The Michael Jackson appreciation thread

Tom_Spangler wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: Although he was undeniably talented, his music was never my thing. He changed popular music that's for sure. He was also a twisted, sick individual.

Bam. I hated him in the 80s because he was so popular and I was a contrarian teenager who put his nose up at pop music. As I got older, I learned to appreciate a few of his songs and recognize his undeniable talent. But the nonstop freak show that was his personal life made it difficult to be a true fan. I do think that the reason he was so messed up is how his father treated him (and his siblings) in his younger days. He never had a real childhood, his dad was so busy pushing him to make music and tour. So, in a sense, all the weird behavior was not his fault. Overall, his life was pretty tragic.

which is why all his siblings turned out as badly as they did

neon4891 wrote: What would you expect a rich celebrity with the mind of a child to do with that kind of money.

Other children?

Too soon?

I'm just gonna leave this right here:

This game was cool. I don't care what anyone says.

EVH played on "Beat It"...back then that was a cool enough endorsement for me.

I hear Michael has been sober since June 25, 2009.

wbjones wrote:

Tom_Spangler wrote:

Joe Gearin wrote: Although he was undeniably talented, his music was never my thing. He changed popular music that's for sure. He was also a twisted, sick individual.

Bam. I hated him in the 80s because he was so popular and I was a contrarian teenager who put his nose up at pop music. As I got older, I learned to appreciate a few of his songs and recognize his undeniable talent. But the nonstop freak show that was his personal life made it difficult to be a true fan. I do think that the reason he was so messed up is how his father treated him (and his siblings) in his younger days. He never had a real childhood, his dad was so busy pushing him to make music and tour. So, in a sense, all the weird behavior was not his fault. Overall, his life was pretty tragic.

which is why all his siblings turned out as badly as they did

No doubt there was some underlying stuff going on with Micheal, too, but the abusive treatment he got as a kid surely didn't help. And by the time he escaped his father's grasp, he was rich and successful enough to be surrounded by Yes Men who did nothing to curb his bizarre behavior.

Call me indifferent. The music might have been stellar but it wasn't something I ever went out of my way to listen to. The train wreck, that was his life, was a pretty major turn off as well.

My wife, on the other hand...

I can't hear the train wreck through my speakers. Lots of musicians are pretty screwed up, but in the end it's the music that matters.

Toyman01 wrote: Call me indifferent. The music might have been stellar but it wasn't something I ever went out of my way to listen to. The train wreck, that was his life, was a pretty major turn off as well. My wife, on the other hand...

Well I was speaking of the music and the performer, but yeah his life was pretty tragic.

As far as your wife, well I think we all know when her life turned weird.

My brother worked with him on the "This is it" documentary- filmed rehearsals of the 50 concert series he was set to begin when he died.

He said he had never seen anyone command such a presence and talent leading a show. He said he was awesome.

He was also a weird dude.

Keith Tanner wrote: I can't hear the train wreck through my speakers. Lots of musicians are pretty screwed up, but in the end it's the music that matters.

I don't know...

I think they can leave a far greater legacy then the music.

There are several performers whose art I once loved but I can no longer watch because of their lifestyle- Woody Allen tops the list.

Keith Tanner wrote: I can't hear the train wreck through my speakers. Lots of musicians are pretty screwed up, but in the end it's the music that matters.

Yes, lots of musicians are screwed up. Not very many admit to sharing a bed with little boys though..... For many--myself included--that's a legacy that's hard to shake.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/17/jackson.trial/

rob_lewis wrote:

Tim Baxter wrote: Everything I like about Michael Jackson was really the work of Quincy Jones. There's your genius.

Or, every success Quincy Jones found was in utilizing talented people......

Jones was a genius many years before Michael Jackson was born. He had his bona fides firmly in place without Jackson.

Joe Gearin wrote:

Keith Tanner wrote: I can't hear the train wreck through my speakers. Lots of musicians are pretty screwed up, but in the end it's the music that matters.

Yes, lots of musicians are screwed up. Not very many admit to sharing a bed with little boys though..... For many--myself included--that's a legacy that's hard to shake. http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/17/jackson.trial/

I like to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was a pedophile, maybe he was just an incredibly weird guy who liked to sleep with kids in a non-sexual way...this is MJ we're talking about after all. To me those are equally plausible scenarios considering his other bizarre behavior.

And he had pics of an adult nude McCaulay Culkin on his property when he died, which is +1 for the "not a pedophile, just a world-class weirdo" theory.

Why did Michael Jackson go to K-Mart? He heard boy's pants were half off.

In reply to GameboyRMH:

Dang, didn't know that. Have you seen Culkin lately? Looks like a homeless guy who's been on a 10-year bender, that's damn weird..

I always wondered why he chose to wear long hair sometimes:

In reply to GameboyRMH:

I don't really care what label you give him.

Sex or no sex, sleeping with children who are not yours is unacceptable. Would you volunteer your kids for the job??

I have Thriller on vinyl

/thread

I liked his music when I was 5. I'm just going to leave that as it is and you can infer what you want.

I don't turn the station when I hear his music; is that a ringing endorsement?

tuna55 wrote:

Toyman01 wrote: Call me indifferent. The music might have been stellar but it wasn't something I ever went out of my way to listen to. The train wreck, that was his life, was a pretty major turn off as well. My wife, on the other hand...

Well I was speaking of the music and the performer, but yeah his life was pretty tragic. As far as your wife, well I think we all know when her life turned weird.

Without a doubt.

At the end of the day, he was more successful than I am professionally and I can admire that, but I'm pretty sure I win out in the quality of life department. I feel sorry for him, he really never had a chance to be just a man. I really wonder if he was ever truly happy, or just driven to preform.

I've had "History" on CD since the Columbia House records days. Early 90s?

Tell me you didn't think" I WANT TO DO THAT!" when you first saw this.

Plus he's a transformer. That should be enough.

Tim Baxter wrote: Everything I like about Michael Jackson was really the work of Quincy Jones. There's your genius.

That was the product of an era where the industry was cash-flush--mega producers working with mega artists on mega-expensive analog equipment in actual physical studios.

Listen to the production/engineering on "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" on vinyl on a good stereo system and your mind will be BLOWN. The attention that went into mixing the percussion is startling--that gets lost in the digital realm.

MJ was a fantastic soul singer when he was a kid. I've always dug The Love You Save. The musician in my marvels at how kickass every musician on this is (the Funk Bros. were no joke--James Jamerson is one of the greatest bass players in history). It's a brilliantly written/arranged song and the singing is stellar. Imagine that this was popular music at one time. Makes me want to cry. I think this is why I was so happy when "Uptown Funk" went to #1.

Here's a cool cover of The Love You Save from a favorite 90's band of mine: Madder Rose--The Love You Save Way more low-key, but a cool take on the original.