Michael Jackson impersonator explained

Impersonators of American entertainer Michael Jackson work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts remain in great demand due to the enduring popularity of Jackson.^[1] ^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] ^[6] ^[7] ^[8] ^[9]

In the media

Films

Maanthrikam, a 1995 Malayalam action comedy film, includes a scene in which actor Vinayakan (in his film debut) dances in a 'weak imitation' of Jackson.^[10]
Mister Lonely is a 2007 British-French-Irish-American comedy-drama film directed by Harmony Korine and co-written with his brother Avi Korine. It's a story of a young man living in Paris scratches out a living as a Jackson look-alike, starring Diego Luna as Jackson and dancing on the streets, public parks, tourist spots and trade shows.^[11]

Television

Move Like Michael Jackson was a British talent show made by independent production company Fever Media and Gogglebox Entertainment and transmitted on BBC Three, which aimed to find people who can dance like Jackson.^[12]
Impersonator Edward Moss portrayed Jackson in re-enactments of his 2005 trial on charges of child molestation which were broadcast daily on E! and Sky UK.^[13]
In 2011 on the television program "Qual é Seu Talento" (What is Your Talent) by the Brazilian broadcaster Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão, the Brazilian covers Jean Walker and Ricardo Walker played the King of Pop in the entire contest. In the performances, Jean Walker sang while Ricardo Walker danced. Jean Walker has a very similar timbre to Michael Jackson, while Ricardo Walker is an excellent dancer and works as a dance teacher on his project.

Literature

In January 2014, Lorena Turner, who teaches photography in the Communication Department at California State Polytechnic University, has spent four years tracking down 35 artists and look-alikes of Jackson. She released a new book of photos, essays and stories of men and women from across the U.S. who pretend to be Jackson for a living.^[14]

Live events

In July 2009, singer Madonna paid a tribute during the second leg of her Sticky & Sweet Tour.^[15] A Jackson impersonator performed his signature moves, while dancing to a medley of Jackson's songs.^[16]
Thriller – Live is a two-and-a-half-hour concert celebrating the music of Jackson.^[17] ^[18] It had already been performed in the United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, and Scandinavia before opening at the Lyric Theatre, London on 2 January 2009. The show was conceived by Jackson family friend and author, Adrian Grant.^[19] ^[20] ^[21] ^[22]

List of notable impersonators

Notes and References

Web site: Michael Jackson impersonators: lookalikes around the world pay tribute to the King of Pop. 2 July 2009. www.telegraph.co.uk.
Web site: Michael Jackson impersonator - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). mobile.abc.net.au.
Web site: See Michael Jackson impersonator at Riverland. gulfnews.com.
Michael Jackson Impersonator Fights the Power Through Dance at Baltimore Protests. Billboard.
Web site: The Man in Mirror: What it's like being the 'world's number one' Michael Jackson impersonator. NME. 20 June 2017.
Web site: Michael Jackson impersonator talks playing the King of Pop around the world, and now in Lifetime biopic. 27 May 2017. ABC News.
Web site: Michael Jackson Impersonator Participates In Wrestling Match Immediately Goes Viral. 10 July 2018. 98.7 KLUV.
Web site: What it's like being the 'world's number one' Michael Jackson impersonator. Jordan. Bassett. 20 June 2017. NME.
Web site: This Guy Looks Exactly Like Michael Jackson And It's Really Throwing People Off. Sandra Crespo. Sanchez. BuzzFeed.
News: Sreenath. I.. Vinayakan: A catcall from the fringe that rattles the uptight hero. 28 February 2018. Malayala Manorama. 8 March 2017.
Web site: Harmony-Korine.com – News. 2006-12-27. 2006-12-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20061223215827/http://www.harmony-korine.com/paper/main/news.html. dead.
Web site: Move Like Michael Jackson. Simon. Jane. 14 December 2009. Daily Mirror. 14 December 2009.
News: King of Pop impersonator star of E! trial re-enactment . The Seattle Times . Bob . Baker . March 3, 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090709140821/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002195262_jacko03.html . July 9, 2009 .
News: Examining Michael Jackson Impersonators and 'Dangerous'. Jon. Caramanica. 19 October 2014. NYTimes.com.
Web site: Jayson . Rodriguez . Madonna Salutes Michael Jackson At London's O2 Arena – Music, Celebrity, Artist News . . July 5, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629192831/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1615279/madonna-salutes-michael-jackson-london.jhtml . dead . June 29, 2011 . January 14, 2012.
News: Mardeen . Saad . Madonna pays tribute to Michael Jackson in concert . July 6, 2009 . . . May 12, 2015.
Web site: Thriller Live | Musicals . The Guardian . 22 January 2009. 2021-11-27.
Web site: Joanne Sweeney . Britt Quentin stars in Michael Jackson Thriller Live show . The Irish News . 2017-03-16 . 2021-11-27.
News: Jackson brother at show premiere . BBC . January 22, 2009 . January 28, 2009 .
Web site: Sanjoy . Roy . Thriller Live Lyric, London . . January 22, 2009 . January 28, 2009 .
Web site: Karen . Frickler . Thriller Live . . January 21, 2009 . January 28, 2009 .
News: Sarah . Birke . Preview: Thriller Live, Dominion Theatre, London . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220514/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/preview-thriller-live-dominion-theatre-london-412118.html . 2022-05-14 . subscription . live . . August 16, 2006 . January 28, 2009 .
News: Ogunnaike. Lola. A Fake Michael Jackson's Big Break: A Fake Trial. The New York Times. 16 June 2017. 1 March 2005.
Web site: Kreps . Daniel . Michael Jackson Impersonator Lands Role in Lifetime Biopic . Rolling Stone . 2017-01-14 . 2017-06-16.
Web site: Celia Walden . Britain's Got Talent: dancing to the same beat . The Daily Telegraph . 2008-05-30 . 2017-06-16.