What Makes it so Great??

July 31, 2007
Okay.. so I was just playing around on Youtube... surprise, surprise and came across a video that my professor had just mentioned in passing on one random digression. It was about a Philippino prison doing a re-make of Thriller by Michael Jackson... as I randomly came across this video I started thinking about certain artists, certain songs and the way people react to them. What makes their music/video/song so great?

Right after I came across the Philippino video I also came across another one that was done by a Greek Army - and they were copying Madonna's song Hung Up. They weren't quite as skilled as the 1500 Philippino inmates but it still makes me wonder... What makes it so great that you would want to organize people, videotape it, and then post it on Youtube.com. (or some other similar website)

If you want to check out the actual footage of these videos, click the link below. This link is to the Philippino Prison:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o

Here is a link to watch Michael Jackson's original video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rT90keJ51bY

This link is the Greek Army:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9V1UTKkE-5Q

Although as of late Michael Jackson has had some pretty questionable actions you can't deny his ability as a singer and as a performer. Watching the video of Thriller you just can't help but be entertained by it. I grew up after Michael Jackson so I am not as familiar with his work as I'd like to be, but I do know how much of an impact he has had on the music industry. Even Backstreet Boys did a little play on the Thriller music video in their video of Everybody (Backstreet's Back). The majority of people are even quite familiar with the choreography! On a personal note - I attended a drag show where a friend of mine was performing. He had a group of people dress up in convincing zombie outfits while he played Michael Jackson. They copied the choreography of the Thriller video and performed it for the audience at the show. Everyone in the audience immediately recognized the song and dance and just loved it. Now why is it that some artists are so effective and influential with their music that they can still have an effect on people over 20 years later?

Is it their style, their willingness to try something new and different while ignoring the criticism that may come with it? Are they making a political stand? Are they breaking 'taboo' ideas like exposing skin (like Madonna)? Is it a combination of all these things that make them so memorable?