Shoe History Corner: Michael Jackson’s Shoes
posted by: Shomore in Shoe History Corner on June 26th, 2009
In tribute to the late Michael Jackson, I figured a shoe history corner post would be appropriate because Jackson’s work was so legendary and really defined my generation’s music.
I remember growing up to Michael Jackson’s songs in the 80s. In fact, he was so popular that my grandmother, who lived with us at the time and didn’t speak much english, could even say “Billy Jean” and “Beat It”. One of my favorite MTV videos came from the hit “Smooth Criminal”. I remember thinking how cool Michael Jackson was when he defied gravity with his dancers in the 45 degree lean. Here’s a snapshot of this move and the music video.
How did Jackson achieve the lean? He patented special shoes which gave him the appearance of defying the normal laws of physics:
A system for allowing a shoe wearer to lean forwardly beyond his center of gravity by virtue of wearing a specially designed pair of shoes which will engage with a hitch member movably projectable through a stage surface. The shoes have a specially designed heel slot which can be detachably engaged with the hitch member by simply sliding the shoe wearer’s foot forward, thereby engaging with the hitch member.
Michael Jackson was an artist, singer, writer, dancer, and a few other things. But I never realized he was also a shoe inventor!
R.I.P. Michael!
Source: Google Patents
Update: Here’s a live video of “Smooth Criminal”. You can see that the dancer on the right had a little trouble detaching the shoe from the hitch at the 3:53 mark.
34 Comments
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March 24, 2011 at 11:10 pm, tathagata said:
very very interesting
February 22, 2011 at 6:41 pm, Elise said:
I was looking for some Michael Jackson shoes but i cant find any. I have everything but the Michael Jackson shoes I mine like i have saw pictures of some really nice shoes but I dont know where to buy.
October 24, 2010 at 10:17 am, kymaro body shaper review said:
choice definition of image, distinguishing it from the term sign. In Jung’s view, a sign means one thing identified, as a term stands for its referent. He contrasted this with image, which he used to stand for some thing that is unknown and that cannot be created clear or precise. An instance of a symbol in this sense is
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May 04, 2010 at 9:18 pm, Kids Boots said:
This is amazing. I definitely agree that Michael Jackson was known to be a great artist, singer, writer, dancer, and a few other things. But I never realized he was also a shoe inventor! .. This is a very interesting post.
March 04, 2010 at 11:50 am, joe said:
hey man we all miss michael jackson but the thing is every body wants 2 be him so dont be sad. one thing is i have a pair of gravity shoes and its really awsome so i can do every thing he can do i used to go too his house go inside and he would teach me how to do his tricks
January 01, 2010 at 8:24 am, Zapatos antigravedad de Michael Jackson « PoderesUnidos:ARCHIVO said:
[...] http://www.shoeblog.com/blog/shoe-history-corner-michael-jacksons-shoes/ [...]
December 28, 2009 at 1:24 am, baagii said:
my idol micheal jackson
December 18, 2009 at 12:11 am, JessieLane said:
I,m gonna miss michael jackson. he tault me everything i know. now because of him i know how to dance do the moonwalk his spin his kick his ticking his robot all his dance i practice everynight. I remember when i was little i use to be in my room my mom use to scream michael jackson on i use to run in the liverroom and do everything he do.i tell everybody that i wanna be just like michael jackson.everynight i go outside and look up at the sky hoping michael jackson show me the way.
November 17, 2009 at 6:12 am, Michael Jackson Obse said:
my room is pact with mj stuff i have everyting except his shoes were can i buy them ?? Loveyou michael x x
October 30, 2009 at 5:32 pm, julio said:
michael jackson fue el mejor
October 27, 2009 at 9:39 am, MJ FAAN 4 EVER said:
Michael Jackson was 1 of a kind, no one is ever gonna be or was as good as him…. its just a fact….. u may think u can be better but U CANT. Best dancer ever…………. those kids are wanna beessss
October 17, 2009 at 6:15 am, mz.boo said:
we all know that michale was a legend but he was a hole more to my children so thers a hole loy of croch grabbing and moon walking in my house hold so R.I.P we love you.
September 03, 2009 at 2:57 am, mj4lyfe said:
wow!
i love micael jackson!
he is my life!
when i was little i met him.
SERIOUSLY!
i was in caliiforna and we at a mall or something.
and we saw him..
and we left the camera at the hotel.
and ever since then i started to learn how to dance like him!
i can do the moonwalk.
i can do the sideglide thing.
i can do most of it
i can do the kick
the grab your nuts thing lol.
he was my idol.
whenever i was sad i would listen to him..
wheneer my dad was mean to me
i always thought of micheal as a second father.
i just wish i could have seen him one last time..
R.I.P.
August 12, 2009 at 9:09 pm, Lisa said:
michael jackson was one of the greatest entainers in the whole world
August 08, 2009 at 9:41 am, matsury said:
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 21, 2009 at 8:22 am, galligator said:
This is the closest I have found so far…& not cheap:
http://www.malloymodernmagic.com/the_lean.htm
July 21, 2009 at 8:16 am, galligator said:
Please, let's keep it polite. If anyone finds out the answer, I am sure they can post it here.
Have you checked out dance supply companies? If not, these were designed for Michael Jackson on his patent – they may never have been made into common production…leaving originals likely available only through his estate.
July 21, 2009 at 8:03 am, Saul barrera said:
Hey can we buy those shoes and please reply to my question people!!!
July 17, 2009 at 5:04 pm, Tanya said:
how do u get these michael jackson shoes.can u send me piyure of the shoe.
July 14, 2009 at 5:46 am, Cristin said:
Michael was an angel, not a hero. I love and I will always love his sould.
July 10, 2009 at 3:47 am, brittany said:
hey i will miss michael jackson alot because michael jackson was a hero in he love to do alot of creative things. But i was watching his memorial funeral it was wonderful but i know that he going to be in a better place now in just to let you know that i love all of his family members in always will keep him in his family in my heart i listen to his music every single day but paris i love you in i know that it is hard to not live without a father but your daddy family with take good care of you in your brothers in that usher i know that michael jackson had brought you out of being famous in i know it is hard to let someone go like that but his music will always be palying in still be our hero but michael jackson is not gone he is still alive in will always be in our heart but i hope to get michael jackson jacket in glove but i know that i will get it one day but i love you so much michael in his family members in children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:( i am sad alot because i was crying everyday that i heard his music but guess what i love you michael jackson in family yall will always be in my heart in my hero!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:(
July 09, 2009 at 9:53 am, kat said:
wair can i buy them
July 09, 2009 at 3:25 am, eduardo said:
i wanna get me those shoes taht micheal hacksons has wear can i can them
July 08, 2009 at 10:05 pm, doooytotheamax said:
i think at man was the best dancer in the 80's and he still is and i think no one will be like him he had a gift and he made new stuff everywhere he went he is the king of pop.
July 07, 2009 at 7:21 pm, axxo said:
bu all that I can say i that legend is like some human mans…….
July 07, 2009 at 3:07 pm, bianca said:
all i can say is that man is a legand.
June 28, 2009 at 12:33 pm, Sunday Reading, Special Edition: Sex, Rebellion and Global Warming « MiddBlog said:
[...] online now, you can find the latest updates on the investigation, tributes and secrets about how he defied gravity. RIP, [...]
June 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm, Collins said:
talk more about shoes at http://flashyourkicks.blogspot.com/
June 26, 2009 at 11:47 pm, Meream said:
Wow, shoe inventor! What a great guy he was.
June 26, 2009 at 11:41 am, r5bales said:
Laughing> you didn't realize he had special dancers shoes and your Vans just didn't hack it. BTW I just found a Smores cheescake recipe that will make you gain 10 lbs by just reading it. I thought of you when I found it.
June 26, 2009 at 10:42 am, shomore said:
R5, I was one of those kids *trying* to do the moonwalk (though probably not from the same school)! I even tried to spin myself around but only succeeded in making myself look quite foolish.
June 26, 2009 at 10:30 am, r5bales said:
Interesting. One memory lane comment. I was teaching jr. high when Thriller was released. Every kid on that campus was trying to moon walk. They all wore Members Only jackets and the African American kids all had curls. Michael Jackson started it all.