Michael Jackson- Part Two: The Music

The Jackson 5/The Jacksons, 1969-1989: My mother was the one who introduced me to The Jackson 5 at a very young age. I was born ten years after the Jackson 5 signed to Motown, so I definitely missed out on their hey day. The Jackson 5 were one of the most successful boy bands of all time. Their crazy psychadelic bell bottom suits and adorable afros were all the rage in the 1970's. They even had the Osmonds copying them (Donny Osmond was clearly the Michael Jackson of the Osmond Brothers)! Even with all of the nostalgia, none of their music seems dated. The first songs I remember dancing to were 'ABC' and 'I Want You Back'. Completely infectious, bright and joyful 'bubble gum soul' tunes that can even get the most morose and gloom-filled person to tap their foot. Michael's soaring soprano was clearly the cornerstone of every hit. It was a can't loose combo. 'I'll Be There' is probably their most famous ballad, but it's not my favourite. I later discovered a beautiful ballad, released in 1972 entitled 'Got to be There' that was actually promoted as a Michael Jackson solo single (even though all the brothers sang on the track). Michael's delivery of the song is simply stunning. In my opinion that song should have been a much bigger hit.

In 1975 the Jackson brothers left Motown for greener pastures at Epic Records. This was where fans were beginning to be introduced to Michael Jackson's skills as a serious songwriter. Many outside of the R&B world are unfamiliar with the brothers' hits from this era. Their most popular song at that time would have been the disco hit, 'Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)'. The song was the kind of disco cheese most people never admit to liking, but dance to in the privacy of their bedroom. The song is definitely not sensational on its face, but when you factor in how old Michael was when he wrote it (18 years old), you begin to realize how truly clever he was.

Biggest Hits: I Want You Back, ABC, The Love You Save, I'll Be There, Never Can Say Goodbye, Ben, Blame It On The Boogie
Most Underrated Track(s): Got to be There, With A Child's Heart, Maybe Tomorrow, Looking Through the Windows, This Place Hotel, Things I Do For You, 2300 Jackson Street
Most Overrated Track(s): I'll Be There
Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): Blame It On the Boogie, Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground), Can You Feel It (just watch the video and you'll see what I mean)

Off the Wall, 1979: This album is considered by many to be the foreshadowing of Michael Jackson's superstardom. It also marked the beginning of one of the most successful partnerships in music history- Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones, who produced the album. I really only got to know this album in its entirety recently. I was already familiar with 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough', which I believe is one of the best dance songs ever written, and Rock With You another brilliant track. Off the Wall is a genius dance album in every sense of the word! It's fresh and current, totally complete and masterfully produced. You can spin this album at any party and still get a crowd moving, 30 years after its original release. Michael was only 21 years old when this album was released and he wrote 3 of the 10 tracks (including its biggest hit, 'Dont Stop...'). It's one of those precious few albums where almost every track is totally enjoyable. Its only flaw is 'Girlfriend' written by Paul McCartney, which is the worst track on the album and probably shouldn't have made the cut. Complete and utter syrupy, mindless pop.

All in all, Off the Wall is one of my favourite albums of all time. Just sit back, listen, then groove and dance!

Biggest Hit(s): Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You
Most Underrated Track(s): Get On the Floor, Off the Wall, I Can't Help It
Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): Girlfriend, She's Out of My Life (MJ cries at the end of the song, need I say more?)

Thriller, 1982: What can one say about this monster of an album? Yes, it is the best selling album of all time. Yes, it spawned 7 top ten hits. Yes, it earned Michael Jackson 8 Grammy Awards. But what made it so special? Why do people still marvel at this album 27 years later? The reason is simple: the music was exceptional. Thriller was simply a masterpiece. With beautifully crafted ballads like 'Human Nature'- one of Michael's best songs- and great dance pieces like 'Wanna Be Starting Something' and 'P.Y.T.', Thriller made Michael Jackson a force to be reckoned with. Jackson wrote three tracks ('Wanna Be Startin' Something', 'Beat It', 'Billie Jean') and co-produced the entire album with Quincy Jones. He was 24 years old.

Thriller, I believe, set the standard for all pop albums that followed it. It demonstrated to the listener that an entire album- every single track- can and should be hit-worthy. It showed the artist that serious musicianship and originality can indeed be successfully partnered with commercial viability. It's only hiccup is 'The Girl Is Mine' another Paul McCartney snoozer that shouldn't have seen the light of day. 'Billie Jean', however, is pure pop music perfection.

Biggest Hit(s): Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller

Most Underrate Track(s): Wanna Be Startin' Something, Baby Be Mine, Human Nature

Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): The Girl Is Mine (I really hate that song!)

Bad, 1987: I have mixed feelings about this album. I love it and I hate it. It is without a doubt an excellent album by most standards, but not necessarily by Michael Jackson standards. It spawned an unprecedented 5 number one hits, probably because of the success of the Thriller album, the music videos and the colossal promotion of the album and tour. I sort of think that Michael lost his edge with this album and tried to reclaim it by announcing to everyone that he's bad. ROTFL!!! There are few problems with this concept. First of all, no one actually believed that Jackson was "bad" and if he was, why would he need to proclaim it? Secondly, no one tells people they're "bad" and then goes on to produce an unabashedly commercial pop album. It just seemed a hot mess. Anyway, Bad is the only Michael Jackson album that I'm ambivalent about, yet it has some of my all time favourite Michael Jackson singles. My favourite uptempo tracks are the ones no one cared about, 'Another Part of Me', 'Just Good Friends', 'Leave Me Alone'. One of the best ballads Michael Jackson has ever performed is the classic 'Man in the Mirror' (ironically one of only two tracks on the album that Michael didn't write). It's one of those songs that always makes me want to get up and change to world.... then the song ends, I sigh and I skip to 'Smooth Criminal'.

Biggest Hit(s): I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Man in the Mirror, Dirty Diana

Most Underrated Track(s): Liberian Girl, Just Good Friends, Another Part of Me, Leave Me Alone, Fly Away (a song that was not released on the original Bad album, but released in the special edition. A brilliant track that should have been included on the album)

Most Overrated Track(s): Bad

Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): Bad (did anyone actually buy the concept of MJ taking on a bunch of Brooklyn street-toughs while costumed in tight, sado-masichistic gear? While performing Bob Fosse-esque choreography? And wearing eye-liner? Didn't think so.)

Dangerous, 1991: Dangerous is a great album. Not a perfect album, but a really, really good one. Certainly a lot better than Bad. This album was Michael's first adult solo album without Quincy Jones. He decided to use R&B genius producer Teddy Riley instead. The collaboration worked. I think this is the album Bad should have been. Sure, it didn't have as many number ones as Bad, but it sold faster and had an edgier, urban sound. His best tracks are definitely the ones produced by Teddy Riley (i.e. 'Jam', 'In the Closet', 'Remember the Time', 'Dangerous') who used his New Jack Swing stylings to give Jackson a new sound. Some other uptempo stand outs are 'Can't Let Her Get Away' and 'Who Is It'. Michael also has some wonderful pop ballads on this album such as the gospel-tinged, 'Will You Be There' and 'Keep the Faith'. 'Gone Too Soon' is another one of Michael's most beautiful ballads. The song was written in honour of his friend Ryan White who died of AIDS the previous year (ironically it would be sung at Michael Jackson's own funeral 18 years later). His vocal delivery is so smooth, ethereal and pure that you almost forget you're listening to the same album. The lyrics are very touching. The worst track on the album, by far, is 'Heal the World'. The kind of tune that would normally be accompanied by images of starving African children eating gruel in a World Vision ad.

Biggest Hit(s): Black or White, Remember the Time, In the Closet, Heal the World , Will You Be There

Most Underrated Track(s): Jam, Can't Let Her Get Away, Who Is It, Gone Too Soon, Dangerous

Most Overrated Track(s): Heal the World, Black or White

Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): Heal the World, Black or White (love the video and the guitar solo, hate the corny rap)

HIStory, 1995: Michael's worst album. Really. It had the most ostentatious promotion and the worst results. I knew things were dodgy when the TV ad came out- you know, the one with fans falling and fainting at the feet of Michael's statue.... yeah, that one. This album seems all over the place to me. Incomplete and slapped together- not the typical well thought out and maticulously excuted production we were used to hearing from Jackson. His heart didn't seem in it. That being said, there are some decent records on the album. 'They Don't Really Care About Us', 'Scream', 'Money' and '2 Bad' are all strong songs. 'Stranger in Moscow' is probably the most underrated song of Michael Jackson entire career. The first time I'd heard of the song was two months ago when I saw the music video by chance. It's a gorgeous ballad. Beautifully sung with a mixture of sadness and anguish. Lyrically it is one of the best songs he has ever written. The song's instrumentation is sparse, but perfect.

Biggest Hit(s): You Are Not Alone, Scream

Most Underrated Track(s): Stranger in Moscow (Michael's best ballad), They Don't Really Care About Us

Most Overrated Track(s): You Are Not Alone, Earth Song

Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): You Are Not Alone (the video depicting a half-naked MJ and his then-wife Lisa Marie Presley turned me off the song and enduced nausea), Earth Song (MJ went from asking us to save the children to telling us to save the trees. I'm pretty sure Neverland Ranch was not environmentally friendly. This song was massively popular in Europe, cementing its cheesy/corny credentials and thus, proving my point)

Invicible, 2001: Invicible did not get the props it deserved for various reasons. The album was not Michael's best work (1991 was last time Michael gave his fans his typical 150%- it appears he working at the 110% level by 2001), but it was far from his worst (see HIStory). Michael was in a very contentious battle with Sony Records and refusing to tour. Sony wasn't willing to release certain singles. The album and the artist got some very bad press. Anyway, Invincible was definitely a full-on R&B album with some very nice beats courtesy of wunderkind producer Rodney Jerkins. His best tracks were the R&B ballads, 'Butterflies', 'Cry', 'You Are My Life' (an ode to his children) & 'Heaven Can Wait'. Good uptempo tracks are: 'Heartbreaker', 'Invincible' and of course, 'You Rock My World'.

Biggest Hit(s): You Rock My World, Cry

Most Underrated Track(s): Butterflies, You Are My Life

Cheesiest/Corniest Track(s): Privacy

Michael Jackson's catalogue of music is prolific. A gifted vocalist, talented songwriter and innovative producer. MJ's music is guaranteed to last a lifetime. I hope that in death his body of work will get the respect it deserves.

Michael Jackson- Part One: The Entertainer

Michael Jackson was buried on Thursday, 70 days after his untimely and, at the moment, suspicious death. I have to say that I still find it hard to believe that he is gone. It took me a long time to come up with an adequate blog posting for this one, hence my absence from the blogsphere for so many months. Because there is so much to say about The Gloved One, I’ve decided to post a part one, a part two and a part three.

First I’ll start off by saying that I would never consider myself a rabid MJ fan. I’ve never attended any of his concerts. I’ve never fainted and screamed upon the mere mention of his name. I never owned any sparkly gloves or black loafers or the notorious zipper-red-leather-Beat It jacket (my parents would have never allowed me to walk out of the house looking like a bedazzled member of Napoleon Army, and a Jheri curl was definitely out of the question). I didn’t tape all of his television appearances (I will admit to attempting the Moonwalk at recess at elementary school with unsuccessful results). However, I am an admirer of Michael Jackson’s creative genius and impact on pop culture. Many over the past couple of months have pontificated on whether or not Michael Jackson was one of the best. I’m not quite sure where the argument is coming from because the facts are clear: Michael Jackson’s impact on popular music was probably the greatest of any entertainer who ever set foot on a stage. Case closed. Here are the reasons why:

Sheer musical ability: After scouring You Tube and watching countless videos of a young Michael Jackson singing Who’s Loving You, Never Can Say Goodbye, ABC, etc., it is easy to see that Michael was musically gifted. He sang each song with ease and soul- something that cannot be taught. Technically speaking Jackson was in that category of vocalist that many aspire to, but very few actually reach. He had a beautifully controlled vibrato, a pitch perfect falsetto and a roof-blasting, powerhouse mid-range. He also had the ability to control and change his vocal tone to suit the emotion of each song- switching from a soaring ballad to a searing dance track effortlessly- whilst always maintaining his own distinctive vocal phrasing and styling.

In later years when Michael began writing his own music people started to realize that he wasn’t just a voice- he obviously was a prolific songwriter. Few people realize that Jackson could not actually read music. He would write his songs by recording the vocals and then beatboxing the rhythm on a tape recorder. After that, he would sit down in a studio and add keyboard (playing by ear) and drum tracks to the demo. Many of his musicians said that they would have difficulty reproducing the rhythm tracks that he had beatboxed because they were so complex and intricate! Generally, the artists that Michael Jackson has been compared to, such as Elvis Presley, never wrote a note of music in their life, which is why I find it so puzzling that people would count Elvis as a better all-round entertainer. In fact, Michael co-produced and wrote half the songs on the iconic Thriller album all at the tender age of 23, and for Off the Wall at 19! The mere fact that many of Michael’s songs are classics today is a testament to Michael’s gift for understanding his audience and his brilliance as pop songwriter.

A Master-class Dancer: Nobody moved like Michael. Nobody. Believe me, many, including myself, have tried and failed. Fred Astaire himself called Michael Jackson after his epic performance on the Motown 25 special in 1983 and told him that he was “one hell of a mover”. Michael popularized so many dance moves (the Robot, Pop ‘n’ Lock, the Moonwalk, The Spin, the famous Smooth Criminal ‘Lean’, etc.) while making them all seem effortless (of course they weren’t). He made dancing an almost mandatory component for pop music performance. Prior to Michael I’m not sure there was anyone who danced and sang whilst performing a pop song. All of this is evident in Michael’s legendary performances (i.e. the aforementioned Motown 25 special, 1988 Grammy Awards, 1993 Superbowl half-time show, 1995 MTV Awards) because you as a viewer always knew that he was giving 150% all the time. He took risks and dared to be different. Excuse my schmaltziness, but his dancing almost made you believe in.... ‘magic’.

A Marketing/Business Mastermind: Very few people realize how brilliant Michael Jackson was at marketing. He understood that in order to stand out he had to be more than just talented- he had to be different. Most artists nowadays hire people to create images for them. Jackson himself was known for being deft at crafting his unique image. Thinking back, his propensity for sequined socks and military jackets, aviator sunglasses, poor-boy pants and black penny loafers was definitely odd, but he obviously knew something we didn't- he had everybody copying his look all over the world. He parlayed his image into endorsements for Pepsi, LA Gear, Disney, Toyota (Japan), etc. In addition to this, he realized that the music video was a tool to be used to generate record sales. Jackson crafted each music video he made into a miniature film. Let’s all be honest- does anyone remember what music videos looked like before Billie Jean? It was truly pathetic. Most music videos had the artist(s) woodenly standing on a stage with strobe lights behind them. The Billie Jean and the Thriller videos were and still are the templates on which music videos are based. His marketing prowess also played a hand in propelling MTV into prominence. It was widely known that MTV, prior to 1983, was not in the business of the playing music videos of urban (i.e. Black) artists. Michael forced their hand in changing that unwritten rule with the fresh and innovative Billie Jean video. The rest is history!

In addition to the music video, Michael Jackson changed the way the consumer viewed albums. In 1982 the record industry was going through its worst slump in history. There was a major recession and record sales were low as production costs were getting higher. Most artists pinned their album's hopes on 3, maybe 4 songs (out of a 9-10 track album) cracking the Billboard Top 40. The majority of the recording artists at the time were elated to sell 500,000 copies of an album. Many consumers would purchase singles rather than the entire album, unless they were hardcore fans of a particular artist. Michael Jackson broke the rules when he created Thriller around the concept of an album of 100% hits. No fillers- just pure pop hits. The result: seven out of the 9 tracks on Thriller became blockbuster Top 10 hits. Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones' brilliant song writing and understanding of what people wanted hear compelled millions of people to buy an entire album- and love it!

Michael Jackson's best stroke of brilliance was his purchasing of music copyrights. Jackson owns the most lucrative catalogue of songs in the music industry, Sony/ATV Music Publishing . He purchased the rights to 250 of The Beatles songs, in addition to the publishing rights for many of the recordings of Little Richard, Sharkira, Beck, Eminem, Akon, The Everly Brothers and Hank Williams, just to mention a few! This music catalogue generates over $80 million dollars a year. His own lawyer said that with the Sony/ATV catalogue in addition to owning the rights to his own songs, Michael Jackson's net worth is over $1.5 billion dollars and growing!

If you are still not convinced, consider the following:

• Michael Jackson has sold over 750 million albums worldwide over the span of his career.
  
• He has won 13 Grammy awards as a solo artist.


• He has performed for over 15 million people worldwide


• His Thriller album still holds the record for the best-selling album of all time


• He was the only entertainer who was able to write, dance, sing and choreograph with equal excellence
  

Michael Jackson- not Elvis, not Sinatra- was truly the greatest entertainer who ever lived. I rest my case.