Feud: A Tale of Two Jacksons
ri·val·ry /ˈrīvəlrē/ (n): competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
Sibling rivalries are some of the nastiest, low-down, dirtiest types of rivalries (I know, I have six of them). They are even nastier when the siblings in question are from one of music's most-famed bands, The Jackson 5. And EVEN NASTIER when the rivalry develops among the two most popular members: Jermaine and Michael Jackson.
No one can FACTUALLY tell you the origins of their rivalry or how it evolved into their legendary feud. Jermaine and Michael are the only two who ACTUALLY know where/when it started, and Michael... well... let's just say he isn't talking.
If you've followed me via twitter for a while, then you already know that when it comes to music... I don't like leaving too much room for speculation. I only speak on what I know... that is to say what has been documented and can be cited with sources. I'm giving y'all the Real-Deal Holyfield here!
I'll start by saying this: Michael Jackson is possibly the greatest entertainer the world has ever known. He single-handedly revolutionized pop music and is still, even eight years after his death, the gold standard for an entertainer. In fact, Michael Jackson is the very definition of pop.
That being said, It's extremely hard to write on or speak your opinion about an artist as popular as Michael Jackson... he is one of those who has legions of (st)(f)ans WAITING to jump the first person who says something they don't like or agree with.
But by now, whether you've been following me on Twitter for years or whether you're just being introduced to my by way of Facebook, Instagram, or The Soul Savviness Radio Show I co-host w/ Q Lynn Green... you've likely learned one thing about me...
I. DON'T. CARE.
The Jackson 5 started like any other band... each member played their part and played it well. Jermaine was on bass and lead vocals, Tito on guitar, and the rest of the brothers on background vocals. Somewhere along the way, producers discovered that Jermaine and Michael had a special chemistry together... the contrasts of their voices not only made beautiful music, but also contributed to huge sales. Michael's voice echoed the sweet innocence of a child while Jermaine's a soulful young adult coming into his own. Because of this, the two spent more time together than the rest of the brothers.
“Michael and I seemed to spend all our down-time together in those days and the bond between us was sealed tight. I cannot remember an argument or a fight in our childhood… Michael looked up to me, I looked out for him. Onstage, he was always to my right. In hotels, he was always in the bed to the left. If I couldn’t see Michael, and know he was okay, I didn’t feel at ease." -- Jermaine Jackson
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Motown's marketing strategy contributed to their rivalry. The label's plan was to release solo albums for both Michael and Jermaine as a way of bringing even more fame and popularity to The Jackson 5 brand.
Michael's album, Got To Be There, was released in January of 1972 and Jermaine's album, Jermaine, in August of the same year.
And then AGAIN in 1973... Michael Jackson's Music & Me was released in April, while Jermaine's Come Into My Life was released in May.
Even with Motown's brilliant marketing scheme of having both of the group's most popular singers release solo albums and the press constantly asking the brothers if they thought their music was better than the others', Michael and Jermaine remained close. In fact, Michael looked up to and took most of his pointers from his big brother.
“Growing up, it was Jermaine I focused on. He’d walk me to school. I’d get his hand-me-down clothes. It was his voice that I first imitated. I loved his sound. He showed me the way.” -- Michael Jackson
Things changed in the mid-70s. The Jackson 5 decided to leave Motown for Epic Records. Jermaine, now 21 and married to Hazel Gordy (daughter of Motown President Berry Gordy), decided to stay with Motown. His brother Randy replaced him in the group.
“The sense of detachment and loneliness was profound. I didn’t feel like I had lost my right arm; I felt like I had lost every limb. I had Hazel [Gordy], of course, but the brotherhood was intrinsic to who I was and everything I knew. When it was ripped away, I felt something tear." -- Jermaine Jackson
“I clearly remember the first show we did without him, because it was so painful for me. Since my earliest days on the stage- and even in our rehearsals in our Gary living room- Jermaine stood at my left with his bass. I depended on being next to Jermaine." -- Michael Jackson
The 1980s came and the career trajectory for both brothers shifted dramatically. Jermaine, with Motown, had a steady career of soulful hits. Michael, on the other hand, had become OTHER WORLDLY... first dropping Off The Wall and then Thriller.
As the 80s drew to a close, each brother was in a very different place than I think either of them expected to be. Michael had become a mega-superstar, claiming the title of King of Pop. Jermaine, on the other hand, signed with Clive Davis/Arista but never reached that same level of stardom. He was pretty well-known with Black audiences, but it didn't go very far beyond that.
Even with all of his success, something about Jermaine's solo career never quite sat right with Michael. He felt that he was smarter, worked harder, and was more talented than his older brother. On the opposite side, Jermaine always felt that Michael's timing is what made him the King of Pop.
“That was supposed to be me, that’s why I stayed at Motown. We had plans. But once Michael beat me to it, he made sure it would only be him.” -- Jermaine Jackson
Things got ugly in 1991. Jermaine had, seemingly, reached a point where he didn't care about what Michael or any of his other siblings were doing professionally. He, as always, just wanted to do his own thing and be as respected/popular as some of them were (some of them = Michael and Janet). He began work on an album with LaFace's Babyface and LA Reid. Michael found out and "just so happened" to call Babyface and LA, requesting a meeting. He even sent a helicopter to fly the two record moguls out to Neverland.
Jermaine found out about the meeting and demanded to be released from the label. He knew the deal and EXACTLY what was up... He repeatedly told them that it was a trick and Michael was purposely trying to sabotage his career, as he'd (not always successfully) done before with Jermaine and their other siblings (shoutout to The Ghost Whisperer... she's the only one Michael couldn't stop from reaching the level of stardom she has reached). Even the great Lionel Richie warned them that Michael was nice, but to "be careful not to get caught up in that web."
When Babyface and LA Reid arrived, Michael had no idea who they actually were. He got them confused with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis telling them that he liked "that one song that Janet does" (Rhythm Nation).
For almost a week, Michael kept Babyface and LA tied up. They would write something and Michael would shoot down their ideas. He'd tell them they were good, but could be better... that they were missing something. They ended up writing Slave To The Rhythm, but Michael wouldn't even go to the studio to listen or actually record the song.
LA and Babyface also told Michael that Jermaine was upset and wanted off of their label. Michael didn't blink an eye. He knew Jermaine had already signed a contract and couldn't leave the label if he wanted to.
‘“He’ll get over it,” [Michael said].
‘That’s not really the problem,’ I said. ‘The problem was that he wants off the label now.
’“Did he sign a contract?” asked Michael.
‘Yes,’ I said.
“Then he’ll have to live with it because those are the rules,” Michael said and walked out.That Michael Jackson was one shrewd man. He was not wrong, but you didn’t expect that from Peter Pan. You expect a little compassion or something. No. Cold as ice.’ -- excerpt from LA Reid's "Sing To Me"
After seven days, they packed up and headed back to finish work on Jermaine's album. (was Michael just trying to keep them busy and delay their work for Jermaine? I don't know.)
When they returned to Atlanta, Jermaine told them he wanted to write a diss track to his brother. They reluctantly obliged and let him do his thing. He ended up writing Word To The Badd!!!
What up yo Word to the badd! [Verse 1] Reconstructed Been abducted Don’t know who you are Think they love you They don’t know you Lonely superstar [Pre-Chorus] Never think about who you love Only think about number one You forget about where you started from You only think about what you want Don’t care about how it’s done You only think about you, your throne Be it right or be it wrong [Chorus] It ain’t about your world It ain’t about the things that you do If you don’t care, I don’t care Cause you keep thinkin’ ’bout you It ain’t about you takin’ my pie You been takin’ for a long time If you don’t care, I don’t care If you keep Well I ain’t thinkin’ ’bout you What up yo, word to the badd [Verse 2] Once you were made You changed your shade Was your color wrong? Could not turn back It’s a known fact You were too far gone [Pre-Chorus] You know I tried to be there for you Like a brother I care for you It didn’t matter you always play me off You only care about what you want You don’t care about how it’s done You only think about you, your throne Be it right or wrong [Chorus] Oh no no, I ain’t thinkin’ ’bout you Oh no What up yo, word to the badd [Rap] Thinkin’ about that pie that you’ve been takin’ from me From a brother to another brother hard to believe Lost and don’t know it yet you still show it Givin’ seems to be harder than it is to receive The glass has gotten shady, time to make it clearer Clean it up and lets start with the Man in the mirror Theres sadness there brother, ain't no mistaken it Get a grip cause youre not far from breakin it Thinkin about the time when we used to be close It shouldn't be past tense, cause nobody knows What the future may hold, what tomorrow might bring Its not guaranteed that youll be spreading your wings But meanwhile, I continue to smile, cause in the back of my head I know you’re still a child You say that your a man, but that will never be Unless the day comes when you can lean on me [Pre-Chorus] Gone too far, you better turn back I know who you are You know where I'm at Sad but its true, from me to you Don't be alone Step off your throne Come back home
[Chorus x3]
Jermaine was BIG mad LOL. Some of the lyrics... they HAD to cut Michael like a knife.
A radio DJ in Atlanta got a copy (given to him by Jermaine) and added it to his rotation. Soon, other stations picked it up and the song started to gain popularity. In the midst of this, Michael heard the song and was OUTRAGED. He called Clive Davis directly and demanded that the song be removed from Jermaine's album. After, Michael used his clout to have the song pulled from radio.
“The record disappeared off the air, as if it had never been there in the first place. I don’t know what Michael did. I don’t know if Michael did anything, but it went away in a flash.” -- excerpt from LA Reid's "Sing To Me"
JERMAINE WASN'T HAVING IT. He refused to remove the song from the album, but reached an agreement with Clive and changed the lyrics of the song.
Now, was Michael intentionally trying to sabotage Jermaine? I say yes.
Michael, and other greats like him (Aretha Franklin, Prince, etc) all suffered from the same complex... fear of being dethroned. Seems silly, but it's a real thing. As amazing as they are/were at their crafts, that "fear" is what fueled their careers.
Could Jermaine (or anyone else) have "dethroned" Michael?
Jermaine simply didn't have IT. You're either born with IT or you're not.
Michael Jackson was and STILL IS in a league of his own. He worked hard throughout his entire life to ensure that he would always be at the top of the food chain. No one in history has gotten close to filling his shoes in that regard. (maybe The Beatles, Elvis, or Sour Water?)
Was Jermaine really un-bothered by Michael? I say no.
I have always said that the problems between the two started when Michael joined The Jackson 5 and pushed Jermaine out of the spotlight. He took Jermaine's spot as lead singer and I don't think Jermaine ever really got over that. He felt that Michael's popularity as The Jackson 5's lead singer is what lead to him being the legendary superstar he was.
Was Jermaine the only sibling (or family member) to voice his disdain for Michael? Definitely not.
Rebbie, Janet, LaToya, and others have all done the same. From their interviews, I get that Michael liked to not only be in control of his own destiny, but also have control over the careers of his family.
Do I think my opinion on the lives/careers/relationships between Michael and his family as all indisputable facts? Of course not.
I'm not here to argue, LOL... just share a little of what I know. Everyone won't agree with everything in this post. There are hardcore Michael fans who refuse to believe that he was that type of person. And then there are those who simply don't see someone like the great Michael Jackson worried about or threatened by someone like Jermaine Jackson... and that's ok.
In my eyes, both Jackson brothers made classic music that still stands the test of time. Below is a short playlist featuring some of their finest moments, both together and solo. The first few songs are from The Jackson 5, where Michael and Jermaine shared lead. It's there where you'll hear how their unique chemistry made the group a crossover sensation. Then, there are a few solo songs by both brother, and finally, a song that features both brothers as adults. I hope you enjoy!