I think "Girlfriend" is a great song.I like what Michael did with it.And yes,I heard the Paul McCartney and Wings version.There really isn't a bad song on OTW.Every track is superb.

SoulAlive said:

MartyMcFly said:

Guess what? It's going to stay that way.
I never got into Off The Wall until sometime this decade when I bought the remastered edition, and it really is the best MJ album.

Verdict:

Prince and funk fans in general prefer OTW

MJ fans like whatever it is they like

i think mike felt he had to do it bigger and bigger after off the wall , and went with the trend. bad has drum machines instead of drummers and synth sounds so its sounds more dated then its predecessors . and so on with dangerous he switched producers but it stil was a good album over all and after dangerous he went all over the place and hired multiple producers from jimmy jam to rodney jerkins he wanted dr dre now he is working with will.i.am etc 2 bad he lost his artistic point of view. beside i think fans of todays music would like michael to stay as far away from will.i.am as we do. because its not going to amaze anyone.
[Edited 2/20/08 8:28am]

The era between Destiny in 78 and Thriller 82 was Michael at his best, and OTW was Michael at his very, very best. The album doesn't seem to date at all. As soon as I heard Don't Stop Till You Get Enough I was hook.

Having said that I do have a soft spot for Thriller. Billie Jean, Human Nature and Lady in My Life are my favourites off the album. Plus I just love the whole era of Thriller, I just love how this album swept across the world and the excitment it bought.
[Edited 2/20/08 11:26am]
[Edited 2/20/08 11:28am]

wasitgood4u said:

Actually, that probably sums it up right there.

MuthaFunka said:

I think Michael's hardcore fans of the present day, since he has always had hardcore fans since he was 11, have got it in their head that people only like his earlier work because he seemed more "normal", which is a load of BS. I was what you would call hardcore fan at least up to the Dangerous era, but even then I alway felt his earlier work sounded better.

What you get from an album like OTW and Thriller to a lesser extent is a warmth and spontanity that just seems to be devoid in subsequent albums.

whatsgoingon said:

I think it depends a lot on age/how you were first introduced to MJ's music. I grew up with angry, ranty 90's Michael, and that's the music that originally made me a fan. I love the older albums too, now, especially OTW, but ultimately, if I had to pick, the more recent albums (bar Invincible!) are still my favourites.

whatsgoingon said:

And that's actually a damn good point. I do think the non-hardcore MJ fans feel that way.

Rhondab said:

that's the truth

MuthaFunka said:

I dig MJ's pre-BAD work...because I do. I mean I have a soft spot for "Bad", "Dangerous" and some of "HIStory" but there was something magical about albums like "Destiny", "Triumph", "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" that it is impossible to top.

I love "Girlfriend" and "The Girl Is Mine"! I think I like the former better than "It's the Falling in Love" (the OTW track I love the least) and I definitely prefer TGIM to "Thriller," which is far and away the track on that album I love the least.

i agree totally!!!! If i had to have only one Michael cd in the collection it would be this cd, hands down. His best.

Off The Wall is much better than Thriller imo. I grew up on that record and played it to DEATH. The only track I truly hate on OTW is, like many have already said, Girlfriend. But other than that its a great album...still listen to it pretty regularly. Destiny and Triumph are the next best, then Jacksons Live...then comes Thriller. It has some obvious great songs but I think there is some filler. I don't think it has aged well at all.

Not a fan of the rest of MJs albums. Except I do like certain tracks like Dirty Diana, Is It Scary?, and Butterflies.

Wonderwall said:

Y'know,
I'm not big fan of his post-OTW stuff,
but I kind of liked Smooth Criminal. Then Alien AntFarm did their version, & I really got turned on by the rockier edge to it. Now, I can't listen to MJ's version no mo'.
[Edited 2/20/08 20:14pm]

whatsgoingon said:

Interesting. That's a generalization and a half. I am a hardcore fan and have never even thought that.

Wonderwall said:

I feel the same way.I'm not really a big fan of his post-Thriller work.I like a few songs here and there ("Man In The Mirror","Liberian Girl") but I think he lost something after 'Thriller'.

I still listen to 'Off The Wall' regularly.It's a classic album that still sounds fresh and vibrant.

AlexdeParis said:

I'm amazed that "Girlfriend" doesn't get much love around here That's a cool song! I can't see why so many dislike it.

I like "The Girl Is Mine" too,but I can understand why some don't like it.It is a little corny (lol),but I love the arrangement,the music,and the melody.

I love "It's The Falling In Love"! That song is dreamy....a beautiful duet with Patti Austin.Very sexy song! I really like the "I Can't Help It"/It's The Falling In Love" part of the album.After all those uptempo jams,I like the way the album slows down a bit.

SoulAlive said:

The only thing I can say against it is that it shouldn't have been a single, but I can see why they'd release it in the UK since Paul wrote it.





Hey, I love the song, too! But if I had to pick the song I love the least, it would be that one... or maybe "She's Out of My Life"...

Rhondab said:

Agreed.

Rhondab said:

I'm all late with this thread but I totally 150% agree with you Rhondab. Pure heat from start to finish. I even enjoy Girlfriend! I love Off the Wall to death! I love Thriller to death too but OTW has a bit more funk in it and for that, I got to give it to OTW.
[Edited 2/21/08 7:46am]