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 (see Randy & The Gypsys). 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. 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, 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. 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.
Earth Song
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What about rain
What about all the things that you said
We were to gain
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said were yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores
Aah, ooh
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth, these weeping shores
Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh
Aah, ooh
Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about everything
(What about us?)
I didn't do it
(What about us?)
What about nature's worth?
(Ooh)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us?)
What about animals?
(What about it?)
Turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us?)
What about elephants?
(What about us?)
Have we lost their trust?
(What about us?)
What about crying whales
(What about us?)
Ravaging the seas?
(What about us?)
What about forest trails?
(Ooh)
Burnt, despite our pleas
(What about us?)
What about the holy land?
(What about it?)
Torn apart by creed?
(What about us?)
What about the common man?
(What about us?)
Can't we set him free?
(What about us?)
What about children dying?
(What about us?)
Can't you hear them cry?
(What about us?)
Where did we go wrong?
(Ooh)
Someone tell me why
(What about us?)
What about baby boy?
(What about it?)
What about the days?
(What about us?)
What about all their joy?
(What about us?)
What about the man?
(What about us?)
What about the crying man?
(What about us?)
What about Abraham?
(What about us?)
What about death again?
(Ooh)
Do we give a damn?
In The Jacksons's song Earth Song, the lyrics challenge the listeners to think about the consequences of human actions on the environment and the world. The song starts with a series of questions, asking about the beauty of sunrise, the necessity of rain, and all the promises of prosperity that were made. Then the song becomes more pointed, asking about the killing fields, the innocent children who died from war, and the damage that was done to the planet. The chorus repeats the question "what about us?" asking the listener to consider their own role in these issues.
The second verse highlights the loss of innocence and hope, with the singer lamenting that they used to dream and look beyond the stars, but now they don't know where they are. The song then returns to the chorus, with an expanded list of questions about human responsibility, including the treatment of animals, destruction of forests, and the suffering of fellow humans. The song ends with one final plea for someone to explain where humanity went wrong and whether anyone cares about the consequences of their actions.
Overall, Earth Song is a powerful call to action, urging listeners to take responsibility for the damage they have caused to the planet and its inhabitants.
Line by Line Meaning
What about sunrise
What about the beauty of the world we take for granted?
What about rain
What about the world's natural cycles that we ignore?
What about all the things that you said
We were to gain
What about the promises we made to make the world a better place?
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about the tragedy of war and is there a way to prevent it?
What about all the things
That you said were yours and mine
What about the shared ownership of the world's resources?
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we've shed before
Did you ever realize the cost of the lives lost in previous wars?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying Earth, these weeping shores
Did you ever notice the pain and suffering the world endures?
What have we done to the world
Look what we've done
What harm have we caused to the world?
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son
What happened to the peace we promised each other to share?
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What happened to the beauty of natural life and when will we protect it?
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine
What happened to our shared dreams and hope for the future?
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever think about the children who lost their lives in war?
Did you ever stop to notice
This crying earth, these weeping shores
Did you ever notice how the earth mourns the loss of life?
I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don't know where we are
Although I know we've drifted far
I used to dream about the future and explore the mysteries of the universe, but now I don't know where we stand, even though I know we've come a long way.
Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about our past and history?
What about the seas
(What about us)
What about the health and preservation of our oceans?
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
The world is in chaos and what are we doing about it?
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
I feel suffocated by the state of the world and our lack of action.
What about everything
(What about us?)
What about every aspect of the world we live in?
I didn't do it
(What about us?)
I may not have personally caused any harm, but what are we doing about it collectively?
What about nature's worth?
(Ooh)
What about the intrinsic value of nature, beyond its economic value?
It's our planet's womb
(What about us?)
The Earth is more than a mere commodity; it is our home, our source of life.
What about animals?
(What about it?)
What about the treatment of animals and their rights?
Turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us?)
Our advancements have caused historic cities and nations to disappear.
What about elephants?
(What about us?)
What about the cruelty and extinction of elephants?
Have we lost their trust?
(What about us?)
Have we betrayed wild animals and their trust in humans?
What about crying whales
(What about us?)
What about the extinction of whales and its impact on our oceans?
Ravaging the seas?
(What about us?)
What about the devastation of ocean life and its ecosystems?
What about forest trails?
(Ooh)
What about the harm and erosion of our forests?
Burnt, despite our pleas
(What about us?)
Despite our pleas to stop deforestation, we continue to harm our forests.
What about the holy land?
(What about it?)
What about the conflict and harm being done to holy lands?
Torn apart by creed?
(What about us?)
What about the religious differences that tear our society apart?
What about the common man?
(What about us?)
What about the needs of the average person in our society?
Can't we set him free?
(What about us?)
Can't we work together to give people the freedom they need?
What about children dying?
(What about us?)
What about the ongoing tragedy of child deaths?
Can't you hear them cry?
(What about us?)
Can't we hear the pain and cries of those in need?
Where did we go wrong?
(Ooh)
Where did we make the mistake that led us to this point?
Someone tell me why
(What about us?)
Can anyone explain the cause of the current state of the world?
What about baby boy?
(What about it?)
What about the innocent child just born into the world?
What about the days?
(What about us?)
What about the significance of each day and our ability to make a difference?
What about all their joy?
(What about us?)
What happened to the joy of life experienced by others?
What about the man?
(What about us?)
What about the men who are living through hard times and pain?
What about the crying man?
(What about us?)
What about the sadness and tears of men who are oppressed?
What about Abraham?
(What about us?)
What about the people who came before us and the legacy they left behind?
What about death again?
(Ooh)
Death continues to occur; what are we doing to prevent it?
Do we give a damn?
Do we care enough to make a difference in the world?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Michael Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tumbamarch89
One of the most powerful videos in music history.
@GeaGea616
Agree with you ❤ from Zagreb
@GeaGea616
Agree with you 100% and crying...❤ from Zagreb
@seanyokay
Scorned and ridiculed at the time...yet Michael' s message still holds up....and is more relevant more than ever.
@luckie6682
And nobody could see what he was saying talking about the music industry , he saw way far away then we could ever imagine, this is why they got rid of him , I miss him so much , always love you Michael rest in heaven Amen
@mattobronkhorst4740
yes it is
@tenebos3378
Michael Jackson didn't make ordinary music. He made MAGIC.
@tranminhhao85
Heal the world, who is this, we are the world, dangerous, a place no name, what ever happen, say say say... so amazing. I love all of them
@cesarwcabrera
Yes my friend agree
@michaeljackson1219
Yes