Something funny I noticed today while listening to Aaliyah's final album: "Those Were The Days" sounds like a response to Michael Jackson's "Remember The Time". If Michael is the tortured jilted lover, then Aaliyah provides the explanation. There are quite a few conscious production (TWTD sounds like a slightly stripped-down, slowed-down version of RTT, and Aaliyah's repetitious background vocals are layered in a very similar manner to Michael's) and lyrical ("I remember walking in the park") references to the old song, so it made me wonder if MJ's classic was in any way the inspiration. Regardless, both great songs

Remember The Time

I don't know
Bet you wanna try
Everytime you see...

Do you remember
When we fell in love
We were young and innocent then
Do you remember
How it all began
It just seemed like heaven
So why did it end

Do you remember
(I bet you remember)
Back in the fall
(I know you remember)
We'd be together
(I bet you remember)
All day long
(I know you remember)
Do you remember
(I bet you remember)
Us holdin' hands
(I know you remember)
In each
(I bet you remember)
Other's eyes we'd stare
(I know you remember)
Tell me

Do you remember the time
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time
When we first met, girl
Do you remember the time
Oh, why
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time

Do you remember
How we used to talk
You know, we'd stay on the phone
At night 'til dawn
Do you remember
All the things we said
Like I love you so
I'll never let you go

Do you remember
(I bet you remember)
Back in the Spring
(I know you remember)
Every morning
(I bet you remember)
Birds would sing
(I know you remember)
Do you remember
(I bet you remember)
Those special times
(I know you remember)
They'll just go on
(I bet you remember)
And on in the back of my mind

Do you remember the time
Oh, why
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time
When we first met, girl
Do you remember the time
Oh, why
When we fell in love
Do you remember the time

Those sweet memories
Will always be dear to me
And, girl, no matter what was said
I will never forget what we said
Now, baby

(Do you remember the time)
Do you remember
(When we fell in love)
(Do you remember the time)
When we first met, girl
(Do you remember the time)
Oh, why
(When we fell in love)
(Do you remember the time)
Remember, my baby
(Do you remember the time)
'Cause I remember
(When we fell in love)
(Do you remember the time)
On my mind, girl
(Do you remember the time)
Oh, why
(When we fell in love)
(Do you remember the time)
Remember, my baby
(Remember the time)
(Remember the time)
Do you remember, girl
(Remember the time)
On the phone
You and me
(Remember the time)
'Til dawn
'Til three
What about us, girl
(Remember the time)
Do you, do you, do you
(Remember the time)
Do you, do you
In the park
On the beach
(Remember the time)
You and me
In Spain
What about, what about
(Remember the time)
(Remember the time)
In the park
(Remember the time)
After dark
Do you, do you, do you
(Remember the time)
Do you, do you, do you, do you
(Remember the time)
Girl, girl
(Remember the time)

Those Were The Days

We ain't lovers no more
We don't laugh no more
We don't play no more
We don't make-up no more
We don't kiss no more
We don't hug no more
You don't please me no more
You don't touch no more
Give me chills no more
We don't go out no more
We don't kick it no more
We don't dance no more

I remember
Walking through the park
Just shooting the breeze
Kissing in the shade
Those were the days
Lounging in the den
Breakfast In the bed
You let me have my way
Those were the days

If you don't want me no more
Don't come round no more
Just don't call no more
Don't come knockin' up at my door
After ten or so
What you knockin' for?
We don't kick it no more
You ain't cute no more
You ain't fly no more
You ain't got it like that no more
See in your clothes you don't

I still remember
Walking through the park
Just shooting the breeze
Kissing in the shade
Those were the days
Lounging in the den
Breakfast In the bed
You let me have my way
Those were the days

Those were the days
Those were the days
I said those were the days
I said those were the days
Those were the days
Those were the days
What's up with this baby?
You done changed on me (You done changed)
This ain't the way it used to be, baby

You don't know me no more
You can't lie no more
Ain't gon' try no more
Won't have to say goodbye no more
You gotta hit the road
Hate to see you go
I ain't the one to mess with no flow
Don't take pictures no more
Don't hold hands no more
This is the end of the road

But I still remember
Walking through the park
Just shooting the breeze
Kissing in the shade
Those were the days
Lounging in the den
Breakfast In the bed
You let me have my way
Those were the days

Ya know, I never thought about comparin those two songs.....

Maybe I'll give Aaliyah a lil' listen tonite.....

Thanks for the enlightenment!