cover pic from fan made 'Xscape' cd
Mace2theO Webcast #17 - MJ
It’s all about context, and I was a kid when the J5 came out. Later, when I became a P fan, one couldn’t help but notice the similarities. Both are Black American, both were born in 1958 and both owned the 80’s. More importantly, they both re-defined what “cross-over” meant for a black artist.
However, there is one key difference: MJ was an Entertainer who could do some music; P is a Musician who can do some entertaining. This is a big difference (to me).
Setting aside all that King of Pop BS, it is enough that MJ set the standard for being a child star and graduating to an adult musical artist. Many had failed before him, and yes the Beatles had achieved it musically, but the teen idols (who were actually teens or younger themselves, unlike the Beatles) rarely made the transition. Justin T, George Michael and Robbie Williams all followed the model. We’ll see how it goes for Justin Beiber and Miley.
However, there is one key difference: MJ was an Entertainer who could do some music; P is a Musician who can do some entertaining. This is a big difference (to me).
Setting aside all that King of Pop BS, it is enough that MJ set the standard for being a child star and graduating to an adult musical artist. Many had failed before him, and yes the Beatles had achieved it musically, but the teen idols (who were actually teens or younger themselves, unlike the Beatles) rarely made the transition. Justin T, George Michael and Robbie Williams all followed the model. We’ll see how it goes for Justin Beiber and Miley.
So I felt nothing but dread when it was announced there would be a new MJ album, to be released next week (Dec '10). Posthumous works are very tricky - either you: 1) present the material basically as it was found, in its demo or outtake form or 2) try to complete the "artist's vision" based on some combination of instructions and intuition. Either way comes with its own set of challenges and issues.
The preferred option for me is #1. Whether Beatles Anthology or Jimi Hendrix's back catalogue, 90% of the best "post" releases contained music as originally recorded. "This is It" was presented as a rehearsal, instead of some new post-production CGI concert. Even living artist like P (The Vault, Crystal Ball) and Bruce Springsteen (Promises) choose to label back catalogue music as such, without going back to add instruments and present it as new.
Perhaps the new album will offer more, but I really wish they would have instead put together a nice rarities mix of demos, unreleased and such, and just labelled as so. If the artist is not around the finish the music, I would rather hear what they were thinking, rather than some producer after the fact.
Just my old man rant for the day
The preferred option for me is #1. Whether Beatles Anthology or Jimi Hendrix's back catalogue, 90% of the best "post" releases contained music as originally recorded. "This is It" was presented as a rehearsal, instead of some new post-production CGI concert. Even living artist like P (The Vault, Crystal Ball) and Bruce Springsteen (Promises) choose to label back catalogue music as such, without going back to add instruments and present it as new.
Perhaps the new album will offer more, but I really wish they would have instead put together a nice rarities mix of demos, unreleased and such, and just labelled as so. If the artist is not around the finish the music, I would rather hear what they were thinking, rather than some producer after the fact.
Just my old man rant for the day
2. Different Kind of Lady
An alternate version from the 12" single, this is from the post-Motown era when they were beginning to write their own songs and dealing with MJ's changing voice.
3. Starlight
An early version of Thriller, before the lyrics were adapted for ghosts and ghouls
4. Who Is It
A Maceo mix blending an appearance on Oprah with the studio & acapella version.
5. She Got It
Unreleased track from 'Dangerous' era, with Teddy Riley
6. Love Never Felt So Good
unreleased demo from 'Thriller' era, co-written by Paul Anka. Just MJ, a piano and female singer
7. Billie Jean
An early mix that is a minute plus longer than the released version
8. I'll Be There
Acapella version of the J5 hit, feature co-lead vocals with Jermaine Jackson
9. Work That Body
Unreleased from 'Dangerous' era
10. Happy Birthday Lisa
Unreleased demo from 'Dangerous' era. Hmm...Marie or Simpson?
11. State of Shock
Featuring Freddie Mercury, this is an Unreleased version of the track he eventually sang with Mick Jagger
12. Whatzupwitu
Guest vocals on an Eddie Murphy track
13. Xscape
unreleased
14. Man In The Mirror
Acapella version
More here
This is the J5 audition for Motown. As you can see below, Motown took an already funky little boy and reigned him in to be a less funky pop star.
P on the infamous "Bad" duet that never happened
