ali23 said:

WaterInYourBath said:

So I watched that MJ feature on Oprah yesterday, and after evaluating it thoroughly, now I believe I've figured out who is singing in "Keep Your Head Up," "Breaking News," and "Monster." It's not Jason Malachi. It's EDDIE CASCIO.....

That's exactly what my little sister said to me while we were watching Oprah!

Your little sister has a keen ear.

WaterInYourBath said:

ali23 said:

That's exactly what my little sister said to me while we were watching Oprah!

Your little sister has a keen ear.

It is probably why WillIam was upset about the album. Out of Oprah's own mouth, she said MJ was a perfectionist. The 'mystery' continues.

Militant said:

So, the "Vocals & Orchestra Version" is the exact same song without the drums and with the strings turned up a little in the mix. Sounds like it took about 10 seconds to mute the drum tracks and boost the strings a bit, then re-render the master file. Still, it's fairly enjoyable to listen to.

The "Alternate Mix" again, all the same elements, but just mixed differently. The drums are lower in the mix, as are the strings. The piano is the loudest element in the mix in this one. The vocals are actually slightly clearer in this version. I can hear more percussion on the chorus actually. Here's how I'd sum it up - the album mix is mixed in a more contemporary R&B style, whereas the alternate mix leans more towards pop music. Backing vocals are louder too.

I didn't have the cash to order this..but I really want to now. I would like to hear this...because "Orchestra" is one of the musical terms that remind me of Michael Jackson.

Militant said:

Further point for BabyBeMine -

Your two points are contradictory from where I'm standing.

What else is new?

Unholyalliance said:

murph said:

The voice of reason......

There is no 'voice of reason'anywhere in that post, it's just an opinion that both of you happen to share. That's it and that's all it will be.

Also... I watched the Casios on Oprah the other day like many of you...and When Eddie answered Oprah about the tracks being legit...his face went bright red. You could see it just start turning red and it stayed that way. To me that was a sign he was so aware of him telling lies.

BabyBeMine said:

MJ should have accepted those Neptunes tracks which were

U dont have to call - Usher

Senorita - Justin Timberlake

Lets Take a Ride - Justin Timberlake

Last Night - Justin Timberlake

nothing else - justin timberlake

Combine these with butterflies, break of dawn, heaven can wait, whatever happens and its a classic.

Is anyone listening to the full stream on www.michaeljackson.com?

daPrettyman said:

Is anyone listening to the full stream on www.michaeljackson.com?

Listening now thanks.

Speculate to break the one you hate
Circulate the lie you confiscate
Assassinate and mutilate

Production wise, this is reminding me of Marvin's Dream of a Lifetime...

murph said:

Unholyalliance said:

There is no 'voice of reason'anywhere in that post, it's just an opinion that both of you happen to share. That's it and that's all it will be.

Maybe in your world a producer's financial problems (ie Teddy Riley's past tax issues) is a legit reason to dismiss their opinion on an artiststhat he has worked with (MJ), but in mine that's just silliness....

Maybe in your world people's financial problems don't affect their lives, relationships, opinions, judgements, and etc., but in everyone else's it does and not being able to recognize that as being a, possible, determining factor in one's actions is just silliness...

Militant said:

Further point for BabyBeMine - you've mentioned on a number of occasions how it's important for Michael to be played on radio stations that are dominated by hip-hop, etc etc.

Yet - you also say you hate "Unbreakable" - a song that was 100% inspired and influenced by The Notorious BIG's song "Unbelievable". That's why they added Biggie's vocals to the MJ song, because it was essentially a tribute to him. The main riff on "Unbreakable" was a re-working of "Unbelievable", produced by DJ Premier, a hip-hop clasic.

For anyone that was unaware:

Your two points are contradictory from where I'm standing.

These two beats are kinda similair, but Biggie's version is slowed down with additional instrumental added to give it that smooth vibe where you "bobbin ur head" from side to side...

I don't hate "unbreakable"... .. Just singing about the media all the time kinda gets annoying

What happen to the MJ up tempo "feel good song"...Singing about a pretty young thing

"Heartbreaker" to me sounds a little overproduced like they were searching for a new sound and the vocal arrangement just dont sound right to me. But thats just me.

"Hollywood Tonight" just flows and makes you want to get on the dance floor and get your groove on.

[Edited 12/8/10 14:46pm]

I watched the Oprah Cascio interview, and im sorry but that shit was BS! Here was Cascio's and Riley's big shot at proving to us deadwrong that that voice IS michael's, and the best they could come up with was basically a "it's michael cuz we say it's michael" coupled with a picture of an empty room with a microphone? LOL WTF was that? you can argue that he sounds different because it was done in a homestudio... but you know what's damning? on the michael album there's a voicemail recording tacked onto the beginning of a song and guess who it sounds like? MICHAEL dammnit, you cant make michael not sound like michael on any recording, unless it's not him it really breaks my heart, that album is so tarnished and so insulting to his memory.

I don't know about most of y'all but I love "Best of Joy".

WetDream said:

BabyBeMine said:

MJ should have accepted those Neptunes tracks which were

U dont have to call - Usher

Senorita - Justin Timberlake

Lets Take a Ride - Justin Timberlake

Last Night - Justin Timberlake

nothing else - justin timberlake

Combine these with butterflies, break of dawn, heaven can wait, whatever happens and its a classic.

Last Night is better than almost all of anything that came out of mainstream pop in that era. If it's true MJ rejected that and instead thought Speechless, Lost Children or Unbreakable were better.....wtf.

BabyBeMine said:

What happen to the MJ up tempo "feel good song"...Singing about a pretty young thing

"Heartbreaker" to me sounds a little overproduced like they were searching for a new sound and the vocal arrangement just dont sound right to me. But thats just me.

"Hollywood Tonight" just flows and makes you want to get on the dance floor and get your groove on.

[Edited 12/8/10 14:46pm]

I don't think that there was really anything 'feel good' about his catalog tbqh. I always thought that his songs were pretty borderline gothy and dark, especially the ones that he penned himself. While you can dance to them, there's barely anything 'light' about them...maybe besides his ballads.

As for Heartbreaker, it sounds like kinda Timbaland-ish to me. I always thought that Invincible, Heartbreaker, and Unbreakable sounded so similar that he should have cut one of them out. Yet, how does failing to find a new sound = overproduction? I don't understand this.

Unholyalliance said:

murph said:

Maybe in your world a producer's financial problems (ie Teddy Riley's past tax issues) is a legit reason to dismiss their opinion on an artiststhat he has worked with (MJ), but in mine that's just silliness....

Maybe in your world people's financial problems don't affect their lives, relationships, opinions, judgements, and etc., but in everyone else's it does and not being able to recognize that as being a, possible, determining factor in one's actions is just silliness...

Cute plagiarism...But let me put it to you like this.... Unless you are in Riley's camp or know him personally, commenting on his past financial issues in the context of a music discussion is equal to a 14-year-old discussing the latest gossip about how much Justin Beiber has in his bank account... In other words, it has absolutely nothing to do with the music... The only way you should be worried about Riley's finances is if he owes you money or you are currently doing business with him... Other than that, trying to connect the comments of a man who has actually had an artistic relationship with the person he is commenting about (MJ) is indeed....wait for it....silliness....

[Edited 12/8/10 15:14pm]

Unholyalliance said:

BabyBeMine said:

What happen to the MJ up tempo "feel good song"...Singing about a pretty young thing

"Heartbreaker" to me sounds a little overproduced like they were searching for a new sound and the vocal arrangement just dont sound right to me. But thats just me.

"Hollywood Tonight" just flows and makes you want to get on the dance floor and get your groove on.

[Edited 12/8/10 14:46pm]

I don't think that there was really anything 'feel good' about his catalog tbqh. I always thought that his songs were pretty borderline gothy and dark, especially the ones that he penned himself. While you can dance to them, there's barely anything 'light' about them...maybe besides his ballads.

As for Heartbreaker, it sounds like kinda Timbaland-ish to me. I always thought that Invincible, Heartbreaker, and Unbreakable sounded so similar that he should have cut one of them out. Yet, how does failing to find a new sound = overproduction? I don't understand this.

To be honest, none of his albums even during the Jackson 5 were all "feel good". On The Jacksons for example, the first composition he was able to sing on that he did himself, "Blues Away", was about depression. Most of the songs on Destiny were about depression and turmoil. "Heartbreak Hotel" on Triumph was about a haunted lost love. "Time Waits for No One" was about trying to get back with an ex. "Working Day & Night" had lyrics of a bad experience in a relationship. I think mainly Off the Wall was the only album were "feeling good" was the motive. Obviously the subjects in Thriller and subsequent albums were on darker issues.

After hearing the stream, the best songs on this are:

1.) Hollywood Tonight (though that talking bridge can be a little annoying, like Tarryl was trying to match Michael's talks in "Dangerous" lol)

2.) (I Like) The Way You Love Me (This song has a pseudo modern doo-wop feel, I always felt it was when I originally heard it.)

3.) Best of Joy (y'all may call it bubblegum pop if you want but I loved it, it definitely reminded me of his J5 period and that's not a bad feeling either)

4.) (I Can't Make It) Another Day (for obvious reasons already, this track is the knock)

5.) Behind the Mask (I have to agree this is probably THE track on the album. And nice for Shanice to add in her vocals at the end. I never heard a sax solo in Michael's songs since "Girlfriend")

6.) Much Too Soon (I already loved it)

"Hold My Hand" is tolerable but Acorn makes it hard for me to appreciate it fully. The production of "Keep Your Head Up" is better and thank God they removed that sampled "Earth Song" ad-lib though they could've also removed "woo! woo! woo!" The song sound like Michael and another man was singing in a photoshopped duet.

"Monster" is obviously the worst song on the album even if Michael was on it lol and I was already tired of "Breaking News".

6.5/10 is what I give the album.

Timmy84 said:

Unholyalliance said:

I don't think that there was really anything 'feel good' about his catalog tbqh. I always thought that his songs were pretty borderline gothy and dark, especially the ones that he penned himself. While you can dance to them, there's barely anything 'light' about them...maybe besides his ballads.

As for Heartbreaker, it sounds like kinda Timbaland-ish to me. I always thought that Invincible, Heartbreaker, and Unbreakable sounded so similar that he should have cut one of them out. Yet, how does failing to find a new sound = overproduction? I don't understand this.

To be honest, none of his albums even during the Jackson 5 were all "feel good". On The Jacksons for example, the first composition he was able to sing on that he did himself, "Blues Away", was about depression. Most of the songs on Destiny were about depression and turmoil. "Heartbreak Hotel" on Triumph was about a haunted lost love. "Time Waits for No One" was about trying to get back with an ex. "Working Day & Night" had lyrics of a bad experience in a relationship. I think mainly Off the Wall was the only album were "feeling good" was the motive. Obviously the subjects in Thriller and subsequent albums were on darker issues.

You are so right Timmy! A great wealth of The Jacksons material and his adult solo records were deep on a personal level. Off The Wall is the only "adult" album that you really sensed that he was breaking out of the pain and restriction of his youth and teenage years and enjoying life, but you can quickly see how the pain and paranoia creeped back with The Jacksons' Triumph, Thriller and the albums that followed it. I'm gonna have to do an essay about this one day because it strikes me emotionally.

[Edited 12/8/10 15:38pm]

@darrenhayes Darren Hayes
Friend played me 'new' Michael Jackson album today. I honestly think there are only 3 songs with his real vocals on there. Shameful.
2 hours ago

murph said:

Maybe in your world a producer's financial problems (ie Teddy Riley's past tax issues) is a legit reason to dismiss their opinion on an artiststhat he has worked with (MJ), but in mine that's just silliness....

The point is that Teddy can be seen to have an agenda because he's getting paid. The two words you said yourself - "financial problems". What's Teddy's main income right now?

That's an objective analysis of the situation. He doesn't want to lose the opportunity to work on MJ's songs in the future and that's completely understandable.

Taryll, however has nothing to gain by not telling the truth. He has no perceivable agenda. Just as fans do, Michael's family who loved him want the same thing - to make sure Michael's work and legacy is treated with the respect it deserves. Now, don't get me wrong - there ARE absolutely people within the Jackson family who have, and continue to exploit Michael for their own gain. I've never suggested otherwise.

But look at who those people are. Joe. Jermaine. Some even say Katherine, not necessarily because of her, but the business partners she's worked with. Some say Randy, too. Michael's peers or elders. Clearly their perspective is that they are entitled to do what they do because they were there for a good chunk of Michael's success. Regardless of him breaking out and being more successful on his own, they're gonna still feel that way. If people feel they shouldn't act that way, it's irrelevant because it doesn't change anything.

Now ask yourself, how many of the next generation would even think of exploiting their uncle, whom they loved dearly and all looked up to? How many family members of your parents generation would you think of trying to exploit? Hopefully none, because generally people tend to respect their elders, that's just how it works. Now, the tone of some people's posts on here who don't necessarily have good things to say about the Jacksons are trying to paint everyone with the same brush, but you have to understand that there's a huge generational difference here. There's absolutely no reason why Taryll, Taj or TJ wouldn't be honest. None. I challenge you to name one Jackson family member of the third generation that would even think of being dishonest about anything to do with Michael.

Something else worth thinking about. Every single person who has expressed their opinion DIRECTLY about the songs not being authentic has done so directly. Darkchild and 3T on Twitter. Corey Rooney on facebook. etc. They are PUBLIC with their opinion and open about it. How come the only person saying they're real in public is Teddy, and all the other people who SUPPOSEDLY said it was real, all we get is a vague statement from the Estate saying "All these people went to a studio and all agreed it was definitely Michael". And then Corey Rooney says he was at that meeting and that wasn't what happened! WHERE are the direct quotes from ANY of the people mentioned in that statement from Howard Weitzman? Correct me if I'm wrong, but generally direct PUBLIC statements, and in Taryll's case, specific QUOTES of things Teddy said as well as the name of the studio where this was said, are worth a hell of a lot more than a few vague sentences by the Estate's lawyer that according to at least one person who was THERE are completely INACCURATE.... you be the judge.

At the end of the day, everyone is going to have their opinion. But from a fans perspective, we can only try and add informed perspectives of everyone involved - so ask yourself who might have a possible motive and something to gain from not telling the truth, and who doesn't?

mookie said:

@darrenhayes Darren Hayes
Friend played me 'new' Michael Jackson album today. I honestly think there are only 3 songs with his real vocals on there. Shameful.
2 hours ago

Even Darren knows what's up.

Timmy84 said:

Unholyalliance said:

I don't think that there was really anything 'feel good' about his catalog tbqh. I always thought that his songs were pretty borderline gothy and dark, especially the ones that he penned himself. While you can dance to them, there's barely anything 'light' about them...maybe besides his ballads.

As for Heartbreaker, it sounds like kinda Timbaland-ish to me. I always thought that Invincible, Heartbreaker, and Unbreakable sounded so similar that he should have cut one of them out. Yet, how does failing to find a new sound = overproduction? I don't understand this.

To be honest, none of his albums even during the Jackson 5 were all "feel good". On The Jacksons for example, the first composition he was able to sing on that he did himself, "Blues Away", was about depression. Most of the songs on Destiny were about depression and turmoil. "Heartbreak Hotel" on Triumph was about a haunted lost love. "Time Waits for No One" was about trying to get back with an ex. "Working Day & Night" had lyrics of a bad experience in a relationship. I think mainly Off the Wall was the only album were "feeling good" was the motive. Obviously the subjects in Thriller and subsequent albums were on darker issues.

Good point and i take that back. What i really mean is the vocal arrangement, the flow of the song. You named some songs that are one of my favorites in "Heartbreak Hotel". " Time Waits for No One"...I love that whole Triumph album. "Working Day and Night" is the jam

I guess younger MJ could just sing fast and still sound clear and smooth. The ballads and Mid-Tempo like YRMW he still sounds great. Just when he has to speed his voice up.

Example older MJ sang "Behind the Mask' im not sure he could sing the track that fast and still sound clear. It could also be the way the vocals were arranged because i think older MJ could still sing "dont stop to you get enough" because he can still hit the falsetto notes.

Timmy84 said:

mookie said:

@darrenhayes Darren Hayes
Friend played me 'new' Michael Jackson album today. I honestly think there are only 3 songs with his real vocals on there. Shameful.
2 hours ago

Even Darren knows what's up.

As far as I can tell there are about 9 people who dont know, 3 were sitting on Oprah's couch, about 3 are on the org and I guess the others are hanging out at MJJC. Best wished to them all...

Even on "Hollywood Tonight" which is one of my favorites on the album when he has to speed his voice up he kinda stumbles a little bit. Im like...what did he just say?

BabyBeMine said:

Timmy84 said:

To be honest, none of his albums even during the Jackson 5 were all "feel good". On The Jacksons for example, the first composition he was able to sing on that he did himself, "Blues Away", was about depression. Most of the songs on Destiny were about depression and turmoil. "Heartbreak Hotel" on Triumph was about a haunted lost love. "Time Waits for No One" was about trying to get back with an ex. "Working Day & Night" had lyrics of a bad experience in a relationship. I think mainly Off the Wall was the only album were "feeling good" was the motive. Obviously the subjects in Thriller and subsequent albums were on darker issues.

Good point and i take that back. What i really mean is the vocal arrangement, the flow of the song. You named some songs that are one of my favorites in "Heartbreak Hotel". " Time Waits for No One"...I love that whole Triumph album. "Working Day and Night" is the jam

I guess younger MJ could just sing fast and still sound clear and smooth. The ballads and Mid-Tempo like YRMW he still sounds great. Just when he has to speed his voice up.

Example older MJ sang "Behind the Mask' im not sure he could sing the track that fast and still sound clear. It could also be the way the vocals were arranged because i think older MJ could still sing "dont stop to you get enough" because he can still hit the falsetto notes.

I'd say I think there a certain 'effortless' quality to his voice earlier on in his career that showed through on certain styles of singing. I guess it depends on a number of things; whether you liked how his voice matured, his songs etc

Timmy84 said:

After hearing the stream, the best songs on this are:

1.) Hollywood Tonight (though that talking bridge can be a little annoying, like Tarryl was trying to match Michael's talks in "Dangerous" lol)

2.) (I Like) The Way You Love Me (This song has a pseudo modern doo-wop feel, I always felt it was when I originally heard it.)

3.) Best of Joy (y'all may call it bubblegum pop if you want but I loved it, it definitely reminded me of his J5 period and that's not a bad feeling either)

4.) (I Can't Make It) Another Day (for obvious reasons already, this track is the knock)

5.) Behind the Mask (I have to agree this is probably THE track on the album. And nice for Shanice to add in her vocals at the end. I never heard a sax solo in Michael's songs since "Girlfriend")

6.) Much Too Soon (I already loved it)

"Hold My Hand" is tolerable but Acorn makes it hard for me to appreciate it fully. The production of "Keep Your Head Up" is better and thank God they removed that sampled "Earth Song" ad-lib though they could've also removed "woo! woo! woo!" The song sound like Michael and another man was singing in a photoshopped duet.

"Monster" is obviously the worst song on the album even if Michael was on it lol and I was already tired of "Breaking News".

6.5/10 is what I give the album.

That's not good for a Michael Jackson album but keeping in mind he's not here and the label just threw any songs on there.

Teddy Riley need to sit down somewhere.