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.
Petals
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Believe me, ya'll, it's far from status quo
A grain of salt I take with her heart
'Cause after her next breath, that girl may love me not.
She tells my I'm so sweet
Sugar can't compete
Then puts me on the shelf
Crying by myself.
Throwing petals, petals, tossing petals on the ground
Yesterday she picked me up just to throw me down
Those petals, petals, tell me what will it be today?
Will she walk into my arms or will she walk away?
She'll wake up some day and see
You're the only one she needs
Don't give up, just stick around
You'll be up instead of down.
She keeps telling me she wants me near
But half the time it's far from crystal clear
Fickle-heart must be her middle name
'Cause loving her is just a guessing game, oh
She calls up to say
Be there right away
Then leaves me sitting home
All alone and
Throwing all those petals, petals, tossing petals on the ground
Yesterday she picked me up just to throw me down
Those petals, petals, tell me what will it be today?
Will she walk into my arms or will she walk away?
She loves me (loves me, loves me)
And I feel like a king!
She loves me not (loves me not, she loves me not)
Huh! I've lost everything!
Petals, petals, tossing petals on the ground
Yesterday she picked me up just to thow me down
Yesterday I couldn't lose (yesterday I couldn't lose)
But today I sing the blues.
Oh! Petals, petals, petals, petals
Ooh, ooh! Petals, petals, petals, petals
Petals, petals, petals, petals
Petals, petals, petals, petals
Petals, petals, tossing petals on the ground
Yesterday she picked me up just to thow me down
Tell me, tell me, tell me, what will it be today?
[Fade]
The Jackson 5's song "Petals" is a catchy and upbeat tune that deals with the uncertainty and fickleness of love. The song describes the singer's relationship with his partner, who seems to constantly go back and forth between loving him and rejecting him. The lyrics reference the image of throwing petals, which symbolizes the ups and downs of the relationship. The singer is left feeling confused and unsure of where he stands with his partner. He wants to believe that she loves him unconditionally, but he knows that her feelings are constantly changing. Despite this, he remains hopeful that one day she will realize that he is the only one she needs.
The song's lyrics are relatable to anyone who has experienced the rollercoaster ride of emotions that can come with love. The reference to throwing petals on the ground creates a vivid imagery that emphasizes the unpredictability of love. The chorus is particularly catchy, with the repetition of the word "petals" and the simple melody making it easy to sing along to.
Line by Line Meaning
When my honey says she loves me so
Whenever my love professes her feelings for me
Believe me, ya'll, it's far from status quo
It's not always true or consistent
A grain of salt I take with her heart
I am cautious and skeptical
'Cause after her next breath, that girl may love me not.
Her feelings for me may change abruptly
She tells my I'm so sweet
She compliments and praises me
Sugar can't compete
She values me more than anything else
Then puts me on the shelf
She disregards me and ignores my feelings
Crying by myself.
I am feeling hurt and alone
Throwing petals, petals, tossing petals on the ground
She's playing with my emotions like scattered petals on the ground
Yesterday she picked me up just to throw me down
She raised my hopes only to crush them again
Those petals, petals, tell me what will it be today?
I am uncertain if today she will love or leave me
Will she walk into my arms or will she walk away?
I wonder if she will choose to stay or leave me alone
She'll wake up some day and see
Someday she will realize
You're the only one she needs
I am the only one she truly needs
Don't give up, just stick around
I shouldn't give up on our relationship
You'll be up instead of down.
Things will get better
She keeps telling me she wants me near
She expresses the desire to be close to me
But half the time it's far from crystal clear
However, her actions are often unclear or confusing
Fickle-heart must be her middle name
She is indecisive and erratic with her feelings
'Cause loving her is just a guessing game, oh
It's difficult to know what she truly feels
She calls up to say
She phones me to
Be there right away
Come to her immediately
Then leaves me sitting home
But then cancels or doesn't follow through with her plans
All alone and
Leaves me feeling lonely and
Yesterday I couldn't lose (yesterday I couldn't lose)
I was happy and confident yesterday
But today I sing the blues.
But today I am sad and depressed
She loves me (loves me, loves me)
Sometimes she loves me dearly
And I feel like a king!
And I feel incredibly happy and validated!
She loves me not (loves me not, she loves me not)
But other times she doesn't love me
Huh! I've lost everything!
It feels like I have lost everything when she doesn't love me
Oh! Petals, petals, petals, petals
I am still as unsure as a scattering of flower petals
Ooh, ooh! Petals, petals, petals, petals
The situation continues to be confusing and unpredictable
Petals, petals, petals, petals
The scattered petals are a metaphor for the erratic nature of our relationship
Tell me, tell me, tell me, what will it be today?
I am still uncertain if she will love or hurt me today
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALPHONSO MIZELL, BERRY GORDY JR, DEKE RICHARDS, FREDDIE PERREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cris Sabanpan
on I Want You Back
Hlo