Did anybody else get tired of MJ's "anti-tabloid" songs?

[Graynbow]

I don't need MJ songs to be relatable to like them either. I mean how relatable is Thriller or Smooth Criminal or even BOTD. But I do need MJ songs to be original, and some of those angry songs he did later on stopped sounding original.

Its messages that needed to keep being repeated to help more of the public understand how terrible a source they were tho. Unfortunately all journalism standards got tossed out when it came to MJ though, so everyone was guilty of not fact-checking before printing because his name was too hot and everyone was trying to get out anything and everything they could on him. He was fighting a massive invisible monster of everyone's subconscious influenced by the rest of the media. He had to repeat as much as he could to keep up with it and I think he did it very well, as if anyone else could make music and film the way he did.

 

[someplace_else]

Well, it certainly makes it easier to enjoy something.

(Context was being able to relate to something.)

I think if you have a certain amount of empathy you can relate, right? Of course you don't know exactly how it feels like, but when I listen to these songs I can feel his anger and frustration, so I can imagine very well how it must have felt like and it's relatable

So, in my opinion these are his best songs. I also enjoy earlier albums, always depends on my mood. But the songs that are really grabbing me, are the ones where Michael expresses all his emotions about things that really bothered him.

I also don't know if I can use the word "enjoy" here. Kind of... don't know how to describe it with words...they just pull me in, that's how I could describe it...if it's understandable somehow

 

[someplace_else]

But I do need MJ songs to be original, and some of those angry songs he did later on stopped sounding original.

Just out of curiosity: which ones do you mean exactly?

 

[R1chard]

I think this quote is quite overrated. It was said early in MJ's career, and I think he said himself (or so) that he didn't always understand what the lyrics were about.

Yeah, I guess he was told to say it, but anyway, it's still a phrase that's relevant here.

Wait, I thought summertime was one of the most covered songs ever.

You misunderstood me. I said "Unlike something general like Yesterday or Summertime". That's the reason I mentioned those two songs.

You can imagine a band getting together and saying "let's play a MJ song", and you end up with IWYB or Beat It or Smooth Criminal. But you don't get LMA or Scream or DS, because those songs don't work for anybody else.

I think if you have a certain amount of empathy you can relate, right? Of course you don't know exactly how it feels like, but when I listen to these songs I can feel his anger and frustration

Yeah, you can feel that. I'm just saying it would be hypocritical of somebody to say it was their favourite song.

Like, nobody in the 90s ever said "I wonder what MJ thinks about the tabloids this week. I really hope there's another song about them on the next album!"

 

[jasmine.uddin]

Just out of curiosity: which ones do you mean exactly?

I have mentioned this in a previous post, so apologies to those rereading this. I felt that Scream and TJ sounded original along with WYWTOM and LMA.

However, I felt 2B, DS and TTA were all in a similar vein, they all had an over arching theme of one upmanship over a threat. By the time we got to Invincible I felt MJs approach to the topic risked sounding repetitive, I'm referring to Unbreakable, Threatened and Privacy. I think one of these songs per album would have been enough to hone in the message.

I'm not saying that MJ did not have just cause to write these types of songs, but he did risk sounding repetitive when approaching the later ones all from a similar angle thematically.

Also, I am not saying these songs were not individually good on their own merit, but to answer the question in the title thread, yes.

Maybe it's the experience of waiting for these albums and hearing them at the time. The anger in History at least felt justified considering what he had just been through in that period. The lingering anger over 3 songs in an already lengthy Invincible album risked sounding like he hadn't moved on. Maybe I would've felt differently if it had been just been one of those songs. I definitely think History would have been a stronger album if we lost a couple of those songs.

 

[someplace_else]

Yeah, you can feel that. I'm just saying it would be hypocritical of somebody to say it was their favourite song.

Like, nobody in the 90s ever said "I wonder what MJ thinks about the tabloids this week. I really hope there's another song about them on the next album!"

I can't really say something about that because I was born '91, discovered Michael in like '96 and loved these songs back then, but of course I didn't understand what they were about (I am from Germany). I just loved the energy back then and felt what he wanted to express. I love these songs even more today, now that I understand what they are about. And I have more favourite songs on HIStory and BOTDF than on any other album .

I have mentioned this in a previous post, so apologies to those rereading this. I felt that Scream and TJ sounded original along with WYWTOM and LMA.

However, I felt 2B, DS and TTA were all in a similar vein, they all had an over arching theme of one upmanship over a threat. By the time we got to Invincible I felt MJs approach to the topic risked sounding repetitive, I'm referring to Unbreakable, Threatened and Privacy. I think one of these songs per album would have been enough to hone in the message.

I'm not saying that MJ did not have just cause to write these types of songs, but he did risk sounding repetitive when approaching the later ones all from a similar angle thematically.

Also, I am not saying these songs were not individually good on their own merit, but to answer the question in the title thread, yes.

Maybe it's the experience of waiting for these albums and hearing them at the time. The anger in History at least felt justified considering what he had just been through in that period. The lingering anger over 3 songs in an already lengthy Invincible album risked sounding like he hadn't moved on. Maybe I would've felt differently if it had been just been one of those songs. I definitely think History would have been a stronger album if we lost a couple of those songs.

Haven't seen your previous post, sorry.

I can't agree with HIStory, I agree with Invincible. But I gotta say the whole album kinda lacks Michael's soul for me...but I don't want to go down this rabbit hole .

To me, on HIStory, it was like he felt he had to tell the world everything he was going through...and that he was still here after all that, so... that's why I really love all these angry/anti tabloid/etc. - songs because I am thinking "yes, let it all out, tell me about it".

Maybe also depends on why you are listening to music if you like these kind of songs or prefer others?

 

[AlwaysThere]

Being personal can be a problem though. It means people can't associate with the song as easily. I can't relate because I don't know what it's like, therefore I don't find myself singing Tabloid Junkie to myself. Similarly, I could never stand on stage and sing that song. So those songs don't really get cover versions.

I don’t agree with this at all. None of us could relate to “Smooth Criminal,” yet here we are singing it.

 

[SmoothGangsta]

Being unable to relate to songs because they're about stuff that hasn't directly happened to you is not a universal problem.

 

[R1chard]

I can't really say something about that because I was born '91, discovered Michael in like '96 and loved these songs back then, but of course I didn't understand what they were about (I am from Germany). I just loved the energy back then and felt what he wanted to express.

You're right on that - there was a lot of energy. And it was interesting to hear a different side of MJ, with swearing and negativity. It was as though you had the era up to Dangerous, then a switch was blocked, and then you had the era of HIStory and after.

I love these songs even more today, now that I understand what they are about. And I have more favourite songs on HIStory and BOTDF than on any other album .

That interesting. Most people would have said something earlier.

I don’t agree with this at all. None of us could relate to “Smooth Criminal,” yet here we are singing it.

Huh? When I lived in Manchester my apartment got broken into, twice...

 

[someplace_else]

That interesting. Most people would have said something earlier.

Sure? Let's make a vote