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Xscape General Discussion

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

my favs order:
(new versions)
1. Xscape
2. STTR
3. APWNN
4. Chicago & Loving you
5. LNFSG (also the JT version)
6. BG
...
7. DYKWYCA

overall i like the album very much, but DYKWYCA is still far too weird to me.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

ShipOfFools said:
Rodney Jerkins remixed a masterpiece, and made it even more of a masterpiece. Let this song be a testament that, most of the time, if a producer has a vision on a song, they should be the one to remix it.
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Re-quoted for truth.

I may re-quote other posts declaring Xscape a masterpiece later on as well. laughs

There are cultures that celebrate a passing after the mourning period. I appreciate those ideals. The bridge has a gospel feel to me and reminded me of this.

Saw this on #MJFAM:

@trppope
@RodneyJerkins #xscape made my @beatsbydre beg for mercy! @michaeljackson @MJonlineteam #MJFam #bestyouneverheard
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

10317646_710034225702025_8939492288704343085_o.jpg
 
Timbaland ‏@Timbaland 10 h.

me n @JRocHarmon want 2 thank all fans 4 support & love on Michael Jackson's new album #XSCAPE. hope u love it as much as we did makin it.

Timor Steffens @Timorworld · 5 h.
I think @Timbaland as executive producer & all other creatives including dutch @GiorgioTuinfort did an amazing job on the new MJ album.

Timor Steffens @Timorworld · 5 h.

I think the new Mj album has a song for every one. My personal fav's: slave to the rhythm,xscape and Love never felt so good.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

My faves in order are

Loving you
Chicago
Blue Gangsta
Love never felt so good (both versions)
Do you know where your children are
Xscape
A place with no name
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Tygger said:
Re-quoted for truth.

I may re-quote other posts declaring Xscape a masterpiece later on as well. laughs

There are cultures that celebrate a passing after the mourning period. I appreciate those ideals. The bridge has a gospel feel to me and reminded me of this.

Saw this on #MJFAM:

@trppope
@RodneyJerkins #xscape made my @beatsbydre beg for mercy! @michaeljackson @MJonlineteam #MJFam #bestyouneverheard
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This! Xscape was the best track on the album, hands down! Just incredible, he completely nailed it. He kept the MJ flavor while still making it current and contemporary. I tip my hat for Jerkins.

#Xscapeforthenextsingle!
 
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Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

edited double post office fluctuation glich 2.0 2014
 
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Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Xscape should have started the album with chicago following. Now that would have been a strong opener!
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I remember when people said 2000 Watts wasn't a Michael Jackson song...WTF? It was made and written by Michael, of course it was Michael Jackson!

I don't pretend to enjoy everything that Michael did. There is no musician alive who I like everything they did.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

today i saw album commercial on tv. weeks before it was only Xperia commercials mentioning the album in the end.

Watched the documentary on the dvd. Man, Timbo is so full of himself. but did you notice his face as the original BG was playing?

Could anyone else make out the song titles on the deluxe poster? i found loving you and BG.
 
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Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

SoCav said:
But what is the MJ essence according to you? Just the vocals? Because musically things were changed at will. The hooks, rhythms, melodies - on most tracks hardly any of the original elements that were the foundation of the music were retained. To me they are just as much a part of the 'essence' as the vocals.
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Fair enough. For me the biggest essence is the vocals, yes. The beats too (MJ loved hard hitting beats), not losing the mood of the song as well. If it's uptempo and makes me want to get up and dance - that's MJ for me. Michael sometimes took a song and changed it to create something new/current. Changing the melody doesn't necessarily make it bad for me, it just makes it different.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

BUMPER SNIPPET said:
Actually I noticed that fans started criticizing MJ even when he was alive. Throughout years and decades MJ was an innovator. He did songs such as 2000 Watts and SHOUT. I absolutely loved how he brought that sound alive, but when I read the reaction from some fans about such songs, I see the same negativity with the newly released Xscape's new versions.
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You contradict yourself.

Michael WAS an innovator. He created some newer before heard stuff, some were released by him, some were left behind.

BUT when someone pulls out those left behind songs and REINVENTS a new song build upon a vocal track while disregarding Michaels already blueprinted artistic vision you can't equalize this with Michaels innovation.

BUMPER SNIPPET said:
All I am saying, if you are not happy with MJ's innovative process, then go back to J5 and Jump For Hoy era, they are also nice songs, just not contemporary. And it would be much better than coming here and throwing up on everything newly released.
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LOL this is not worth to comment
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

OMG! I've just listened to my physical copy.

Simply put, the 'L.A. Reid Team' did an amazing job redefining the songs. My listening session with my wife was so awesome, that we've listened to the tracks two times in a row. We both don't like the demo versions since they obviously were not finished.

I just love Xscape, except for LNFSG (John McLain version). The remix with JT should be replaced with the John McLain version, other than that I like it! I give the album 10 stars out of 10, because I feel Michael would be more than satisfied with it. It was done with love and respect towards The King Of Pop! And you can hear it from track 2 'till 8 (deluxe version) including track 17! My god what an experience. Pop meets disco, funk, classical and Jazz. Loving You is so amazing with Michaels choirs. Timbaland did an awesome job reimagining it.

The album sounds like MJ is still with us. I see that the album is doing more than fine in the charts! And it deserves to be!!

The ending song 'Xscape' is totally wicked!! Such a surprise!

I have no words for this project, I am literally speechless. Right now I am waiting for my HD AUDIO COPY in 24 bit / 96 kHz from Qobuz. It will arrive coming Monday in my email inbox.

I'm so excited to hear this master piece in high resolution audio! If you have the equipment it to play it back, I recommend buying the album in this quality, because it will be an experience like you've never heard before!
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Who also liked the fact that there were chain sounds in the beginning of STTR original ? I love it.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

coffre said:
You contradict yourself.

Michael WAS an innovator. He created some newer before heard stuff, some were released by him, some were left behind.

BUT when someone pulls out those left behind songs and REINVENTS a new song build upon a vocal track while disregarding Michaels already blueprinted artistic vision you can't equalize this with Michaels innovation.


LOL this is not worth to comment
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There's no contradiction. MJ is dead. What else can you do than continue innovating as he did? Yes, you can leave the demo as such, but that's what we've also got, so the release is perfect as far as I am concerned. I just don't get some whining fans who are constantly unhappy about everything.

LA Reid di nit disregard. Neither have the other producers in their teams. They knew what they were doing as if MJ was with them. They have some experience working with MJ, they know better how Mike was in the studio and what sound he liked than us.

p.s. Not only they modernized the song, but they have left that MJ flavour in each song. Listne to APWNN, it's SOULFUL, just liek MJ would do with some songs.
 
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Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

serendipity said:
Fair enough. For me the biggest essence is the vocals, yes. The beats too (MJ loved hard hitting beats), not losing the mood of the song as well. If it's uptempo and makes me want to get up and dance - that's MJ for me. Michael sometimes took a song and changed it to create something new/current. Changing the melody doesn't necessarily make it bad for me, it just makes it different.
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Ok, fair enough! For me the bassline, drums and synths on Billie Jean for example are just as essential to what makes that song work as the vocals, you know what I mean? We see things differently!

lom kit said:
Watched the documentary on the dvd. Man, Timbo is so full of himself. but did you notice his face as the original BG was playing?
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A friend just told me it shows him and LA Reid smiling and Timbaland saying that "This one doesn't sound as bad as the rest of them" at that point. Can you confirm/deny (hopefully the latter) this? I can't check the docu at the mo as I'm on the move.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Michael was about innovation, but he was also about surrounding himself with the current artists of today. Remember all the people he worked with in the 70's, 80's, and 90's? Do you think he was trying to pretend to be something bigger or better than them?

He sought out Will.i.am and Akon to do songs with. Hold My Hand wasn't an accident. Sure, it wasn't finished, but the demo (which I have) is relatively close to what ended up on the Michael album, and that's basically what Michael was about.

A good deal of the songs that are on Xscape kept the same vibe and even the same chord progressions as the original, they just were filled out with more instruments. Are you listening to the same album I am? This isn't like Tricky's version of Slave To The Rhythm, which sounded completely like a different song when I first heard it. I was disapponted in the final version, until I heard the demo, and realized it's close to the demo.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

tricia70 said:
Sorry, but I don't understand what this person tweeted. Explain pls.
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"I slay your faves from the grave" - a slang for "I'm better/I'm doing better than all of your favourites, even from the grave".

"Stay pressed" - about the same as saying "haters gonna hate".
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

BUMPER SNIPPET said:
There's no contradiction. MJ is dead. What else can you do than continue innovating as he did? Yes, you can leave the demo as such, but that's what we've also got, so the release is perfect as far as I am concerned. I just don't get some whining fans who are constantly unhappy about everything.
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1) I'm not unhappy with everything.

2) Why is there any need to RECREATE/REINVENT every single song? Michael's known for his released (many) timeless songs. The new songs on Xscape - except LNFSG - do sound maybe very timely and trendy but they're also damned to be got forgotten soon.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

coffre said:
The new songs on Xscape - except LNFSG - do sound maybe very timely and trendy but they're also damned to be got forgotten.
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And that is why we have the demos.

I always said that the demos have more historical/artistical value. But as long as we are getting them I do not mind new remixes even if they will probably get outdated in a couple of years (like the remixes on Thriller 25). It would be different if we didn't get the demos, but this way I'm OK.

People should accept this project for what it is. It's not a new MJ studio album. There will never be a new MJ studio album again.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

coffre said:
1) I'm not unhappy with everything.

2) Why is there any need to RECREATE/REINVENT every single song? Michael's known for his released (many) timeless songs. The new songs on Xscape - except LNFSG - do sound maybe very timely and trendy but they're also damned to be got forgotten soon.
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Because Michael was functioning like that. He would shelve a song and would rework it over and over again before releasing it. They did what they thought was the best for the songs and at the same time they tried to keep MJ's flavor as much as possible. Releasing only the demos would be actually sad. Sad, because MJ is not here any more to rework them, so they did it as if MJ was working with them. Surely MJ would love to hit the charts, even if for us real hardcore fans the charts aren't important. We love MJ's music anyway. But, hey, there are other potential fans out there who had never been interested in MJ's music, and maybe with thsi new release they will discover previous things MJ did. They can discover MJ only if MJ gets back to the charts.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

BUMPER SNIPPET said:
Sometimes I wonder if people are here for MJ or just to criticize either other fans or MJ's new releases. It is as if I went to another singer's forum and constantly spread negativity about his songs. I'd start question how much fan actually I am, and as SmoothMJ said, if some don't love post 2009 releases, well there are releases from before 2009.

Actually I noticed that fans started criticizing MJ even when he was alive. Throughout years and decades MJ was an innovator. He did songs such as 2000 Watts and SHOUT. I absolutely loved how he brought that sound alive, but when I read the reaction from some fans about such songs, I see the same negativity with the newly released Xscape's new versions.

All I am saying, if you are not happy with MJ's innovative process, then go back to J5 and Jump For Hoy era, they are also nice songs, just not contemporary. And it would be much better than coming here and throwing up on everything newly released.
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I agree^^

Guys we should make sure we understand the dvd when we listen to it. Someone just made an incorrect statement about Timbo and the originals and some believed, so it is best for people to listen to the dvd themselves before making disparaging statements about any producers. This is how rumors start, since people miss corrections in the thread because it is moving very quickly.

Please leave some complaints for tomorrow, because you might run out of complaints to post.

About this complaint that the producers contemporized songs will only be hits for a few weeks, I wanted to comment. Michael's songs while he was alive, are the basis of his legacy. Therefore, producers could contemporize some unreleased music and even though they are not lasting hits, Michael's legacy will still be intact because the new hits are not the basis of his legacy. Producers could contemporize songs all the way to 2050 to bring Michael to the new generations. These kids will buy the contemporized music and also check out Michael's masterpieces, so new generations of kids will be enjoying Michael.

Producers cannot produce the songs the way Michael would, because Michael is no longer here physically and he cannot guide them. People have said this several times.

We have to keep remembering that Michael is not ours, our baby, mine, mine, mine. He is for everyone who likes his singing. His singing has to be introduced to the younger generation and others, so his singing is packaged in a way that would attract them to it. Once the kids open the package and hears that wonderful voice they will love him too, and then go hunting for all the original gems he created while he was here.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

SoCav said:
Ok, fair enough! For me the bassline, drums and synths on Billie Jean for example are just as essential to what makes that song work as the vocals, you know what I mean? We see things differently!


A friend just told me it shows him and LA Reid smiling and Timbaland saying that "This one doesn't sound as bad as the rest of them" at that point. Can you confirm/deny (hopefully the latter) this? I can't check the docu at the mo as I'm on the move.
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Yes. Before tha he said "after awhile,... the first 3 songs i heard original, i said this going to trow/turn/torn (***can't make it out, what exactly he is saying****) me off. so just play the acappelas"
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

People need to stop complaining.

I was there when Invincible dropped. I remember all the fans who were complaining about that album in the official Sony chatroom.

13 years has passed. Is Invincible okay now?

Let's give it another 13 years, and two more posthumous MJ albums for people to complain about. Then, maybe, people will start embracing this album and thinking it's good.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

coffre said:
1) I'm not unhappy with everything.

2) Why is there any need to RECREATE/REINVENT every single song? Michael's known for his released (many) timeless songs. The new songs on Xscape - except LNFSG - do sound maybe very timely and trendy but they're also damned to be got forgotten soon.
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If you do not contemporize them then Michael's legacy will not pass on to new generations. This is the best way to keep Michael alive to future generations.

I loved BAD25 demos, but frankly they were dated, and I wished they had contemporized them too.

And the way they presented this project there is something for everyone, and a big bonus, it will have Michael upfront and center again around the GLOBE!!
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

ShipOfFools said:
People need to stop complaining.

I was there when Invincible dropped. I remember all the fans who were complaining about that album in the official Sony chatroom.

13 years has passed. Is Invincible okay now?

Let's give it another 13 years, and two more posthumous MJ albums for people to complain about. Then, maybe, people will start embracing this album and thinking it's good.
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PPL are embracing this album, it is HUGE. Just because you have a handful of fans that can't see the big picture of how great this is, doesn't mean this is not a huge critical success.
 
Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

My faves (contemporized songs) in order are:

1. DYKWYCA (WHHHAAATTTT!?!?!?!?)
2. Chicago ("Contemporize the Original" accomplished)
3. Loving You ("Contemporize the Original" accomplished)
4. Xscape (Awesome Remix, but doesn't stand a chance against the Original)
5. Love Never Felt So Good (My Summer-feel-good-Song)
6. Slave to the Rhythm (Neither the Timbo-Production, Trickys 2010 Mix or the Original Produtction can match MJ's Vocals. He sounds just too good on this one, compared to any of the known Versions of this Song.)
7. A Place with No Name (Perfect Remix! Perfect B-Side! Not an MJ Album Candidate IMO, sorry.)
8. Blue Gangsta (The Original Recording is just too perfect and complete. Timbos Version doesn't stand a chance IMO. Also I think its sonicly (and production-wise) too close to Timbos "Slave to the Rhythm".

But overall I love the concept and the result of Xscape!! The Promotion is great so far and it's actually more than I was hoping for. I love it!
 
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