He sang 'Steppin' Out' - The all-rounder, the musical genius Joe Jackson, in his 70th year.
Joe Jackson is not exactly a nostalgic person. He's not particularly interested in dwelling on his past. "I mainly think about what I'm doing now and what I'm going to do next - always," Jackson told "Classic Pop" magazine.
His 70th birthday today is unlikely to be an occasion for a lengthy retrospective. It's more likely that Joe Jackson is already working on his next musical project.
Confidently against the "nostalgia factor"
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his debut album "Look Sharp!" in 2019, he treated himself and his fans to a tour of songs from five decades to "celebrate that I'm still here." In a "Classic Pop" interview at the time, he reflected, "I think I've just gotten better. I'm a much better singer and a much better pianist than I was at the start of my career."
He also felt he had grown as a songwriter, acknowledging that this is a subjective assessment, especially when considering his early album classics. "And then there's always the nostalgia factor: whatever you do, people say, 'Oh, it's not as good as the first album.' That doesn't keep me awake at night."
Early talent and a music scholarship
Born on 11 August 1954 in the English town of Burton-upon-Trent as David Ian Jackson, he gave himself the name Joe as a child and officially changed it at the age of 20. He started playing the piano at an early age and learned other instruments. As a teenager, he was, by his own admission, a "Beethoven fanatic." With his parents' blessing, he performed in rough bars and discovered jazz.
The young man's musical talent was evident early on. He received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he studied composition, piano, and drums. There, he also developed a deep understanding of classical music, which significantly influenced his later work.
His breakthrough came in 1979 with "Look Sharp!". The debut included his iconic song "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", which instantly established Jackson as a distinctive new artist of the New Wave and Post-Punk era. However, he was not a typical representative of the genre and did not fit into any musical category.
Unforgettable earworm "Steppin' Out"
He released several studio albums in quick succession. His fifth, "Night and Day" from 1982, was a homage to American composer legend Cole Porter and his adopted home of New York City. It was a massive commercial success. The earworm single "Steppin' Out" was nominated for two Grammys but did not win.
Today, when you hear Joe Jackson on the radio, it's almost always with "Steppin' Out". He also played the song at his retrospective concerts in 2019 and revealed that he played all the instruments on the recording except for the drums.
Not interested in trends
Joe Jackson isn't interested in trends. He tries something new with almost every album. On "Body And Soul" (1984), he mixed pop with Latin American music and jazz. On "Will Power" (1987), he experimented with classical music for the first time. And on "Blaze Of Glory" (1989), he became a rock musician effortlessly. The album he is particularly proud of, however, did not sell as well as expected.
Jackson must acknowledge that artistic success does not always equate to commercial success. Nevertheless, he remains true to himself as an artist. Creativity is more important to him than popularity and potential chart successes. The only constant in his music is his intelligent lyrics and lyrical depth. Moreover, he also composes film music, including for Francis Ford Coppola's "Tucker".
After initial writer's block, he then wins a Grammy
In the new decade, Jackson suddenly finds himself facing a challenge. "There was a point in the 90s where I felt like I didn't fit into the pop world at all," he said. "I didn't want to make pop music anymore. I had a serious writer's block in the early 90s." But that soon passes.
While many of his contemporaries cling more or less successfully to proven formulas, Jackson breaks free from them entirely. After pop and rock, he fully dedicates himself to classical music. In 1994, he releases "Night Music", followed by "Heaven & Hell", a modern interpretation of the seven deadly sins, in 1997.
For "Symphony Vol. 1" (1999), he is finally awarded a Grammy, in the category "Best Pop Instrumental Album". On the album, on which hard rock guitarist Steve Vai collaborates, he combines jazz, classical, pop, and rock. A year later, in 2000, the tireless artist releases a musically diverse successor to his 1982 hit album, "Night And Day II".
Retired privately, restless professionally
Jackson keeps his private life largely out of the public eye, so little is known about it. In his 1999 autobiography "A Cure for Gravity", he describes mainly his musical journey and reflects on his career. Reports suggest he lives alternately in Berlin and New York.
Professionally, he remains restless. His latest album to date, "What a Racket!", released in November 2023, features the British musician singing songs of a fictional Music-Hall entertainer named Max Champion from the early 20th century, accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra.
In an interview, the versatile artist once revealed why he continues to tirelessly explore different musical genres. "I'm still searching for the perfect song," said Joe Jackson. "Maybe I'll find it one day, maybe not. But the search is what drives me."
Joe Jackson's love for music is not confined to a particular era. Even on his 70th birthday, he's likely to be focused on his next musical project, pushing against the "nostalgia factor" that often accompanies such milestones.
In his pursuit of musical diversity, Joe Jackson often incorporates elements of various genres into his work. For instance, on his album "Body And Soul" (1984), he blended pop with Latin American music and jazz, showcasing his versatility as an artist.
