Michael`s legacy is actually in danger and so are we.... the fans

[lassoboy11]

delete

 

[soulmum]

Sorry to hear you are disappointed with the way Sony is handling things. Yes, they could do better but I wouldn't boycott them on anything which is Michael related. I absolutely love the Visionary box set by the way. The Michael album too has some gems so I am not complaining. We will have to agree to disagree re Branca and McClain and the running of the estate, I think they are doing a great job and that it is in good hands.

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

Lassoboy11, Have a little faith

 

[dam2040]

I completely agree. It is in ruin, Michael worked so hard for it and some people play strait into Sony's hands. It's so frustrating

 

[MattyJam]

The "Michael" album was a complete shambles. Everything about it was just wrong. The cover was dreadful - it looked tacky and like a greatest hits comp. The name of the album completely lacked imagination and the artwork looked dull and rushed. The music itself was just... wrong. I won't even go there with the Cascio shit except to say that deciding to include it was a shocking error of judgement by the estate/Sony.

The next album needs to be a marked improvement or the estate risk completely alienating the entire fanbase for good.

 

[4veryoung]

its not all about the Sony or MJ albums......His legacy will always continue other than that and it depends on the fans I think. Should be more focus on Positivity? as MJ said its all for LOVE!!!

 

[Graf]

its not all about the Sony or MJ albums......His legacy will always continue other than that and it depends on the fans I think. Should be more focus on Positivity? as MJ said its all for LOVE!!!

Well it's great you have a positive attitude and everything..But Michael is the greatest artist of all time and the albums released under his name should represent the diamond quality that he put forth his whole life. I support the estate but they really didn't do a good job with this album at all..MattyJam has it pretty spot on. I agree with you that his legacy his forever cemented but I don't think that's an excuse to release poor quality albums with 'questionable' songs or allowing people to change his lyrics..Just IMO

 

[Petrarose]

Although I do see that some of the packaging from Sony was below par and the Michael album was undercooked, I would not say Michael's legacy is in danger. Actually far from it. There are too many high quality projects in progress and his past achievements will endure like the great artists before him. Sony CANNOT PUT MICHAEL'S LEGACY IN DANGER. In other words, Michael's legacy is more than the efforts of Sony. My opinion only.

 

[maral]

sorry but you are comparing "michael" a production that MJ wasn't there to direct with projects that he controlled all the way. that's not fair. the world got to face the fact, we will never see a "clean and perfect" Michael Jackson production simply because THE MASTER isn't here. but it would be a wast to not release what he left. jmo

 

[PaceMioDolceCuore]

That' the nature of posthumous releases, they will always be disputed, MJ isn't the first artist looking onto posthumous releases from the other side.

Having said that, "Michael" isn't my favorite album of all- but that still beats a lot of albums out there, it was not a commercial disaster the way some paint it out to be- and someone mentioned "Vision". I love "Vision" despite 2 or 3 super experts who find all sorts of things wrong with it.

The fact that so many people have been purchasing these releases should tell you a lot about his supposed 'legacy' and its state.

And secondly, while I consider myself a great fan and love Michael beyond comprehension, I do not feel that things are that desperate that fans need to 'rescue' anything about Michael Jackson's legacy. First of all it was Michael's work that set the legacy, everything else coming now is a bonus if you will.

I also feel conflicted about the notion that fans need to elevate themselves as the ultimate rescuers of Michael Jackson and his legacy.

The next album needs to be a marked improvement or the estate risk completely alienating the entire fanbase for good.

Why do people feel entitled to speak this way for the entire fan base? I do not feel that way. I do not worship at the feet of the estate, but MJ didn't appointment a group of fans to be the executors of his estate, either.

People constantly bash the Jackson family for precisely that, but then act as if Michael appointed them to be the executors instead. I am absolutely not comfortable with the way that some fans elevate themselves into the position of 'intended executor'.
Virtually everybody seems to know what would be 'the best' for Michael.

 

[Lucilla]

You both have good points but boycotting MJ is not my style.

 

[max000]

MJ'S massive legacy is firmly cemented for eternity, so relax. And consider the man is no longer here to manage any of these projects.

 

[qbee]

I would never boycott Michaels music or art


Boycotting MJ MUSIC & merchadise doesnt hurt SONY. It ONLY hurts MJ
in the court of public opinion & DECREASES his value in the Music Industry.
It also gives critics more fuel to demean his work by saying it doesnt even sell

Fans who buy Michael's music is NOT about money, Sony or Anything else.
Our Sole purpose is to Pay Homage to Michael's music and art and share it
with the world. MJ wanted to give his art to the world. He certainly didnt
want his work censored, hidden or boycotted and even when he was having
problems with Sony. He openy encouraged fans to buy Invincible.

 

[love is magical]

I always believe Michael's legacy is solidified long time ago. If his legacy can withstand the false accusations, his legacy can withstand anything. His legacy is unbreakable. Tabloid junks come and go. False allegations come and go. But, generation and generation of people will learn his music and remember Michael Jackson as one of the greatest artists ever graced the world. Great arts live forever.

With that said, I totally understand where the frustration is coming from. The album MICHAEL brought a lot of negative sentiments to the fanbase. Questionable tracks aside, the whole production and marketing are certainly not the best it could be. The whole project lacked creativity, thoughtfulness, and cohesiveness. I don't think fans are suggesting that they know what is the best for Michael. Fans are merely saying that what happened was not the best that could be. With more limited resources than Sony, fans made better song remixes and more creative covers.

As for Vision, no it doesn't take a super expert (I'm not tech savvy whatsoever) to find the mistakes. Unfortunately, the mistakes are quite obvious. Some of the short films are not watchable on my HD TV. The quality of the set really is nothing to cheer about. I almost never reach out to it. I'd rather play my Dangerous on Films and HIStory Vol. I and Vol. II. If one does not have any Michael Jackson DVD, then yes, Vision is a good beginner product to have. For fans who have all the official DVD's and many unoffical DVD's downloaded, Vision is indeed a disappointment.

But, to be fair, This Is It was great. The Opus was great. So, there are hit and miss.

As a fan, I simply want Sony and the Estate to put artistic integrity on top of profitability. It's important to make money. It's even more important to ensure the quality of product.

And, no, I will not boycott Sony. There are people at Sony who have nothing to do with anything related to Michael Jackson. I'll keep buying Sony's CD's, Sony's TV, Blu-ray, etc... But, I will not support any questionable track. With today's technology, I'll simply download the songs that I want.

 

[PaceMioDolceCuore]

... If one does not have any Michael Jackson DVD, then yes, Vision is a good beginner product to have. For fans who have all the official DVD's and many unoffical DVD's downloaded, Vision is indeed a disappointment.
But, to be fair, This Is It was great. The Opus was great. So, there are hit and miss.

That's condescending toward those that don't have large scale 'issues' with 'Vision'. I got it for Christmas and it was wonderful to just be able to throw 3 discs in there and not click myself to death on a computer that I need to hook up to a TV etc. And by the way, other people around me, who are not MJ fans have enjoyed Vision as well, getting a taste for MJ. Introducing Michael to other people through his art is much more preferable than all the tabloid junk- and nobody was sitting there nitpicking Vision to death. Quite the opposite- people had an awesome 'blast from the past" watching "Liberian Girl" for example.
I have owned just about anything that has come out since 1992 and have legally acquired things that were released before that as well. I don't consider Vision a disappointment. I've owned plenty and downloaded plenty and that's again the notion that people who don't agree with a certain movement within the MJ fanbase are deaf and blind naive beginners. I wished that would stop.

...
And, no, I will not boycott Sony. There are people at Sony who have nothing to do with anything related to Michael Jackson. I'll keep buying Sony's CD's, Sony's TV, Blu-ray, etc... But, I will not support any questionable track. With today's technology, I'll simply download the songs that I want.

I can completely agree with that- that's fair if it involves acquiring music in a legal way since that is someone else's intellectual property.

 

[love is magical]

That's condescending toward those that don't have large scale 'issues' with 'Vision'. I got it for Christmas and it was wonderful to just be able to throw 3 discs in there and not click myself to death on a computer that I need to hook up to a TV etc.

I absolutely have no intention to be condescending. May we just agree that different people have different viewing standard and preference? I tried to describe my viewing experience in a neutural way. It's true that some of the short films appear extremely grainy on my TV. I could not believe my eyes when I watched TWYMMF and MITM. I always know TWYMMF looks grainy. So, I went back to HIStory Vol. I and compared. The one on HIStory Vol. I looked better on my TV.

Some people prefer to have all short films in a set. Good for them. I, on the other hand, do not care whether they are in one collection or not. I want to see Michael's short films in ther full glory.

Again, not trying to be condescending. I acknowledge different people have differnt priority and standard.

And by the way, other people around me, who are not MJ fans have enjoyed Vision as well, getting a taste for MJ. Introducing Michael to other people through his art is much more preferable than all the tabloid junk- and nobody was sitting there nitpicking Vision to death. Quite the opposite- people had an awesome 'blast from the past" watching "Liberian Girl" for example.
I have owned just about anything that has come out since 1992 and have legally acquired things that were released before that as well. I don't consider Vision a disappointment. I've owned plenty and downloaded plenty and that's again the notion that people who don't agree with a certain movement within the MJ fanbase are deaf and blind naive beginners. I wished that would stop.

Did I go to that extreme and say people who enjoy Vision are deaf and blind? Nowhere in my previous post that I suggested such notion. Acutally, I don't understand why a slightly unfavorable opinion could cause such a big reaction.

It's true that Vision is a good product for non-fans who want to re-discover Michael's masterpieces. Now, I'm not trying to start the "old fan vs. new fan" argument. What I mean is that non-fans or new fans would most likely enjoy Vision and get hooked to Michael.

Why you assumed people who have unfavorable review of Vision are people who "nitpick Vision to death"? Acutally, I don't appreciate that remark. I have already explained that I'm not tech savvy. I cannot tell the difference between plasma or LED or whatever. I just know they are flat screen TV. I bought the set. Do you think I don't want to enjoy a new purchase? Just like every consumer, I want to enjoy a product that I bought with my hard earned money. But, for reason I explained, I prefer my other DVD's than Vision. My old MJ DVD's show up better on my TV. If you enjoy Vision, good for you.

I read my post again and tried to see what have I said that is condescening. I noticed I made one mistake. Instead of saying "For fans who have all the official DVD's and many unoffical DVD's downloaded, Vision is indeed a disappointment." I should just say "for me, it is a disappointment." I cannot speak for others. Viewing experience is very subjective.

I can completely agree with that- that's fair if it involves acquiring music in a legal way since that is someone else's intellectual property.

I always acquire commerically available music legally. I'm not going to lie. I downloaded Blue Gangster, STRR and DYKWYCA. But, once these songs become commercialy available, I'll definitely purchase them.