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What kind of music does Michael Jackson listen too?

I can't exactly remember, but I think I've read a few years ago that he visited London and bought some CDs. Even Radiohead CDs. It surprised me. I think it was around 2002 or 2003. Still doesn't mean that he could be much into them or the other bands of which he bought CDs from. I also bought many CDs in my life and I'm not really into all of those bands/artist's music.

If I remember I've read it on the tele text of RTL (a German channel). But I'm not sure how much you can trust into what they say, and what other stuff he bought.

But for me myself, it's hard to imagine what music he's into... His own music is so different and surprising with every time and still sounds fresh after all those years. And I personally can't imagine any band/artist (except a few) that could have inspired him and influenced him musically, to put such great songs together. I think the only thing that's safe to say is, that he himself is his biggest influence and inspiration, I guess. Fortunately. :) Unlike most bands/artists nowadays and surely in the past who only copy or get worse with every song/release (if they're not just one-hit-wonders).
 
GOLDSPACESUIT45 said:
We know he loves James brown music to this date but what other kind of music is he into or grew up listen too?
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Yeah James Brown (RIP) and I don't think I directly heard Mike speaking about the kind of music he grew up on, but I think he probably grew up listening to...

Sly and The Family Stone
Earth Wind & Fire
The Isley Brothers
Donny Hathaway
Jackie Wilson
Aretha Franklin
The Bee Gees
Sammy Davis Jr.
The Temptations
Stevie Wonder
Smokey Robinson
The Falcons ---the R&B group where his father was a member


and many many more...
 
In the video where MJ was out shopping in LA the other week (or was it the week before) you could hear classical music from inside the car. It sounded really lush :happy:

I reckon MJ's music dates are pretty varied it would be hard to pin point a genre to be honest.
 
To be honest, I think the man has more of an eclectic library that all of us put together. As a kid i remember him saying he listened to The Beatles a lot, and also James Brown and Sly. As an adult I also know he said his favorite song was "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" by Debussy.

But I think he listens to just about everything under the sun if he can. He may like to keep up with the current top 40 as well. Even though it's shitty as hell, but just to stay on his A-game.

That would actually be a question I really want to ask him.
 
Apparently, he likes Kraftwerk, Duran Duran, Prince, Boy George, & Whitney Houston, because he wanted to work with them, but they all turned him down. I also heard that he used to listen to the Pet Shop Boys. He said once he like Johnny Cash because his mother mostly listened to Country & Western.

Judy Garland
New Edition
Jermaine Jackson
Frank Sinatra
Minnie Riperton
Stevie Wonder
Willie Nelson
Bruce Springsteen
Little Richard
Beach Boys
 
In my opinion...

He "loves" Ms.Janet's (adores her) music, listens to pop, rock, new age, alternative, and some classical...& not too fond of country (too whinny)

But hey...what do I know...

:angel:Smiles~~~
 
DuranDuran said:
Apparently, he likes Kraftwerk, Duran Duran, Prince, Boy George, & Whitney Houston, because he wanted to work with them, but they all turned him down. I also heard that he used to listen to the Pet Shop Boys. He said once he like Johnny Cash because his mother mostly listened to Country & Western.

Judy Garland
New Edition
Jermaine Jackson
Frank Sinatra
Minnie Riperton
Stevie Wonder
Willie Nelson
Bruce Springsteen
Little Richard
Beach Boys
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There is no record of Michael saying he likes to listen to Kraftwerk, Duran Duran, Bruce Springsteen (I think Michael respects his music, not sure if he likes it ?) and certainly not Boy George.

I don't know why none of you have listed The Beatles as Michael has said since the early 1970's he listens to them. Michael used to also listen to a group called Three Dog Night.

Gerenally Michael's always been quite vage on what music he listens to, and generally just say's James Brown, The Beatles, Diana Ross, Barbra Strisand and the Bee Gees and classical music. He also never says what current music he listens to, that spans from the 1980's to present.

I think Michael listens to a lot of different types of music from Soul, Pop, Rock, Heavy Metal, Electronic, Hip Hop, Musicals, Classical, World Music etc.
 
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Music is his life! I think he likes all kinds of music including new music and new artists.
 
benscarr said:
There is no record of Michael saying he likes to listen to Kraftwerk, Duran Duran, Bruce Springsteen (I think Michael respects his music, not sure if he likes it ?) and certainly not Boy George.
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He had discussions to work with Kraftwerk in the mid 80s, but they didn't really work with other acts and "give their sound away". They also turned down Elton John. He also wanted to work with John Taylor & Nick Rhodes, but there was scheduling conflicts. There was also supposed to be a duet with Boy George, but nothing became of it. George has mentioned it several times. Why would he want to work with someone if he didn't like their music? Kraftwerk wasn't going to get him sales as they're not mainstream and has a niche audience.
 
He's always shown love for classical music, I could imagine him listening to different types of instrumentals as well as being open to all genres. But if I had to pick a few artists I would definitely say:
Beatles
Diana Ross
James Brown
Janet Jackson
Whitney Houston.

I suppose mainly soul singers as their songs actually bring out the vocals and represents their talent which makes it easier to appreciate their music. Groups like Boys II Men, New Edition, Soul For Real, Shalamar, Isley Brothers etc..who knows? lol
 
I'm reading a book called Nöthin' But A Good Time: The Uncensored History Of The '80s Hard Rock Explosion. It was released in 2021 and is primarily about glam metal bands, but does speak about other types of hard rock acts. Here's a comment in the book from Rikki Rockett, who is the drummer for Poison talking about their music video for Talk Dirty To Me:

"I only realized what we had accomplished with that video years later when I met Michael Jackson. I said 'Listen, I don't know if you know anything about our band, but I'm the drummer for Poison. I just wanted to say hi.' He turns around and he goes, 'Man, every time your video comes on, I sit down because you're having such a good time. I don't want to miss a second of it.' So if some dude says 'Oh you guys suck', it's like, Who fu----- cares? Michael Jackson saw the value in Poison. How cool is that?"
 
Michael also enjoyed Nine Inch Nails, I know that much (just listen to Morphine LOL though I'm pretty sure it was also confirmed somewhere). And Björk, too (the admiration was mutual, which I love 😍). Radiohead wouldn't surprise me either, lol. And lots of classical music, too. He adored Tchaikovsky, I remember.

And of course James Brown, Diana Ross, Jackie Wilson... Also Rick Ross, apparently. That one Chris Tucker bit always makes me hysterical. 🤣 He had also bought a Pet Shop Boys record sometime during the '80s, according to one account.

Michael's musical tastes were extremely wide, and I love that! It definitely showed in his own music as well, which IMO is a big part of what makes him so great to begin with. 🥰
 
He liked Scritti Politti

He mentioned Debussy as well as Tchaikovsky. Prokofiev. Mozart, I think.

He had Herman's Hermits in his record collection (yay! so stoked!!) - in the Mexico depo he does say he loves Herman's Hermits. Also mentions Glen Campbell, The Carpenters, The Eagles, Aretha, Bee Gees, Stevie. Also the Sherman Brothers who I believe wrote tons of songs for films ('60's stuff, I think). He mentions Johnny Mathis as being in his record collection - makes perfect sense.

He mentions Three Dog Night (double yay!!!!) in 2 American Bandstand interviews. He was only a kid so I'd love to know if he really liked them or if that was a Motown PR thing. If I could interview Michael I'd wanna know. I'm not saying he *couldn't* like that band as a child. I'm the same age as Michael and I ADORED Three Dog Night in their heyday so it could be true - really hope so. But I'd love to ask him about it.

He also mentions The Staples Singers which makes perfect sense.

Queen - obviously!

Nine Inch Nails - I'm sure I read somewhere (can't remember where) that he particularly loved The Downward Spiral which is easy to believe. And bc Trent Reznor was so heavily influenced by Gary Numan I'd love to know if Michael was into Gary's work. Sometimes when I listen to 'Savage' I really want to know what Michael would have thought of it (if he'd had the chance to hear it).

Update - just looked up the Sherman Brothers. They were staff songwriters at Disney. Also wrote stuff for theme parks. It's all making sense now.

Nite Line said:
Threads pre June 25th 2009 are always hard to read and go through. 😭
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It's tough. Also the ones in the immediate aftermath or the ones around the release of TII. All of them, so hard to read. I've read many of these threads and I'll probably do it again and it can sometimes be strangely comforting but mostly it's just emotionally so tough.
 
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