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Why does Michael always have songwritters in for himself on his albums?

analogue

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This is something that is a bit of a mystery to me. We all know that MJ is more than capable of writting and composing a full album all by himself so why does he get songwritters in for himself?
 
i think he's always open for ideas from other talented people. plus, it would take much longer to record a full 10-15 track album all alone.
 
because they're very good; gave him hits and timeless classics.
 
Because when you put two or more creative talents together, they find inspiration in each other and art is lifted to a higher level.

One example that you can see for yourself in the documentary about WATW is how Michael wrote We Are the World and then brought Lionel Richie in to sharpen what was until then a rough sketch.

Plus other people can also write gorgeous songs that are just a perfect fit for Michaels vocals. Like Fall Again or Gone Too Soon or Smile. Just that he didn't write it himself would be no reason to reject such songs.
 
All Lionel Richie wrote for "WATW" was the part that goes doo doo dodo, doo doo dododo". But anyway, I don't know, I guess for the reasons everyone else has stated. But Michael is an exceptionally strong song writer and I wish very much that he would write the majority of his own tracks which appeare on his albums. I think "Bad" and "History" are his best albums because of the songwriting on each. Almost every track from both of those albums is brilliant, and it's because Michael wrote the majority. Going off of the thread which asked what we would like to see more of from Michael, I would like to see him feature his own, solo, songwriting more. His best tracks are his own.
 
the reason he uses songwritters is because their job is to come up with tunes to suit specific artists. thats their profession. michael can write extremely well, thats a known fact, but so can others.

from thriller, to gone too soon, to man in the mirror, to keep the faith... all these songs are good songs but mike didnt write em.
 
I personally understand why someone would wonder why Michael, who's well a genius of a songwriter and composer also uses other songwriters to create songs for him.

My biggest wish as a Michael Jackson fan (apart from wanting to meet him) is for Michael to produces, write and compose every song on an album by himself. I think it would be his greatest album.

I don't mind Michael using other songwriters to create songs for him. If Michael never used other songwriters we wouldn't have Man In The Mirror, Can't Help It, Rock With You, Burn This Disco Out, Thriller and all of Rod Tempertons songs. Until Invincible I think all of Michael's albums were very well balanced with a mix of songs written/composed by Michael, and collaborations and songs written by other songwriters.

My only concern is that Michael increased his songwriting collaboration too much over the years.
 
Satyagrahi said:
Because when you put two or more creative talents together, they find inspiration in each other and art is lifted to a higher level.
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that's the genius of it. i see many music fans and pundits like to compare artists/writers/producers/even engineers within the same genre and i don't see the logic in that - each one of the contemporary greats are there because they do their own thing. now when their influences intertwine the right way, you get a beautiful creation. I Can't Help It changed my life
f_smiley.gif
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It gives variety to an album! It makes sure it doesnt go in just the one direction
 
I must be honest and say that I dont think MJ is a lyric genius. thats not his best part.
He knows for sure how to write lyrichs. but they are all very avrage...he is a music genius not a lyrich genius
 
writing consists of lyrics and melodies. his composition is up there with the greats. he's a songwriting genius.
 
human Nature changed my life. What would the world be without such a great song?
 
nationtonation said:
I must be honest and say that I dont think MJ is a lyric genius. thats not his best part.
He knows for sure how to write lyrichs. but they are all very avrage...he is a music genius not a lyrich genius
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I think he is one of the best songwriters ever but let me ask you this, people like Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston two of the greatest vocalists of all time never wrote any of their music does that make them any less or just average as you seem to indicate about people and their artistry?
 
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Bad's widely regarded as his best album amongst fans and it's the one he had the most input on in terms of songwriting.

I agree some of his best songs weren't written by him (Man In The Mirror, Off The Wall, Smile etc) but most of his best were (and produced by him as well in many cases) Who Is It, Give In To Me, Billie Jean, TWYMMF, Smooth Criminal etc.

I prefer him singing the odd song that was written for him than about 5 or 6 people writing the same song, like a lot on Invincible. Even though I still like them a lot don't sound like MJ songs as they have lost their identity.

But yes Michael's talent as a songwriter & producer is even more immense than his singing & dancing ability.
 
Tony R said:
But yes Michael's talent as a songwriter & producer is even more immense than his singing & dancing ability.
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i can't see such a comparison possible..
 
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with music the SOUND comes first... Michael is an out of the box thinker..

ONE person cannot come up with ALL the great ideas.. No matter how brilliant he/she is. If he feels a person has something to offer, he will hear it out. Even if he does not use that persons song, it may give him ideas..

Or if he loves it a lot, he could just use it..
 
nationtonation said:
I must be honest and say that I dont think MJ is a lyric genius. thats not his best part.
He knows for sure how to write lyrichs. but they are all very avrage...he is a music genius not a lyrich genius
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I disagree, some of the songs on Dangerous and particularly on HIStory has very deep and were extremely clever. Listen to Stranger and Moscow and They Don't Care About Us, Scream, Little Susie, Will You Be There, Dangerous, Give In To Me, Who Is It. All of those songs have lyrics that are way above average in my opinion, same goes for Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin Something, Heartbreak Hotel, Can You Feel It, Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana. On the surface sometimes MJ's lyrics seem simple, but if you look further his songs actually say a lot e.g. Scared of the Moon, some people thought it was just a bedtime lullaby when in fact its actually about mental illness.
 
AGB said:
I disagree, some of the songs on Dangerous and particularly on HIStory has very deep and were extremely clever. Listen to Stranger and Moscow and They Don't Care About Us, Scream, Little Susie, Will You Be There, Dangerous, Give In To Me, Who Is It. All of those songs have lyrics that are way above average in my opinion, same goes for Billie Jean and Wanna Be Startin Something, Heartbreak Hotel, Can You Feel It, Smooth Criminal, Dirty Diana. On the surface sometimes MJ's lyrics seem simple, but if you look further his songs actually say a lot e.g. Scared of the Moon, some people thought it was just a bedtime lullaby when in fact its actually about mental illness.
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really? WHere'd u hear that from?

I think SIM and Who Is It has some of the best lyrics.
 
J5master said:
really? WHere'd u hear that from?

I think SIM and Who Is It has some of the best lyrics.
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There was a thread on MJNO about it. After studying the lyrics its clear the song was about mental illness, the moon has been associated with insanity many times throughout history. I'll try and make a thread about it, discussing a lot of the lines.
 
Even the best songwriters like to bounce their ideas off another artist. And plus, if the music is good, why not use it? Michael has had many other songwriters contribute to his albums, and without them we wouldn't have songs like Thriller, Rock With You, or Human Nature.
 
Billie Jean is one of the wittiest songs ever written in my opnion. I would love to see a discussion about that song. The lyrics are just something else.
 
Datsymay said:
Billie Jean is one of the wittiest songs ever written in my opnion. I would love to see a discussion about that song. The lyrics are just something else.
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I agree. A lot of people don't really think about the lyrics but it is a brilliant song with great lyrics. I think "Billie Jean" and "Stranger In Moscow" are the best songs MJ's ever written. Anyway, I don't have a problem with MJ using other songwriters on his albums. Some of his best songs (Human Nature in particular) were written by other people. The only thing that Michael shouldn't do I think is let songwriters get too involved and write too many songs which was the case with "Invincible" and one of the main problems with that album. There was no signature Michael song on that album. I'm really hoping that he writes more than half of the new album himself.

wannabestartinsomthin21 said:
All Lionel Richie wrote for "WATW" was the part that goes doo doo dodo, doo doo dododo". But anyway, I don't know, I guess for the reasons everyone else has stated. But Michael is an exceptionally strong song writer and I wish very much that he would write the majority of his own tracks which appeare on his albums. I think "Bad" and "History" are his best albums because of the songwriting on each. Almost every track from both of those albums is brilliant, and it's because Michael wrote the majority. Going off of the thread which asked what we would like to see more of from Michael, I would like to see him feature his own, solo, songwriting more. His best tracks are his own.
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And you know that how? Lionel Richie is a very accomplished songwriter. I'm sure he contributed more than that to the song.
 
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Cinnamon234 said:
I agree. A lot of people don't really think about the lyrics but it is a brilliant song with great lyrics. I think "Billie Jean" and "Stranger In Moscow" are the best songs MJ's ever written. Anyway, I don't have a problem with MJ using other songwriters on his albums. Some of his best songs (Human Nature in particular) were written by other people. The only thing that Michael shouldn't do I think is let songwriters get too involved and write too many songs which was the case with "Invincible" and one of the main problems with that album. There was signature Michael song on that album. I'm really hoping that he writes more than half of the new album himself.



And you know that how? Lionel Richie is a very accomplished songwriter. I'm sure he contributed more than that to the song.
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Well said about Lionel Ritchie.
 
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Cinnamon234 said:
I agree. A lot of people don't really think about the lyrics but it is a brilliant song with great lyrics. I think "Billie Jean" and "Stranger In Moscow" are the best songs MJ's ever written. Anyway, I don't have a problem with MJ using other songwriters on his albums. Some of his best songs (Human Nature in particular) were written by other people. The only thing that Michael shouldn't do I think is let songwriters get too involved and write too many songs which was the case with "Invincible" and one of the main problems with that album. There was signature Michael song on that album. I'm really hoping that he writes more than half of the new album himself.



And you know that how? Lionel Richie is a very accomplished songwriter. I'm sure he contributed more than that to the song.
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Co-sign. ;)
 
Cinnamon234 said:
I agree. A lot of people don't really think about the lyrics but it is a brilliant song with great lyrics. I think "Billie Jean" and "Stranger In Moscow" are the best songs MJ's ever written. Anyway, I don't have a problem with MJ using other songwriters on his albums. Some of his best songs (Human Nature in particular) were written by other people. The only thing that Michael shouldn't do I think is let songwriters get too involved and write too many songs which was the case with "Invincible" and one of the main problems with that album. There was no signature Michael song on that album. I'm really hoping that he writes more than half of the new album himself.



And you know that how? Lionel Richie is a very accomplished songwriter. I'm sure he contributed more than that to the song.
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I remember watching an interview with Lionel Richie saying that Michael wrote the bulk of it and that he just added some finishing touches. He said he went over to Michael's house to write it but ended up leaving early because Michael's snake Muscles freaked him out a bit. Michael continued writing it that night and then later Lionel said he added some touches to it.
 
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