MattyJam said:

I think MJ gets more credit than he ever deserves

MattyJam said:

MJ's influence on other artists. Ok, and?

LOL.The picture made me laugh.

And to answer your question: "MJ's influence on other artists. Ok, and?"

Well, talking from the perspective of a MJ fan.. I guess the reason we have a hang up about people like Justin and Usher is this:

Michael Jackson gets a really hard time from the public. He is constantly criticised for being over-rated, no longer relevant and past it etc. So can't you see why it's annoying to us fans to watch MJ wannabe's wearing Michael type outfits, doing MJ dance routines and even going as far as wearing one white glove - and actually being acclaimed and successful?

Can't you see the injustice? Michael Jackson considered no longer relevant - and here we are watching MJ impersonators get success and respect.

SICKENING if you ask me...

Fiona01 said:

You're forgetting something. All of those guys sing live. They're all visibly working. They start projects and finish them. Remember, the only reason the world needs these new MJs is cos the old one is clapped out.
[Edited 7/30/07 7:30am]
[Edited 7/30/07 7:38am]

Well, they can start and finish as many projects as they like but they'll never start or finish ANYTHING as good as what Michael Jackson has done: namely HIStory, Thriller, Dangerous and the numerous other projects that he HAS done.

(And don't tell me that Ne-yo's 'So Sick' or Justin's bland attempts at playing Michael are even good. They are avarage.)

And before we get started on Michael being clapped out... Well he is a man approaching his 50s. And he's been in the music industry since the age of six. So I think we can forgive the man for taking it easy now...

And anyway... Michael hasn't done anything for ages.... how do you KNOW he's clapped out? Wait for another album or tour and then judge.

I'd like to see Justin or Usher perform or write the way Michael does. As much as they're obviously desperately trying to, they're looking somewhat silly in their fedoras and sparkly clothes...
[Edited 7/30/07 7:37am]

midnightmover said:

Fiona01 said:

You just said it yourself. "He hasn't done anything in ages". That means there's a vacuum, doesn't it? Therefore you can hardly be surprised when younger, hungrier acts come along to fill it. His past achievements were great, but the key word there is "past". That's great for the history books, but teenagers don't give a fuck about the history books. All they care about is who's bringing the noise NOW!
[Edited 7/30/07 8:05am]

midnightmover said:

Exactly. They're rulled by the lastest trends which make the mainstream culture.

MsLegs said:

No shit, Sherlock. And guess what? It's been that way for as long as there's been pop charts. Did any MJ fans care that Michael was stealing James Brown's throne in the 80s? Of course not. Why would they? James Brown was past it, just like Michael is now.

midnightmover said:

Damn straight.

MsLegs said:

Oh, you're on my side. I got you mixed up with an MJ/ Madonna zealot who had a similar name.

midnightmover said:

Many try to imitate but they can't duplicate the real Ms Legs. No problem.
[Edited 7/30/07 8:39am]

Michael Jackson has an undeniable, natural and genius talent for singing, songwriting and dancing. None of the artists mentioned (and I use the word artist generously) such as Justin or Ne-Yo have an ounce of talent.

Its one thing using another artist as inspiration (like Michael did with James Brown) but basing your entire act on another arist because you can't think of anything original to do yourself is pathetic.

As for Michael being past it... Michael not having made an album in a few years hardly makes him past it...

If Prince disappears for a few years to study the Bible, will he then be past it?

Lets not be so fickle. You can slag off Michael all you want, but clearly he's one of the best around or there wouldn't be so many kids on the block imitating him..

Fuck you all. I think the Tesco picture is genius. Almost as good as the picture that was floating around a while back of a dog taking a shit on Rave.

It's funny because it's true.

Fiona01 said:

Prince is still great live. He can still sing. He's still in love with music. Wake up. Have you forgotten 2001? Have you forgotten the WMAs last year? Did you see the History Tour 97? It's over, baby. Please move on.

midnightmover said:

Some people will disagree, so it's all opinion

midnightmover said:

True. Eventhough his mind and good fashion sense is leaving him in his late years appraoching Alzhiemers hopefully not (refer to bottom photo).


[Edited 7/30/07 13:50pm]

bboy87 said:

Not all opinions are equal. Some people are logical. Some are addicted to wishful thinking.

midnightmover said:

In this day and age, its all about whatever floats the boat and let it rock. The truth reigns supreme in the end.

Everybody loves the new thing. Youth is always placed at a premium in our society. Every legendary performer takes a backseat at some point in their careers. It's that way in music now, it's always been that way, and it will always be that way. I'm sure music fans said MJ was nothing but a James Brown/Jackie Wilson imitator in his heyday. People said Prince was the modern Stevie/Sly/Jimi. It comes full circle.
[Edited 7/30/07 14:54pm]

so given what some have stated in their posts, I take it then that Prince is also irrelevant and past his time as the young people who are only interested in the hip and new don't seem to give a damn about anything he does musically?

Ok.....

MattyJam said:

Justin beatbites Michael AND Prince.

The other three brats beatbites Michael AND Bobby.

namepeace said:

Couldn't have said it better myself. Really, no artist can stay on top forever. Look at MJ when he was hot. He was doing alot of James Brown stuff when the real thing was still there. So then why was MJ hot then and James wasnt(save for "Living in America")? Because the real thing wasn' putting out quality shit like MJ in the day. Plus, James was already getting old and was a veteran, and MJ was the hot thing on the block(tho one can argue that he was also a veteran)

That's why I don't get all the hating on Usher and JT. They're putting out quality work(tho I have some issues with Usher's derivativeness), they're hard workers whom are obviously passionate about what they do, they're talented, and what's more, they sing live. When was the last time MJ pulled off a concert where he sang live and didn't lipsynch? Hell, MJ must have been crazy to turn down the songs that were eventually given to Justin, as they became big hits for Justin.

Whether or not MJ faced all the bullshit he's going through, he would have been replaced somehow. It happens to all artists. Look at Madonna and U2. They're still somewhat popular, but even then they're already being considered veterans. Just be happy that both JT and Usher are talented enough and driven to be the next BIG pop singers.

newskin69 said:

JT and Usher put out quality work??

bboy87 said:

It's my opinion that they do. Granted, in Usher's case, his songs could use some creativity, but on their own, they are good songs. And FSLS by JT was a really great album. Whether or not it could have been done with or without Timbo is up for grabs, but that doesnt change the fact that it was still a great album. I'm not trying to say that they're better than MJ. It'd be pointless to have an "anything my artist can do mine can do better" argument. I'm just saying that their passion for their craft has resulted in good work. I'm still convinced MJ has it in him to make a good album, but I just dont see that passion anymore.

What a load of BS.

Justin and Usher make generic, bland, factory-produced R&B for juveniles.

Do you really believe people will still be talking about "My Love" or "Lovestoned" in twenty years time? They won't stand the test of time like songs such as "Billie Jean", "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough" etc.

Michael sang practically all of the set with his brothers at MSG completely live and sounded great.

Yeah of course his tendency to lip-synch bugs the hell out of me... but I'd rather hear Michael mime than Justin sing live anyday.

midnightmover said:

You'r missing one thing though...
it's taking the originality out of music...
fuck being an MJ fan or michael for that matter...
If i knew that 1984's thriller would be so influential to music history that it would destroy future pop music...
I'd go back in a time machine and Shoot MJ after Off The Wall.
MJ set the trends and no one new has been able to break them...
And Pop music has vastly suffered because of it...
all these stars dance the same, sing the same... , perform the same
It's like RIAA has an MJ factory pumping out carbon copies. Each year their is a new one...
Sure the old one maybe fucked.
But i think his foot prints should be untouched.
Thats not gonna happen though
I won't give MJ that much Credit
Prince is in their two, as well as Madonna etc...
Im just tired of the same swill being pumped...
same haggard dance routine...
The world is going retro...
the 60's are coming back, i just want to see who's gonna be the first to go back and do something different.