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.
La la
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
淚飄泛 紅燈蠟燭照命殘
藥石空挽暽息間
斷夢閨裡血斑斑 獨嗟嘆
望天賜郎還 樓頭少婦
宵宵怨盼 舊恩愛 我命不待郎還
月半殘 數點寒星光閃燦
鴛侶忍相分
佢纏綿病榻前 悲痛續愛難
郎自怨歸家晚
郎縱情長 妾悲命薄 徙喚奈何
輕牽羅帳幔 淚眼盈望郎顏
只怨落霞 青春已逝難再復返
猶念當年暢聚雪山 火坑蓮花罹劫難
恨天妒紅顏 相見晚
藥爐已冷 今生與君恨緣慳
落霞妹 今日有幸相逢
你何以出此不祥之語呢
雙星仍燦爛 皓魄雲橫
當日共卿醉樓台
願人與天長共老終生
鴛鴦散 遠走萬里關山
憐落魄 功名誤我一生
唉 誤卿你玉顏 郎細吻
怨淚凝滿眼
心喜與嬌纏綿蜜語一番
The lyrics to The Jacksons' song "La La" are in a poetic format and use traditional Chinese imagery to convey a story of lost love, longing, and regret.
The first verse describes a scene at night, with moonlight shining through curtains and tears flowing as the light of red candles reflects on the remnants of a broken life. The singer laments the emptiness of their attempts to reconcile and mend the pain. The imagery of bloodstains in the dream chamber adds a sense of despair and loneliness.
The second verse continues the theme of longing for the return of a loved one. The singer, referred to as a "少婦" or young woman, expresses her yearning and impatience, feeling that her life is incomplete without her partner. The mention of the fading moon and cold starlight emphasizes the passage of time and the longing that lingers.
The third verse introduces the perspective of another character, who is referred to as a "妾" or concubine. This character expresses sadness and frustration at their thin destiny and questions why they have been summoned or moved. The tears in their eyes and the longing gaze for their partner's return create a sense of vulnerability and longing.
The final verse brings the three characters together. The sister, referred to as "落霞妹," asks why the other character has spoken ill-fated words today, as the stars still shine brightly and the moonlight pervades. Memories of past happiness and the desire to spend a lifetime together are expressed, but the reality of their separation and the regrets of missed opportunities weigh heavily. The sorrowful tone and the reference to misplaced ambitions and worldly desires add a layer of complexity to the emotions being portrayed.
In summary, the lyrics of "La La" tell a bittersweet tale of lost love, longing, and regret. It explores the yearning for a reunion that may never come, the pain of missed chances, and the deep emotional connections that persist despite the passage of time. The use of traditional Chinese imagery adds richness and depth to the story being told.
Line by Line Meaning
郎歸晚 月色泛落羅帳幔
My lover returns late, the moonlight seeping through the curtains.
淚飄泛 紅燈蠟燭照命殘
Tears float, as red lanterns and candles illuminate my broken fate.
藥石空挽暽息間
In vain I seek remedies to mend my weary heart.
斷夢閨裡血斑斑 獨嗟嘆
Broken dreams leave stains in my chamber, and I can only sigh alone.
望天賜郎還 樓頭少婦
I gaze at the sky, hoping my lover will return; I am a young wife waiting at the top of the building.
宵宵怨盼 舊恩愛 我命不待郎還
Night after night, I yearn and hope for our past love; my life cannot wait for my lover's return.
月半殘 數點寒星光閃燦
The half-moon wanes, and a few cold stars twinkle brightly.
鴛侶忍相分
The mandarin ducks endure separation.
空教腰間玉帶橫 兼掛紅顏
In vain, a jade belt lies across my waist, symbolizing my beauty.
佢纏綿病榻前 悲痛續愛難
He lingers beside my sickbed, but love continues to bring sorrow.
郎自怨歸家晚
My lover blames himself for returning home late.
郎縱情長 妾悲命薄 徙喚奈何
My lover indulges in pleasures while I suffer from my unfortunate fate; there is no escape.
輕牽羅帳幔 淚眼盈望郎顏
I gently pull on the silk curtains, tears filling my eyes as I long for my lover's face.
只怨落霞 青春已逝難再復返
I can only resent the fading sunset, knowing that youth can never be regained.
猶念當年暢聚雪山 火坑蓮花罹劫難
I still remember our joyful reunion on the snowy mountains, despite enduring hardships like a lotus flower in a fiery pit.
恨天妒紅顏 相見晚
I resent the envy of the heavens towards my beauty; we meet each other late.
藥爐已冷 今生與君恨緣慳
The medicine stove has grown cold; in this life, our love remains unfulfilled due to bitter fate.
落霞妹 今日有幸相逢
Sister Luo Xia, today we are fortunate to meet.
你何以出此不祥之語呢
Why do you speak such ominous words?
雙星仍燦爛 皓魄雲橫
The double stars continue to shine brightly, and the moonlight stretches across the clouds.
當日共卿醉樓台
On that day, we were intoxicated in the grand tower.
願人與天長共老終生
I hope for a person who will accompany me in old age until the end of our lives.
鴛鴦散 遠走萬里關山
The mandarin ducks are separated and travel far across the mountains and rivers.
憐落魄 功名誤我一生
Pity the fallen and the lost; worldly success has deceived me my whole life.
唉 誤卿你玉顏 郎細吻
Alas, I have wasted your beautiful face; my lover's tender kiss.
怨淚凝滿眼
Tears of resentment fill my eyes.
心喜與嬌纏綿蜜語一番
Our hearts rejoice as we engage in sweet and affectionate whispers.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Traditional
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