Shake Your Body - The Jacksons | The Midnight Special

The Jacksons performed on The Midnight Special February 2, 1979
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[@Wishful-Thinking]

I’m nearly 63 now and nowhere near as mobile as I was in the 70s & 80s when I could really dance quite well. Today every time I hear and watch MJ or the Jackson’s ( Jackson 5 ) I just wanna get up and dance even now and THAT! is the what made them so special. Truly gifted performers which is why I’m truly blessed to have been able to enjoy them to the full during my lifetime.

[@bradgarnerjackson5channel897]

I have a one of gold album award of the Destiny album

[@leokimvideo]

Michael Jackson was set for super stardom very early in his life. What an incredible performer

[@Vero-nica12Andrea]

Su voz sonaba tan dulce aún aquí

[@christhompson6010]

remember when this aired. the video was replayed at nightclubs everyone was mesmerized at how tight the brothers choreography was jackie and marlon were on point with michael. when the 3 brothers move together as one unit it's like magic. back in the day nobody could touch them on the dance floor. There was talent like the Silvers who had smooth steps but the jackson brothers where just tight

[@Vero-nica12Andrea]

Este tema es genial en el Bad Tour

[@GeraldineWalkerWalker]

The Great Tito Jackson playing that walking base guitar 🎸 ❤ what a Brilliant Musician he has always been the most powerful musician ever with his brothers the Jacksons ❤ Rest easy ❤️ Tito Jackson we love you ❤ Much love ❤ to The Jackson family we love all of you 😮

[@tony4534]

He wasn’t a brilliant musician. He didn’t even play on the records.

[@AmanuelPiano]

Jermaine played bass, not tito

[@AmanuelPiano]

@@tony4534 pretty sure he did after they switched labels. I could be wrong though because Motown didn’t allow Jermaine and Tito to play on the records

[@tony4534]

@@AmanuelPiano He wasn’t a brilliant musician. He didn’t even play on the records.

[@iknowimright4037]

The brothers together were the real deal!!!!

[@pmccachren]

Midnight Special never disappointed.

[@that70sgirl90]

This is when they were at their finest! The whole family was super talented. I love this song! 🕺 I just saw Janet Jackson in concert. She has a beautiful voice, and she is a phenomenal dancer. 💃 Happy Monday... thank you for sharing! 💖

[@monilaninetynine3811]

Gifted family

[@CJHarrison87]

Classic from 1979! ❤️

[@Goodboy0953]

It took the studio drummer 3 overdubs to play this beat ( meaning he played three different parts and they spliced together)! Enter Johnathon Sugarfoot Moffatt audition for the Jackson’s Reunion tour and when the brothers played this song they could not believe that he could play all parts at the same time in rehearsals! Sugar went on to tour with Michael for many years along with Madonna, Janet and many others!!!!

[@StephanieJeanne]

Even though it's not a live performance, I love this song and time! Probably one of the last times they performed together.🔥

[@anthonydixon452]

Milli Vanilli could lip sync better than this.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

No, they performed together until the 1984 Victory tour. After that, Michael ditched them once and for all.

[@StephanieJeanne]

@@gregoryduncan3067 Thanks. I forgot about the Victory tour.

[@waynedexter]

@@anthonydixon452hy you bringing up Milli Vanilli? MV were lip syncing to and taking credit for music they didn’t even record

[@anthonydixon452]

@@waynedexter I guess you missed the irony/humor of my statement.

[@starsourcer]

Grew up to The Jacksons music and so grateful! This is such a great memory! Thank you! XO

[@massapower]

Well It's not Live, but they are still the BEST !!😁👍

[@mecaringal]

King of Music Michael Jackson ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jayfriday9485]

I’m loving these official Jacksons uploads lately 💜

[@zoomosis]

From what I can tell one of the Jacksons is playing an ARP 3604P keyboard controller, companion to the ARP 2600 synth. Obviously only used as a prop here, since this performance is miming to the recording, but it still looks very heavy and awkward compared to later keytars!

[@CoEviSessions]

This is for those who think that Quincy Jones was the reason.....NEVER!!!!! Michael Jackson was Michael Jackson long before a Quincy Jones and was much stronger musically with his brothers!!!! Papa Joe's Boys!!!!

[@monilaninetynine3811]

💯

[@msoileau83]

Quincy brought Michael some musical connections but Mike always had a vision and talent.

[@hollygolightly7475]

This was a great song funky danceable ! Played it while i cleaned the house❤

[@softyme63]

That’s Randy who was the most versatile musical member and also co-wrote this song

[@MSMLAWS]

Yeah Randy knew how to play many instruments

[@AmyLSchulte]

I had the 8-track with that song and was obsessed with it for a few years. Had to be my first stereo in about 77 or 78 in elementary school!

[@sherrisolomon8673]

asa3409😅😅😅😅 I forgot all about 8 Trac tapes.

[@AmyLSchulte]

@@sherrisolomon8673 They were everything at the time. Look how far we’ve come.

[@Vero-nica12Andrea]

Y eso que era? disculpa pero nací en el 79,conozco los LP o discos,pero que era Trac?

[@BIZARBIES]

I know its lip synced, but they are still great entertainment! I bet Michael at this time could run laps and sound amazing!

[@treetopvideo]

i was surprised to see them lip syncing. i thought midnight special was one of the few shows where it was always live. still great to see MJ doin his thing.

[@Solomongrundy68]

Yes, unfortunately in 1979 lipsyncing started in Midnight Special as something very common and normal (they became more tolerant I guess)

[@jnadle1]

@@Solomongrundy68 Poor sound equipment? Poor acoustics?

[@monilaninetynine3811]

I'm going to need y'all to get over the fact that this is lip synced. Miming is necessary sometimes for any number of reasons. It doesn't take anything away from performers like Michael and his brothers who are proven talents. This is not Milli Vanilli.

[@BIZARBIES]

@monilaninetynine3811 mime is money. Also mimed is mimed no matter how you try and rationalize it.

[@riverraisin1]

That's one amazing microphone. It pics up Michaels voice whether his lips are moving, or not. Even when it's nowhere near his mouth!

[@riverraisin1]

@@kool-808 I get your backhanded condescending comment but I'm just wondering if it was really necessary?

[@monilaninetynine3811]

This shows that he's a real singer and a poor lip syncer

[@JohnUrry-gq5nh]

retro man the master at work longer version

[@brendamelvoin2043]

You made my day! Please post Prince & it will B perfect!

[@stevensheegog3942]

The one where Prince were the panties and stockings😅

[@ElijahKellum]

0:12 Michael is like Marlon that’s my spin technician

[@alez099]

a festejar, porque encontré un nuevo hogar 🕺✨

[@larrybethune3909]

Now you're talking! Even thought it's 100% lip sync, it's still good to see the brothers get down!

[@PatchworkAndNuance]

Classic ✌🏼

[@vegasbaby3669]

yesssssssssss

[@Pearl-k2q]

Wow that’s crazy felt like I was at the show

[@JClaus1221]

Just a few months before Michael became a Superstar on his own. Four years later he reached a level of stardom only matched by Elvis and The Beatles in the history of pop music.

[@estephanielevano5348]

18 April 2025 ✔THE BEST BIOPIC EVER , KING OF POP 👑

[@ericar.hutcherson874]

Great. Now can you upload the whole show!!!

[@Pearl-k2q]

I feel bad for who ever performed after that

[@Washington-Dreaming]

I can’t remember if this was on “Off the Wall” but that’s actually my favorite Michael Jackson album.

[@josearone1136]

Michael Jackson England artists de todos los tiempos

[@supachaloopa3611]

Remember when Janet Jackson, who played "Penny" on GODD TIMES, played this on the episode where they had a house party? Very clever advertising.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Dick Clark almost had a heart attack when the cop came out on the Bandstand performance.

[@TuckerSP2011]

I know it wasn't sung live but that dancing was phenomenal. Michael was a very handsome guy, don't know why he went down the plastic surgery route..I think it became addicting.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

I think he should have stopped after the first nose job. He wanted to stay young forever like Peter Pan but I think he would have been better off just going with it.

[@finderkeeperrrs]

He didn't even have that much plastic surgery. I didn't help that he had vitiligo, lupus, Pepsi commercial burn, aging, and etc. C'mon think and do some research

[@kool-808]

@@gregoryduncan3067 Right, plus most of his brothers still look handsome and youthful nowadays at an old age, specifically Jackie and Marlon. Michael never smoked or did drugs just like Jackie and Marlon, plus he ate a lot of fruits and vegetables everyday from what I've heard from their family, so Michael wouldn't even look extremely wrinkly if he never did plastic surgery and was still alive today.

[@donovansdenofgames4573]

Never thought Michael Jackson was on the midnight special. Were they hosts this episode?

[@iknowimright4037]

Yes! Jermaine was on there as a solo act tge whole show.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Yes, Jermaine performed with them on it. They were the Jackson 6 at one point in this episode.

[@FionaAppleRocks]

WHAT does that big sign in the background say?? Oh the JACKSONS, ah right, yeah I knew that, I must be my eyesight I thought it was something else for a moment

[@パズさん-c6q]

🥰🕺

[@gregoryduncan3067]

This was before Michael got sick. Before his skin pigmentation issues period. I like this Michael.

[@onefatstratcat]

You mean when he was still black and not alien gray :)

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Right, when he didn't look like a lizard.

[@finderkeeperrrs]

​@@onefatstratcatyou mean when he had vitiligo and lupus. Yea shut the hell up

[@finderkeeperrrs]

​@@gregoryduncan3067be quiet

[@gregoryduncan3067]

@@finderkeeperrrs He was always a good entertainer though.

[@tonewill9407]

thought the show was live?

[@ElijahKellum]

0:13 not too Jackie

[@mobanewman7139]

I thought all of The Midnight Special had to be live? The dancing is live, but the music is not. The dancing is great, but I thought singing live was a requirement.

[@larrybethune3909]

Blondie and The Jacksons have been the only lip sync performances so far in the current set of releases.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Maybe they lip synced because when Michael spun around, he couldn't lip sync in that moment. Maybe they wanted to do certain choreography to it.

[@ardiris2715]

I didn't know this was the Jacksons. Where is the drummer? (:

[@akaski777]

Shame its not live

[@ghanasoul]

Don’t get why they lip synced. Its the Midnight Special. They should’ve at least did a live vocal over the original track.

[@Sheisneika0976]

It was still a great performance

[@riverbluevert7814]

It's good to see Michael Jackson before he cut up his face and all the other terrible things. I want to remember him like this.

[@shatnershairpiece]

Lip sync ruined so many performances that could have been worth watching. What a waste. Remember the thing about Hitler? If you could go back in time and kill him would you do it? I give higher priority to the guy who thought lip-syncing was a good idea.

[@MusicLoverPearson]

They should've performed this live with a band and not lip-syncing to a track

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Tito, get me some tissue. Jermaine, stop teasing.

[@edy_lobo]

PLAY BACK😔

[@curlyfries5095]

I loved Midnight Special when the acts performed live. Should have left the lip syncing to American Bandstand.

[@zzbacardizz]

Best singer worst lipsyncer

[@waynedexter]

Even the audience is prerecorded 😏

[@vancegilmore5821]

Ah, yes. Black Michael.

[@finderkeeperrrs]

He was always a black man, but happened to have vitiligo. Don't be ignorant

[@einerreklov4304]

I still don't understand why MJ had to disfigure himself to such a degree. Depression due to an oppressive and demanding father, I guess. BTW: 1970s twerking at its finest.

[@finderkeeperrrs]

Shut up. It didn't help that he had vitiligo, lupus, Pepsi commercial burn, aging, and etc. Do some damn research

[@fabio730]

This is not live music

[@bethesdaadk]

Lipsynced 😢

[@vallaindigital]

Lip-sync bleh... Oh well

[@steveelling9604]

I thought Rule 1 of the Midnight Special was that the acts HAD to play live? This is lipsynched to the hilt. Cheesy as hell, too.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

Well, the Spinners sang live on it to a music track so that's a half/half.

[@garthok6224]

Playback...

[@planomathandscience]

Hide your kids

[@finderkeeperrrs]

Michael Jackson is innocent and not guilty. Not my damn fault you don't do proper research

[@gbdawg422]

This is a poorly done lip synch. It’s disappointing, as the main attraction of Midnight Special was the live performances by top acts.

[@shawnm128]

meh, the fact that theyre lip-synching makes it even cheesier

[@rocket.blaster]

👎👎👎👎 NO THANKS !

[@finderkeeperrrs]

Who asked?