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.
Rock With You
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let That Rhythm Get Into You
Don't Try To Fight It
There Ain't Nothin' That You Can Do
Relax Your Mind
Lay Back And Groove With Mine
You Got To Feel That Heat
And We Can Ride The Boogie
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night)
Dance You Into Day (Sunlight)
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night)
We're Gonna Rock The Night Away
Out On The Floor
There Ain't Nobody There But Us
Girl, When You Dance
There's A Magic That Must Be Love
Just Take It Slow
'Cause We Got So Far To Go
When You Feel That Heat
And We're Gonna Ride The Boogie
Share That Beat Of Love
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night)
Dance You Into Day (Sunlight)
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night)
We're Gonna Rock The Night Away
And When The Groove Is Dead And Gone (Yeah)
You Know That Love Survives
So We Can Rock Forever, On
I Wanna Rock With You
I Wanna Groove With You
I Wanna Rock With You
I Wanna Groove With You
I Wanna Rock (All Night) With You Girl (Sunlight)
Rock With You, Rock With You Girl (Yeah)
(All Night)
Dance The Night Away
I Wanna Rock With You (Yeah) (All Night)
Rock You Into Day (Sunlight)
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night) Rock The Night Away Feel The Heat Feel The Beat Rock You Into Day (Sunlight)
I Wanna Rock - Rock The Night Away
The lyrics to The Jackson's song "Rock With You" speak about the power of music to bring people together and make them forget their troubles. The song calls for listeners to let go of their inhibitions and allow the rhythm to take over. The chorus reinforces this message by repeating the desire to dance and rock with someone all night long. The song suggests that there is a powerful spiritual bond that forms between people when they dance together and share the beat of love.
The opening lines encourage the listener to close their eyes and let the music take over, without trying to resist it. The lyrics go on to describe the joy of sharing the rhythm of a song with someone else, feeling the beat and giving into it completely. The song speaks to the power of dance to create a shared experience, regardless of who else is around. The lyrics suggest that love can be found through dancing, and there's nothing more important than sharing that beat with another person.
Overall, the lyrics to "Rock With You" celebrate the power of music to unite people and make them feel alive. The song is a joyful call to action, inviting listeners to dance and groove with their partners, letting the beat take over and experiencing the magic that comes with losing oneself in a moment of shared musical bliss.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, Close Your Eyes
Eliminate all distractions and focus on the music
Let That Rhythm Get Into You
Allow yourself to fully immerse in the music and feel it
Don't Try To Fight It
Don't resist the urge to move and dance
There Ain't Nothin' That You Can Do
The music is irresistible and you can't help but dance
Relax Your Mind
Clear your mind and let go of any worries or stress
Lay Back And Groove With Mine
Let's synchronize and enjoy the music together
You Got To Feel That Heat
The music is hot and energetic, feel the intensity
And We Can Ride The Boogie
Let's dance and enjoy the rhythm
Share That Beat Of Love
Together, we can share our love and passion for the music
I Wanna Rock With You (All Night)
I want to dance with you all night long
Dance You Into Day (Sunlight)
We'll be dancing until the sun comes up
We're Gonna Rock The Night Away
We'll dance and party all night long
Out On The Floor
On the dance floor, it's just you and me
There Ain't Nobody There But Us
We're completely focused on each other and the music
Girl, When You Dance
When you dance, it's magical and captivating
There's A Magic That Must Be Love
Our connection through music is a sign of love
Just Take It Slow
Let's enjoy the moment and not rush
'Cause We Got So Far To Go
We have all night to dance, let's take our time
And When The Groove Is Dead And Gone (Yeah)
Even after the music ends, our love will survive
You Know That Love Survives
Our love will endure beyond the music and dancing
So We Can Rock Forever, On
Our love and connection through music will last forever
I Wanna Groove With You
Let's dance together and enjoy the rhythm
I Wanna Rock (All Night) With You Girl (Sunlight)
I want to dance with you all night long in the sunlight
Feel The Heat Feel The Beat
The music is hot, energetic, and impossible not to feel
I Wanna Rock - Rock The Night Away
Let's dance and party all night long
Contributed by Jasmine R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@k3nzh1n082
1980....Rock With You
1990.....Rock With You
2000.......Rock With You
2010.........Rock With You
2020...........Rock With You
2021.............Rock With You
2022...............Rock With You
2023.................Rock With You
2024..................Rock With You
2025...................Rock With You
we still Rock'n With You Michael.....
@k3nzh1n082
1980....Rock With You
1990.....Rock With You
2000.......Rock With You
2010.........Rock With You
2020...........Rock With You
2021.............Rock With You
2022...............Rock With You
2023.................Rock With You
2024..................Rock With You
2025...................Rock With You
we still Rock'n With You Michael.....
@Sdot15
Big Facts
@enzoroblox362
big facts
@madi2621
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
3000
We will still be rocking
@marinvanz.1924
@@madi2621 absolutely! Michael and his songs will live on forever and ever! That's how it's supposed to be♥️
@halwist1761
@@madi2621 Now-rest of my existence
@perivan5746
How I wish Michael was alive so I could see the comments on this video and let him know how much we love him ...
@miriantorrez4588
Me too but he does know that we love him so much❤️🥺 because he is watching us from heaven rest in peace I love you so much Michael wish you were alive today so you could be with your children and family that miss you so much and come back to us that love you too but you are with the angels 👼 and you will always be in ours harts and you will always be an angel 👼 since you came into this world god knew why he bought you to this world to Entertain people and be the best entertainer in the world wonderful singer and dancer rest in peace ❤️✨. And we want to thank 🙏 god and your mom and dad for bringing you Into this world to be the greatest pop start and the KING 🤴 OF POP!!!!. Love you 😘❤️❤️❤️💕✨
@iceychill2125
I know much we miss Michael but he's in a better place now I think it's better if he's gone so he doesn't have to suffer
@yousseframy5960
BUT 99% of you men are homophobic , but you sure love gay artist's music eye roll ..how about u show him love by not being so homophobic & transphobic