THE HIT HAMMER: The Jackson 5's "ABC"

(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please CLICK HERE)

The Jackson 5 - "ABC"

Hit Number 1: April 25, 1970

Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks

It's a pretty easy concept. Well, it's apparently easy if you ask the Jackson 5. Learning to love someone is like learning the alphabet; it's that easy. That's the message Michael Jackson sings to us. Of course, love is a lot more complicated than that, but no one was going to get in the way of the fun the Jackson 5 were having at this time. The five brothers were on a roll in 1970, and they already hit #1 once earlier in the year with "I Want You Back", a silly bubble gummy tune about breakups. They did a one-eighty with "ABC". Instead, this was a bubble gummy song about love. And they're both masterpieces.

"ABC" is, musically, no different from "I Want You Back". It's still a big bubble gummy whirlwind of excitement. That's except for one part, when everything dies down for a few seconds. In that time, Michael takes real command. He shouts at some girl to "show him what she can do." In my opinion, that's the moment where Michael established himself as his own character. A pop star with an attitude, and one with a great stage presence. If people didn't know before with "I Want You Back", they now knew that they were seeing someone special. This Michael Jackson kid could go on to some big things in the music industry.

People were exposed to "ABC" before it was even released as its own single. The Jackson 5 performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, (which is the video above), and The Flip Wilson Show. Michael wasn't a great dancer yet, but he had that voice. He had the smile. It had to have been impossible to not fall in love with this kid in 1970, and with the help of his persona, "ABC" became the next #1 hit for the Jackson 5. Today, it's possibly they're most celebrated song, and some might say it's their signature song.

I have to admit, I probably like "I Want You Back" just a smidge more than "ABC". That's because I find "ABC" to be a little naïve in its nature, and it can be too innocent for me at times. It's impossible to ignore though, and it's impossible to not let it put you in a better mood. Jackson again shows off his powerful voice, and I still can't get over the fact that that voice is coming from an 11-year-old. The song's cheerful nature, coupled with the simple message, creates something that's pretty appealing to most people. Some have apparently called the song one of the earliest disco hits, which I disagree with. It's another cheerful bubble gummy tune from the kings of that kind of genre.

Anyway, they weren't done yet with capitalizing on their insane run, and we'll hear from them again in this blog.

GRADE: 9/10