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I just love the way he sings certain parts of songs

@zinniabooklover
Well thank you for the compliment, I was under the impression that not a lot of people read my song ramblings.
But still it is an awful lot of work because I‘d have to put the time stamps in my post so you could know what I like exactly
I’ll give you this: this fanmade remix is fully put together through the multitracks (it feels like discovering an old song from scratch) but the opening 2 seconds is what I am talking about. This chook chook is not on the actual album edit but it is awesome. At least I don’t think it is on the actual album, could be wrong.
It is a vocalization, it doesn’t mean anything, it is as minor as all his little finger and arm gestures during his dancing but it is 100% MJ and it is cool and screams funk. Love it!

It is actually exactly like you said, I often just feel the need to emphasize the entire song. He is my favorite vocalist for a reason. He is able to alter my emotions with his voice, he can make me feel sad or he can lift me up. Goosebumps…

Slave to the rhythm. The part here “ she danced through the night in fear of her life” starting at 3.23 all the way till the song ends, so much passion is put into these vocals. This gets me really pumped, like it gives me a shot of energy, adrenaline pumping! Can you imagine watching this in the studio?! How can you work when someone does this to a mic?
 
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SmoothCriminal1995 said:
Someone In The Dark,
"oh I believe...you and I..could never really say goodbye"

I love Mike's control of his voice on that line
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Don’t get me started on this song, it is sonic perfection. Every line he utters is goosebump worthy but the first goosebumps on my arm usualy appear at the start of the second verse “ promise me“. It is such an insanely beautiful songs from the lyrics to the vocals and the instrumentals. During the second version a hauntingly beautiful horn comes in to play but you don’t tend to hear it unless you’re very familiar with the song. I really would love to hear an instrumental version of this track.

It is very much an hidden gem, it begs for more attention!

While typing this I started thinking randomnly about we’ve had enough. The part on the second verse where he goes from falsetto voice to gritty voice “ why his mother had to die” ****** hell, it gets my eyes wet every single time. Here it is at 2.14, of course it is coupled with the very sad lyrics to double the impact of it all. Michael was such an emotive singer as well as dancer. His face when he is singing screams passion.

Jane is a groupie. Only a snippet exists but it has such an impact on me “ it’s too much for me” he sings and it is exactly how I feel about it myself lol. It seems to be mostly adlibs in the snippets but that is MJ’s strength. I don’t know the state of completion of this song but it sure is intriguing. Especially when the strings come in it becomes classic Jackson. Perfect vocals.
 
I was gonna call it a day but then pops up a youtube recommendation of MJ. I obviously heard it dozens of times before but I just can’t say no… so I clicked and “tell me i’m not dreaming” live in Toronto starts playing. Jermaine is doing a good job singing his part but then a tornado emerges in the form of Michael Jackson and he lights this shit on fire, at 1.46 Mike goes “oooh your voice whispers in the dark” the way he sings voice is drop dead gorgeous. He is at times almost slurring his words and not articulating but it it is not lazy, it seems to come from deep places, he isn’t just singing he is really performing and pouring his heart out.
The album version is fantastic but this live performance is just spicier, the hiccups are there while they’re not on the album version. He emphasizes certain words better, sexier, more playful, grittier. To make it clear in one word: perfection!

 
zinniabooklover said:
oh, come on, f&m! You are BRILLIANT at this sort of thing. Absolutely brilliant. Better than me, lol.
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aww I feel this too, @zinniabooklover! I love @filmandmusic's contributions. I also really love YOURS! You always write thoughtful commentary whenever you post. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to share stuff in detail, because I live for the details :)

This is an awesome thread! I am so glad it was bumped (even if it's older 😉) because this is something I think about on a daily basis. I've often thought of starting a thread like this, not knowing one already existed. Parts of certain songs and the way he sings at particular moments, I can't explain it...sometimes I feel like I could explode just because of how much I love his voice. His voice shreds me. I have no idea how else to explain it. It makes me feel things on a level I can't even explain, because it's not even always those "incredible moments" (though he has an inordinate amount of those) that I lose my mind.

It's just particular phrasings he does.

I am going to start with a small list as to not make myself insane just by attempting.

1) "Wanna Be Startin Somethin'"
Literally the entire song. However, I lose my mind with love for the way he sings "said she had a BREAKdown" and the way his voice changes on "break." Same with the pronunciation and color in his voice with the "you just wanna be startin' somethin..." I'm CRAZY about it! His voice sounds so playful and so interesting in it. I actually scream sometimes just from listening to those parts.

2) "Remember the Time"
... it's toward the end when he like rolls his lips or something. I don't know how to describe it. It's at 3:30 in the song itself. Sometimes I listen to the song just for that part and then rewind it multiple times so I can hear it again, and again!

3) "Will You Be There"
The whole part - "And they told me a man should be faithful and walk when not able and fight 'til the end, but I'm only human...." specifically, though, the way he sings the bolded part. OMFG. I have yet to ever listen to that song and not get chills at this part and then scream something like "OMG MICHAEL"

4) "Rock with you" - the entire strong is straight seduction and I have nothing more to say.

5) "Get on the floor" - not so much a sung part, but when he laughs at 3:37 oh my 😍😍😍

6) "Morphine" - The entire middle section, but specifically when he sings "demerol, demerol, oh god he's taking demerol" over and over. That shit sends me to another planet. The first time I heard it I felt a ripple go right through my entire body and I couldn't listen to it again for months. God. Anyway, also a favorite part of that song are the saddest hee hees ever recorded

7) "Scream" - I love how he SPITS "stop your pressure" over and over throughout the song. It's like he is seething and it is incredible to me. I want to sit inside of that sound.

8) This one might sound pretty random, but I'm obsessed with his voice during adult performances of the J5 medley. I feel like I read somewhere on the forum recently that people don't like those medleys, but I am obsessed with them lol. The playfulness of his adult voice singing songs he made famous as a kid...I can't quite explain it. I find it adorable and sexy and just amazing. For example:
-- "when I had you to myself, I didn't want you around" I'm obsessed with the way his voice lifts on "around"
-- the start of The Love You Save" when his voice soars "when we played tag in grade school..." but then specifically I am in love with his emphasis on "wanted to be IT-ah" an then later "promise for my RING-ah" ... I have been known to listen to these medleys over and over just for those moments...


9) "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" at Wembley, Bad Tour, specifically from 4:20 when he kind of beat boxes between "hee hee hees" and then starts singing "tell me, tell me" and drops the mic and just keeps singing into the sky.... 😍 😭



There are way too many. This is a great thread lol.
 
filmandmusic said:
He is at times almost slurring his words and not articulating but it it is not lazy, it seems to come from deep places, he isn’t just singing he is really performing and pouring his heart out. The album version is fantastic but this live performance is just spicier, the hiccups are there while they’re not on the album version. He emphasizes certain words better, sexier, more playful, grittier. To make it clear in one word: perfection!

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I could not possibly agree with this more than I do! The song explodes with life as soon as he starts and it never quits. Such an exceptional example of his star power, not to mention is freaking talent.
 
All of these are just pure gold :love:

filmandmusic said:
While typing this I started thinking randomnly about we’ve had enough. The part on the second verse where he goes from falsetto voice to gritty voice “ why his mother had to die” ****** hell, it gets my eyes wet every single time. Here it is at 2.14, of course it is coupled with the very sad lyrics to double the impact of it all. Michael was such an emotive singer as well as dancer. His face when he is singing screams passion.

Jane is a groupie. Only a snippet exists but it has such an impact on me “ it’s too much for me” he sings and it is exactly how I feel about it myself lol. It seems to be mostly adlibs in the snippets but that is MJ’s strength. I don’t know the state of completion of this song but it sure is intriguing. Especially when the strings come in it becomes classic Jackson. Perfect vocals.
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My god these two are just absolute fire! We've Had Enough just has that alternating grit and sexy to emotional power that you can't help not only to sing it but envision his face.

I would just love to hear Jane Is A Groupie as a whole someday...that snippet literally had me bobbin' and tappin'!
 
@MacMandy90
Jane is a groupie It feels like this song is connected somehow to who is it. Like how Al Capone and smooth criminal are similar and is it scary and ghosts. I don’t know what it is, vocally he sounds similar and I think I heard one line in there also in who is it. Can’t remember which one at this moment.
 
filmandmusic said:
@zinniabooklover
Well thank you for the compliment, I was under the impression that not a lot of people read my song ramblings.
But still it is an awful lot of work because I‘d have to put the time stamps in my post so you could know what I like exactly
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Exactly so. When you are going crazy over a single syllable it's hard (or cumbersome) to try to time stamp it. Plus it would kinda drain the enjoyment out of it.

And I love your song 'ramblings' as you call them, lol. They are always so interesting to read.

filmandmusic said:
It is a vocalization, it doesn’t mean anything, it is as minor as all his little finger and arm gestures during his dancing
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The vocalisations don't mean anything, as you say, and yet they are often my absolute fave thing in a particular song. I can remember reading a review back in the day and the journalist was complaining about the vocalisations (can't remember which song it was) and I was gobsmacked. The song would still be really good and really cool without the vocalisations but it would not be freakin' awesome. Well, I don't believe so.

Although I enjoy listening to Michael at the level of a single syllable it's not just him. This is how I listen to everyone. I love the way Mike Patton sings the penultimate syllable of words. Also the way he sings the end of a word. Doesn't matter what the word is, all of them, he just always sounds amazing. Bob Dylan is another one. With him it's often his pronunciations. The way he sings 'coincedence' just gets me even after all this time. The difference with Michael is there are so many of these moments in a single song. And he's doing way more with his voice inside that single syllable than anyone else could. Even if another singer thought about doing that I don't think they could get close to what Michael does.

Thank you so much for the clips you posted. Unable to comment just now, still absorbing them. ☺️
 
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filmandmusic said:
@MacMandy90
Jane is a groupie It feels like this song is connected somehow to who is it. Like how Al Capone and smooth criminal are similar and is it scary and ghosts. I don’t know what it is, vocally he sounds similar and I think I heard one line in there also in who is it. Can’t remember which one at this moment.
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Yeah I can see the connections to them for sure.
 
staywild23 said:
aww I feel this too, @zinniabooklover! I love @filmandmusic's contributions. I also really love YOURS! You always write thoughtful commentary whenever you post. I appreciate anyone who takes the time to share stuff in detail, because I live for the details :)
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f&m has a talent for this sort of thing. Another thread worth checking out if you haven't already seen it is another one I just bumped. It's an f&m thread, can't remember exact title just now, 'Thoughts / opinions / songs', those are the keywords. It's still on the first page cos I just bumped it yesterday. f&m did a list of 25 of his fave Michael songs and his little descriptions of the songs are just great. These are not the first ones I encountered on the board, there was an earlier thread but I can't remember which one and it was only 3 or 4 songs. But this longer list is a joy.

I tried to do my own list but it's pretty dull because, as usual, I couldn't even begin to capture the songs. Not my reactions to them or the essence of them or what makes them so special. But f&m's thoughts are well worth anyone's time, imo.

staywild23 said:
This is an awesome thread! I am so glad it was bumped (even if it's older 😉) because this is something I think about on a daily basis. I've often thought of starting a thread like this, not knowing one already existed. Parts of certain songs and the way he sings at particular moments, I can't explain it...sometimes I feel like I could explode just because of how much I love his voice.
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Exactly so. Even just a microsecond of sound from Michael can give me more enjoyment than a whole song from someone else. Not that it's a competition but you know what I mean.
 
zinniabooklover said:
f&m has a talent for this sort of thing. Another thread worth checking out if you haven't already seen it is another one I just bumped. It's an f&m thread, can't remember exact title just now, 'Thoughts / opinions / songs', those are the keywords. It's still on the first page cos I just bumped it yesterday. f&m did a list of 25 of his fave Michael songs and his little descriptions of the songs are just great. These are not the first ones I encountered on the board, there was an earlier thread but I can't remember which one and it was only 3 or 4 songs. But this longer list is a joy.

I tried to do my own list but it's pretty dull because, as usual, I couldn't even begin to capture the songs. Not my reactions to them or the essence of them or what makes them so special. But f&m's thoughts are well worth anyone's time, imo.
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I will definitely check this out! Thank you!!

zinniabooklover said:
Exactly so. Even just a microsecond of sound from Michael can give me more enjoyment than a whole song from someone else. Not that it's a competition but you know what I mean.
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See, you just phrased it so perfectly! That's exactly what I was trying to say before! A microsecond of Michael slays some artist's entire discography!
 
zinniabooklover said:
Bob Dylan is another one. With him it's often his pronunciations. The way he sings 'coincedence' just gets me even after all this time. The difference with Michael is there are so many of these moments in a single song. And he's doing way more with his voice inside that single syllable than anyone else could. Even if another singer thought about doing that I don't think they could get close to what Michael does.

Thank you so much for the clips you posted. Unable to comment just now, still absorbing them. ☺️
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And again, exactly why Bob Dylan is the only other artist I've ever lost my absolute shit over! Something about the pronunciations, the unique emphasis, and emotive singing, oh boy. Too much for my heart.
 
Ps: I never thought there'd be so much crossover between Michael Jackson and Bob Dylan fans, but perhaps this thread identifies exactly why that seems to be the case!
 
Man, I simply have too many of these moments whenever I listen to Michael. Honestly I can't just pick one...! But the way he can emote when he sings, I have yet to find another singer who can do it like he can. There's always so much feeling in his voice and that's a big reason as to why I love him. Sometimes his voice just outright breaks and that just adds another layer of emotion and uniqueness. Again, I have yet to find anyone else... Certainly others might've tried, but have they succeeded? I'm not entirely sure about that. 🤔 Would like to be proven wrong though lol, challenge me I guess!

Seeing all this Bob Dylan talk from last year, and... well, I'm not really one of his fans. 😅 He's a great songwriter, but whenever he does that talk-singing style... I know it's not in every song, but I'm not really a fan of that sorta thing. SACRILEGE, I KNOW! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! 😭
 
DangerousGal91 said:
Man, I simply have too many of these moments whenever I listen to Michael. Honestly I can't just pick one...!
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It would drive you mad if you tried, lol. I've posted several times on this thread but that's not even the tip of the iceberg.

DangerousGal91 said:
Seeing all this Bob Dylan talk from last year, and... well, I'm not really one of his fans. 😅 He's a great songwriter, but whenever he does that talk-singing style... I know it's not in every song, but I'm not really a fan of that sorta thing. SACRILEGE, I KNOW! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! 😭
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Love him. Love his voice. Love his singing. I genuinely think his voice is beautiful although don't ask me to define what I mean by 'beautiful', lol. What is a beautiful voice? Michael, obvs. Adam Ant. Eddie Kendricks. Mike Patton in 1990. Perhaps Greg Lake. Bob is a different type of 'beautiful'. That's all I can say. I sort of get why people don't like his voice. And yet I really don't. I'm sure some people think his voice is ugly, discordant, utilitarian at best. To me, as well as being beautiful, his voice is plaintive, tender, charming, expressive, heartbreaking, funny, haunting, contemptuous ...

er, hang on, is this a Michael Jackson space? OK, I'll knock it on the head with the Dylan stuff. I just love him and I adore his voice. I get real pleasure from listening to him.

DangerousGal91 said:
But the way he can emote when he sings
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I've been killing myself today with We've Had Enough and Is It Scary. No more needs to be said, I think.

DangerousGal91 said:
There's always so much feeling in his voice and that's a big reason as to why I love him. Sometimes his voice just outright breaks and that just adds another layer of emotion and uniqueness.
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oh, the layers... so many layers ... ❤️
 
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Tabloid Junkie.

Scandal! You say it's not a sword!

Slander! With the words you use! You're a parasite

In black and white

Do anything for news.

Chicago, everything in the low voice is so clean.

Xscape, No matter where I am I see my face around! They pin lies on my name and push from town to town!

A Place With No Name. She started liking me, kissing me, and hugging me, she didn't really really want me to leave.

Chicago 1945, Never to be found again!

Whatever Happens, the whole song.

And Ghosts, actually. Not one I play a lot but. Put a knife in my back. That's such chaotic funk.

And the way he sings Thriller entirely is kinda wild, Especially next to Starlight.You can hear every record that came after, 80s, 90s, 2000s. This song is the beginning. MJ's voice truly started to change.
 
Maybe it's already been said but:

Stranger in Moscow - Lord have mercy! Such an expression of vulnerability, perfect for the lyrics. And then We're talking DAAANGEEER! Absolutely beautiful.

Baby Be Mine - the Hold you and Show you melt my heart.

She Drives Me Wild - Black jeans and a turtleneck sweater (;)), I know the girl is fakin' cause I've seen her look better and
She's got the look
Ought to know better
She's got the look
She's driving me wiiiiiiiiiild 😵‍💫

Blue Gangsta - the beginning of the song is just mesmerising.

Is It Scary? - Am I scary for you, baby?

BOTDF, WBSS, Earth Song, Leave Me Alone - EVERYTHING. I tried to find my favourite line and I can't.

That's all I can think of for now. I need to relisten to the Motown albums to be able to add them to the list.

I recommend watching this guy's videos if you want to listen to the vocal multitracks, it's amazing to hear the singing and beatboxing isolated:
 
I will limit myself to my favourite album for now:

  1. Scream: [all instances, but especially the last of] “You’re bashed, abused and victimized within the scheme”
  2. They Don’t Care About Us: “But if Martin Luther was livin’”
  3. Earth Song: “Do we give a damn?”
  4. Money: “I’ll never betray or deceive you my friend – BUT!” (*chef’s kiss*)
  5. 2 Bad: “I’m standing though you’re kicking me!”
  6. Little Susie: “So blind stare the eyes in her head” 😭
  7. Smile: [the last instance of] “That’s the time you must keep on trying”
 
zinniabooklover said:
Exactly so. When you are going crazy over a single syllable it's hard (or cumbersome) to try to time stamp it. Plus it would kinda drain the enjoyment out of it. And I love your song 'ramblings' as you call them, lol. They are always so interesting to read.

The vocalisations don't mean anything, as you say, and yet they are often my absolute fave thing in a particular song. I can remember reading a review back in the day and the journalist was complaining about the vocalisations (can't remember which song it was) and I was gobsmacked. The song would still be really good and really cool without the vocalisations but it would not be freakin' awesome. Well, I don't believe so.

Although I enjoy listening to Michael at the level of a single syllable it's not just him. This is how I listen to everyone. I love the way Mike Patton sings the penultimate syllable of words. Also the way he sings the end of a word. Doesn't matter what the word is, all of them, he just always sounds amazing. Bob Dylan is another one. With him it's often his pronunciations. The way he sings 'coincedence' just gets me even after all this time. The difference with Michael is there are so many of these moments in a single song. And he's doing way more with his voice inside that single syllable than anyone else could. Even if another singer thought about doing that I don't think they could get close to what Michael does.
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@Agonum - FYI

We had a bit of a conversation over here about Michael's singing - even at the level of syllables. Don't know about you but I can't help listening to songs almost at that microsecond level. Especially with Michael bc of the way he uses his voice as a percussion instrument. For me, ad-libs are part of what I call 'vocalisations'. Seems to me, even when Michael is singing recognisable words, he's really using them as sounds. Well, that's how I experience it.
 
zinniabooklover said:
@Agonum - FYI

We had a bit of a conversation over here about Michael's singing - even at the level of syllables. Don't know about you but I can't help listening to songs almost at that microsecond level. Especially with Michael bc of the way he uses his voice as a percussion instrument. For me, ad-libs are part of what I call 'vocalisations'. Seems to me, even when Michael is singing recognisable words, he's really using them as sounds. Well, that's how I experience it.
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I’m all with you on listening at the “microsecond level”, as you put it. He absolutely use words as sounds, first and foremost.

Love to see Dylan popping up here and there every now and then.
 
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