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Original Versions OF XSCAPE Album

How I love the passion in Michael's voice in the verse where he says "HOME! HOME!" in STTR! He was such an exceptional vocalist - being able to express emotions in his vocals so well.
 
I will get all the demos within a few hours guys! The album is released tomorrow here on May 9th!

Wooop wooop!
 
A lot of people probably already have them already. The album leaked like an hour ago.


My fav original versions, in specific order:

1 Chicago (Original)
2. DYKWYCA (Original)
3. Loving You (Original) (I like how the new mix keeps true to the demo also.)
4. APWNN (Original)
5. Xscape (Original)
6. Blue Gangsta (Original)
7. LNFSG (Original)
 
AlwaysThere is the only one I've seen who constantly goes out of the way to voice how much he thinks the new mixes are superior to the originals. That's it though.
 
NotAlone said:
Multiple people keep defending remakes saying they are best and will make sales. Timbaland did not use Michaels original compositions.
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How did he not use Michael's original compositions? Do you know what's the difference between composing and producing a song?
 
My opinion:

1. Love Never Felt So Good (Recorded 1983)
+ NEU (J. McClain) [9/10]
+ ORIGINAL [8/10]
+ Bonus: Justin Timberlake Remake [10/10]

2. Chicago (1999)
+ NEU (by Timbaland) [10/10]
+ ORIGINAL [5/10]

3. Loving You (~1986)
+ NEU (by Timbaland) [10/10]
+ ORIGINAL [8/10]

4. A Place With No Name (1998)
+ NEU (by Stargate) [9/10]
+ ORIGINAL [10/10]

5. Slave to the Rhythm (1989)
+ NEU (by Timbaland) [7/10]
+ ORIGINAL [7/10]

6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (1990)
+ NEU (by Timbaland) [10/10]
+ ORIGINAL [10/10]

7. Blue Gangsta (1998)
+ NEU (by Timbaland) [8/10]
+ ORIGINAL [9/10]

8. Xscape (1999)
+ NEU (by Jerkins) [9/10]
+ ORIGINAL [10/10]
 
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^ Good to see you are not so disappointed any more. At least that looks like a good overall mark for the album.
 
respect77 said:
How did he not use Michael's original compositions? Do you know what's the difference between composing and producing a song?
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Read Billboard interview. The new producers only were given vocals and were not allowed to hear thr original.
 
NotAlone said:
Read Billboard interview. The new producers only were given vocals and were not allowed to hear thr original.
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That doesn't mean they composed the song. Geez, know the difference between songwriting and production.
 
Haha I don't like the original of Chicago at all.. At least it's not as awesome as the new version is :D
 
I like how in the original Chicago, the lead voice alternates left and right while the higher vocal sings the chorus. But it does seem to fade a bit early.

Something's wrong with the audio quality of LNFSG demo =/ some artifacts (not just hissing)

I don't think DYKWYCA remix is that bad I quite dig it. The demo is better though, but I don't like how it's already starting to fade out when he does the "heyyyyyyyyyyy!" adlib at the end.

Also, the bass seems too strong in some of these demos... This ain't HIStory Tour Munich -_-

Lovin' You demo sounds a bit flat compared to the final. It's probably -0.25 on the pitch (like The Girl is Mine demo on the 2008 single). Indeed the song reminds me a lot of TGIM demo. I don't really like the slight downpitch, but it's probably intended to be like that OR they pitched it down intentionally.
 
I like both versions of Chicago. Very different but great.

Overall, I'm very happy with the album!
 
WhoIsIt89 said:
3. Loving You (Original) (I like how the new mix keeps true to the demo also.)
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Other than the vocal processing the only change I noticed was Timbo replaced "I'll stay home instead" with "I'll stay home in bed" in the first buildup.

I don't like how the demo version seems to go up by HALF a semitone near the end of the song.

For Xscape (the song I mean), I think there's more adlibs than the original as well.
 
Listening to the demo, I think the new mixes are pretty good variations on them generally speaking. One point in favor of the originals is that I think they just sound so much more live. I don't mind electronic music at all (I listen to a lot of electronic only music), but I think a lot of the new mixes could've benefitted a lot from not sounding so... "produced in a digital studio". More live instruments all in all. That has never really been Timbaland's memo though as far as I know. I think the new mix of Love Never Felt So Good *really* benefits from having the piano on it (so good that they were forced to use it, hehe!).

I think Chicago is the one song where I feel the original is much better. Much more low-key somehow, much more mysterious. A Place With No Name has a totally different feel, but I think both versions are really great. It's probably my favorite overall on the album.
 
You can hear Michael snapping his fingers during the original version of Chicago (She Was Lovin' Me). That's a plus the original has. Haha.
 
On the original versions of Blue Gangsta and Xscape, I have noticed they have remastered the levels, made some things louder, some things quieter. Blue Gangsta is really bass heavy now for some reason, quite a bit shorter and they turned down his vocal where he says "you make me wanna sing...". I don't mind a little remastering but I think it's just a touch too stark. It's really noticeable, and I don't think it really added anything.
 
MikeJac2005 said:
On the original versions of Blue Gangsta and Xscape, I have noticed they have remastered the levels, made some things louder, some things quieter. Blue Gangsta is really bass heavy now for some reason, quite a bit shorter and they turned down his vocal where he says "you make me wanna sing...". I don't mind a little remastering but I think it's just a touch too stark. It's really noticeable, and I don't think it really added anything.
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I haven't heard them yet but the original version is maybe downmixed version done & approved by MJ. The 2010 leak could have been remixed from the multitrack.
 
Has anyone noticed that on DYKWYCA a different take of the line "she's only 12 years old" has been used in the original and remake?

Am I hearing things?
 
MikeJac2005 said:
On the original versions of Blue Gangsta and Xscape, I have noticed they have remastered the levels, made some things louder, some things quieter. Blue Gangsta is really bass heavy now for some reason, quite a bit shorter and they turned down his vocal where he says "you make me wanna sing...". I don't mind a little remastering but I think it's just a touch too stark. It's really noticeable, and I don't think it really added anything.
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it might be the opposite. I like that it's turned down when he speaks there, makes him sound more serious.

That said, I know what you mean by remastering, that was one concern I had. I called it the HIStory Tour Munich sound (pounding bass and compressed sound), but maybe this is how MJ would want it. BG also has a pretty cool little guitar part before the chorus.

They shortened both APWNN and BG, I was concerned at first but I compared with the leaked version, they just cut off the more repetitive parts (the instrumental in APWNN and the maaaaaahh part in BG).
 
Frankyboy5 said:
it might be the opposite. I like that it's turned down when he speaks there, makes him sound more serious.

That said, I know what you mean by remastering, that was one concern I had. I called it the HIStory Tour Munich sound (pounding bass and compressed sound), but maybe this is how MJ would want it. BG also has a pretty cool little guitar part before the chorus.

They shortened both APWNN and BG, I was concerned at first but I compared with the leaked version, they just cut off the more repetitive parts (the instrumental in APWNN and the maaaaaahh part in BG).
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That part is turned down so much you can hardly hear it lol. Somehow I feel that Xscape is a little less funky/bouncy than the old leaked version. Anyone else find that?
 
To me Chicago has a bit of an ambient feel to it. Can anyone else hear that?
 
The STTR demo is so awesome. So great to finally hear it.
 
After listening all the originals, this is my order of preference:

1. Slave To The Rhythm, what a wicked, kick ass track despite being in early stages.
2.A Place With No Name, even though it's no a hit potential with Michael's vocals made it stand on its own.
3. Xscape
4. Blue Gansta
5. Loving You, I was dissapointed how the vocals sounded (maybe in the CD it has a better sound.)
6. Love Never Felt So Good, better quality.
7. Chicago, the vocals are more enjoyable in the original but the music is boring at moments.
8. Do You Know Where Your Children Are, I was hoping the 2010 leaked version were closer to the original but in this one the syths are horrible.
 
I haven't heard the originals for any of the songs yet. I am keeping that part a surprise.
 
I believe the originals sound better, it shows the contrast of just what a talent Michael was. No one compares. I love Rodney Jerkins too. Just sick beats. Have to hear better quality though.
 
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I may edit my order of preference after more listenings...

Loving You (original) it seems a song I could listen in the first or second Karate Kid movies. :p
 
My opinion is that I thought the new versions were really cool, and I still do, but now I think they're practically butchered compared to the originals. I do enjoy the new LNFSG and Loving You versions, but the rest I really feel are best in demo format. Chicago and Slave to the Rhythm are unbelievably better. Slave is better than any mix I've ever heard of it, and Do You Know Where Your Children Are sounds a million times better than the previous one we had and this.

I just can't get over how groovy and funky Slave to the Rhythm is.

Each track feels genuinely touched by Michael, and the new songs feel only touched by him vocally, if that makes sense.

I still love the new versions and will listen to them, but my god the demos are way better.
 
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