Fred Astaire used to give credit and praise to Bill Bojangles Robinson for showing him dance moves and creating steps for him. They were both great dancers with very different styles. That's the beauty of being an individual in America: you can do your OWN thing.
@junglequeen1977 - Since MJ never claimed to have invented the moonwalk that doesn't make him a thief. He gave credit to people who taught it to him in several interviews over the years all the way back to 1983 or 84. He even flat out said once that it's "not original", just that he created his own version of it. MJ's "Moonwalk" was simply his own unique version of the Backslide. Because much of the public is uninformed, or you were before you found this out, doesn't make it theft.
Michael Jackson didn't steal anything. I've seen an interview where he admitted to seeing the "street kids" doing it. And as an artist and expressing himself, he did it, too. I've never seen or heard of an interview where Michael Jackson said he created the Moonwalk. But there's an old saying "Everything old is new again". Just like you can hear songs that have "rap" in them from the 1940's(?) and 1950's.
I want to make mention that Michael Jackson always recognized Fred Astaire as someone he watched and studied, as well as Gene Kelly, even Bob Fosse. After Michael performed on Motown 25, he received a call from Fred Astaire, applauding how great his performance was. It wasn't about the color of the skin, but the talent. We all have something that we've been gifted with in one way or another. Can we all get along, be happy for what God has instilled in each of us? Life is too short! God bless!
Actually, one of the first performances of a Moonwalk-type dance was first documented in the 1930s film "Cabin in the Sky." It is performed by Joe's friend in the sequence "Taking a Chance Called Love." Michael Jackson's popularization of the Moonwalk recalls African retentions in the dance.
All due respect to all the great dancers who came before m.j. all was excellent, and it is true mj never said he invented anything he just took it to another level. If you ask me i would say the moon walk has it's origin like every thing else ....in Egypt,,,Ancient Kemet...Truth be told...Peace..."
Michael Jackson never said he invented the moonwalk, he always said he studied the greats and tried to do things better. Michael just took it to a whole new level. Credit goes to every performer who constantly strives for perfection, just so they can entertain us. Any performer who gets people motivated is on their way to greatness. Unfortunately we have lost many of the greatest entertainers that ever lived.
There are many artists who have moonwalked even before this video. Michael Jackson didn't steal anything. Michael talked about his influences such as Fred Astaire. #hater
FYI, Michael got the moonwalk from one of the dancers from Soul Train. Back when it was called "The Back Slide". Michael asked THEM to teach him how to do it. He just perfected the move. Never created it.
Jackson has stated that Astaire is one of his influences and even pays homage to him in the video Smooth Criminal. Jackson had nothing but respect for those that came before him. Astaire even called Michael after seeing him perform the Moonwalk at Motown 25.
michael jackson just gave the moonwalkk more popularity.... he didnt ever say he stole made it he simply just show cased it in a bigger way anyone could
If I may interject, Michael Jackson NEVER said he invented the "moonwalk," but made mention that he picked it up from street dancers. Also, Jeffrey Daniels, member of group Shalamar, and former dance regular on Soul Train, trained Michael to do that step, which was called the "Backslide." No, Michael Jackson told anyone that he created that dance move. Sorry, but continue to be abundantly blessed, and remain in the spirit of peace!
of course dummy he had a lot influence from famous people before him he just modified and adapted to his own performance and made better i think that was brilliant
History: This guy -- Ronnie Hawkins -- made an appearance on The Band's Last Waltz concert in 1977. He had a beard by then, a little heavier and wore a big hat. His backing band -- before they defected to Bob Dylan -- was The Band. (Not The Band in this video). But, yeah....that IS the moonwalk for sure. Hey, nothing new under the sun. Michael did it real good and it attracted a new generation. You can't copyright a dance step.
I think it should be well known that MJ borrowed a lot of dances from other dancers. He would take from others, add his own touch, and make it popular. MJ admitted in an interview with Oprah he got the moonwalk from watching black kids in the ghetto. MJ learned from Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Soul Train dancers, The Lockers, Jeffrey Daniels, and others. I'm an MJ fan but everyone learns from somebody. A lot of the dances MJ did were done by others in some way.
Who are you arguing with? Michael NEVER said he invented the moonwalk. He was humble enough to say that he saw some kids dancing it and practiced to perfect it for two years! Spread LOVE! Stop the Hate! You have better things to do than spew hatred online.
Correct- Bill Bailey did the first moonwalk backwards and charlie chaplin did his version but walking forwards. Jackson never invented the moonwalk nor did he ever say he did. He just made it popular
People have been doing different versions of it for years. MJ never said he invented it. He even said he was inspired by Fred Astaire so yeaaa. Also, Fred Astaire called Michael Jackson after he did the moonwalk on the Motown 25th Anniversery and said that he basically rocked.;)
The title is wrong. Stole? No! That what geniuses do when they admire someone. They emulate them. When Michael does all those moves he's introducing young people to a portion of the history of dance. R.I.P. little brother MICHAEL..
There is a movie from the 1943 called "Cabin in the Sky" where a character (whose name escapes me at the moment) does something even more similar to what was later called the "moonwalk". So I don't think anyone can truly put a date on it; because I am sure that before cameras were every even thought of being invented, someone somewhere "moonwalked" or did something similar to it. The only thing that can truly be labeled new is technology and most of that is "old" by the time it reaches us.
Hey einstein that's not the moonwalk. In order for it to be the moonwalk/backslide u have to be moving backwards...he's moving in place so if this dude invented anything he invented the "airwalk".
Michael never told anyone he was the original moonwalker, that's something other people made up. He even told everyone that Jeffrey "Popalong Kid" Daniels, from the group Shalimar, taught him how to do it.
This is the most typical flaw in logical reasoning. Just because something preceded another thing, doesn't mean that the latter was aware/took the idea from the former.
Michael never ever claimed to have created the Moonwalk...there are vids on YT by the choreographer who taught it to him..I have seen Michael say he didn't create it too..so...???? He just coined it as his signature after everybody flipped over it when he did it at the Motown Anniv. TV special..next day every person of every color around the world wanted to do it cause it is such a cool step..he just popularized it along with the help of new ways to broadcast events..
michael aint never said he created the moon walk when he did it people love it better michael jackson made it look good so stop hating on the dead and find something better to argue about damn shame stealing how do you steal a dance what he took it come and hid it
Michael Jackson never claimed to create the moonwalk. His peers were doing it and it goes way back, but it became popular when I was a teenager in the 1970s. Michael just perfected it and he was damn good at it.
MJ never said he invented the moonwalk he said he learned it from break dancers the guy who taught him the moonwalk was one of the guys in his group in the video Bad
I think it's really silly how people at about MJ, if you really look back the dance in which the moonwalk came from was Tap, and everybody did a copy from it. MJ made it look like the best thing ever, but if you looked at black or white video he showed you that we copy all dances from all cultures and use them over and over again. One more example everyone talked about the KID n Play move but they got it from the Nicoles bros. who were Tap dancers.
@N1k1mon: But he did revolutionize dance? I understand where you're coming from, but keep in mind that most of the younger generation ISN'T going to be aware of other amazing artists that came before him, but does that mean that it's right to get defensive when people are giving Michael HIS credit where it's due? Obviously, MOST KIDS - keyword - will not know about people like Fred Astaire and such because they are, as you said, KIDS.
great footage!!!!...but (as stated before), michael never claimed to have invented the moonwalk...i'm sure this guy was one of the MANY inspirations though.
Michael never said he invented the moonwalk, he said he was inspired by some kids who were dancing on the street. He actually got a lot of his dancing moves by others like Jame Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Fred Astaire. He also was inspired by dancing from around the world.
Nope not the moonwalk. The basic moves are there but no backward motion. Michael Jackson didn't invent the moonwalk but then he made it popular. There are several videos that proclaim the original moonwalk but I doubt if they are. The moonwalk looks like the airwalk moves a mime would do. More than likely it was first performed by a mime.
First of all that's NOT the MoonWalk people. Michael Jackson did not create the moonwalk Billy Ocean was the first to attempt it in a Video (Caribbean Queen) in 1984 The Moonwalk was created by Break dancers in the early 80's about 81 or 82
Please people. Did Elvis steal from Jackie Wilson? Answer: Yes. Did Michael and James steal moves from Jackie? Answer: Yes! Jackie Wilson was the real inorvator, but does he get any credit? No. Elvis even admitted this much.
@DarkshootTheHedgehog aperfectuaded is not a word, and michael never said it. he said he enhanced the dance form street children, which as a jacksonologist of 20 years i can tell you was a mistruth, he learned it off jeffrey daniels, who stole it of bill baiely. come on get your facts right
How someone has told you, I have a video´s Michael saying " I created nothing... All I dance, I took from the others in the street or someone I admired". never CREATED... before charge, you must irform before.
Pt 1 U talk like this video is a smoking gun.Truth is, MJ had plenty of resources to draw from.The moon walk as we know it today was first seen on soul train, and was performed by Jeffrey Daniel(and 3 friends) They moon walked to a MJ song. Michael Jackson hung out with Marcel Marceau, and Fred Astaire. Fred was a great movie star also known for dancing skill. Marcel was one of the world's best mime teachers and moon walkers for that matter. So be serious, are you trying to tell me that
Are you guys nuts this guy didnt even move besides the moon walk was being done in the 30s so what the keck are you talking about charlie Chaplin was doing it and other dancers so what the heck are you guy tring to prove MICHEL JACKSON GOT FROM Charlie Chaplin he was a Chaplin fan.
To all the people saying "Michael never said..." Apparently this video is not directed at you is it? This is to the people that did not know MJ did not create or invent the moonwalk. He took a lot of basic moves from a lot of wonderful artists (watch the jacksons an american dream some time people) and made them his own. He perfected them and was glorious when he danced. He danced from the heart. He will always be missed.
Well in my opinion Michael does it better. I mean let's be real, if his was so epic then the moonwalk would be remembered as being created by him but how many people you know actually credits him for the dance?? I'm just saying.
look he never said he was the first. He simply stated that he came up with it by DOING THE TWO-STEP DANCE BACKWARDS. He never said he was the first. And those who came before him possibly came up with it by different means. He was the first to make it a trademark BY MEANS OF ALL THE FANS, in OUR lifetimes, and that's it. He didn't invent ANYTHING HE DID. There are no original ideas. He simply did things a CERTAIN WAY, and did those things in the right place at the right time.
Not only that the original name to this move is not even the "Moonwalk" it's really called the Backwalk....when MJ did it the general public just said moonwalk and it stuck but professional dancers know its called the "backwalk"
I think it's funny that some Michael Jackson fans are hypocrites. They call ELVIS a fake but when evidence proves that Jackson imitated other performers he's called a genius. It's a double standard.
