New podcast looks deep into Michael Jackson’s life

It’s bound to create a lot of interest among the Indians and the Indian-American community

Long before, King of Pop, Michael Jackson visited India for the first time for a concert in 1996, there were millions of Indians dancing to the beats of ‘Thriller’ and crooning, ‘We are the World.’

Such was the enigma of the American singer that for many Indians he opened the first floodgates into the world of western pop music. For many MJ remained the first and last artist that taught them everything about western music.

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Not just the public, but even music legends from India have confessed how the icon influenced them. Oscar nominee, Indian music composer AR Rahman has said he was influenced by MJ and Bollywood even made a film titled, ‘Any Body Can Dance’ that took heavy inspiration from Michael Jackson and his dance moves.

So, now as a new podcast promises to dive deep into the extraordinary life of the century’s biggest culture icon, it is bound to create a lot of interest among the Indians as well as the Indian-American community in the US.

A new original podcast, entitled ‘Think Twice: Michael Jackson,’ created by journalist Leon Neyfakh and cultural commentator Jay Smooth is all set to release on April 27 and will dive deep into the King of Pop’s legacy.

Released by audio storytelling provider, Audible, Inc, podcast studio Wondery, the 10-episode audio series is a 360-degree look at Jackson’s complicated legacy.

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Talking about the podcast, Leon Neyfakh said, “To me, Michael Jackson is the most interesting person who has ever lived. But what Jay and I realized as we dove into this project was that his story is not just about him, but everyone he influenced with his art, and everyone connected to his tortured personal life.

“It’s also about the moral calculations we make as consumers of culture, as we decide for ourselves what to believe and what to look away from,” he said. “Exploration of Michael’s life and legacy has given me a better, deeper understanding of why this singular artist still matters, and more broadly, how American pop culture works.”

Episode one begins in 1993, when the pop icon was at his zenith, receiving lifetime achievement awards, appearing at Bill Clinton’s inaugural gala, performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.

More popular and powerful than he’s ever been, he uses that cachet to create a music video that stands among his most personal and prescient works. Then everything falls apart.

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The final episodes cover how ten years after first being accused of child sexual abuse, Michael Jackson finds himself in court facing criminal charges related to a new alleged victim, for which he is later acquitted.

The finale talks about Michael Jackson spending his final days preparing for a series of comeback concerts, but tragedy strikes before rehearsals are even completed. In the aftermath of Michael’s death, a reckoning begins over everything he left behind.

All episodes of ‘Think Twice’ release on April 27 exclusively on Audible and ad-free for Prime members on the Amazon Music app.