Latest on MJJC

Some of Michael's favourite pieces of music

dethorro

Proud Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
1,357
Points
113
Some information I have gathered over the years through various sources.



Classical pieces:

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker

Michael specifically liked The Nutcracker Suite, which is a selection of eight pieces from the original ballet, done by Tchaikovsky back in 1892.
These numbers are:
  1. Miniature Overture
  2. Characteristic Dances
    1. March
    2. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
    3. Russian Dance
    4. Arabian Dance
    5. Chinese Dance
    6. Dance of the Reed Flutes
  3. Waltz of the Flowers

Mozart - Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra K.299
- Rondo D Major K. 184

I'm not sure if Michael necessarily liked the whole concerto K.299, but the second movement, the andante, was in his playlist of songs playing at Neverland. It is sublime. I encourage everyone to listen to it.


Debussy - Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune
- Claire De Lune

The former a piece very often mentioned by Michael as one of his favourites. Interestingly the latter, Michael preferred the orchestral arrangement of, as opposed to the original piano piece. Attached are both versions (original, only piano / Michael's preferred version with a full orchestra)




Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia On Greensleves
- The Lark Ascending


Bach - Allegro from Sonata for Violin and Flute or Continuo in G Minor BWV 1020
- Sonata No.2 E flat major BWV 1031
- Flute Partita A Minor BWV 1013
- Gloria from Mass in B Minor


John Williams - Pan (Soundtrack)

These ones in particular:

1. You Are The Pan
2. Remembering Childhood
3. From Mermaids To Lost Boys
4. Granny Wendy
5. When You're Alone
6. Farewell Neverland
7. The Banquet

- Home Alone (Soundtrack)

In particular: Somewhere In My Memory



Beethoven - Symphony No. 2 IV. Movement



Songs:

Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Dan Fogelberg - Longer
John Denver - Fly Away
Beatles - She's Leaving Home
Beatles - Yesterday
Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
The Archies - Sugar Sugar
Prince - Soft And Wet
Julie Andrews - My Favourite Things
The Sound Of Music (Soundtrack) - So Long, Farewell
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Janet Jackson - The Knowledge
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Joe Satriani - Summer Song
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
New Kids On The Block - Tonight
Simon & Garfunkel - America
The Association - Windy
Five Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
Bread - Make It With You
Bread - Aubrey
Bread - Look What You've Done
The Cowsills - The Rain the park and Other Things
 
dethorro said:
Some information I have gathered over the years through various sources.



Classical pieces:

Tchaikovsky - The Nutcracker

Michael specifically liked The Nutcracker Suite, which is a selection of eight pieces from the original ballet, done by Tchaikovsky back in 1892.
These numbers are:
  1. Miniature Overture
  2. Characteristic Dances
    1. March
    2. Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy
    3. Russian Dance
    4. Arabian Dance
    5. Chinese Dance
    6. Dance of the Reed Flutes
  3. Waltz of the Flowers

Mozart - Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra K.299
- Rondo D Major K. 184

I'm not sure if Michael necessarily liked the whole concerto K.299, but the second movement, the andante, was in his playlist of songs playing at Neverland. It is sublime. I encourage everyone to listen to it.


Debussy - Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un faune
- Claire De Lune

The former a piece very often mentioned by Michael as one of his favourites. Interestingly the latter, Michael preferred the orchestral arrangement of, as opposed to the original piano piece. Attached are both versions (original, only piano / Michael's preferred version with a full orchestra)




Ralph Vaughan Williams - Fantasia On Greensleves
- The Lark Ascending


Bach - Allegro from Sonata for Violin and Flute or Continuo in G Minor BWV 1020
- Sonata No.2 E flat major BWV 1031
- Flute Partita A Minor BWV 1013
- Gloria from Mass in B Minor


John Williams - Pan (Soundtrack)

These ones in particular:

1. You Are The Pan
2. Remembering Childhood
3. From Mermaids To Lost Boys
4. Granny Wendy
5. When You're Alone
6. Farewell Neverland
7. The Banquet

- Home Alone (Soundtrack)

In particular: Somewhere In My Memory



Beethoven - Symphony No. 2 IV. Movement



Songs:

Yes - Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Dan Fogelberg - Longer
John Denver - Fly Away
Beatles - She's Leaving Home
Beatles - Yesterday
Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
The Archies - Sugar Sugar
Prince - Soft And Wet
Julie Andrews - My Favourite Things
The Sound Of Music (Soundtrack) - So Long, Farewell
Janet Jackson - Black Cat
Janet Jackson - The Knowledge
Janet Jackson - Rhythm Nation
Bobby Brown - My Prerogative
Joe Satriani - Summer Song
Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
New Kids On The Block - Tonight
Simon & Garfunkel - America
The Association - Windy
Five Young Cannibals - She Drives Me Crazy
Bread - Make It With You
Bread - Aubrey
Bread - Look What You've Done
The Cowsills - The Rain the park and Other Things
Click to expand...
Looking mostly good, but I sense a disturbing lack of Bee Gees.

And Stevie Wonder.

And James Brown.
 
I thought I would see more stuff from Motown and more James Brown. I mean James is Michael's biggest inspiration after all..
 
@mjfanatic777 said:
I thought I would see more stuff from Motown and more James Brown. I mean James is Michael's biggest inspiration after all..
Click to expand...
Don't forget, journalists never really asked Michael about this stuff. A few times when he was a child or teenager but not really after that. A big source of info for this is the Mexico deposition, of course. That is pure gold. But mostly, it's all about picking up random references here and there. For example, apparently he loved Scritti Politti but I didn't get that from a Michael quote. I found that in an interview with another musician who had a conversation with Michael. Which means it might not be true but most likely is bc there would be no reason to invent that.

Also, the wide variety of music that Michael loved is what is so exciting. We already know he loved James and Jackie Wilson and Stevie and all the Tamla artists and others, Dionne Warwick, Aretha, etc etc. Finding out that he loved Herman's Hermits or Three Dog Night is much more exciting to me.
 
I did not include Stevie Wonder and James Brown because they were extremely obvious. I don't recall Michael specifically saying what songs in particular he liked from either. I know he was a big fan of the Songs In The Key Of Life album, as well as Innervisions. From James Brown he liked the Live At The Apollo album a lot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top