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.
If The Shoe Don't Fit
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We had a nice association
Your love was sweet as honey then
Even bees will vouch for that
But now you found I’m not your type
It’s a different situation
The love you give is cold as ice
Baby, why should we carry it on?
If you really think you must, girl
I’m tellin’ you that you’re wrong
If my love don’t get your
Heart then I don’t belong
Oh darling (no, no)
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Don’t feel obligated (no, no)
Don’t you do enough baby (no, no)
If the shoe don’t fit baby
(Baby) then don’t force it on yourself, yeah
If the shoe don’t fit honey
Don’t force it on yourself
When I’ve got you on my arm
You act like I’m a burden
You let me know I’m not much on
By the way you stay reserved
You don’t like the love I give
It’s fortune that’s for certain
You make you seem the less you give
Is more than I deserve
Na, na, na baby if you’re not satisfied
Don’t feel you have to take me girl
I may read from the line
If you don’t want my love
Then don’t waste my time oh darling (no, no)
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Don’t feel obligated (no, no)
Don’t you do enough, baby (no, no)
If the shoe don’t fit baby
Then don’t force it on yourself
If the shoe don’t fit
Don’t force it on yourself
Oh, cool it fellas!
Baby, if you’re not satisfied
Don’t feel you have to stay here girl
I’m laying it on the line
If you don’t want my love
Then don’t waste my time
Can you dig it? Can you dig
It? Can you dig it?
Can you dig what I’m talking about?
Oh darling (no, no)
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Darling, Don’t you feel obligated (no, no)
If the shoe don’t fit honey
Don’t force it on yourself
If the shoe don’t fit
Don’t force it on yourself
That’s right, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na ra
Na na na if the shoe don’t fit honey
Don’t force it on yourself
If the shoe don’t fit
Don’t force it on yourself
Come on honey, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na na
Na ra na na if the shoe don’t fit
The lyrics to The Jackson 5's song "If The Shoe Don't Fit" tell a story about a relationship that has lost its spark. The singer recalls a time when their love was sweet and fulfilling, symbolized by the comparison to honey and bees. However, something has changed, and the love they receive has turned cold and unfulfilling, compared to ice and the draft felt by snowmen. Despite this, the singer's partner seems determined to carry on the relationship out of obligation or pity. The singer insists that if their love doesn't truly touch their partner's heart, then they don't belong together, and it would be better to let go rather than forcing something that doesn't fit.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of resignation and self-respect. The singer recognizes that they deserve genuine love and refuses to settle for less. The shoe symbolizes the relationship, emphasizing the importance of finding a perfect fit rather than trying to make something work that doesn't.
Line by Line Meaning
When at first I took you in
When we first started our relationship
We had a nice association
We had a good connection
Your love was sweet as honey then
Your love was incredibly sweet
Even bees will vouch for that
It was universally recognized as sweet
But now you found I’m not your type
But now you realize we aren't compatible
It’s a different situation
Our relationship has changed
The love you give is cold as ice
The affection you show is cold and distant
Even snowmen feel the draft
Even inanimate objects can sense the lack of warmth
Baby, why should we carry it on?
Why should we continue this relationship?
If you really think you must, girl
If you truly believe you have to
I’m tellin’ you that you’re wrong
I'm telling you that you're mistaken
If my love don’t get your
Heart then I don’t belong
If my love doesn't touch your heart, I don't belong with you
Oh darling (no, no)
Oh darling, don't
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Don't do me any favors
Don’t feel obligated (no, no)
Don't feel obliged
Don’t you do enough baby (no, no)
You're not doing enough, baby
If the shoe don’t fit baby
If we aren't a good match
(Baby) then don’t force it on yourself, yeah
Then don't try to make it work
When I’ve got you on my arm
When I'm with you
You act like I’m a burden
You treat me as if I'm a burden
You let me know I’m not much on
You let me know I'm not important
By the way you stay reserved
By the way you keep yourself distant
You don’t like the love I give
You don't appreciate the love I give
It’s fortune that’s for certain
It's clear that it's unfortunate
You make you seem the less you give
The less you give me, the more you appear
Is more than I deserve
To deserve less than I deserve
Na, na, na baby if you’re not satisfied
If you're not happy, baby
Don’t feel you have to take me girl
You don't have to stay with me, girl
I may read from the line
I may interpret it like this
If you don’t want my love
If you don't desire my love
Then don’t waste my time oh darling (no, no)
Then don't waste my time, oh darling
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Don't do me any favors
Don’t feel obligated (no, no)
Don't feel obliged
Don’t you do enough, baby (no, no)
You're not doing enough, baby
If the shoe don’t fit baby
If we aren't a good match
Then don’t force it on yourself
Then don't try to make it work
Oh, cool it fellas!
Oh, calm down, fellas!
Baby, if you’re not satisfied
Baby, if you're not happy
Don’t feel you have to stay here girl
You don't have to remain here, girl
I’m laying it on the line
I'm being honest
If you don’t want my love
If you don't desire my love
Then don’t waste my time
Then don't waste my time
Can you dig it? Can you dig
It? Can you dig it?
Do you understand? Can you comprehend it?
Can you dig what I’m talking about?
Can you understand what I'm saying?
Oh darling (no, no)
Oh darling, don't
Don’t do me no favors (no, no)
Don't do me any favors
Darling, Don’t you feel obligated (no, no)
Darling, don't feel obliged
If the shoe don’t fit honey
If we aren't a good match, honey
Don’t force it on yourself
Don't try to make it work
If the shoe don’t fit
If we aren't a good match
Don’t force it on yourself
Don't try to make it work
That’s right, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na ra
That's correct, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na ra
Na na na if the shoe don’t fit honey
Na na na, if we aren't a good match, honey
Don’t force it on yourself
Don't try to make it work
If the shoe don’t fit
If we aren't a good match
Don’t force it on yourself
Don't try to make it work
Come on honey, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na na
Come on, honey, yeah, yeah, ooh hoo, na na
Na ra na na if the shoe don’t fit
Na ra na na, if we aren't a good match
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo