The music of Michael Jackson

StevieG

is what he will hopefully be remembered for

http://steviegblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-rip.html

Here's ten favs

StevieG

and 10 more http://steviegblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-more-moments-of-michael-magic.html

Dord

A lot of people rag on him but he was a damn good singer and has left a wonderful musical legacy that spanned several decades.

Sea Devils

It's very sad news. Off the wall is still one of my all time favourite albums in this genre

Sir Molle

Brian Capture

I just made myself a CD of my 10 favourite Michael Jackson tracks.

Chronological order.

01 Human Nature
02 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
03 Another Part Of Me
04 Leave Me Alone
05 In The Closet
06 Who Is It
07 Heal The World
08 Will You Be There
09 Earth Song
10 They Don't Care About Us

No1XtinaFan

Brian Capture wrote: »

I just made myself a CD of my 10 favourite Michael Jackson tracks.

Chronological order.

01 Human Nature
02 P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
03 Another Part Of Me
04 Leave Me Alone
05 In The Closet
06 Who Is It
07 Heal The World
08 Will You Be There
09 Earth Song
10 They Don't Care About Us

No Dirty Diana or Smooth Criminal
I suppose everyone had their own reason's for lovin MJ, such a pity he didn't get to do his comeback,l I hope beyond hope the music is what he is remembered for always. RIP

Sir Molle

My favorite jackson songs would change every couple of months. There's not one song of his that I didn't like. In fact, a lot of his unreleased stuff was leaked and is available on the internet. It is all absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised if his as of yet unreleased stuff gets released in the near future.


Here's an example.

In the early 90's Michael Jackson Co-wrote an episode of the simpsons. He voiced a character in the episode, and wrote the song "Lisa it's your birthday" which was a duet with Bart Simpson. However, about a year previously he had signed the largest record deal to date with sony and in the terms he agreed that he would not be able to record for any other record label until the contract had been fulfilled, so they brought a sound-a-like in to sing the song which was featured in that particular episode. He also wrote "Do the Bartman".

Well anyway, here's the demo sung by Michael himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq8CQ71KDvE

I'm sure you've seen this documentary too. Basically, someone found out that Michael Jackson secretly produced all of the music for the sonic 3 game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVM-l2Oku4

Dord

Sir Molle wrote: »

My favorite jackson songs would change every couple of months. There's not one song of his that I didn't like. In fact, a lot of his unreleased stuff was leaked and is available on the internet. It is all absolutely fantastic. I wouldn't be surprised if his as of yet unreleased stuff gets released in the near future.


Here's an example.

In the early 90's Michael Jackson Co-wrote an episode of the simpsons. He voiced a character in the episode, and wrote the song "Lisa it's your birthday" which was a duet with Bart Simpson. However, about a year previously he had signed the largest record deal to date with sony and in the terms he agreed that he would not be able to record for any other record label until the contract had been fulfilled, so they brought a sound-a-like in to sing the song which was featured in that particular episode. He also wrote "Do the Bartman".

Well anyway, here's the demo sung by Michael himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq8CQ71KDvE

I'm sure you've seen this documentary too. Basically, someone found out that Michael Jackson secretly produced all of the music for the sonic 3 game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVM-l2Oku4

Wow, I didn't know that... it's pretty cool. Especially the sonic part!

Sir Molle

For anyone who's interested in hearing some of the rarer Michael Jackson songs, I'm going to cross post this from Afterhours.

Sir Molle wrote: »

For anyone else who is interested, I'm going to post a lot of his music here that you will probably not have heard. These are pretty much either going to be performances of songs which were tributes to people, songs which were recorded for different albums, but which never made the cut and rare collaborations with different artists.

The Surprise Song - The Jacksons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju2rc3qSjM0
This song the Jacksons jamming for one of their early Jackson fan clubs. It was almost entirely improvised. Recorded in the late 70's I'd imagine.


The Man - featuring Paul McCartney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXgim4YXLXk
This song was actually featured on McCartney's Pipes of Peace album, but for some reason most people are only aware of the two Jackson/McCartney duets "Say, say, say" and "The girl is mine"

Night Line
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6ID_3mn9L4
This as far as I'm aware was one of the songs that didn't make the cut for thriller.

Hot Street
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTkFTgMC8Lk
Another song that didn't make it to thriller.

Trouble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuN9Hl7h5t0
Another song that didn't make it to thriller.

Love never felt so good
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lommd54DAr0
Another song that didn't make it on to thriller

Got the Hots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiafTFV4AlQ
Another song from the Thriller sessions.

Carousel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma1U1GtgYrI
This song almost made it on to thriller in place of the song "Human Nature". However, Quincy decided not to put it on because it didn't take the sound of the album as a whole in the direction he saw it going in. This song was actually released on the Thriller special edition version, how ever it is a shortened version of it. The link above is the full version of the song.

You were there
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjmalHcQh54
This song was performed as a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr.

If you don't love me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOQPzR8u2Y0
This song didn't make it to the dangerous album. It has a different sound to it than what most of his songs at that time which was probably why it didnt make the cut.


The demo of Thriller, originally entitled "Starlight"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVtGO1AhyFY

Get it, featuring Stevie Wonder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi5I1bzNE-E
This was a duet with Stevie Wonder which was actually released on his album Characters. However, not a lot of people know this song exists. It's a shame really because the two are amazing together.


Fly Away
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Caif4i93AOk
Written for the Bad Album. Another great song.


She Got It
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CNkK08moNM
This is a demo, but it's a fantastic song. I think it was from the Dangerous sessions.

Work that Body
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNZWSbT3Ptw
Another song from the dangerous sessions. I don't think the full version of this song has been leaked yet.


Xcape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivviCGxrJ24
I don't know why this wasn't released, but it would have been produced some time around 2001/2002.

Gangsta
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTC4JNT1ro0
Collaborating with rapper "tempermental".

Streetwalker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAb4LUB2CZo
This is a song that didn't make it on to the Bad album. It was released as part of the special edition of the bad album in 2001. If you've ever heard the original demo of the song "Dangerous" they reused the baseline of this song.

You don't stand another chance - Janet Jackson feat. Michael Jackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAkRPzdsaXI
A song from Janet's first album featuring her big brother.

Minnie Ripoerton feat. Michael Jackson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWSeCv7FqiM
Recorded in 1980. Not a lot of people will know about this duet.

Just Friends - Carole Bayer Sager feat Mike
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTxQ0F0Qcro
From Carole Bayer Sager's album. Would have been recorded in the mid 70's

Tell Me I' m Not Dreamin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGE970BBLZo
A duet with brother Jermaine jackson who never left motown records when the Jackson 5 became the Jacksons

Mind is the Magic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmvTWrQRx4A
Michael Jackson was a huge admirer of magic and produced background music for Siegfried and Roy

Colaborating with singer Brandy in "it's not worth it"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0TsZfZFWC4

slicus ricus

This is my all time favourite Michael Jackson moment and to me demonstrates what the man was all about: Amazing singer, dancer, performer, and all round entertainer. The below video is from Motowns 25th anniversary show in 1983 and MJ does the moonwalk for the 1st time: Just listen to the audience's reaction, pure gold. There's only one Michael Jackson and he will never be forgotten.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VASYhabHkM

Amtmann

My favourites in no particular order:

1. Human Nature
2. Smooth Criminal
3. Dirty Diana
4. Give in to Me
5. Man in the Mirror
6. Will You Be There
7. The Way You Make Me Feel
8. Who Is It
9. Leave Me Alone
10. Earth Song

I'm always surprised by the passion and eroticism that charge through Jackson's songs (e.g. Dirty Diana, Give in to Me). For a gentle man, meek and mild and reputedly asexual, his songs are incredibly passionate.

K4t

Beat It, Billie jean, Smooth Criminal - three of the best tunes ever. I never hesitate to get on the dancefloor when these come on. You're weird if you don't imo!!!!

RIP Jacko. Absolute Legend.

StevieG

I've done a mix of mainly his soul stuff, free download here at

http://djstevieg.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-07-02T12_41_03-07_00



Darling Dear
It's Your Thing
Don't Let It Get You Down
ABC
The Young Folks
2-4-6-8
People Make The World Go 'Round
We've Got A Good Thing Going
In Our Small Way
Got To Be There
La La (Means I Love You)
Good Times
Rockin' Robin
That's What Love Is Made Of
Corner Of The Sky
Sugar Daddy
One More Chance
When I Come Of Age
Call On Me
Maria (You Were The Only One)
I'll Bet You
Happy
It's Too Late To Change The Time
Who's Loving You
Music And Me
Everybody's Sombody's Fool
Ain't No Sunshine
Ben
Break of Dawn
We're Almost There
I'll Be There
Human Nature
I Can't Help It
Don't Know Why I Love You
I Wanna Be Where You Are
Girlfriend
Get It Together
It's The Falling In Love
Liberian Girl (Giuliodj Edit)
Girl You're So Together
I Want You Back (The Jackson 5)
Take Me Back
Make Tonight All Mine
Love Song
Touch
Mama's Pearl
Who's Looking For A Lover
Melodie
Girl, Don't Take Your Love From Me
Lonely Teardrops
Maybe Tomorrow
Never Can Say Goodbye
Medley: Sing A Simple Song/Can You Remeber - At The Hollywood Palace
The Lady In My Life
One Day In Your Life
She's Out Of My Life
All I Do Is Think Of You

Here is a free download of part 1 of a two part mix, paying tribute to the soul music of the King of Pop. Mostly concentrating on the early Jackson 5 years with one or two of his later tracks aswell, there are plenty of lessor known gems in there. Part 2 concentrates on the dance-floor and is coming in the next few days!

http://djstevieg.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-07-02T12_41_03-07_00


Also, I'm posting 50 of my favourite Motown tracks to my blog in the next couple of weeks first few are up at http://steviegblog.blogspot.com

here's my free Motown mix btw

http://djstevieg.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-01-13T18_06_50-08_00

--amadeus--

I suppose at the end of the day classifications are just irrelevant labels but I would never have considered Jackson to be a soul singer. Yes some of his music was soul influenced, yes a lot of it was funk derived (or more accurately funk rooted) but he was more of a cross over pop artist. Commercial pop that drew on a number of sources (including soul, r&b and funk) but still pop music. i always thought that of the 80s megastars Prince produced teh better, funkier, music

Which isn't a criticism - I couldn't stand the music myself but it sold by the lorryload.

StevieG

He made loads of soul music with the Jackson 5

as outlined in the mix above

The fact that they were popular did not take away from this, as much as some of their stuff was commercial

also, his best album,"off the wall", was disco and pop but also very soulful

but as you say labels are irrelevant

Sir Molle

The Lady in my Life from the thriller album is definitely one of the most soulful songs of his.

Greentrees

RIP Michael