I'm just sitting here listening to some old Jackson 5 cuts (Who's Loving You, I Wanna Be Where You Are) and I'm thinking, "man this kid had some REAL soul in his voice when he was young. But I can't quite place my finger on when he kind of lost that soul edge as an adult. None of his solo albums really kind of have this feel.The only thing I can kind of compare it to is listening to 1960-/70's Tina Turner songs and 1980-s to current TT songs--they just don't have that same soulful urgency.

umm to tell the truth as a real MJ fan michael lost it around the bad era because everything sounded as if it was going into a rock/pop direction after thriller

Just listen to Butterflies

I don't think the young Mike lost any soul. It's the older Mike that lost some soul. After Thriller Mike's mentality about record sales changed the music for the worse.

"We Are The World"

The "Bad" era is when I lost a lot of interest in Michael Jackson also. Every album after "Thriller" contained tons of guest artists. It's like he thought he had a formula to make another icon record like "Thriller". Personally, I prefer "Off The Wall" over "Thriller".

As soon as he stopped hanging out in clubs. he used that Studio 54 experience for Off The Wall & Thriller. After that he was alone, got his ass kissed to much and became distant from everyday life which he related to us.

so i'd say 1986-on

Is this the soul you are talking about?

http://s4.yousendit.com/d...148F79A838

WTF? He's still one of the most soulful singers on the planet.

I wonder if any of you actually know a soulful vocal when you hear one.

Cloudbuster said:

It's ok. People just like knocking Michael Jackson. Especially pale Michael Jackson.

WildStyle said:

No shit!

Cloudbuster said:

yeah like Celine Dion

I've thought about this for a long time, and by a nice coincidence the answer for me came as I heard 'Beat it' on the radio on my way to work this morning - it sounded dated overall and the singing was weak. I realized I don't like many other Thriller tracks either, it has just been difficult to see this because of the sales and the hype. So my answer to the original question is: after 'Off the wall'.

jn2 said:

I wouldn't know. I don't listen to her.

In responce to the original question...He didnt. Hes still got WAY more soul then half the guys out here at the momment. However as years have gone by hes made all sorts of different songs, not the same tired sound over and over. To the guy that said what he feels about thriller songs, WHAT THE HELL!?! Ofcourse Beat It is an 80's classic but today its still a cool song to listen to. And yo, have you heard Lady in My life and Human Nature, or was it just some Bootleg version of thriller, with some missing cuts?

rapa said:

I agree. After Michael got just one measely grammy nomination for best R&B male vocal for "Don't Stop...," he conformed. He started doing the Lionel Richie "blah" to be more pop and sell more records. He's trying to bring it back, though. I think he showed on "Butterflies" he still has the capability. But, all his albums after "Off The Wall" show only a glimpse of it.

lameless said:

The guy has soul on all his records. And what's with the "he conformed" comment?

I don't get why people have a problem with artists making all different kinds of music. You're on a Prince site for goodness sake.

although I agree that MJ had "more soul" during the seventies he has still shown that he still has it...let me pick one song from every album since Off the wall:

Triumph (the Jacksons) 1980

this one is easy...just pick one of the songs, everyone is filled with soul but I'll pick one anyway: Heartbreak Hotel

Thriller 1982

Human Nature

Bad 1987

Another part of me

Dangerous 1991

Remember the time

HiStory 1995

Stranger in Moscow

Invincible 2001

Butterflies

I do love Stranger In Moscow.

I do love Remember The Time.

Cloudbuster said:

Oh, my bad. I meant "sold out." Is that better?

And as far as artists making all differnet kinds of music--I really don't have a problem with that. I like all different types of music, myself. But, I wasn't talking about Michael's music, I was talking about his vocals. I'm talking about his voice when I say he went "Lionel Richie." In my opinion the majority of Michael's songs from "Thriller" on lacked a soulful voice. But, on occasion, he whips it out like in "Butterflies."

Prince has eclectic music, but his voice has always had soul. I just don't get that with Michael. But, don't think I'm hatin'...I actually like "We've Had Enough."

lameless said:

sure, but not as much as Michael.
[Edited 11/5/04 13:22pm]

WildStyle said:

mikey didnt lose anything on butterflies and i smothered the song in love after i read the liner naotes and it said floetry was on it i love me some floetry

Marrk said:

OdysseyMiles said:

not as much as Michael's ? huh? I think Prince's vocals are more soulful then Micheal's last song Mike did I liked was "I just can't stop loving you".