Songs with changed speed/pitch

[Francium]

Several of his songs were changed in speed and pitch for various reasons, whether to make them more danceable, to adjust them to the recording time of the record, or to adapt his voice to the mood of the song.

Those songs are listed below.

Bad (2^(1/24)x speed)
TWYMMF (2^(1/24)x speed)
Speed Demon (2^(1/24)x speed)
Liberian Girl (-1 pitch, Background vocals only)
Just Good Friends (2^(1/24)x speed)
Another Part Of Me (2^(1/24)x speed)
Smooth Criminal (2^(1/24)x speed)
Leave Me Alone (2^(1/24)x speed)
Tabloid Junkie (+0.5 pitch)
2000 Watts (-1 pitch)
Privacy (-1 pitch)
The Lost Children (-1 pitch?)
Whatever Happens (-1 pitch?)
Shout (-1 pitch)

There should be more if you include the Jacksons songs.
I was told that similar changes were made to one of the songs on Thriller, but I couldn't figure out which one it was.
Does anyone know more about this?

 

[knigofpop]

I don't think it answers your question but there is the backing vocal speed on PYT (the chipmunk bit at the end). There are videos analysing it on YouTube.

 

[mj_frenzy]

Several of his songs were changed in speed and pitch for various reasons, whether to make them more danceable, to adjust them to the recording time of the record, or to adapt his voice to the mood of the song.

Those songs are listed below.

Bad (2^(1/24)x speed)
TWYMMF (2^(1/24)x speed)
Speed Demon (2^(1/24)x speed)
Liberian Girl (-1 pitch, Background vocals only)
Just Good Friends (2^(1/24)x speed)
Another Part Of Me (2^(1/24)x speed)
Dirty Diana (2^(1/24)x speed)
Smooth Criminal (2^(1/24)x speed)
Tabloid Junkie (+0.5 pitch)
2000 Watts (-1 pitch)
Privacy (-1 pitch)
The Lost Children (-1 pitch?)
Whatever Happens (-1 pitch?)
Shout (-1 pitch)

There should be more if you include the Jacksons songs.
I was told that similar changes were made to one of the songs on Thriller, but I couldn't figure out which one it was.
Does anyone know more about this?

The 'Beat It' song is sped up (on the 'Thriller' album).

That is why, Michael Jackson found it difficult for example to sing it live at this high pitch during the first concert of the Dangerous Tour.

 

[MrBadEra]

wasn't WBSS also pitched up? or am I getting it confused with him having trouble with singing it in it's original pitch on the first few concerts of the dangerous tour?

(nvm don't respond to this I got it mixed up)

 

[Maxym]

Some time ago, I had the impression that J5's cover of You Can't Hurry Love may be around 5% faster than it should. I feel like it's got unnatural accelerations... like MJ wants to finish the song and go pee (not that MJ peeing is anything unnatural but...) I think that was even my very first thread on this forum, somewhere in the Jackson family section. I though they may have done such a thing to make more tracks fit on the CDs. But other people told me it's a the right speed.

I suspected the same for some other song from the same compilation. I think it was If You Want Heaven , I felt like it felt more natural when slowed down by 2%.

 

[Maxym]

I think that also Lovely One from Triumph is accelerated. Other songs too probably, I don't know.

In another style, I feel like Morning Glow on Music & Me has an unnatural slow down around 2:20 (not sure what happens there).

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

The 'Beat It' song is sped up (on the 'Thriller' album).

That is why, Michael Jackson found it difficult for example to sing it live at this high pitch during the first concert of the Dangerous Tour.

You have no idea what you’re taking about lol.

 

[Themidwestcowboy]

I that also Lovely One from Triumph is accelerated. Other songs too probably, I don't know.

In another style, I feel like Morning Glow on Music & Me has an unnatural slow down around 2:20 (not sure what happens there).

Yes, and most definitely Everybody as well.

 

[Francium]

I think that also Lovely One from

In another style, I feel like Morning Glow on

I checked and sure enough, the pitch was +1.

I noticed this because I used the TUC track, but it may be the same for State of Shock.

 

[Maxym]

I checked and sure enough, the pitch was +1.

I noticed this because I used the TUC track, but it may be the same for State of Shock.

Other than album versions, some tracks may also slightly change speed from a CD to another. In example I think I remember that Enjoy Yourself from TUC plays slightly faster.

 

[kelley]

Is there proof these songs were sped up and/or pitched or are you guys just posting your opinions as fact?

LOL knew the day was coming when people would start saying Michael's voice and vocal range wasn't real.

I swear I can predict the future.

I predict eventually people will say he was a hologram and certain fans will believe it.

 

[kelley]

This site really needs a thumb down button

 

[Francium]

Is there proof these songs were sped up and/or pitched or are you guys just posting your opinions as fact?

LOL knew the day was coming when people would start saying Michael's voice and vocal range wasn't real.

I swear I can predict the future.

I predict eventually people will say he was a hologram and certain fans will believe it.

I'm not going to criticize his voice.

It's true that he made some pitch and speed adjustments to his vocals. This is evident from the statements of his associates, and it's obvious when one actually makes the alterations.

Is it wrong to know this as a fact and then expand on the topic?

 

[MJbr2]

Is there proof these songs were sped up and/or pitched or are you guys just posting your opinions as fact?

LOL knew the day was coming when people would start saying Michael's voice and vocal range wasn't real.

I swear I can predict the future.

I predict eventually people will say he was a hologram and certain fans will believe it.

Virtually the entire Bad album was sped up. The single versions of said tracks are sped up even further.
Speeding up was a common trick back then in the industry for a number of different reasons.

No one is questioning MJs vocal abilities. Chill out if you don't know what the discussion is about.