SoulAlive said:

You should post this letter on other sites too.....such as Okayplayer.

It's already on there. I read it there first before I read it here

bboy87 said:

SoulAlive said:

You should post this letter on other sites too.....such as Okayplayer.

It's already on there. I read it there first before I read it here

I just found it over there Looks like most posters over there agree with the letter.

shorttrini said:

legendofnothing said:

I'm convinced Quincy Jones hates Michael Jackson. You just wait until he grants that remake of Thriller by Britney Spears. She will be lipsychin and half ass dancing, surrounded by cgi zombies. Then your gonna wanna send a real letter laced with Anthrax. If there happens to be any FBI voyeurs on the ORG this morning. I'm just kidding.

It's funny you say that. I remember reading an interview with Q, right after MJ died. He said that although he will miss him, he thought that he was weird. On the sujbect of MJ's face, Q said, "What did this dude do to his face?" When I read that, I just felt the same way as I did, when Oprah dissed his about a year before he died.

Hmm!

Quincy should talk.

I've long thought Quincy was overrated. He greatest strength is his connections, because he always works with great people. But it's not like any of his solo albums are classics in my opinion. What I've heard from the new album does not sound bad, but serves no purpose other than to make him seem stylish to the under-30 generation.

When you're covering your own tunes, you have run out of ideas.

FunkyGraf said:

I've long thought Quincy was overrated.

Don't agree with you there, he was an incredible bandleader, composer and producer and his 70's A&M albums are in a class of their own, as is his production work for artists like MJ, Patti Austin, George Benson and Brothers Johnson. He just ran of steam around 1987 ("Bad") and has been trying to prove he's hip ever since. "Back On The Block" had its moments as did "Q's Juke Joint", but he should not have bothered with his new album!

whitesockedfunk said:

FunkyGraf said:

I've long thought Quincy was overrated.

Don't agree with you there, he was an incredible bandleader, composer and producer and his 70's A&M albums are in a class of their own, as is his production work for artists like MJ, Patti Austin, George Benson and Brothers Johnson. He just ran of steam around 1987 ("Bad") and has been trying to prove he's hip ever since. "Back On The Block" had its moments as did "Q's Juke Joint", but he should not have bothered with his new album!

Yeah Quincy has produced some excellent, timeless music. Its too bad he's ruining his legacy doing music with autotuned universoul circus clown T-Pain and that whining Akon aka Acorny. He should just focus on not trying to keep up with the younger crowd.

[Edited 11/8/10 18:28pm]

FunkyGraf said:

I've long thought Quincy was overrated. He greatest strength is his connections, because he always works with great people. But it's not like any of his solo albums are classics in my opinion. What I've heard from the new album does not sound bad, but serves no purpose other than to make him seem stylish to the under-30 generation.

When you're covering your own tunes, you have run out of ideas.

Only thing I agree with.

That being said, I'm willing to bring a half full glass perspective and chalk up this whole project for the sake of his musical legacy. Its perfectly fine if you don't like him or his music, but to say that he's "overrated" is simply incorrect and a lazy assessment. The man is a musical institution, just like Duke Ellington was.

Harlepolis said:

FunkyGraf said:

I've long thought Quincy was overrated. He greatest strength is his connections, because he always works with great people. But it's not like any of his solo albums are classics in my opinion. What I've heard from the new album does not sound bad, but serves no purpose other than to make him seem stylish to the under-30 generation.

When you're covering your own tunes, you have run out of ideas.

Only thing I agree with.

That being said, I'm willing to bring a half full glass perspective and chalk up this whole project for the sake of his musical legacy. Its perfectly fine if you don't like him or his music, but to say that he's "overrated" is simply incorrect and a lazy assessment. The man is a musical institution, just like Duke Ellington was.

I don't think that he is overrated as much as he is lazy. Quincy, is just one of a few star that in my opinion have been resting on their past successes. They take it for granted that they can release sub-par material and their "true fans", will suck it up.

shorttrini said:

Harlepolis said:

Only thing I agree with.

That being said, I'm willing to bring a half full glass perspective and chalk up this whole project for the sake of his musical legacy. Its perfectly fine if you don't like him or his music, but to say that he's "overrated" is simply incorrect and a lazy assessment. The man is a musical institution, just like Duke Ellington was.

I don't think that he is overrated as much as he is lazy. Quincy, is just one of a few star that in my opinion have been resting on their past successes. They take it for granted that they can release sub-par material and their "true fans", will suck it up.

Yeah for real.

landaliustruefield said:

Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to do just that.

I'm behind you all the way. I'll sign a petition if need be. We don't want those

ass clowns fucking up classics we love by the Brothers Johnson and MJ.

phunkdaddy said:

landaliustruefield said:

Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to do just that.

I'm behind you all the way. I'll sign a petition if need be. We don't want those

ass clowns fucking up classics we love by the Brothers Johnson and MJ.

Exactly

Bulldog said:

Send it!!

Since the internet and the release of the MJ deluxe editions, it was finally revealed that Q never strayed to far from the original demos, all he did was enhance the songs and as the producer it did that very well. He knew the right musicians to hire to "do what they do." I'm not sayin Q is full of shit, I have made respect for his early work as an artist and producer. At one point he had a great ears that recognized a great song.

He certainly did,although I was surprised to hear that he didn't like the song "Billie Jean" and tried to convince Michael to leave it off the 'Thriller' album

The internet aint what it used to be either.

whitesockedfunk said:

FunkyGraf said:

I've long thought Quincy was overrated.

Don't agree with you there, he was an incredible bandleader, composer and producer and his 70's A&M albums are in a class of their own, as is his production work for artists like MJ, Patti Austin, George Benson and Brothers Johnson. He just ran of steam around 1987 ("Bad") and has been trying to prove he's hip ever since. "Back On The Block" had its moments as did "Q's Juke Joint", but he should not have bothered with his new album!

Agreed! There's just NO way in hell Quincy Jones is "overrated" in any meaning of the word.

For proof, listen to:

-Quintessence (1961), impulse!

-Big Band Bossa Nova (1962), Mercury

-Smackwater Jack (1972), A&M

-You've Got It Bad, Girl (1973), A&M

-Mellow Madness (1975), A&M

-Sounds...And Stuff Like That (1978), A&M

-The Dude (1981), A&M

-The soundtracks to Mirage, The Pawnbroker, In The Heat Of The Night, In Cold Blood, They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!, Dollars, The Color Purple.

-George Benson: Give Me The Night (1980)

-Brothers Johnson: Light Up The Night (1980)

- - -

You also have to remember, he came from the world of jazz arranging first (for big bands, smaller groups too), and was the main arranger and conductor for the Sinatra / Basie Big Band before jumping in to the world of soundtracks and eventually "pop". He definitely was "schooled" and he knows his shit through and through.

Despite the fact that we don't know that much about the actual recording sessions of those classic MJ LP's, just based on what I said above he MUST have played a bigger role than just that of a "connection maker" and a general overseer.

And besides, overseers are needed too. Back On The Block is a perfect example of that - it's a feat in itself to come up with a coherent album from such a messy gumbo of jazz superstars, R&B singers and rappers...and song material that jumps borders and genres.

Regarding MJ: yeah, Q had the best songwriter (Rod Temperton), the best engineer (Bruce Swedien), the best horn arranger (Jerry Hey) and the best musicians (most of Toto; Greg Phillinganes, George Duke, James Ingram, J.R. Roberts etc) in town - but I refuse to accept that claim that "all he did was recreate MJ's demos in the studio". I mean, give me a break, kids.

ALL that said, it's ALSO true that after Q's Jook Joint - of which there were already signs of in there (Bono doing Ray Charles' "Let The Good Times Roll", anyone?) - he's lost his marbles as he's gotten older, and thinks he's so hip by pandering to these rappers or R&B artists, most of whom are popular right now, but don't have a timeless sound (or the chops) of someone like James Ingram.

I listened to Soul Bossa Nostra, mostly on fast forward - horrible. Just plain horrible.

[Edited 11/11/10 0:12am]

landaliustruefield said:

(Debating whether I should send this to him or not. What do you think?)

Dear Quincy Jones:

When I first heard Akon’s rendition of the Brothers Johnson classic “Strawberry Letter 23” several months ago, needless to say that I was highly disappointed that the song was utterly destroyed in the name of reinterpretation. Fast forward to the “We Are the World” remake featuring Wyclef, Justin Bieber, Lil’ Wayne, and a barely audible Janet Jackson and my reaction was one of shock and dismay. You can only imagine the pain and resentment to listen recently to T-Pain and Robin Thicke butcher Michael Jackson’s 1982 classic “P.Y.T.” and reduce it to an Auto-Tuned monstrosity of foolishness and betrayal.

How could you allow this to happen, Mr. Jones?

I read your rebuttal on Rap-Up.com where you stated and I quote: “Today with Facebook and Twitter and everything, I have never seen so many haters in my life. But it’s people sitting in their basements with their pants on the ground, just being haters. I don’t get it, man. That means they don’t have a life.”

With all due respect to you and your legacy, Mr. Jones, I beg to differ that the negative feedback from the “P.Y.T.” track is a case of anyone being a hater. It’s simply a case of music consumers and admirers being very upset at the fact that some of the most timeless and classic songs of your illustrious career have been reduced to inferior production and vocalists who have no business covering this music. I truly believe that fans of your works deserve more from a man responsible for giving us such musical treasures as The Dude, Off the Wall, Thriller, “We Are the World,” and the amazing score to The Color Purple. Don’t you agree, sir?

And what kind of musical world do I live in where in one interview, you offer your disdain for Lady Gaga’s music but yet you executive produce an album that’s full of Auto-Tune? You want to label me a hater because I don’t like this work? Keep in mind that I represent the record buying consumer who gets up and goes to work on a daily basis and at the end of the day, all I want to do is come home and unwind with some good music. I don’t want my Quincy Jones to sound like everything else I hear on the radio these days that forces me to change the station as soon as I hear the latest cookie-cutter song of the moment! Forgive me if I demand much better music from one of the greatest - if not the greatest - music producer of the modern era.

I’m sorry sir, but I will not support this latest endeavor, Soul Bossa Nostra. In the meantime you can defend T-Pain and Akon all you want but it will not justify having them and anyone else making a mockery of what I and many others consider classic works. I guess until you decide to really put your weight behind a real project that features real musicians making real music, I will continue to sit in the basement with my pants on the ground while spinning “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” and praying to the spirit of Michael Jackson that you don’t allow Nicole Scherzinger to butcher that song to be damned!

And speaking of which, wasn’t it MJ who once sang “Enough is enough of this garbage?”

Ok, dude, I agree with Q, you are being a hater. I can't defend any of the remakes you mentioned, but let's just agree that they aren't as good as the originals. So what? It's the music biz, it's a new audience out there now that thinks the theme song to Super Mario Brothers is hot stuff and they pretty much prefer everything else sound similar. Q gotta sell, just like anyone else in the MUZIK BIZ, so stop kicking him in the nuts over it. Enjoy the remakes for what they are, even as you cherish the originals.

[Edited 11/11/10 9:31am]

funksterr said:

landaliustruefield said:

(Debating whether I should send this to him or not. What do you think?)

Dear Quincy Jones:

When I first heard Akon’s rendition of the Brothers Johnson classic “Strawberry Letter 23” several months ago, needless to say that I was highly disappointed that the song was utterly destroyed in the name of reinterpretation. Fast forward to the “We Are the World” remake featuring Wyclef, Justin Bieber, Lil’ Wayne, and a barely audible Janet Jackson and my reaction was one of shock and dismay. You can only imagine the pain and resentment to listen recently to T-Pain and Robin Thicke butcher Michael Jackson’s 1982 classic “P.Y.T.” and reduce it to an Auto-Tuned monstrosity of foolishness and betrayal.

How could you allow this to happen, Mr. Jones?

I read your rebuttal on Rap-Up.com where you stated and I quote: “Today with Facebook and Twitter and everything, I have never seen so many haters in my life. But it’s people sitting in their basements with their pants on the ground, just being haters. I don’t get it, man. That means they don’t have a life.”

With all due respect to you and your legacy, Mr. Jones, I beg to differ that the negative feedback from the “P.Y.T.” track is a case of anyone being a hater. It’s simply a case of music consumers and admirers being very upset at the fact that some of the most timeless and classic songs of your illustrious career have been reduced to inferior production and vocalists who have no business covering this music. I truly believe that fans of your works deserve more from a man responsible for giving us such musical treasures as The Dude, Off the Wall, Thriller, “We Are the World,” and the amazing score to The Color Purple. Don’t you agree, sir?

And what kind of musical world do I live in where in one interview, you offer your disdain for Lady Gaga’s music but yet you executive produce an album that’s full of Auto-Tune? You want to label me a hater because I don’t like this work? Keep in mind that I represent the record buying consumer who gets up and goes to work on a daily basis and at the end of the day, all I want to do is come home and unwind with some good music. I don’t want my Quincy Jones to sound like everything else I hear on the radio these days that forces me to change the station as soon as I hear the latest cookie-cutter song of the moment! Forgive me if I demand much better music from one of the greatest - if not the greatest - music producer of the modern era.

I’m sorry sir, but I will not support this latest endeavor, Soul Bossa Nostra. In the meantime you can defend T-Pain and Akon all you want but it will not justify having them and anyone else making a mockery of what I and many others consider classic works. I guess until you decide to really put your weight behind a real project that features real musicians making real music, I will continue to sit in the basement with my pants on the ground while spinning “Tell Me a Bedtime Story” and praying to the spirit of Michael Jackson that you don’t allow Nicole Scherzinger to butcher that song to be damned!

And speaking of which, wasn’t it MJ who once sang “Enough is enough of this garbage?”

Ok, dude, I agree with Q, you are being a hater. I can't defend any of the remakes you mentioned, but let's just agree that they aren't as good as the originals. So what? It's the music biz, it's a new audience out there now that thinks the theme song to Super Mario Brothers is hot stuff and they pretty much prefer everything else sound similar. Q gotta sell, just like anyone else in the MUZIK BIZ, so stop kicking him in the nuts over it. Enjoy the remakes for what they are, even as you cherish the originals.

[Edited 11/11/10 9:31am]

You're fucking with me, right?

I'm being a hater? Why am I being a hater? Because I expect more than the average fluff that I hear on the radio from one of the greatest producers of all time? If that's what makes me a hater then give me a big glass of haterade and I will gladly shut the fuck up! "Q gotta sell" is what you wrote. You have got to be joking me. The man produced Thriller. An album that has sold in excess of 110 million albums so I doubt very much so that Mr. Jones is hurting for any dollars right about now. I am so sorry but the time is out for bullshit music and I believe that as fans and admirers of real music that we need to let our voices be heard, even if it means expressing my opinion to Quincy Jones. What... I'm supposed to just accept a bullshit product because it's Quincy Jones?

My friend, do me a favor and don't come at me on no bullshit. This is the reason why the music business is suffering and it's because of whack ass music and I refuse to accept anything less.

The letter has been submitted so now we'll see what happens next. Peace and music to you all.

landaliustruefield said:

The letter has been submitted so now we'll see what happens next. Peace and music to you all.

Where did you send it?

Just got done listening to this album. Man, it was terrible.

Actually, calling it terrible would be an insult to all the other terrible albums out there.

It'd be a damn shame if this turns out to be Quincy's last album.

Rogue588 said:

Just got done listening to this album. Man, it was terrible.

Actually, calling it terrible would be an insult to all the other terrible albums out there.

It'd be a damn shame if this turns out to be Quincy's last album.

It's a shame that Qunicy won't get some REAL musicians together and make a jazzy album of all new tunes.He needs to leave hip-hop alone.

SoulAlive said:

Rogue588 said:

Just got done listening to this album. Man, it was terrible.

Actually, calling it terrible would be an insult to all the other terrible albums out there.

It'd be a damn shame if this turns out to be Quincy's last album.

It's a shame that Qunicy won't get some REAL musicians together and make a jazzy album of all new tunes.He needs to leave hip-hop alone.

Which is very dead anyway

HuMpThAnG said:

SoulAlive said:

It's a shame that Qunicy won't get some REAL musicians together and make a jazzy album of all new tunes.He needs to leave hip-hop alone.

Which is very dead anyway

Quincy looks like a damn fool trying to latch onto that style of music.

landaliustruefield said:

funksterr said:

Ok, dude, I agree with Q, you are being a hater. I can't defend any of the remakes you mentioned, but let's just agree that they aren't as good as the originals. So what? It's the music biz, it's a new audience out there now that thinks the theme song to Super Mario Brothers is hot stuff and they pretty much prefer everything else sound similar. Q gotta sell, just like anyone else in the MUZIK BIZ, so stop kicking him in the nuts over it. Enjoy the remakes for what they are, even as you cherish the originals.

[Edited 11/11/10 9:31am]

You're fucking with me, right?

I'm being a hater? Why am I being a hater? Because I expect more than the average fluff that I hear on the radio from one of the greatest producers of all time? If that's what makes me a hater then give me a big glass of haterade and I will gladly shut the fuck up! "Q gotta sell" is what you wrote. You have got to be joking me. The man produced Thriller. An album that has sold in excess of 110 million albums so I doubt very much so that Mr. Jones is hurting for any dollars right about now. I am so sorry but the time is out for bullshit music and I believe that as fans and admirers of real music that we need to let our voices be heard, even if it means expressing my opinion to Quincy Jones. What... I'm supposed to just accept a bullshit product because it's Quincy Jones?

My friend, do me a favor and don't come at me on no bullshit. This is the reason why the music business is suffering and it's because of whack ass music and I refuse to accept anything less.

Um, wow! Yeah you are hating. Let me put it like this. What really is "real music"? What does that mean to you? I'm positive that for a new generation of kids it's a totally different thing, just as it was likely different for the generation that came before you. This is a project aimed at those that are turned on by today's pop sounds. Q is the greatest pop producer of all time. He made a remix record aimed at appealing to today's pop audiences. Why are you so uptight about it?

SoulAlive said:

Rogue588 said:

Just got done listening to this album. Man, it was terrible.

Actually, calling it terrible would be an insult to all the other terrible albums out there.

It'd be a damn shame if this turns out to be Quincy's last album.

It's a shame that Qunicy won't get some REAL musicians together and make a jazzy album of all new tunes.He needs to leave hip-hop alone.

Q's health is really not where it used to be. He likes the pop spotlight and is always truned on by the idea of chart hits. He probably mostly supervised these tracks anyway, I doubt he truly worked on them.

funksterr said:

landaliustruefield said:

You're fucking with me, right?

I'm being a hater? Why am I being a hater? Because I expect more than the average fluff that I hear on the radio from one of the greatest producers of all time? If that's what makes me a hater then give me a big glass of haterade and I will gladly shut the fuck up! "Q gotta sell" is what you wrote. You have got to be joking me. The man produced Thriller. An album that has sold in excess of 110 million albums so I doubt very much so that Mr. Jones is hurting for any dollars right about now. I am so sorry but the time is out for bullshit music and I believe that as fans and admirers of real music that we need to let our voices be heard, even if it means expressing my opinion to Quincy Jones. What... I'm supposed to just accept a bullshit product because it's Quincy Jones?

My friend, do me a favor and don't come at me on no bullshit. This is the reason why the music business is suffering and it's because of whack ass music and I refuse to accept anything less.

Um, wow! Yeah you are hating. Let me put it like this. What really is "real music"? What does that mean to you? I'm positive that for a new generation of kids it's a totally different thing, just as it was likely different for the generation that came before you. This is a project aimed at those that are turned on by today's pop sounds. Q is the greatest pop producer of all time. He made a remix record aimed at appealing to today's pop audiences. Why are you so uptight about it?

Wrote all this stuff because of what hes come to expect? He refuses to accept less?

Should've said aimed at audiences who are tone-deaf.

I'm sorry but Quincy won't get any sales from this. If he's lucky, he'll get 25,000 fully. Yeah that's how much confidence I have in it.

funksterr said:

SoulAlive said:

It's a shame that Qunicy won't get some REAL musicians together and make a jazzy album of all new tunes.He needs to leave hip-hop alone.

Q's health is really not where it used to be. He likes the pop spotlight and is always turned on by the idea of chart hits. He probably mostly supervised these tracks anyway, I doubt he truly worked on them.

But he's going about it the wrong way.Does he truly believe that hip-hop fans are gonna go out and buy a CD from a 77-year old man? I get that he loves the pop spotlight but there is a such thing as artistic integrity,which Quincy seems to lack these days.

Quincy began his career in jazz music.Why not bring together a bunch of talented musicians and create some amazing NEW jazz tunes? That's a perfect way for his career to come full circle....going back to where it all began.He can work with all the rappers that he likes,but Quincy is not hip-hop and never will be.

...

[Edited 11/15/10 5:28am]

on The Dude title track Quincy already merged mainstream R&B with Rap

this was 1981....

he uhmmmmm "sold out" to Rap before anyone else in the mainstream even took notice

so if anyone in the world has the friggin' right to collaborate with todays Rap artists it's Q

he doesn't follow a trend, he invented it !!

in the 70s oh so many Jazz purists & snobs were bitching on how Quincy sold out by collaborating with Soul, Funk and R&B artists. very likely some wrote open letters similar to the one above. thankfully Q didn't care too much about them either

but all of that aside, I still think Soul Bossa Nostra sucks big time

[Edited 11/15/10 7:12am]

another side note.. he's coming from Jazz.... and in this genre it's the norm that standards are remade over and over again by various artists and in different musical eras and different arrangements. i't's all part of the game. if you don't like it don't buy it. simple really.