I just had to repeat this line from tonight's episode of "The Boondocks" which should become a new catchphrase. But why put all the blame on Usher I say? After all Justin Timberlake broke the mode with copying Michael's every move and wanting to be him, Usher broke out big time with the same Michael shtick he's been doing for years. Now there's Omarion. But it doesn't stop there. Now the whole thing is feeding off itself. The newest catchphrase could just as easily be Chris Brown, Usher is NOT a Musical Genre!

So while Michael Jackson performed R&B music, this new generation is performing Michael Jackson.

Thoughts?

Well, Michael Jackson is no longer performing Michael Jackson so I'll take a few young guys who imitate his style. MJ took from James, but Usher copies Michael down to the clothing. Usher is wack!

why can't anybody be themselves? it's not that hard. I do it every day.

lilgish said:

What about Justin and that first video with the hat!?!?

CynicKill said:

yea, Justin is a copy. His first album was made for MJ. I'm not sure if they can come up with original ideas though especially after the music video revolution.

I saw it too, and bust out laughin' when I realized what he said. And it's true, too.

All the Justin Timberlakes, Ushers, Omarions, and Chris Browns pretty much show who's copying from whom.

lilgish said:

I agree, MJ took from James, but not his whole career like Ursha is doing. If you look at early J5 footage from 68- early 70, MJ copies JB down to the bone, his dancing, his shouting and screams and controlling the band. But by 1971, MJ and his brother had their own style.

Usher copies everything from MJ, from moves to dressing. I recently saw the "Truth Tour" and I told my friend, "they should call this the "Dangerous Tour". From when he walkes on stage and stairs at the audience for 5 minutes with shades, to playing with hates and hi singing styles.

That's not fair. Just cuz these kids can dance (Omarian, Chris Brown) you assume they are copying MJ.

Usher's a biter though.

Funniest line on the show!

James was the blueprint.
Michael was the house.
Everyone else has just been following formula.

CinisterCee said:

agreed...and Lord knows I use to hear the same criticism of MJ....("he's copying james brown and jackie wilson"..my parents)....so it just passes down

I think this copying of MJ shows how much the "entertainment" world misses Michael or someone like him nowadays. There´s noone like him who would shock us, surpise us with something completely new. I personally cannot think of someone highly original these days. MJ always came with each album at least with one thing that the world couldn´t forget.
Thriller era - Thriller video, Moonwalk
Bad era - Smooth Criminal video
Dangerous - Black or White, REmember the time videos,
Up till this time he managed to keep that magic that has surrounded and created his stardom. I believe that´s why ppl were so dissapointed with Invincible. It hasn´t brought anything new, which something that ppl expect from him, and that made him "fall among others". If MIchael Jackson doesn´t shock us everytime and doesn´t bring something completely new, we are dissapointed. Yes, MJ drew from a lot of artists (James Brown, Fred Astaire and othersú, but he still managed to take it, yet not copy, add that Michael Jackson mystery element to it, but that´s not the case of USher and all those other guys.

But who else is there like Michael? Madonna is trying, but I don´t see anything completely new in what she does. She´s just chameleon, always changing, but that´s it. The rest of the artists are sticking to what they know and copying each other.

dag said:

oh give me a break.....there's no "mystery".....

I don't think the irritating thing is the fact that he's copying Michael Jackson. What's the irritating part is that he tries to hide he is copying Michael Jackson. He actually has to try to do this, which is an indication that the influence and the wannabe-ism is so apparent. He wanted to make a "Smooth Criminal" thing with "Caught Up", but they changed a couple of essential parts to make it enough different. Like the goddamn hat. Sure, Justin Timberlake and Usher can wear hats too, as its only normal and quite common to wear a hat and you can't sayi you're copying Michael Jackson just because you're wearing a hat, but... oh c'mon.

His moves are always different that's for sure, but frankly speaking I don't think he has nowhere nearly the charisma. It's strange though that even an artist who has sold millions of records himself still wants to increasingly be someone else than himself.

Rhondab said:

Thanks

CynicKill said:

That line was funny as hel and so true but let's not overlookw what a great episode that was with Martin Luther King, Jr. coming back to life after being in a coma. Originally I thought, "What a farce" but to me, it was not just funny as hell but so well done and moving. Especially the very end. "The Boondocks" is brilliant, especially in comparison to the other new Adult Swim shows like "12 Oz. Mouse" (note to Adult Swim/Cartoon Network...you gave the ATHF guys way too much power and now they are making these terrible shows that AND ruining ATHF). It should seriously be considered for an Emmy.

BlaqueKnight said:

Let's also take note of (and this might not be the exact quote) "And don't get me started on 'Soul Plane'"!

I agree the whole episode was a high watermark for the series, I just focused on that one line because this is a music forum.

What I like about Aaron McGruder is that he's an old-school cartoonist, taking advantage of the form by going way over the top.

The genre has been coined the org's own beloved meltwithu:

F&D -- fluff and dance

DynamicSavior said:

because being ya self doesnt make money.

altho i am in agreence about the whole chris brown thing, i see nothing in chris that reminds me of mj. if anything he's just a clone of everyone else thats out: sliding, popping, flipping

Moonwalkbjrain said:

I like me some Chris Brown.

lilgish said:

but can u run it?!?!

Moonwalkbjrain said: