The primary members of the group were all the sons of Katherine and Joseph Jackson: Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Michael Jackson, and Randy Jackson. Joseph Jackson formed the band in 1964 and served as its manager, with Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and unrelated youths Reynaud Jones and Milton Hite comprising its original lineup. Within a year, Michael and Marlon joined the band, and Michael became lead singer as the group developed a following in the eastern and midwestern United States during the mid-1960s. Signed to the Motown label from 1969 to 1975, and to CBS Records (as "The Jacksons") from 1975 until their disbanding in 1990, the Jackson 5 were one of the most popular groups of the era and became the first recording act to have their first four major label singles (I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There) reach the top of the American charts. Several future singles, among them "Mama's Pearl", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Dancing Machine", were Top 5 pop hits and number-one hits on the R&B singles chart. Most of the early hits were written and produced by a specialized songwriting team known as The Corporation™; later Jackson 5 hits were crafted chiefly by Hal Davis.
While not the first act considered a "boy band", The Jackson 5 is one of the earliest examples of the type as it is defined today: five adolescents specifically packaged and marketed by a record label for crossover pop success. Upon their departure from Motown for CBS in 1975, the Jacksons, were forced to change their name and trade Jermaine (who remained at Motown) for Randy. The group took control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" and "State of Shock", and a highly successful 1984 Victory tour. The Jacksons officially disbanded in 1990.
History
Early works
The Jacksons were a working-class family from Gary, Indiana. Katherine, being a Jehovah's Witness, raised the children as such, while their father, Joe, was not of that faith. Their father, a steel mill employee who often performed in an R&B band called "The Falcons" with his brother Luther, was a strict disciplinarian. Many of the Jackson children recall being severely beaten by Joe for misbehaving.
The children found an outlet in music, with elder brothers Jackie (born Sigmund Esco Jackson, 1951), Tito (born Toriano Jackson, 1953), and Jermaine (b. 1954) borrowing their father's guitar without his permission and playing along to the radio. Younger brothers Marlon (b. 1957) and Michael (b. 1958) were allowed to watch as long as they did not tell. Joseph eventually discovered that the older three boys were playing his guitar when one of the strings broke[2]. Although he was furious at first, Joseph realized the boys had talent and began making plans to create a musical act for them.
In 1965, Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine began performing around the Gary area with two neighborhood children, Milford Hite (on drums) and Reynaud Jones (on keyboards), in a group called The Jackson Brothers. Joe Jackson served as the manager, at first only part-time, and then eventually quitting his job at the steel mill. Jermaine sang lead and played bass, and Tito played guitar.
In 1966, younger brothers Marlon and Michael, joined the group as its tambourine and bongo players. Already showing talent as a singer and dancer[3], Michael replaced Jermaine as lead vocalist by mid-1967. Shirley Cartman, Tito's junior high orchestra teacher, noticed the group's talents and served as an early mentor to the group, by then calling itself The Jackson Five.
During this period, the boys toured Indiana extensively, and after winning a major local talent show in 1966 with a rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl", led by Michael, they began playing professional gigs in Chicago, Illinois and across the mid-eastern U.S. Many of these gigs were in a string of black clubs and venues collectively known as the "chitlin' circuit", and the young kids sometimes had to open for strip teasers and other adult acts in order to earn money.
Shirley Cartman got the Jackson Five a record deal with Gordon Keith's local Steeltown label, and the group began making their first recordings in 1967. Their first single, "Big Boy", became a regional hit. During this period, Johnny Jackson (no relation) on drums and Ronnie Rancifer on keys replaced Milford Hite and Reynaud Jones.
The Jackson Five had a number of admirers in their early days, including Sam & Dave, who helped the group secure a spot in the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group won the August 13, 1967 competition during the Amateur Night showdown at the Apollo, impressing Motown Records artist Gladys Knight of The Pips. Knight recommended the group to Motown chief Berry Gordy, but Gordy, who already had teenager Stevie Wonder on his roster, was hesitant to take on another child act because of the child labor laws and other problems involved.
The Jackson Five's sound was influenced by many of the biggest stars of the 1960s, especially including family funk bands Sly & the Family Stone and The Isley Brothers, soul pioneer Marvin Gaye, doo-wop boy band Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, and soul shouters like Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Stevie Wonder and James Brown [4]. At the time of their early success, soul and funk stars, especially coming from Motown Records, were among the most popular musicians; Motown had launched the careers of dozens of the decade's biggest stars, most notably Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Diana Ross & the Supremes.
Influences
From these sources, The Jackson Five developed many of their vocal arrangement styles and dance movements. The group's multi-lead vocal style was inspired by that of The Family Stone, while young Michael adapted Jackie Wilson and James Brown's impassioned singing and dancing styles into his own.
Joining Motown
By 1968, the Jackson 5 were a headlining act for the All Star Floor Show at Chicago's The Guys' and Gals' Cocktail Lounge and Restaurant. From July 12 - 27, 1968, the Jackson 5 opened for Motown group Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers at Chicago's Regal Theater. Taylor was also very impressed with the boys, and he decided to make the commitment to bring them to Detroit and Motown. Joseph and the Jackson Five stayed on the floor of Bobby Taylor's Detroit apartment the night of July 22, while Taylor and Motown executive Suzanne de Passe arranged for the Jackson Five to audition for the label.
On July 23, the Jackson Five had their Motown audition, for which they performed James Brown’s then current hit "I Got the Feelin’". Berry Gordy was not in attendance, but the audition was videotaped and sent to him in Los Angeles. Gordy's initial reluctance to sign the group disappeared when he finally saw the boys perform. Gordy decided to sign the Jackson Five to Motown, and hosted a party at his Detroit mansion on November 25, 1968 to introduce them to the Motown staff and stars.
Motown began negotiations to buy out the Jackson Five's Steeltown contract, completing the deal in March 1969. By the summer, Bobby Taylor began producing the group's first recordings at Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. recording studio in Detroit. The early Taylor-produced Jackson Five records were all covers of both contemporary hits and Motown-standards, including Sly & the Family Stone's "Stand!" and their famous rendition of The Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson.
In mid-August 1969, Gordy moved the Jackson Five and Joseph to California, and he and Suzanne de Passe began the process of grooming them as the label's next big act, while the rest of the family remained in Gary. While looking for a house in California, Joseph, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie lived with Berry Gordy, while Michael and Marlon lived with Motown star Diana Ross.
Blue Skies
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've got blue skies
It seems like only yesterday, you gave your love to me
And we made a vow that through the years our love would always be
Whenever doubts would fill my mind, you'd brush my fears away
Look into my eyes and hold me close and this is what you'd say
There'll never ever be another love for me
The pleasant dreams we shared made our love stronger with each day
And the fears that haunted me seemed like a million miles away
When friends we knew would come to me with lies about your love
I'd tell them happiness and sunny skies are all we're thinking of
We're so in love, we're thinking of
Blue skies, blue skies
Yeah I see you there, you're kissing him, how can this really be?
Well, I guess it's time to realize my dreams are more to me
And as I walk off thinking what a fool I must have been
Like an echo from my lips today, I hear you telling him
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
There'll never ever be another love for me
We've got blue skies, now can't you see?
There'll never ever be another love for me
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
Blue skies, we've got our blue skies
Blue skies, we've got blue skies, oh baby
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
Blue, blue skies, blue, blue skies
The Jackson 5’s “Blue Skies” is a love song about a couple that promised to love each other forever, no matter what happens. The song begins by emphasising the beauty of blue skies and how they represent a fresh start or beginning. The lyrics suggest that love can help you see a bright, beautiful world regardless of the harsh realities or obstacles in life. The phrase “We’ve got blue skies” is repeated throughout the song and symbolises the power of love and the hope it brings.
As the song progresses, the singer reminisces about their relationship with their lover, which feels like it just started yesterday. Whenever they had doubts or fears, their lover would hold them close and reassure them that everything would be alright. However, towards the end of the song, the performer discovers that their lover has been unfaithful, and they feel heartbroken. Yet, they still remember the promise they made with their lover and decide to move on from their relationship. Although their lover has moved on with someone else, the singer believes that they still have a bright future because they’ve still got blue skies.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got blue skies
We are in a state of happiness and contentment
We've got blue skies
We are still in a state of happiness and contentment
It seems like only yesterday, you gave your love to me
It feels like it was just yesterday when you declared your love for me
And we made a vow that through the years our love would always be
We promised that our love will remain strong throughout the years
Whenever doubts would fill my mind, you'd brush my fears away
Whenever I had doubts or was afraid, you comforted me and made my fears disappear
Look into my eyes and hold me close and this is what you'd say
You would look into my eyes and reassure me with your words and touch
Blue skies, now can't you see?
We have everything we need to be happy
There'll never ever be another love for me
I will always love you and no one else
The pleasant dreams we shared made our love stronger with each day
The dreams we had together made our love grow stronger day by day
And the fears that haunted me seemed like a million miles away
Your love made my fears seem insignificant and far away
When friends we knew would come to me with lies about your love
When people tried to hurt our love with lies, I knew it wasn't true
I'd tell them happiness and sunny skies are all we're thinking of
I would tell them that we only focus on our happiness and bright future together
We're so in love, we're thinking of
Our love is so strong that we can't stop thinking about each other
Yeah I see you there, you're kissing him, how can this really be?
I see you with someone else and I can't believe what's happening
Well, I guess it's time to realize my dreams are more to me
I understand that my dreams and happiness are more important than being with you
And as I walk off thinking what a fool I must have been
As I leave, I reflect on my actions and feel foolish for not realizing sooner
Like an echo from my lips today, I hear you telling him
I hear your words echoing in my mind as you tell someone else what you once told me
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
We still have all we need to be happy
Blue skies, we've got our blue skies
We still have our own source of happiness
Blue skies, we've got blue skies, oh baby
We are still enjoying our happiness together
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
Our happiness hasn't disappeared
Blue skies, we've got blue skies
We are still experiencing joy and contentment
Blue, blue skies, blue, blue skies
We have blue skies, which symbolize happiness and good times
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo