Майкл Джексон (несколько фактов из его жизни и творчества)
методическая разработка по английскому языку (9 класс) по теме

M I C H A E L    J A C K S O NBirth name        Michael Joseph Jackson

Born        August 29, 1958   Gary, Indiana, United States

Died        June 25, 2009 (aged 50) Los Angeles, California, United States

Genres        R&B, pop, rock, dance

Occupations        Singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, choreographer, actor, businessman

Instruments        Vocals, piano, drums, guitar, beat-box

 Years active        1964–2009

I . Read the text and answer the questions

Michael Joseph Jackson was born on August 29, 1958 in Indiana. There were ten in Michael’s family. They lived in a small four-room house. Michael sang in public for the first time when he was five. Michael’s father wanted all his five sons to be professional musicians. As the Jackson 5 they became professional when Michael was 8. They moved to Detroit and became the best-selling group.

When Michael started to sing in the Jackson 5 he was only 5 and he couldn’t understand a great deal of what was going on around him. People made a lot of decisions concerning his life and he didn’t take part in it. Michael began a successful solo career in 1971.

     = 1= when and where was he born?

     = 2 = when did he begin to sing on the stage?

     = 3 = what was the name of the group?

     = 4 = who made brothers Jackson sing?

     = 5 = how old was Michael when he began his solo career?

II. Open the brackets and use the verbs in proper forms

There (be) times when he (come) home from school and he only (have) time to put his books and get ready for the studio. He often (sing) until late at night. There (be) a park across the street from the studio, and Michael (look) at the kids playing games. And he just (stare) at them in wonder – he (can) not imagine such freedom, such a carefree life.  

III.  Michael Jackson recorded many albums which became very popular.

       His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with Off the Wall (1979), Bad    

      (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995) among the best selling.

The videos for his songs "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" made him the first African American artist to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound, vocal style and choreography inspired numerous pop, rock; R&B and hip hop artists, while also breaking down cultural, racial and generational barriers.

IV. Jackson was full on contradictions. He was very shy, and as he said himself, in the crowd he was afraid; on the stage he was safe. He would sleep on stage if he could. He was well-known for his childish tastes. It’s not a secret that his favourite hero was Peter Pan. Michael had been called “the child who never grew up”, but he was a grown-up who was never allowed to be a child.

= why was he a child in his soul?

V. He is known as the "King of Pop", was an American musician and one of the most commercially successful and influential entertainers of all time. His unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure in popular culture for four decades.

= 1 = what style of music did he sing?

= 2 = what musical instruments could he play?

= 3 = what were his music professions?

= 4 = what are his contributions to the world of pop music?

= 5 = what else can you tell about the singer?

Alongside his brothers, he made his debut in 1964 as lead singer and youngest member of The Jackson 5, and began a successful solo career in 1971. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and History (1995) among the best selling. He is widely credited with having transformed the music video from a promotional tool into an art form, with videos for his songs "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" making him the first African American artist to amass a strong crossover following on MTV. With stage performances and music videos, Jackson popularized a number of physically complicated dance techniques, such as the robot and the moonwalk. His distinctive musical sound, vocal style and choreography inspired numerous pop, rock; R&B and hip hop artists, while also breaking down cultural, racial and generational barriers.

His songs are full of energy and very melodic. Many people like the way he danced