Michael Jackson Tribute Thread

[discophil]

Instead of discussing his death and our reaction to the tragic news, let's celebrate what gave Michael a special place in all of our hearts: his music and performances.

I'll start by posting two songs that have been playing in my mind all day. They're two of my favorites:

Which ones are YOU thinking about today?

[Cory Ander]

my favorite songs Jackson contributed to are mostly pretty obscure: the heartbreaking gorgeous "Time Waits for No One" from the Jacksons' "Triumph"...."Push Me Away" (which is similar) from the Jacksons' "Destiny". "Maybe Tomorrow" and a cover of the Delfonics' "Can You Remember?" from early Motown Jackson 5 albums. More recently: "Can't Let Her Get Away" and the title track from "Dangerous", which Jackson brings to life even though the music to both tracks is really skeletal. And while we're on this subject, people in my area are trying to sell copies of "Thriller" for thousands of dollars just because local stores are sold out. I have a beautiful picture disc copy, but someone would have to shell out some heavy bread to get it away from me.

[PierreConstantin]

The Michael Jackson/Diana Ross connection:



(see at 2:03 min.)

[discophil]

my favorite songs Jackson contributed to are mostly pretty obscure: the heartbreaking gorgeous "Time Waits for No One" from the Jacksons' "Triumph"...

Oh man, YES, that's a good one. Brings up gooseflesh when I hear it! I'd gotten that album on cassette back in the day. Was the first time I signed up for one of those music clubs and got it for a penny! I was in HS and was suffering from unrequited love for the girl across the street. I used to play that cassette over and over and especially that song.

Thanks, again, Michael for being a part of my childhood's soundtrack!

[drh]

Yeah the slow and midtempo songs are my favorites
My all time favorite MJ penned song is That's what you get for being polite from "Destiny"
and the beautiful songs (some Rod Temperton achievement)

Push me away
Time waits for no one
Good times
The Lady in my life
Off the Wall
Rock with you

and not to forget

One day in your life

Rest in peace, Michael

[thommy2458]

There is such a wealth of material,how do you isolate a few? There are so many perfect pop moments:
"I'll Be There"(my favorite of anything he's done)
"I Want You Back","ABC" "The Love You Save""Maybe Tomorrow""I Wanna Be Where You Are","Got To Be There"
Disco: "Forever Came Today"(still stunning)"Blame it on the Boogie" and "Shake Your Body"(the John Loungo mixes)"Enjoy Yourself"",Show Me the Way to Go" "Walk Right Now" "Can You Feel It"
"Don't Stop Till You Get Enough""Workin Day and Night" "Billie Jean" "Wanna Be Startin Something" "Rock With You"
Others:"Mirrors of My Mind"(pick any bootleg of the extended versions-there are numerous)"Hum Along and Dance","I Am Love" and I love "Man in the Mirror"
Surely the angels in heaven are all taking turns dancing with Michael-and none can most likely keep up...............

Thom

[Disco Funk]

There are so many great songs that Michael did both as a soloist and as part of the Jacksons/Jackson 5 that I can't really name any specific ones. I think the albums I like as a whole are the self-titled '76 Jacksons LP on Epic, and Off The Wall from '79. With the other LPs, I like songs here and there. I like that the Thriller 12inch included an instrumental mix of the flip side. Why didn't he do that with his other solo disco/dance records from Thriller or Off The Wall? Not that I dislike his voice, I just like having an instrumental to play around with.

Here's one of my favourite last Jackson 5 songs, the very funky and danceable Forever Came Today from '75.



And here's one of the slow jams from the '76 S/T LP, a really underrated gem



Disco Funk

[Videoskooter]

2 more recent-2 awesome traxx!

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Favorite Jackson 5 - Mama's Pearl
Favorite Jacksons - Walk Right Now
Favorite Micheal Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel

[Dayna]

Two of my favorites..

[Videoskooter]

Yes Dayna, "Butterflies" and also "Break Of Dawn" are two vastly underrated tracks from his last album "Invincible".

"When you are loved when you are born
and you are loved when you pass away,
then all that happens in between can be dealt with" (Michael Jackson)

[kdavid13]

In the last few days ; I have been listening non-stop to Off the wall,Thriller,Bad,Dangerous,Blood on the dancefloor and Invincible.

And I also ended up buying a copy of History on Film Vol.II on DVD (Just the fact that I was able to find a misplaced copy in the store was a feat in itself !! :icon_cool:)

I was blown away by the inclusion of the 1995 MTV Video Music Award performance...OMG ; It was one of his best ever...

I got the DVD to get the Motown 25 and the (censored) Scream videos but found myself watching the MTV clip over & over again...

And I was also suprised to find myself listening to Invincible with renewed interest.Speechless,Privacy and 2000 watts hit me like a ton of brick.

[needlefingers]

Michael and I were born in the same year, and I have already noted on this board how I danced to his records and imitated him as I was growing up.

My reflection these past few days has been on his younger days and so I pick......Never Can Say Goodbye.

[Videoskooter]

And this is London's Liverpool Station last friday:

[discokicks]

My fondest memory with the Michael Jackson phenomena is that period in time when Billie Jean was the hottest ticket around. It came out at the same time as I did :icon_razz: and a couple months later, I was thrown into a dj booth to entertain those who liked to shake their bodies down.

Then the fun really started with a couple of club records blatantly using that Billie Jean bassline...mixing from one song to the other was a blast!!!

Lydia Murdock's answer record...this was HUGE at my club...."I'm Billie Jean and I'm mad as hell..."



And then there was this hot floor-filler...

[drh]

and not fo forget one of my favorite christmas soul songs "Little Christmas Tree"performed by Michael Jackson. I discovered this pearl very late, in 2004 or so on a "Swinging Christmas"-Sampler with lots of real old stuff.

[needlefingers]

Lydia Murdock's answer record...this was HUGE at my club...."I'm Billie Jean and I'm mad as hell..."

And then there was this hot floor-filler...

I like Alien Ant Farm's cover of Smooth Criminal.

YouTube - Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal: MTV Mask Version

[PierreConstantin]

For me the best MJ song is "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and I like very much the original video:



Two covers:

-

"A cappella" versions of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You":

-

[PierreConstantin]

Oh, and let's not forget the guilty pleasures from the 80's :icon_biggrin:

-

[Nano]

some favs from back then:

"Shake your body (down to the ground)" (The Jacksons)
"Walk right now" (The Jacksons) the mix with the sirens
"Off the wall"
"Wanna be startin' something"
"The way you make me feel"

these ones I never get tired of listening to.

also in recent years I discovered this BAD outtake that should have been in the original LP:

YouTube - michael jackson "Fly Away"

looking at this homemade clip reminds me that MJ was a songwriter of talent and a passionate singer... but as a dancer he was really out of this world.

[Videoskooter]

Just released footage of Michael's last rehearsal. Click on the pic in case the YT vid gets axed!!

[keefelc]

The rehearsal clip is really making the rounds now (If YT takes it down, you can also find the clip at: http://www.khou.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=376826 ).

I just read there's now thought of releasing the rehearsal footage as a movie or a pay per view. This short clip sure is exciting. I suspect if Michael had lived, this concert would have definitely given his career a major boost.