This will be long. I'm posting this here because I feel more comfortable and I guess, "safer" in my own space than having my thoughts scattered among different threads, more open to criticism from others.
On Monday morning I went to the website and listened to "Breaking News" for the first time. Here are some things that stood out to me right away:
1. The vibrato in this song sounds very forced to me. I didn't really pick up on this until I listened to the A Capella version. Michael's is much more natural sounding.
2. The lead vocals don't sound the same to me from the first verse to the second.
3. The hee-hee's don't sound like they came from Michael.
4. Near the end of the song, during the chorus of "Why is it strange that I would fall in love?" The line "Why is it strange?" is repeated, and it sounds like someone else to me.
Even though I felt that something was definitely off with what I was hearing, it didn't even dawn on me that it might be someone else singing. After I heard it I got on here and saw everyone else's reactions. I didn't know what to think. I STILL don't!
This is my opinion on the song, after listening to it about five or six times. I think Michael is definitely singing in there, somewhere. I listened to this version and the A Capella. I really believe that he IS in there. However, I can't zero in on where exactly he is. And that's where I feel terribly conflicted.
I wasn't very impressed with this song on the whole. It sounds really over-produced to me, but I guess I should be expecting that.
After the announcement by the Estate this morning, along with the conflicting statements on Twitter, along with the debates amongst everyone here, I'm at a total loss as to what to think about all of this.
At this point, I do not know if I am going to purchase this album or not. I want to listen to the other tracks before I make a decision.
EDIT: Today (November 30) I finally decided to listen to the snippet of the song "Monster." In my opinion, the voice singing the song does NOT sound like Michael. If that is in fact him, then his vocals have been produced to kingdom come. I think that the little that I heard (50 secs), is incredibly sub-par and below Michael's musical and artistic standards. "Much Too Soon" was a much-needed breath of fresh air.
----------on to the Oprah interview-------------
I did not watch Oprah interviewing Katherine and Joe. I made this decision mainly because I had no desire to relive June 25th through Katherine's sad eyes. I also had no desire to listen to Joe's attempts to justify his treatment of Michael. I'm glad that I didn't, after reading the summaries on here.
I was not happy to hear about some of the things that Katherine said. It's not that I have a problem with her opinion, but rather that she chose to come out with it on national television. She wouldn't have said these things if Michael was still alive, so why now? As soon as I read some of the comments she had made about his face, I knew that's what the headlines would be the next day. And I was right.
I cannot make any sense out of Oprah Winfrey. If she really thinks that he was a criminal, then why air a tribute show after having her company release a statement explaining why she wouldn't? Why would she proudly display a drawing that he did? Is it really that she is so swayed by the opinions of her viewers that she would just go in all directions? Is she really that shallow? Why is she so sure of herself? Is it purely because she was molested as a child?
???
It baffles me because I used to see her as someone with intelligence, integrity and fairness, but now, I can't make heads or tails of her.
I did watch the last part with the kids and their cousins, on YouTube. I enjoyed it.
----------------------------------
I'm tired and I don't know what's for sure anymore, except for one thing. I miss Michael. A lot.
On Monday morning I went to the website and listened to "Breaking News" for the first time. Here are some things that stood out to me right away:
1. The vibrato in this song sounds very forced to me. I didn't really pick up on this until I listened to the A Capella version. Michael's is much more natural sounding.
2. The lead vocals don't sound the same to me from the first verse to the second.
3. The hee-hee's don't sound like they came from Michael.
4. Near the end of the song, during the chorus of "Why is it strange that I would fall in love?" The line "Why is it strange?" is repeated, and it sounds like someone else to me.
Even though I felt that something was definitely off with what I was hearing, it didn't even dawn on me that it might be someone else singing. After I heard it I got on here and saw everyone else's reactions. I didn't know what to think. I STILL don't!
This is my opinion on the song, after listening to it about five or six times. I think Michael is definitely singing in there, somewhere. I listened to this version and the A Capella. I really believe that he IS in there. However, I can't zero in on where exactly he is. And that's where I feel terribly conflicted.
I wasn't very impressed with this song on the whole. It sounds really over-produced to me, but I guess I should be expecting that.
After the announcement by the Estate this morning, along with the conflicting statements on Twitter, along with the debates amongst everyone here, I'm at a total loss as to what to think about all of this.
At this point, I do not know if I am going to purchase this album or not. I want to listen to the other tracks before I make a decision.
EDIT: Today (November 30) I finally decided to listen to the snippet of the song "Monster." In my opinion, the voice singing the song does NOT sound like Michael. If that is in fact him, then his vocals have been produced to kingdom come. I think that the little that I heard (50 secs), is incredibly sub-par and below Michael's musical and artistic standards. "Much Too Soon" was a much-needed breath of fresh air.
----------on to the Oprah interview-------------
I did not watch Oprah interviewing Katherine and Joe. I made this decision mainly because I had no desire to relive June 25th through Katherine's sad eyes. I also had no desire to listen to Joe's attempts to justify his treatment of Michael. I'm glad that I didn't, after reading the summaries on here.
I was not happy to hear about some of the things that Katherine said. It's not that I have a problem with her opinion, but rather that she chose to come out with it on national television. She wouldn't have said these things if Michael was still alive, so why now? As soon as I read some of the comments she had made about his face, I knew that's what the headlines would be the next day. And I was right.
I cannot make any sense out of Oprah Winfrey. If she really thinks that he was a criminal, then why air a tribute show after having her company release a statement explaining why she wouldn't? Why would she proudly display a drawing that he did? Is it really that she is so swayed by the opinions of her viewers that she would just go in all directions? Is she really that shallow? Why is she so sure of herself? Is it purely because she was molested as a child?
???
It baffles me because I used to see her as someone with intelligence, integrity and fairness, but now, I can't make heads or tails of her.
I did watch the last part with the kids and their cousins, on YouTube. I enjoyed it.
----------------------------------
I'm tired and I don't know what's for sure anymore, except for one thing. I miss Michael. A lot.
