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 Corporationโข; 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 Brownโs then current hit "I Got the Feelinโ". 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.
Scream
The Jacksons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lies are disgusting, so what does it mean, damn it?
You're kicking me down, I got to get up
As jacked as it sounds, the whole system sucks, damn it
Peek in the shadow, come into the light
You tell me I'm wrong, then you better prove you're right
You're selling out souls but I care about mine
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream?)
Your bash abusing victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Somebody please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make you just wanna scream
I'm tired of you telling the story your way
You're causing confusion, you think it's okay, damn it
You keep changing up rules, while I keep playing the game
I can't take it much longer, I think I might go insane
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream?)
Your bash abusing victimize within the scheme
You find your pleasure scandalizing every lie
So Father, please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop fuckin' with me, make me wanna scream
Oh my God, can't believe what I saw as I turned the TV
This evening, I was disgusted by all the injustice
All the injustice (all the injustice)
With such delusions, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream?)
Your bash abusing victimize within the scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
Oh brother, please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream (stop your pressure)
The lyrics of The Jacksons' song "Scream" express frustration and dissatisfaction with the unjust and corrupt systems of society. The singer is tired of being lied to and abused, and feels the need to stand up and fight back. They call out the people who sell out others for their own gain, and express a desire for mercy and relief from the pressure.
The lyrics are an expression of the anger and disillusionment felt by many people who have been victimized by the system. The singer's call to action to "come into the light" and prove them wrong is a powerful message of hope and empowerment. The repetition of the phrase "stop pressuring me" emphasizes the urgent need for change and the frustration of feeling trapped in a broken system.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on social and political issues, and a call to action for all those who feel oppressed or marginalized. It encourages listeners to stand up for themselves and demand justice and equality.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm tired of injustice, I'm tired of the schemes
The singer is exhausted from the unfairness and deceit present in their life
The lies are disgusting, so what does it mean, damn it?
The singer questions the significance of all the falsehoods being spread around
You're kicking me down, I got to get up
Despite being pushed down, the singer is determined to rise again
As jacked as it sounds, the whole system sucks, damn it
Even though it may sound extreme, the artist believes that the entire system is flawed
Peek in the shadow, come into the light
The artist encourages others to see the truth
You tell me I'm wrong, then you better prove you're right
If someone accuses the singer of being incorrect, they better have evidence to back it up
You're selling out souls but I care about mine
While others may be sacrificing their integrity, the singer refuses to do the same
I've got to get stronger, and I won't give up the fight
The artist is determined to become more resilient and continue standing up for what is right
With such confusion, don't it make you wanna scream? (Make you wanna scream?)
The chaos and injustice of the situation is overwhelming and causes frustration
Your bash abusing victimize within the scheme
The artist is being attacked and exploited within a larger scheme
You try to cope with every lie they scrutinize
The singer is exhausted from constantly having to deal with and refute all the lies being told about them
Somebody please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
The artist asks for relief from the overwhelming situation
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
The singer wants the pressure put on them to cease
Stop fuckin' with me, make me wanna scream
The singer is at the point of breaking and is about to scream due to intense frustration
I'm tired of you telling the story your way
The singer is fed up with being misrepresented
You're causing confusion, you think it's okay, damn it
The artist is upset with the confusion being caused by the other person and disagrees with their belief that it's acceptable
You keep changing up rules, while I keep playing the game
While the other person is changing how the situation is approached, the artist is trying to deal with it in a consistent manner
I can't take it much longer, I think I might go insane
The toll of the situation is becoming too much for the singer to handle
Oh my God, can't believe what I saw as I turned the TV
The singer is shocked by the injustice being seen on TV
This evening, I was disgusted by all the injustice
The artist was blatantly disgusted by the overwhelming amount of unfairness seen earlier
With such delusions, don't it make you wanna scream?
The artist questions the sanity of the situation
Oh brother, please have mercy, 'cause I just can't take it
The artist desperately asks for respite from the overwhelming situation
Stop pressuring me, make me wanna scream
The pressure being put on the singer is pushing them to breaking point
Stop pressuring me, just stop pressuring me
The artist is begging for the pressure to be relieved
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, JANET JACKSON DBA BLACK ICE, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: James Harris III, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Terry Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toes124
Who is just randomly having a michael jackson marathon
@Ayexyx16
Me
@christopherjohnson3654
This aint random. This was premeditated!!!
@nikibazargan7183
moi lol
@priscillamorales3130
Ohmg me too! ๐ค๐
@sharonashley88
Wow Iโm loving that you posted this because this is exactly what Iโm doing.
@tbonezful
That dance breakdown is literally the coolest thing I've ever seen and its wild that's it's a brother and sister doing it!!
@dollynina8992
Nothing can beat this breakdown honestly๐ฏ
@msd4743
Yes!!!
@Slattier141
Glenn O'Connor youโre dumb