It was in 1977, when Jackson performed with Diana Ross in the musical The Wiz, that Jackson met star producer, musician, and civil rights activist Quincy Jones. Despite unheard-of success as a solo artist, Michael remained with his brothers as the Jacksons until 1984. The Jackson 5, signed to the famed Motown Records, left Motown for Epic Records in 1975. Since the 1969 explosion of the Jackson 5's debut single "I Want You Back," the young singer and dancer had remained in the limelight almost without cease, releasing hits such as "ABC" and "I'll Be There" in 1970, and coming out with his first solo album in 1972.
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"Man in the Mirror," circa 1988: Beloved superstar Jackson was still under 30 when Bad was released. The second, the "Man in the Mirror" that played at the end of Jackson's 2009 public memorial, is a song about a man whose struggles with self-image, personal identity, and media attention spiraled out of control and arguably led to his early death. The first, the 1988 version of the song, is about a beloved child star grown up into a strong sense of social involvement and worldly compassion.
![michael jackson man in the mirror grammy awards 1988 michael jackson man in the mirror grammy awards 1988](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Etl1gC0VkAAzKDh.jpg)
Instead of a single, simple song about a self-reflective man, it seems like "Man in the Mirror" is two songs-or at least a song that tells two stories. What happened between the days of Thriller and Bad, and the day when what was determined to be a drug-induced homicide ended MJ's life at only 51? Who was Michael Jackson when "Man in the Mirror" first came out-and who did the man in the mirror become? But it's hard to look at the life of Michael Jackson without wondering, at least for a moment, "what happened?"
![michael jackson man in the mirror grammy awards 1988 michael jackson man in the mirror grammy awards 1988](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/plu2Z3q71zI/hqdefault.jpg)
"Man in the Mirror" is one of the most widely played tributes to the late King of Pop, not least because of the positive, benevolent light it puts him in.