Some people believe that if you want to learn about an artist you can look at their craft to show you interesting things about how they view the world, and how they view themselves.

With that in mind, which song of Michael's do you guys think best sums up how he views the world or himself?

If we use the above logic...

For me, I can't really answer this question. I mean certainly he wants to heal the world and help children (to some degree.) I mean he wrote "Heal The World" and "The Lost Children."

Beyond that, he seems to be afraid of being trapped by a woman. (Billie Jean, Dirty Diana)

I mean the only problem I can see with this thinking is that Michael is clearly someone who cares about selling huge numbers and being "Number 1." So, it is possible he would just try to write a song to mimic an older hit.

I don't know..I'd love to hear people's thoughts on this.

Heartbreak Hotel

i'd say STRANGER IN MOSCOW.....pure genius...

but he said out his own mouth that if we want to know who he is as aperson listen to CHILDHOOD....

ill have to disagree about the statement bout mj trying to replicate older hits.....i dont kno bout that.

Honestly, It could easily be That's What You Get For Being Polite.
[Edited 1/8/06 17:58pm]

lilgish said:

Awww yeah..someone is looking deep with "The Jacksons" tracks..I thought it might be "Blues Away" also.

Nvncible1 said:

This is true..he has said in more than one interview that songs like "Childhood" and "Heal The World" are the songs most close to his heart.

jasonstar said:

I've pretty much dissected the lyrical content behind each song.

lilgish said:

I'd love to hear your thoughts track by track one day. I've tried to do this over and over. It is always so interesting to me. And on a side note, I might be wrong about "Blues Away" because I don't believe he actually wrote it. I think some songwriters did.

jasonstar said:

Michael wrote that song.

lilgish said:

He did? I remember thinking he wrote it, but then I thought I checked the liner notes and it said some other names below it, I could have been looking at the wrong song.

I really think it describes him good though..either way..because he just seems like someone who is kind of unhappy, even when he is REALLY happy, you know below the surface the guy is hurting, and the only people who might be able to help him get better, shrinks and people like that, probably won't be put near him.
I sometimes think people just look at Michael like a golden hen, laying golden eggs for the people around him. And he is to naive or too drugged up on painkillers or whatever to care.

lilgish said:

Correct.

groupies and strippers f'kin his older brothers and 'Papa' Joe while out on the chitlin circuit. i feel so sorry for Mike, exposed to that at five or six yrs old old. That's why i will never, ever condemn him. My father got up to some real crazy shit, fortunately i was a grown-ass man when i found out so i could deal. fortunately i didn't have to 'turn my back to see i was under cover' i.e under the bed covers.

in the closet

meltwithu said:

maybe on the title, but again on That's What You Get For Being Polite it sounds like he says "don't you know he's gay" so I would still go with that
[Edited 1/8/06 18:23pm]

meltwithu said:

i know your more than likely taking the piss, but that is a great tune. very under appreciated, even by by fans of MJ. one of his truly last great songs. Worth a download even for the haters.


[Edited 1/8/06 18:33pm]

"Muscles"

Cinnie said:

I love that pic.

So much so, here's a better version

Nice one!

"Muscles" (M. Jackson)


She said she wants a man
To always understand
But that's alright for her
Still it ain't enough for me

And she said she wants a guy
To keep her satisfied
But that's alright for her
But it ain't enough for me

Still, I don't care
If he's young or old
(Just make him beautiful)
I just want someone
I can hold on to

I want muscles
All, all over his body
(Make him strong enough)
(From his head down to his toes)

They say they have to see
His real personality
But that's alright for them
Still it ain't enough for me
I need what the eyes can see, ah
(His anatomy)
If that's alright for them
Still it ain't enough for me

I don't care if he's young or old
(Just make him beautiful)
I just want some strong man
To hold on to

Muscle man, I want to love you
In the sun, oil on your body
Come with me, high in the cascades
Let this be, we've got this thing made
Lost at sea, hide in the desert
Stay with me, you won't regret it
Take this love, so deep to swim in
Come to me, and let my love in




©1982 Mijac Music (BMI)









[Edited 1/8/06 21:54pm]

That was incredibly gay....

MichaelsLight said:

That's what I thought! Especially the visual aspect to the fantasies..

He wrote "Muscles" on a plaine or something with Diana Ross in mind to sing it - I believe. I also think he named it after his pet snake. He said he could not get wait to get home to "whip that baby on tape" so he didn't forget it.

I personally like the song and Michael's background vocals were good.

As for the BS that this song shows Michael is gay, is total crap. (Not that there is anything wrong with it, but using this as proof is lame-o.) Plenty of songwriters write songs with opposite genders in mind. It does not mean they are all gay or something.

But if you guys really want to believe this track reveals the most about Michael..alrighty then.

I just wanted to bait you a little bit.

My real answer would be the songs he writes with a recurring theme of "women as monsters", ie. Heartbreak Hotel, Billie Jean

jasonstar said:

yep.. that's who is in that pic above!

Cinnie said:

I would have to agree with you here
Add "Give In To Me" on this list. While women were not monsters in this song, a woman clearly did him wrong, same with "Who Is It."

Makes ya wonder if Michael is meeting some shady women in his life

Someone put your hand out


I’m so undemanding
’cause they say love is blind
I’ve lived this life pretending
I can bear this hurt deep inside

The truth is that I’m longing
For love that’s so divine
I’ve searched this whole world wishing
She’ll be there time after time

So someone put your hand out
I’m begging for your love
All I do is hand out a heart that needs your love

I’ve lived my life the lonely
A soul that cries of shame
With handicapped emotions
Save me now from what still remains

I’ll be your story hero
A serenading ryne
I’m just needing that someone
Save me now from the path I’m on...

So someone put your hand out
I’m begging for your lovev
All I do is hand out a heart that needs your love

When you say we will dance ’til the light of day
It’s just like the children in earth’s joy
When we pray will you promise me you’ll always stay
It’s ’cause I’m needing that someone

So someone put your hand out
I’m begging for your love
All I do is hand out a heart that needs your love

(repeat and fade out)



BTW Mike AIN´T gay!

on the line (not artistically, but mike is a simple man at heart)


His paranoia of women is sad, but makes for good songs though.

U gotta remember that not everything mike writes is automatically auto biographical

I wasn't saying Michael is gay or agreeing that Muscles is his most revealing song. But if I had to pick his most revealing song I'd go with Childhood or Will You Be There, the latter being my actual favorite song

MichaelsLight said:

revealing artistically has to be "lost children", "heal the world", "earth song", "childhood". No one would write those sorta songs, though childhood is reminds me of barbara streisand though


I like all those songs i listed, even "lost children" (need to dig up all my jacko stuff ASAP). Shit, if to briefly get away from ur daily troubles by playing "heal the world" makes me a lil' happier, then so be it.

"will u be there" has the most gorgoeus melody, as do alot of jackos songs (earth song for example)


Lilguish knows i love "for all time", not revealing as such, but i just thought i'd mention it

Childhood reminds me of Barbara as well...

MichaelsLight said:

it also reminds me of "goon too soon", not a good idea to hear them back2back.

I like childood, i can relate.