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.
Enjoy Yourself
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Better enjoy yourself
Better enjoy yourself
You sittin' over there
Starin' into space
While people are dancin'
Dancin' all over the place
You shouldn't worry
About things that you can't control
Come on, girl
While the night is young
Why don't you let yourself
Let yourself go
Woo!
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Let's have some fun
Let's have a good time you and me
Sittin' there with your mouth poked out
Just sweet as you can be
Why don't you live
Live the life you've got
Come on, girl
Let's get it
While the music's runnin' hot
Woo!
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Pretty girl, I've been watching you
I can wipe away that frown
Ah, you and I
Can get together
We can tear the house down
We can tear the house down
We can tear the whole house down
Woo!
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself
Enjoy yourself with me
Better enjoy yourself
You got to enjoy yourself
Say it again
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Just get on down
(Come on) Come on
(Come on) Come on
(Come on) Come on
(Come on)
You can do it, you can do it
You can do it, you can do it
Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Get on down
(Enjoy yourself) Enjoy yourself
(Get down get down) Just get on down
The song is a message encouraging someone to enjoy life and not worry about things they cannot control. The person being spoken to seems to be down and isolated, perhaps feeling sorry for themselves, as they sit alone while others are out dancing. The lyrics implore them to let themselves go and enjoy the music while it’s running hot. Furthermore, they say that both of them can get together and have fun. The person just needs to live the life that they have got and not to worry about the things they cannot change.
Overall, the lyrics urge the listener to let go of their worries and enjoy the moment. This message is not just a fun, frivolous one but has some wisdom behind it. Life can be tough at times, but sometimes we just need to step away from it all and have some fun. Enjoy Yourself is therefore both uplifting and inspiring in its meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Enjoy yourself
Have a good time and enjoy life.
Enjoy yourself with me
Let's have fun together and make the most of our time.
Better enjoy yourself
It's important to have fun and enjoy yourself.
You sittin' over there
You're sitting there not participating.
Starin' into space
You're not paying attention to what's going on around you.
While people are dancin'
Everyone else is having a good time dancing.
Dancin' all over the place
Everyone is dancing and having fun everywhere.
You shouldn't worry
Don't worry about things you can't control.
About things that you can't control
There's no point in worrying about things that you have no control over.
Come on, girl
Let's go and have some fun.
While the night is young
Let's enjoy ourselves while we have the time and opportunity to do so.
Why don't you let yourself
Why not allow yourself to enjoy and have a good time.
Let yourself go
Relax and enjoy the moment.
Let's have some fun
Let's enjoy ourselves and have a good time.
Let's have a good time you and me
Let's have fun and enjoy each other's company.
Sittin' there with your mouth poked out
You're sitting there looking unhappy.
Just sweet as you can be
You're still a great person despite your unhappiness.
Why don't you live
Why not live life to the fullest.
Live the life you've got
Enjoy your life and make the most of it.
Let's get it
Let's have fun and enjoy ourselves.
While the music's runnin' hot
While the music is still playing and everyone is having fun.
Pretty girl, I've been watching you
I have been observing you and would like to spend time with you.
I can wipe away that frown
I can help you to feel better and happier.
Ah, you and I
We can enjoy each other's company and have fun together.
Can get together
We can meet up and have fun together.
We can tear the house down
We can have so much fun that it feels like the house is coming down.
Say it again
Repeat the message.
Just get on down
Just have fun and dance.
You can do it, you can do it
You have the ability to enjoy yourself and have fun.
Get on down
Start dancing and enjoying yourself.
Come on
Let's go and have some fun.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gdoll835
Who's listening to this classic in 2024 besides me ? 🙏🕊️ King of pop
@denisfossett3009
me too sista ,,me too
@malachitruthe3345
Me too
@Zeebers1947
I am! Clapping and singing along and I am 76 years old! Remember these boys from 1968!
@maryford4346
I am
@JackieCBrown
👋
@lesabeaty7415
It's such a joy to watch Michael dance. All his moves look so effortless and graceful.
@robertjebediahfreeman
His spins are breathtaking
@tamaramadison7563
He was truly Happy performing with his brothers
@melvinbarnes1680
His spins are simply amazing