Michael Jackson - The Shoe Behind His 'Smooth Criminal' Dance Move
Filed under: Style in the News, News
Michael Jackson's Smooth Invention: His loafer/sock look was actually a highly technical, gravity-defying Velcro boot. Patent: US Patent and Trademark Office
But what you may not know is that the King of Pop was also an inventor.
In October of 1993, a US patent (below) was issued for a "Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion" (aka Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" loafers, or were they?).
The entertainer's name was the first of three listed on the patent (below), which includes drawings (above) of a Velcro boot concealed to look like a sleek-loafer-and-white-sock combo. It also explains how the limber-legged, pop phenom pulled off the nearly 45-degree angle "lean" during his immaculately choreographed routine for "Smooth Criminal."
According to Soundonsight, in the video version, Micheal and his dancers were restrained by harnesses. But for live performances, the idea of a visible harnesses didn't sit, er, lean well for the Moonwalker. So, along with his L.A.-based costume designers, Michael Bush and Dennis Tompkins (the other names on the patent), the trio created a shoe that could lock into the stage platform and release when needed, allowing Jackson and his dancers to move beyond what is humanly possible.
Patent: US Patent and Trademark Office
Style icon, music legend and inventor -- Jackson was truly a pioneer.
The patent is set to expire in 2010. We're wondering if someone will actually manufacture the shoe for retail?
To see Jackson and his dancers do the infamous anti-gravity lean, watch the below video.
Jim Belfiore 6-30-2009 @ 3:34PM
The patent is only half of the story. Three years after it was granted, a major defense technology firm took interest in it for an aerospace anti-gravity application.
http://bit.ly/15qYXd
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Dudley Haas (Wacko, Taxes) 7-05-2009 @ 3:31AM
Unlce Joe says "Annie are okay?" John says "oh God no" after viewing all the cracks in the dry wall. I just wish the cleaners could iron the wrinkles out of my wife's face!
M.J the pedophile 7-04-2009 @ 4:03PM
Hi,Its me peter Pan the drug addict pedophile.Geees its hot down here.I grabbed my crotch and burned my hand.I think I need to take the glove off.Yesterday my nose melted off and my make well lets just say its a mess.As for my hair it looks like it did after the Pepsi commercial. I sure do miss seeing innocent little boys in their nighties.Satan says there aren't any innocent children here ( That made me sad ). I wanted 6 cub scouts in underoos to be my pallbearers but Janet is such a bore she isnt even trying. I was hoping to be buried face down with my ass exposed so little boys can put things up my never ever land for a change.
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M T 7-04-2009 @ 4:41PM
THAT'S SO WRONG THE MAN IS DEAD AND ALL YOU CAN DO IS COME UP WITH THIS. HE WAS A GREAT MAN AND LEFT MILLIONS OF FANS SADDENED. A GREAT MAN ONCE SAID THAT A MAN LIFE IS MEASURED BY HIS IMPACT ON OTHERS LIVES AND IF THAT IS THE CASE. THAT MAKES HIM TRULY GREAT; YOU SHOULD BE SO FORTUNATE TO EVEN BE ABLE TO ALIVE DURING HIS GREATNESS. IF A JURY OF HIS PEERS CAN FIND HIM INNOCENT MAYBE YOU SHOULD LET IT GO --- I PRAY THAT YOU DO AND FIND SOMETHING TO FULFILL YOU LIFE --- MAY GOD BLESS YOU
jake 7-04-2009 @ 6:05PM
You are one sick individual. Evan Chandler admits after Jackson dies that he did not molest him, his dad made him do it for the money. He did not molest any kids, this was just a meal ticket for poor white people.
lana 7-05-2009 @ 10:20AM
Why make fun of someonei in death?
dina 7-04-2009 @ 6:22PM
To bad I'm not staying here with you satan, since I helped millions of people and gave my all to help the world a better place, since I am in the Guiness Book of World Records for my generosity which was never reported on, God has said that since he is the Judge, he has judged my good to outweigh my perceived (never confirmed) bad so I'm on my way to Heaven, peace to you.
Tweety 7-04-2009 @ 8:10PM
You really have a sick soul. Keep your negative comments to yourself. You need to get right with the LORD.
Michael, rest in peace forever......
God Bless!
Vanessa 7-04-2009 @ 7:08PM
To the person who wrote this:
You are disgusting. You are despicable. You are not no saint either so don't talk abou others that way. Have some respect for the man, he lost his life you know and you joke about him like its funny when its not! Grow the f up! You will get yours when your dead, I hope someone offends you just as you offend others when they haven't even been buried in the ground yet you sick moron!
M.J the pedophile 7-04-2009 @ 7:52PM
I may as well tell you its ALL going to come out anyway.Bubbles was my first.And I think we started aides.
M.J ruined my Butt 7-04-2009 @ 8:02PM
Now Its hard to poop !
MJ fan 4 life 7-04-2009 @ 9:22PM
no it's your mother BITCH! why don't you burn iin hell he was
not a pedifile....
leeka 7-04-2009 @ 11:15PM
u are such a loser an u have no life of your own u talentless jerk!!!
Cole 7-05-2009 @ 2:19AM
The negative comments and rhetoric make me feel physically ill. I do not understand the cruelty in which these comments are given. A truly good person and normal human being would have compassion and understanding of someone such as Michael. Not ignorance such as this. God rest his soul.
Jennifer 7-05-2009 @ 5:27AM
I have a friend named Akasha who was employed by MJ for about ten years, she was his vegan chief. She lived with him at the ranch, she traveled with him when he went on tour. Akasha says he was rarely alone with ANYONE because of the large staff he employed. She knows because she brought him his meals 3 times a day. Her children were there too. She said that he was one of the kindest people she had ever met, and it was not in his character to harm anyone.
Chomos get prosecuted because there is evidence; DNA, or Victim testimony.
MJ was never convicted for anything.
Parents of children that have been molested, are so outraged and upset, that NO DOLLAR amount would make them walk away.
Most Parents would prefer to shoot the perp, than be paid to forget about it.
Someday MJ will be cleared of these alligations, maybe when his accusors become adults they will tell the world what really happened. JENNIFER
Gracie 8-01-2009 @ 8:30PM
Making fun of someone, when they are dead is NOT funny. You don't even know if he ever molested a child. I don't think he did. Instead of making fun of him, think about his FAMILY, he left behind 3 children. He was also someone's CHILD, who are all greiving over the loss, they knew him better then ANYONE, a lot more than you do, and the closest people to him know if or if he didn't. So why do you think about those things before you go bashing a dead person.
Shellie 7-04-2009 @ 3:23PM
Interesting, BUT...this video confirms what I've suspected for a long time: Lipsynching. If you watch the whole video, there are times when his mouth isn't even moving and times when the words are not in synch with the song. He tries to conceal his mouth as much as possible with his hand or his hat. Then the very last sentence is really him singing and it sounds SO different. Still a good show,though.
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graymatthews 7-04-2009 @ 3:57PM
Shellie,
I saw that, but it is not the first time. I think that the first time I saw it very noticably was the last time he sang with his brothers. I can't remember what show, but it was very obvious. Still, I appreciate that he brought this form of street dance to mainstream and made it popular. My husband was doing these dances in the 70's with his dance crews, and it was just something that Black kids were doing at the time. Then, all of a sudden MJ did the moves, and it was a new dance; Not. But, he did make the moves popular. If you have a chance, check out the history behind the Moonwalk; it's an old dance.
cassie 7-04-2009 @ 4:06PM
well, yeah, but it's hard to dance like that WHILE singing...
Ben 7-05-2009 @ 1:42PM
He's not lip syching through the whole thing, if you listen very closely, he is singing but the recording is overpowering. its sp hard to dance like that and belt out the song, thats why he has it. as for the hand and hat, he did the in many songs to make sure they were in place. Also, this is a horrible video, if you want to see the greatest performance of all time, look up his concert Live from bucharest. amazing.