When Worlds Collide: Michael Jordan & Michael Jackson
Despite the participants, the video itself is actually relatively underwhelming. “Jam” isn’t a terrible song, but it’s not even one of the best on Dangerous – which wasn’t exactly Off the Wall or Thriller. But considering the talent at work here, that’s like saying Clyde Drexler’s good, but he’s not quite Jordan. It’s just that “Jam” has a very early-’90s vibe, while most of his music is timeless; you’d expect it would be right at home in the soundtrack for White Men Can’t Jump, but that isn’t what you came to expect from Michael Jackson.
This isn’t to say the video doesn’t have its share of classic moments. Jackson kicks things off by hurling a basketball from outside a gym through a window and directly into a basket; could the climax of Spike Lee’s He Got Game be an homage? That resulted in Jordan’s trademark whimsical eyebrow raise toward the camera, one of his patented moves en route to melting the hearts and wallets of Middle America.
Heavy D made an appearance in “Jam,” rapping a brief and incongruous interlude while Jackson executes an exaggerated and fairly ridiculous – intentionally so, I’d have to assume – gangsta lean.
Jackson also had Kris Kross in the video, and took them on tour with him. Kris Kross’ time on top of the world didn’t last long, but at that moment in time, every kid in my middle school had taken to wearing his pants backwards. It’s much like how a modern-day Jay-Z will work with whoever has buzz at the moment – witness Frank Ocean singing hooks on Watch The Throne. (Macaulay Culkin appearing in “Black or White,” and then weirdly becoming Jackson’s best friend, was another example.)
The highlight of the video, of course, is Jackson attempting to teach Jordan how to dance, in return for basketball lessons. It all comes off quite surreal; Jackson looks so completely out of place playing any sport and almost certainly has little interest in doing so anyway, and for someone eternally graceful on a basketball court, Jordan dances like he has about 10 left feet. But watching them awkwardly enter each other’s worlds nonetheless humanizes them both – especially Jackson, who lets his guard down a bit despite being on the brink of becoming even more bizarre than he already was.
The two were, then and now, regarded as demigods in their respective arenas, men to emulate in terms of sheer talent, excellence and achievement. No less than Notorious B.I.G. famously lumped them together with Mike Tyson in saying he performs like Mike, any one.
The sentiment remains; 13 years after “Victory,” Jay-Z “paid tribute” to Biggie’s iconic line as he’s not known to do. (No shame in continuing to invoke Tyson, by the way – he’s a comedic figure now, but anyone who remembers what he was in his prime would understand.)
All these years later, we’ve witnessed Michael Jackson descend most of the way into madness, and then pass away. Jordan is pushing 50 and doesn’t have nearly the aura he used to.
That said, while it’s doubtful Biggie had “Jam” in mind, it’s still significant simply in that we get to see them together. For a time, Jackson and Jordan, at the very height of their powers, were in the presence of greatness – each other’s, and their own.
While “Jam” is mostly a footnote in the respective oeuvres of both men, it remains a precious time capsule – and a worthy reason on its own to own a pair of Bordeauxs.
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September 6th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Sean Sweeney says:
One of my favorite songs…actually love this whole album. The cover used to freak me out too as a kid.
September 6th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Aron Phillips says:
Great piece, Bryan!
September 6th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
BigStick says:
Love it. The behind-the-scenes footage of making this video is awesome too.
Sean, I had the Dangerous cover art as my desktop background a few years ago and it still freaks people out, lol.
September 6th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
JAY says:
I love Michael Jackson, and I believe he was innocent…. but this photo creeps me out…
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_7n4EZnpRM6o/TOlLqjNT9OI/AAAAAAAAAFY/AiYJYGXgz7s/s1600/jackson%2Bkross.jpg
September 6th, 2011 at 2:31 pm
SWAT says:
man tht really is the only reason i bought those kix-i remember this video vividly. plus the colors on these are crazy.
great article!
September 6th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Brandt Hardin says:
Michael’s death and life are surrounded by so much controversy even two years later. Our celebrity-worship goes too far in creating our own ideas of icons such as MJ, as to leave a warped dynasty of myth and legend. Who was The King of Pop beneath the different faces? Check out my surreal portrait of his changing looks in commemoration on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2011/06/in-memoriam-king-of-pop.html
September 6th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Layne5 says:
Jam is actually a look into inner city turmoil, social consciousness and ‘jamming’ for redemption through music; becoming engaged in creativity that includes physical prowess, in this case sports and dance. As far as Jackson descending into ‘madness’, that doesn’t jive with the man seen in ‘This is It’ at all. And the ‘bizarre’ that you speak of is tabloid speak…doesn’t reflect who the man was at all. Try humanitarian, conservationist, social activist, supreme artist and loving father. I will agree that the film of he and Jordan trading their individual crafts is quite timeless and reflects both men’s humanity.
September 6th, 2011 at 5:25 pm
J-Bone says:
“Dangerous” was definitely better than “Off the Wall.” The 2nd half of his career is greatly overlooked and underappreciated due to the false accusations against him. There is a taped conversation with Evan Chandler (father of the first “victim”) basically admitting that the whole thing was purely about money (not “justice” for his son). He also committed suicide months after the death of the King of Pop. Guilt over the condemnation of an innocent man? Maybe. The 2nd accusers were con-artists as well, but so many people want to overlook that as well and only focus on the negative headlines as opposed the truth/facts.
September 6th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
morinen says:
I don’t agree that Michael Jackson descended into madness – he was always perfectly sane, but rather ostracized and bullied by the society that could not accept him for who he was.
Thanks for the piece though. It made me look up all of the Jam ‘making of’s on youtube. They’re so joyful and ingenuous, and a pleasure to watch. My favorite is this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uy3k_dgOZXc
September 6th, 2011 at 7:02 pm
Bryan Horowitz says:
Thanks to all for the feedback, much appreciated and valued. “Descent into madness” and “bizarre” were clumsily worded. I rather had in mind the circus atmosphere that enveloped Jackson as his lifestyle and mentality grew more eccentric over the years — which is difficult to deny, I have to think. Note that I didn’t bring up the court cases or anything of that ilk; I was thinking more of his persona, appearance and living quarters, which evolved in the spotlight of the public eye in what many would probably consider to be a somewhat, well, weird fashion. All that said, I don’t doubt he was fundamentally a good person, and I agree that he absolutely touched many people’s lives in a highly positive way.
@Layne5 — I enjoyed your interpretation of “Jam,” makes a lot of sense.
@J-Bone — I liked “Dangerous” a great deal, though not as much as “Off the Wall.” Believe me, though, I am far from a music critic.
@morinen — I feel the “Leave Me Alone” video goes along with your point, though when you exhibit the quirks Jackson did, you’ll get psychoanalyzed to the moon. He was kind of like a real-life Edward Scissorhands in that regard.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Layne5 says:
Mr. Horowitz: Thank you for your kind reply. I do believe that Jackson was not as eccentric as we were led to believe. He lived an extremely isolated life from the rest of the world because he had to. The man couldn’t walk out of the door without crowds and paparazzi in his face. And if you pay attention to the unguarded Jackson in ‘This is It’you will see a perfectionist and gentle man whose mentality appears quite solid. He did not behave as a typical rock star, now did he? No groupies or drunken sprees or arrogant press statements. He was simply very different from anyone else and it is very sad that he wasn’t appreciated for who he was and what he gave to all of us. There is a book soon to be published (Sterling) by Joe Vogel, “Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson.” You might consider reading it. Quite informative.
September 6th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
TheresaB says:
Mr. Horowitz-I appreciate your willingness to rethink your wording. Jackson certainly did not descend into madness. He was still a vibrant, caring musical genius and perfectionist to the end. As the most interviewed, most photographed, most media stalked individual in history, it had to be incredibly difficult to lead a private life. I love the Jam video and feel it is overlooked as a testament to the genius of two incredibly successful and powerful African Anerican men. There were a lot of great comments here for a change and that was also appreciated. For far too long, the media has been allowed to get away with their one-sided chars three portral of Jackson. Thanks for being Koenig minded.
September 7th, 2011 at 9:46 am
Layne5 says:
Mr. Horowitz: a short look into what Jackson had to contend with…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yadCwZCWO-Q&feature=player_embedded
September 19th, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Da_Griff says:
Yeah, that is a cool clip. No doubt. Love the bit at the end. Never fails to make ya smile.