When I was growing up in India in the 80’s and 90’s, no one could deny the entertainment juggernaut that Michael Jackson had become in those days, the remnants of which are embodied in the hoards of fans that he attracts to this day at his concerts and shows all over the world!

The power of the star may have faded in the wake of recent black coats and lawsuits that surrounded him, but he remains an inspiration to tonnes of new generation talent and is still the crowned ‘King of Pop’.

That apart, was is true that Jackson was an inventor of the 45 degree frontal lean and had a patent on his name to this effect? Apparently yes, according to this link here!

http://www.smooth-criminal.com/the-professor-45.htm

The web page claims that the video was shot using ropes tied to a harness wrapped around the dancers’ waists. However, it goes to say, the effect was also acheived a number of times in live performances on stage using the ‘magic shoe’ !!

That’s right, a shoe with a moveable hitch ,to which, it can be engaged or detached at the footwearer’s beck and call ! The hitch protrudes from the stage floor at a pre-determined place and time and hence the dancers would have to ultra precise about where they stand at that exact moment in the performance ! Considering one wrong move could have given it all away, it was a very sleek thing for them to use a distraction (man in the black coat) and pull off the stunt and wow the audience ! It was perfect…or was it?

This video circles the foot of one of the dancers and shows how he almost stumbled in the MJ show when they were supposed to restore themselves from the lean.
But those pecadilloes can certainly do little to take away from the entertainment wizardry that Michael performed for close to two decades..what say you?