Posted on 06/27/2009 12:03:03 PM PDT by AJKauf
I know this is heresy, blasphemy to the gods of the publicity industrial complex who created and destroyed the later Michael Jackson.
But I’ve let a day pass since his awful death before saying this: after the completely wonderful Jackson Five era, Michael Jackson was no longer a very interesting singer, not after he left the collaborative genius of the J-5. He became known for his dancing (wow, the moonwalk, really memorable!), for his stupid costumes (what was with the whole militaristic thing? And was the glove really all that interesting or distinctive in any way?), for one or two good songs (”Human Nature” or whatever it was officially called) and “Thriller” wasn’t one of them. Come on, do you really think that novelty concoction is worth another listen ever? (Okay I liked “Billy Jean” even though I still misremember the key lyric as “the chair is not my love”)...
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
I know this is heresy, blasphemy to the gods of the publicity industrial complex who created and destroyed the later Michael Jackson.
Its okay to speak the truth. And the truth is that Michael Jackson and his success with Thriller was a scam. I owned and operated a music store throughout the eighties and remember well the hype that came with the release of Thriller. I remember all too well the great deals offered when ordering advance copies of the LP and Cassette yes cassettes. The great deal was they were only available with no return privilege. Previously all music titles were offered with a certain percentage available for return in the event of poor sales. Sometimes big name artists with good track records for sales had a smaller return percentage. But with the phantom worlds greatest selling album of all time Thriller there were no returns allowed orders were also restricted to large quantity’s. Making Thriller a top seller by the numbers well before the first copies were touched by consumers. I also remember well throwing away around around 75 to 80 percent of these first day ordered lps and cassettes some years later to make room for more popular music selections which did actually sell. Most everyone I knew in the retail music business did the same thing.
Jackson's financial affairs have been spectaculary mis-managed. He was set for life by any reasonable measure after "Thriller". He should easily have been a billionaire today.
LOL!
Dude Thriller was his last good album. Everything after that was Crappppp! I mean come on ITS THRILLER...
He was a cute little boy. As an adult, he had serious problems.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/celebritynews/2643986/Changing-face-of—Jackson.html
http://www.examiner.com/ExaminerSlideshow.html?entryid=130500&slide=1
What you call a scam someone else would call hard-nosed business tactics. Nobody forced you to order "Thriller".
I compared those lyrics to some of Dylan’s stuff..
lol...
Was for that other weird pervert, O.J. Simpson...
I always thought the prancing little faggot was protesting too much...
A great dance album, but not a great music album. MJ was lucky enough to have MTV at a unique stage in its history; the penetration of basic cable into the vast majority of homes in the early to mid '80s.
In many ways, MTV has ruined music. It's been all about the videos for 25 years.
I thought some of his songs, some of his videos, and his moves in delivering them, were very creative. If you want to argue that he learned from others (whether Bill Robinson or James Brown) I won’t argue - but who doesn’t learn and borrow and adapt?
As I said in the essay I linked to above, those videos have some terrific element: Thriller; Bad; Black or White; The Way You Make Me Feel. But as I also said, his own personal corruptions managed to spatter each one (except maybe Thriller) with repellent elements that reflected his own brokenness.
"I'll be there" was a great song, but Jackson couldn't simply go on forever recording songs of that sort.
He had to try something different, even if it might not be as pleasing to some people.
Moreover, Rosenbaum's not really playing fair:
"Michael Jackson Wasn’t That Good After He Left The Jackson Five" and "Can you name a single post-”Thriller” song he did?" don't make the same claim.
In fact, the two statements contradict each other: Thriller very definitely was a solo effort. And Bad, the next album, may have been bad but most people who've heard of Jackson probably know at least one song off the album.
He's right that Jackson's work in the 90s was scant and unmemorable, but that different from saying that he wasn't any good after he left the Jackson Five.
The unfortunate thing is that Michael Jackson didn't have a successful third or fourth period after the 1970s family group and the 1980s solo phase.
Perhaps he would have gotten away from the dancing and back to melody.
No argument from me.
No , Thriller , Off the Wall & Bad were about Michael Jackson with good direction from Quincy Jones. Jones never produced anything like those albums in 30 years until he joined forces with Jackson.
No, he was good. He was leading edge in creating a pop look and sound — especially in the 80s — until he went nucking futs. He kept it fresh and moving and interesting. But then came the day he woke up all alone and musics move where he couldn’t follow. That’s where it all went south and the pedophilia started (IMHO).
But there have been a lot of leading edge performers who have been knocked by later critics. This critique isn’t worth the bits it was posted with.
>>And the truth is that Michael Jackson and his success with Thriller was a scam. I owned and operated a music store throughout the eighties and remember well the hype that came with the release of Thriller. I remember all too well the great deals offered when ordering advance copies of the LP and Cassette yes cassettes. The great deal was they were only available with no return privilege.<<
Geeze, it really burned you that it was really good and he had the marketing muscle to make a great deal.
Bad was a great record. I Just Can’t Stop Loving You , Liberian Girl , Speed Demon , Dirty Diana. He broke ground with that albuml that non thuggish rappers are still applying today.
“Entertainer, yes. Artist, no”
Bingo. A lot of hype, theatrics and thousands of Extras, Dnacers and Tech backups. Makes for a very entertaining experience (Like Fireworks) and requires very little true creativity or seriousness.
Compare Bob Dylan lyrics to those purportedly written by MJ. Case closed.
Thriller is still the best selling album of all time so by popular vote based on sales , you guys who hate it are a minority.
Let’s just say it’s like the old Elvis vs. the young Elvis and call it good.
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