With the re-release of Thriller and his lack of new music his name alone symbolizes 'retro', 'vintage' and 'nostalgia.' There is nothing about him that is contemporary. In 2008 he is just the guy who released Thriller back in the 80's. He is an icon of the 80's and most of the time a parody.

From Bruce Springsteen, to Prince, to Madonna, hell even Cyndi Lauper (with her new cd coming out tomorrow) are all relevant, current in today's music seen.

Prince's Purple Rain is retro as is Like A Virgin and Born in the USA, but the 'artists' themselves are still up to date making great music, videos, winning grammy's, touring, etc.

Threads are still being created on this site but it so not neccessary.

Michael should either release a new CD or announce his retirement.It's sad to see his many fans hoping and praying for a new album that might not ever come out.It's time for him to be HONEST with the fans and let them know what's going on!

As a MJ fan, lemme warn you that your comment will incur wraths of those who are hopeful that he'll release another album and saying that he's relevant through all of today's entertainers now in the same spotlight he was.

But as a fan, I have to politely disagree, some of the sounds in "Thriller" may be outdated but I honestly don't think his influence is. I feel he could come back if he's guarded the right way. And I would also call him an icon of seventies pop and early nineties R&B, he ain't just one era to me, he's more complex than that.

Just in my honest opinion anyway.
[Edited 5/26/08 18:58pm]

SoulAlive said:

The day MJ is "honest" about his future is the day some fans will turn on him because of such a statement. But I still think that he's working on it - as slow as the process has been, lol. Hopefully we'll get a leak or something, I mean, he can't be that guarded with his shit...can he?

jthad1129 said:

yet you made another one

b3xy said:

Be nice, but yeah this is like the billionth, lol.

Really, tell us more.

Timmy84 said:

Does he even have an official site?? With updated news?? I think it's sad that his fans have to go snooping around for tidbits here and there...such as the recent rumors about a Vegas stint.I don't understand his need to be so private about everything.He keeps himself at an unhealthy distance from his fans.

SoulAlive said:

Not really. Sony organized the site on him, lol. (www.michaeljackson.com is basically a Sony-run site).

The only artist that you named from that list that is still relevant in today's music scene is Madonna. If you think people don't view Prince and Cyndi Lauper as 80's acts as well, then you're kidding yourself. They may still be making music and touring, but most people view them strictly as nostalgia acts.

Timmy84 said:

Co-sign!

But my gosh, another MJ thread? . A bit overkill dontcha think?
[Edited 5/26/08 20:36pm]

Timmy84 said:

I agree. Yeah, Mike is never gonna gain the success he had with Thriller and Bad but to say he's just an "80s act" is hilarious because if Michael Jackson is an 80s act, then Prince and Cyndi Lauper are DEFINITELY 80s acts because to be real, the mainstream's main image of Prince is the "Purple Rain" era and people basically remember Cyndi for "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", although, we as music fans, know they're very much more than that

and considering who's relevant in the music industry?

Akon
Timbaland
Soulja Boy
John Legend
Fergie
T-Pain
Beyonce
Chris Brown
Rhianna

These days, good music isn't even relevant

b3xy said:

Another one to add to the three already on the first page.

Annika said:

should have said 'positive and hopeful' threads.

bboy87 said:

Yep i agree, besides with any number of those artists above, like 'em or not, there's an MJ influence there for sure. This alone makes him relevant, and if somebody disagrees, well that's cool because retro is cool.

ask Prince, he won't/can't stop being a retro/vintage artist. Studio or live.

MJ is like 50, right? Can U please name me a 50 year old Artist who is actually "Relevant" in the Mainstream. Madonna whores herself out 4 relevance. I don't want MJ to be like her. So, he's cool where he's at. Let him be...I don't see anybody making any "Sade is Retro" threads. She ain't makin' any moves as well. What's the deal with everybody on MJ's nuts?!

Bishop31 said:

To be accurate, Michael Jackson is 49 and not 50 until 29th August. But apart from that I agree with your post.

Some people just wish to find fault with any thing Michael Jackson does or doesn't do. Michael's not retro, and considering how huge the Thriller album was from 1982-84, and how influencial that album still is I don't see anything wrong with a 25th Anniversary Edition release.

BenS71 said:

Thanx 4 the age correction.

If MJ wasn't relevant or "Retro", MTV would not have dedicated a whole episode to him on "America's Best Dance Crew". If anybody saw that episode, those Dancers were giving MJ MAJOR Props & Respect.

I'd like these MJ critics to name me there favorite "relevant" Artists so we can pick them apart. It would be sooooo fun!

Didn't he remix and re-release it with some new shit hop drum machines and some shit hoppers on it? That doesn't sound retro to me, that sounds current. If he had re-recorded it with real old school instruments and kept the tempo fast, that would have sounded retro by today's standards and I might have possibly bought it. However, I would have preferred new material though (not new instruments though).

SoulAlive said:

Well, at least Neyo's being honest about Mike's upcoming project...


http://www.azcentral.com/...7neyo.html

This thread is silly. Thiller 25 didn't outsell almost everything else on the charts that week, in almost every country, because of nostalgia. And Michael is still VERY relevant today. His last real NEW single, "You Rock My World" came out in 2001!!! - and went to NUMBER 9 on the pop charts WITHOUT much help from the record label.

Imagine if Sony actually gave a shit about that single, it might have actually been NUMBER 1. As for the album, it debuted at NUMBER ONE in 2001. Does that make him retro too? Goodness the sillyness of this thread - is about as stupid as when Michael claimed to only have had a few face jobs.

So hmmmm...a Number 9 record song and Number 1 album in 2001 and he is retro? Does that mean that the Backstreet Boys are retro? or how about Britney Spears?
They all hit records in 2001 as well.

Quit trippin on Michael. He was great. IS great. WILL ALWAYS be great. He is more than just "The guy who made Thriller" no matter if some people like it or not.

jthad1129 said:

have you checked out the music and videos thats out there now? mike is more relevant then all of those artists you named, his influence is all over the place. everybody and their mommas are paying some kinda homage to mj from neyo to mary to rihanna, chris brown,usher, the list goes on n on. he may not have any new music but the dude has been relevant in pop music forever.

I have always wondered this about prince.org why do "the fans" and I dont mean that in a good way - but why do they come here? What is it with Prince that they need to spam this board. Sure MJ is a topic like any other topic, but the 4,000+ views to a MJ topic and the odd posts replies over the years (sure it has slowed down to be honest) because they even see it's over.

But I have always wondered why Prince? At Prince's youthful prime he wasn't a threat because one is a musican and the other is a dancer who pretends to sing on stage. Why come here? Do you people go on Kurt Cobain message boards because Nirvana/Grunge is the reason MJ is over not Prince. MJ was #1 - what the standard of popular music is and then Nirvana made him and all that 1980's Hair Bands & Glossy Pop Dance Acts look will retro. He hasn't been new or cool since.

I have never looked do you spam there? Start odd topics about record sales compared to Nirvana , MJ is Godly & that he can dance better then Kurt, etc, etc

BaileyWalker said:

I think your argument is fundamentally flawed. MJ fans don't come here with the specific intent of spamming the board because Prince is somehow a "threat" to MJ. We are here because we are fans both of both artists, and this forum has some of the best general music discussion leaning towards these two artist we have been able to find.

.

But I have always wondered why Prince? At Prince's youthful prime he wasn't a threat because one is a musican and the other is a dancer who pretends to sing on stage.

A dancer who pretends to sing on stage??? MJ? MJ IMO has a much better voice than prince, his only crime is after thriller is he recorded more and more songs away from his usual style in the studio which he cannot replicate live very well hence the miming, if Mj was asked to sing old stuff from 1969-1983 live he would do it no problem i reckon. But songs like Earth song, Jam, they don't care about us, blodd on the dancefloor etc he would struggle.

BaileyWalker said:

I'm sorry, I missed this little gem the first time around. Please feel free to disregard my earlier reply, since you obviously have not the foggiest idea what you are talking about.

Annika said:

And you never see a negative Prince thread on a MJ forum. Matter of fact, there was thread about a MJ fan wanted to see some Prince videos(she had only seen Black Sweat), and she never heard of Prince and was really interested. Unfortunately, the whole Prince vs Youtube thing had started

bboy87 said:

So true. Is it that MJ fans are more positive than Prince fans? It seems that there is some kind of animosity towards MJ on Prince sites. I never understood it. It's like MJ is some kind of enemy or something. Let me say this, had it not been for MJ our little Princey would NOT have been on MTV and would not be the star that he is today. Yes, I said it. MTV was what made Prince a star. 1999 was not a crossover until he was on MTV. Don't believe me?...do ur research. MJ freakin' BUSTED open the door for Prince's cheap ass lookin' videos.
[Edited 5/28/08 15:07pm]

jthad1129 said:

this whole statement is just your opinion..

but really michael's old music outshines any music that has been released in the 2000's and 2008....

his music is timeless... and will always sell.. unlike this garbage that is out today...

It's not just this site, MJ freaks are everywhere. They all have some special program in their systems that lets them know whenever someone types Michael Jackson, vitiligo, or Gavin. When that happens they all drop their cats, take off their foil helmets, put down their spamwiches, and rush to the puter to type kingofpophegotvitiligoheinluvwithDebbieRowethosewhitechildrenarebiologicallyhishe'sthakanghe'sabouttocomeback

I'm not talking about fans of his work either. I'm talking freaks, like "he's never had a nose job" freaks.

I think I understand why the mods do little to control them. I mean would you want to upset them? They could have every stray cat looking for you.

Bishop31 said:

Co-sign