I am so happy it is Disco Week at Song.Lyric Sunday, hosted by Jim Adams! I think I was born for Disco and I could never get enough of it. Music and lyrics you could dance to, so I was in my element. For my pick today I have chosen “Off The Wall” by Michael Jackson from the album of the same name. I played this album so much I think I wore the grooves out of the vinyl. To me this was Michael Jackson at his best.
Have a great Disco Sunday.
The Song
This was written by Rod Temperton, a British musician who was the primary songwriter and keyboard player in the band Heatwave. Quincy Jones was impressed with the Heatwave song “Boogie Nights,” so he had Temperton write some songs for Jackson. Temperton came through with “Rock With You” and “Off The Wall” for the future King of Pop. On Jackson’s next album, Temperton contributed “Thriller,” once again providing the title track.
The Off The Wall album sold over 10 million copies and make Michael Jackson the first solo artist with four US Top 10 hits from the same album. In addition to the title track, “Rock With You” (#1), “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (#1), and “She’s Out Of My Life” (#10) also made the Top 10.
Jackson’s appearance started to change shortly after the album was released, as he started his run of plastic surgery. By the time Off The Wall was reissued in 2001, Jackson looked nothing like his former self, and the cover used just the image of his feet.
Can you even count the honors this album received? Rolling Stone‘s “500 greatest albums of all time,” #68. NARM’s “definitive 200 albums of all time,” #80. Inducted into the Grammy hall of fame, 2008. Won three American Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and as mentioned, one Grammy. Rave reviews sang its praises, then and now. Multi-platinum seller in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, and the US.
In the lyrics, “9 to 5” represents the canonical office work hours. Already a popular expression in the ’70s and ’80s, it was often used in songs to delineate the workday slog from the fun and excitement the evening offered (see: “Lady Marmalade“). The working-class comedy film 9 to 5, released in 1980, made it even more popular. These days, flexible schedules and overtime have made the hours far less typical.
MJ trivia time: Can you name all of Michael Jackson’s siblings? They are (in birth order) Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Randy, and Janet – Janet being the only one junior to Michael. Here’s a mnemonic for those names: “Red jam tastes just like my raspberry jelly jam.” OK, that’s silly, but you’d remember it now, right?
The Lyrics
When the world is on your shoulder Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down If you can't hang with the feelin' Then there ain't no room for you this part of town 'Cause we're the party people night and day Livin' crazy that's the only way So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf And just enjoy yourself, c'mon Groove, let the madness in the music get to you Life ain't so bad at all If you live it off the wall Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall) Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall) You can shout out all you want to 'Cause there ain't no sin in folks all getting loud If you take the chance and do it There there ain't no one who's gonna put you down 'Cause we're the party people night and day Livin' crazy that's the only way So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf And just enjoy yourself, c'mon Groove, let the madness in the music get to you Life ain't so bad at all If you live it off the wall Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall) Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall) Do what you want to do There ain't no rules it's up to you (ain't no rules it's all up to you) It's time to come alive And party on right through the night (all right) Gotta hide your inhibitions Gotta let that fool loose deep inside your soul Want to see an exhibition Better do it now before you get too old 'Cause we're the party people night and day Livin' crazy that's the only way So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf And just enjoy yourself, c'mon Groove, let the madness in the music get to you Life ain't so bad at all If you live it off the wall Life ain't so bad at all (live life off the wall) Live your life off the wall (live it off the wall) So tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf And just enjoy yourself C'mon and groove (yeah) and let the madness in the music get to you Life ain't so bad at all If you live it off the wall Tonight gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf (living off the wall) And just enjoy yourself (Living off the wall) C'mon and groove (yeah) and let the madness in the music get to you (Living off the wall) Life ain't so bad at all Writer/s: Rodney Lynn Temperton Publisher: Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind