Celebrating Michael Jackson

 

As we honour Michael Jackson, the King of Pop on his birthday today (August 29), let's take a look at some of the reasons why Michael Jackson earned that title and how other artists, namely Beyoncé, have tried to leave behind a similar legacy.

Michael Jackson and Beyonce

While there is no doubt that Beyoncé has earned the honorific title of Queen of R&B by critics (and the genres are different), has her music shared the same fame and success trajectory as Michael Jackson? We think this question deserves attention. 

Michael Jackson

Diving right into one of the most discernible differences between the two artists, Michael Jackson's awards and honors are certainly a crucial point to consider. According to the book by Sylvia Lovina Chidi, 'The Greatest Black Achievers in History', Jackson has been cited as the most awarded and nominated recording artist in music history.

Michael Jackson's career saw him nominated 38 times for the Grammies, earning 13 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, he has won six Brit Awards, 5 Billboard Music Awards and 24 American Music Awards.

According to his official website, Michael Jackson currently holds 39 Guinness World Records, including a record for having the most Grammy Awards earned in a year by a single artist. He's a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, becoming one of only a few artists to be inducted twice. His first induction was in 1997 as a member of The Jackson 5. He was also inducted into the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame, making Jackson the first and currently, only recording artist to be inducted.

His other inductions include the Songwriters Hall of Fame and his 2014 induction into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame along with his father Joe Jackson.

Michael Jackson

Antheming the concept "It doesn't matter if you're black or white" to the world with his 1991 smash, 'Black or White', Michael Jackson has been a prominent figure in inspiring change. Michael Jackson was an international superstar, and many in the Black community herald him for breaking down racial barriers in the music industry. He was notably one of the first Black global superstars and gave the Black community a chance to realize the color of your skin shouldn't stop you from achieving your dreams in a time when Black artists weren't allowed the spotlight as much as today. Michael Jackson was good... jaw-droppingly good, and you were foolish to reject the idea.

"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama," said the Rev. Al Sharpton. "Michael did with music what they later did in sports and in politics and in television. And no controversy will erase the historic impact."

Beyoncé

Proving to be a strong rival for Michael Jackson, Beyoncé's total awards are just as many and diverse. The R&B songstress nearly doubles Jackson's Grammy honors with 24 Grammy Awards and 70 nominations, which includes her work in Destiny's Child and The Carters, making her the most nominated woman and second-most award winning woman in the history of the Grammy Awards. She has won 26 MTV Video Music Awards which includes 12 individual awards, making her the most-awarded artist in the award show history. She is the most-awarded artist at the BET Awards and the Soul Train Awards. For the Billboard Music Awards, Beyoncé is the eighth-most awarded artist with 13 awards.

Unlike Michael Jackson, Beyoncé's inductions into an honorary hall of fame are down to one. For her philanthropy, she was inducted into the International Pediatric Hall of Fame in 2008 by the Miami Children's Hospital Foundation and received the Key to the City of New Orleans and Columbia, South Carolina.

Beyoncé

Similarly, Beyoncé is truly an advocate for the advancement of the black community in America. The platform she built with her slew of wins and appearances is used as a way for her to spread her messages of equality and strength. Throughout her career, Beyoncé has also invested a large majority of money into giving back to her community and the various charities and causes she’s invested in. Apart from being an inspiration for women around the world with her powerful array of music and persona, Beyoncé uses her creativity to shed light on serious topics, self-empowerment and inspire hope for her fans and community.

While we can argue for days which artist has impacted culture more, each in their own right, one last thing to address here is that it all comes down to the music. Consider how much the "wow" factor of their vocals, writing, catchiness, unconventional creativity, and even their dancing (if you're leaning more into image over sound) have caught the attention of the world instead of just a community, gender or other social groups.

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