POPULAR MUSIC IN AMERICA 

 

 

POPULAR MUSIC IN AMERICA

 

 

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Lecture: 

ZZ Top

"Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers"  listen

 

Prince

"Purple Rain"  listen

Eddie Van Halen guitar solo  listen

Metallica

"Master of the Puppets"  listen

 

Madonna

"Material Girl"

 

Michael Jackson

"Billie Jean"  listen

 

Michael Jackson was the fodder of the tabloids for many years, mostly because of his remarkable change of appearance and other stories of bizarre behavior.

 

However, Michael Jackson's legacy in the world of popular music is profound.

 

Michael Jackson

Before and After

 

 

 

 

Michael Jackson's Thriller album (1982) is the #1 best selling album in U.S. history.

Worldwide, it is the biggest selling album of all time by a significant margin.

 

MTV, which originally aired in 1981 had a policy of excluding most black artists.  The incredible popularity of Michael Jackson's Thriller made it impossible to exclude him.  His videos helped to launch MTV into mainstream popular culture and also paved the way for other black artists.

 

Michael Jackson

"Billie Jean"  listen

 

 

 

AC/DC's Back in Black (1980) and Billy Joel's Greatest Hits Volumes I and II (1985) were tied for 5th and 6th with 21 million

Garth Brooks Double Live (1998) and Shania Twain Come On Over (1997)  have 20 million

Fleetwood Mac Rumours (1977) number 10 at 19 million

 

The Police

 

U2

 

R.E.M.

 

John Mellencamp

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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