IFLTS: 'Rockin' Robin,' Michael Jackson

'Rockin' Robin,' Michael Jackson
From 1972's 'Got to Be There'

This bubblegum ditty was among my first introductions to Michael Jackson, who released this cover of Bobby Day's tune in 1972, as a single off Jackson's solo effort 'Got to Be There.' Given that a teenaged Jackson often performed this song with his family, it was also my first introduction to the Jackson 5. And I have my grandmother to thank.

You see, my grandmother, who shares her name with a Beach Boys tune ('Barbara Ann'), would put this two-minute nugget on for what I suspect were two reasons: 1) A person must calm 6-year-old twins by forcing them to expend all harnessed energy, which my sister and I had plenty of and would dance off with Grandma in tow, and 2) That "tweet tweet tweedily deet" chant is so damn catchy. She loves a good pop song, and perhaps because of that, so do I. But we won't discuss the 'Bad' era. Let's just say perms and one-handed gloves look cool on Michael. I, on the other hand, just look homeless.



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