filmandmusic
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Despite the sales, awards and countless hits I have never been able to shake the feeling that MJ is an underrated artist, especially in the eyes of music critics. He is a great dancer, he is a song and dance man, an entertainer. As a true artist with artistic values he comes up short, at least that is the feeling that I get when I am busy reading about music. It got briefly better after his passing but it didn't last, probably the resurfacing of allegations had a hand in it but even without the controversies he is still not on the same pedestal as the likes of The Beatles, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen or Prince (not my opinion at all).
So I got into thinking which songs in his discography could possibly change that view, which songs deserve re-evaluation, history gets revised all the time so who is to say that some of his songs can't get the appreciation they deserve? We shouldn't be looking at Off the Wall, Bad or Thriller as these works get the critical attention and the radio play. Michael made "simpler" music then, very radio friendly and danceable. His music got less valued after he stopped working with Quincy Jones. This to me implies that critics see Quincy as the mastermind behind MJ and not MJ himself.
From Dangerous onwards only very few songs became "timeless" classics and most of them are just glossed over as non entities, forgotten by everyone (or not even known at all to begin with) but fans.
I personally can't see how any serious music connoisseur isn't able to see the brilliance in for example "who is it". This track is a masterpiece from the edgy beat with killer baseline to the pre chorus and chorus and Michael's completely immersive passionate vocals. The flute, choir and and string sections are heavenly melodic as the song builds to its end when Michael starts his ad libs over the constant repetition of the chorus. The lyrics as well are very interesting and ripe for interpretation and discussion. How this did not become a smash hit is beyond me but I think it was just too long to be a radio friendly song and the music is so sophisticated that it simply doesn't reach the full potential on an average sound system. If people would actually give this a chance (with headphones) I think it would find a huge reappraisal.
Other songs that deserve to be classics with rave reviews are: Is it Scary, Morphine, Liberian Girl, Give in to Me, In the Closet, Stranger in Moscow, Little Susie, Be not Always, Scared of the Moon, Money, Will You Be There, Push Me Away, Your Ways and possibly others!
If I had a way with words I would write beautiful reviews of these songs, discussing them in depth but I don't have those abilities nor knowledge so I hope others jump in and give it their best shot! Feel free to present other songs you feel should get more praise...
I feel for 100% that Michael was more than just a song and dance man. Many of his songs are so beautifully layered musically in his discography with weird structures (not just verse chorus verse) and meaningful lyrics.
So I got into thinking which songs in his discography could possibly change that view, which songs deserve re-evaluation, history gets revised all the time so who is to say that some of his songs can't get the appreciation they deserve? We shouldn't be looking at Off the Wall, Bad or Thriller as these works get the critical attention and the radio play. Michael made "simpler" music then, very radio friendly and danceable. His music got less valued after he stopped working with Quincy Jones. This to me implies that critics see Quincy as the mastermind behind MJ and not MJ himself.
From Dangerous onwards only very few songs became "timeless" classics and most of them are just glossed over as non entities, forgotten by everyone (or not even known at all to begin with) but fans.
I personally can't see how any serious music connoisseur isn't able to see the brilliance in for example "who is it". This track is a masterpiece from the edgy beat with killer baseline to the pre chorus and chorus and Michael's completely immersive passionate vocals. The flute, choir and and string sections are heavenly melodic as the song builds to its end when Michael starts his ad libs over the constant repetition of the chorus. The lyrics as well are very interesting and ripe for interpretation and discussion. How this did not become a smash hit is beyond me but I think it was just too long to be a radio friendly song and the music is so sophisticated that it simply doesn't reach the full potential on an average sound system. If people would actually give this a chance (with headphones) I think it would find a huge reappraisal.
Other songs that deserve to be classics with rave reviews are: Is it Scary, Morphine, Liberian Girl, Give in to Me, In the Closet, Stranger in Moscow, Little Susie, Be not Always, Scared of the Moon, Money, Will You Be There, Push Me Away, Your Ways and possibly others!
If I had a way with words I would write beautiful reviews of these songs, discussing them in depth but I don't have those abilities nor knowledge so I hope others jump in and give it their best shot! Feel free to present other songs you feel should get more praise...
I feel for 100% that Michael was more than just a song and dance man. Many of his songs are so beautifully layered musically in his discography with weird structures (not just verse chorus verse) and meaningful lyrics.