

I've got the fastest feet around
Sha la la la boom
My name is Dapper Dan
Sha la la la mmmm
I'm a dancin man

Do it, do it,
Hey Get out on the floor
Do it do it
Dance what ya want to
Do it do it
Lets dance
Dance with me

I like the way he shakes it
I like the way he shakes it
I like the way he shakes it
Oh he's sexy

Do it do it
Let me show

I got rhythm and a whole lotta soul
I can dance
I got music and I know how to use
I can sing

Do it, do it,
Hey Get out on the floor
Do it do it
Dance what ya want to
Do it do it
Lets dance

I like the way he shakes it
I like the way he shakes it

I like the way he shakes it
Oh he's sexy

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michael Jackson's song Dapper-Dan are all about dancing and music, celebrating the joy and energy that come with moving to a beat. The singer identifies himself as Dapper Dan, a "little country boy" with a harmonica in his hand and a soulful rhythm in his body. He boasts of his ability to dance and shake it, and of his power over the "rhythm beat" that drives the discotheque. He invites listeners to "get out on the floor" and join him in dancing, and he revels in the sensuality and sexiness of the experience.

Overall, this song is a celebration of the physicality and pleasure of dancing, and of the way that music and movement can bring people together. It's a testament to Michael Jackson's legendary talent as a dancer and performer, and it captures the sheer joy and excitement that he brought to his music.

Line by Line Meaning

Do it do it, he can do it, watch him do it
Encouraging the subject (Dapper Dan) to show off his impressive dance abilities

I got rhythm and a whole lot of soul
Professing to have musical talent and passion

I can dance, I can shake it baby
Stating the ability to dance skillfully and with style

I'm just a little country boy
Referencing humble beginnings as a small-town resident

Harmonica in my hand
Mentioning a musical instrument often associated with country or blues styles

I got soulful rhythm in me
Reinforcing the previous claim of musical skill and passion

I'm a get down dancing man, Sha la la la ohh
Description of oneself as an enthusiastic dancer, with a celebratory exclamation

My name is Dapper Dan Sha la la la ohh I'm a dancin man
Self-introduction using a catchy, rhythmic phrase

I'm gonna king of the discoteque That's where I can be found (huh) Master of the rhythm beat ohh
Aspiration to rule the dance scene and highlighting skill with rhythm

I've got the fastest feet around Sha la la la boom My name is Dapper Dan Sha la la la mmmm I'm a dancing man
Boasting superior foot speed while repeating name and identifying once again as a dancer

Hey Get out on the floor Do it do it Dance what ya want to Lets dance Dance with me
Encouraging other people to dance and join in the fun

I like the way he shakes it Oh he's sexy
Expressing attraction to an excellent dancer

Do it do it Let me show
Urging someone to pay attention so they can witness something impressive

I got music and I know how to use I can sing
Claiming to also have singing ability and skillful use of music

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DONALD E. FLETCHER, HAL DAVIS, ROYCE ESTERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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