Swa said:

Blue Gangsta - love it - though am i the only one who thinks the backing vocals have others on there as well?

Can't wait til we get a cleaned up version of this with a bit more polish and top end.

[Edited 11/30/10 21:53pm]

I heard the backgrounds when the Pras version leaked so I don't know. I could actually think Michael (and another man) is singing in the background, like Dr. Freeze.

Timmy84 said:

Swa said:

Blue Gangsta - love it - though am i the only one who thinks the backing vocals have others on there as well?

Can't wait til we get a cleaned up version of this with a bit more polish and top end.

[Edited 11/30/10 21:53pm]

I heard the backgrounds when the Pras version leaked so I don't know. I could actually think Michael (and another man) is singing in the background, like Dr. Freeze.

Or James Porte

Swa said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard the backgrounds when the Pras version leaked so I don't know. I could actually think Michael (and another man) is singing in the background, like Dr. Freeze.

Or James Porte

Oh I seriously doubt THAT!

Swa said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard the backgrounds when the Pras version leaked so I don't know. I could actually think Michael (and another man) is singing in the background, like Dr. Freeze.

Or James Porte

[img:$uid]http://i39.tinypic.com/191lrq.jpg[/img:$uid]

You know what bugs me about "Much Too Soon"? The production and arrangement, both of which have obviously been done after the fact, in recent years.

In my opinion, it would have greatly benefitted from a "She's Out Of My Life" style arrangement...sparse, some chorus-tinged Rhodes - that's it.

Not that they weren't right the first time to not release it - he's had much better ballads than this.

SamSamba said:

You know what bugs me about "Much Too Soon"? The production and arrangement, both of which have obviously been done after the fact, in recent years.

In my opinion, it would have greatly benefitted from a "She's Out Of My Life" style arrangement...sparse, some chorus-tinged Rhodes - that's it.

Not that they weren't right the first time to not release it - he's had much better ballads than this.

I wonder what it sounded like before they put the additional work on it.

Swa said:

When will artists learn to stop being the next "Michael Jackson".

Some recent reviews from Usher's shows... I'm not going to post what the reviews say because my post isn't to bag out usher - who I do think is talented. I just think artists should get over trying to be the next someone - and just be themselves.

Usher: An eye-popping spectacle, but he’s no Michael Jackson.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/usher-an-eye-popping-spectacle-but-hes-no-michael-jackson/article1819221/

Usher aims for Jacko, comes up Usher.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/898783--usher-aims-for-jacko-comes-up-usher

Just keeping it real here. Kinda seems like your choosing to pick out a article that's favoritism to MJ looking good. There have been several articles over the years that have had Usher right there with MJ as a SOLO ARTIST...But fans only post the ones that make MJ look good.

When you really break it down. From a fan who is not exactly a die hard MJ fans they consider MJ to have two great albums. Off The Wall and Thriller.

Usher has three...My Way, 8701 and Confessions. And thats to NON fans and radio stations. Not just Usher fans.

I was in LA California in 1995 when History came out and remember the asian DJ who the ladies liked named THEO on 100.3 the beat. They played the entire album and ppl were like thats kinda wack but Scream and u are not alone are alright. Now maybe the opinion changes in other states, but i just dont recall any songs outside of those two being HOT....Money..Great fan song but not radio friendly for a non fan who can give a rats ass about Michaels personal issues. The song "this time around" is only popular to MJ fans. To be honest that is one of Biggies worse tracks.

Theo is also the guy who spoke at the end of the waiting to exhale movie

[Edited 12/1/10 0:33am]

[Edited 12/1/10 0:40am]

MJ had a stretch where he was producing Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards looking material and a fact. Remember Jordan with his 15 inch vertical in 2002. He was still good and dropping 20 a night, but definitely not the PRIME MJ...

Swa said:

Michael Jackson’s “Much Too Soon” Asks What Might’ve Been

“Much Too Soon” is the third new(-ish) track from Michael Jackson, and the first to be identified as a product of his remarkably creative Thriller period. (Not that we expect that to change the song lineup for Glee). Jackson “always liked” the bittersweet “Much Too Soon”, according to a post on his official website, “and would pull it back out of the vaults for each subsequent album project but never found the right home for it”. Was Jackson right not to release this one during his lifetime? Listen below.

Michael Jackson - Much Too Soon

Co-written with longtime collaborator John McClain, “Much Too Soon” finds Jackson’s falsetto at its most tender, with a harmonica solo and strings adding a tone of regret. Jackson sings of the hurt of rejection (”And would you like to go with me/ And she answered no to me/ Well guess I learned my lesson much too soon”), but at bottom this one is about the sorrow over what might’ve been. Which is why it’s a perfect song to end the upcoming Jackson collection,Michael.

We can understand why this one didn’t make the cut for Thriller — but it is fascinating to know that, at the time he was recording the majestic dance-pop of his best-known album, he still had an interest in wistful ballads.

Jackson certainly recorded more provocative tear-jerkers than this. But it is high time for the Jackson camp to release forgotten songs like “Much Too Soon”. We just wish it had happened under different circumstances.

This song is WONDERFUL!!! I can't believe that Michael kept it in the vaults all these years!! It's better than most of his post-Thriller ballads.

Timmy84 said:

Swa said:

Blue Gangsta - love it - though am i the only one who thinks the backing vocals have others on there as well?

Can't wait til we get a cleaned up version of this with a bit more polish and top end.

[Edited 11/30/10 21:53pm]

I heard the backgrounds when the Pras version leaked so I don't know. I could actually think Michael (and another man) is singing in the background, like Dr. Freeze.

Blue Gangsta seems to have fallen into my hard drive which was a bit careless. Oops! That and DYKWYCA can replace two of the Casio tracks, just one more now please...

SoulAlive said:

Swa said:

Michael Jackson’s “Much Too Soon” Asks What Might’ve Been

“Much Too Soon” is the third new(-ish) track from Michael Jackson, and the first to be identified as a product of his remarkably creative Thriller period. (Not that we expect that to change the song lineup for Glee). Jackson “always liked” the bittersweet “Much Too Soon”, according to a post on his official website, “and would pull it back out of the vaults for each subsequent album project but never found the right home for it”. Was Jackson right not to release this one during his lifetime? Listen below.

Michael Jackson - Much Too Soon

Co-written with longtime collaborator John McClain, “Much Too Soon” finds Jackson’s falsetto at its most tender, with a harmonica solo and strings adding a tone of regret. Jackson sings of the hurt of rejection (”And would you like to go with me/ And she answered no to me/ Well guess I learned my lesson much too soon”), but at bottom this one is about the sorrow over what might’ve been. Which is why it’s a perfect song to end the upcoming Jackson collection,Michael.

We can understand why this one didn’t make the cut for Thriller — but it is fascinating to know that, at the time he was recording the majestic dance-pop of his best-known album, he still had an interest in wistful ballads.

Jackson certainly recorded more provocative tear-jerkers than this. But it is high time for the Jackson camp to release forgotten songs like “Much Too Soon”. We just wish it had happened under different circumstances.

This song is WONDERFUL!!! I can't believe that Michael kept it in the vaults all these years!! It's better than most of his post-Thriller ballads.

It's one of those albums that when you hear it, you say "What made him keep it to himself?!"

It could've replaced that damn The Lost Children on Invincible

BabyBeMine said:

Swa said:

When will artists learn to stop being the next "Michael Jackson".

Some recent reviews from Usher's shows... I'm not going to post what the reviews say because my post isn't to bag out usher - who I do think is talented. I just think artists should get over trying to be the next someone - and just be themselves.

Usher: An eye-popping spectacle, but he’s no Michael Jackson.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/usher-an-eye-popping-spectacle-but-hes-no-michael-jackson/article1819221/

Usher aims for Jacko, comes up Usher.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/898783--usher-aims-for-jacko-comes-up-usher

Just keeping it real here. Kinda seems like your choosing to pick out a article that's favoritism to MJ looking good. There have been several articles over the years that have had Usher right there with MJ as a SOLO ARTIST...But fans only post the ones that make MJ look good.

When you really break it down. From a fan who is not exactly a die hard MJ fans they consider MJ to have two great albums. Off The Wall and Thriller.

Usher has three...My Way, 8701 and Confessions. And thats to NON fans and radio stations. Not just Usher fans.

I was in LA California in 1995 when History came out and remember the asian DJ who the ladies liked named THEO on 100.3 the beat. They played the entire album and ppl were like thats kinda wack but Scream and u are not alone are alright. Now maybe the opinion changes in other states, but i just dont recall any songs outside of those two being HOT....Money..Great fan song but not radio friendly for a non fan who can give a rats ass about Michaels personal issues. The song "this time around" is only popular to MJ fans. To be honest that is one of Biggies worse tracks.

Theo is also the guy who spoke at the end of the waiting to exhale movie

[Edited 12/1/10 0:33am]

[Edited 12/1/10 0:40am]

I've heard different but okay......

bboy87 said:

Superstition said:

Full version of Blue Gangsta is making the rounds

[img:$uid]http://i41.tinypic.com/96j0np.jpg[/img:$uid]

Typical. I'm stuck at work in the bastard snow. F@%k!

anyone has blue Gangster .....? Please orgnote me

BabyBeMine said:

Swa said:

When will artists learn to stop being the next "Michael Jackson".

Some recent reviews from Usher's shows... I'm not going to post what the reviews say because my post isn't to bag out usher - who I do think is talented. I just think artists should get over trying to be the next someone - and just be themselves.

Usher: An eye-popping spectacle, but he’s no Michael Jackson.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/music/usher-an-eye-popping-spectacle-but-hes-no-michael-jackson/article1819221/

Usher aims for Jacko, comes up Usher.

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/article/898783--usher-aims-for-jacko-comes-up-usher

Just keeping it real here. Kinda seems like your choosing to pick out a article that's favoritism to MJ looking good. There have been several articles over the years that have had Usher right there with MJ as a SOLO ARTIST...But fans only post the ones that make MJ look good.

When you really break it down. From a fan who is not exactly a die hard MJ fans they consider MJ to have two great albums. Off The Wall and Thriller.

Usher has three...My Way, 8701 and Confessions. And thats to NON fans and radio stations. Not just Usher fans.

I was in LA California in 1995 when History came out and remember the asian DJ who the ladies liked named THEO on 100.3 the beat. They played the entire album and ppl were like thats kinda wack but Scream and u are not alone are alright. Now maybe the opinion changes in other states, but i just dont recall any songs outside of those two being HOT....Money..Great fan song but not radio friendly for a non fan who can give a rats ass about Michaels personal issues. The song "this time around" is only popular to MJ fans. To be honest that is one of Biggies worse tracks.

Theo is also the guy who spoke at the end of the waiting to exhale movie

[Edited 12/1/10 0:33am]

[Edited 12/1/10 0:40am]

Actually - if you read my post it clearly says it's more about the whole "the next X" issue. And the articles appear if you search Michael Jackson in google news - so I didn't hunt them out.

My point was artists shouldn't worry about being the next whomever, they should concentrate on being the best them. That's when they come into their own. And if you read the articles it's Usher who is making the blatant comparisson in his show.

Now as a casual Usher fan - I liked My Way but kinda dropped off after that - there is no denying the guy has radio hits. If I was pushed to call out great Usher albums I'd have to go with My Way and Confessions. But that's just my opinion.

However, I'm never sure where you stand on artist merit - as you seem on one hand to constantly talk about "radio friendly work" being a means to success yet when people point out album sales you dismiss them. Surely one begets the other.

And I think based on your assumption and criteria then your assessment of MJ's "great" albums - would have to also include BAD (which was very radio friendly and included 5 consecutive #1 songs) and perhaps to a lesser extent Dangerous which had radio friendly hits like Black or White, Remember the Time, and Give Into Me on it.

It's cool you like MJ of OTW and Thriller - but give the man his due when your going to make statements of radio friendly songs and great albums.

If you google "Michael Jackson", other names pile up that includes his name in it so any artist is not going to escape that tag especially if he's one of the reasons that they're in the industry to begin with. No one has to "hunt them down". It's human nature now.

bboy87 said:

SoulAlive said:

This song ("Much Too Soon") is WONDERFUL!!! I can't believe that Michael kept it in the vaults all these years!! It's better than most of his post-Thriller ballads.

It's one of those albums that when you hear it, you say "What made him keep it to himself?!"

It could've replaced that damn The Lost Children on Invincible

Exactly Hell,he could have used this song on 'Bad' or 'Dangerous'.

That's what kills me about Michael, he had all this great unreleased material but he had cold feet on when to put it out. Perfectionism is good but it can be a disease if you're so used to making great albums and don't know how that song would fit.

Michael - Check Your Expectations At The Door.

As the new Michael Jackson album inches closer to its release date, many fans might be wondering what to expect. With a set list that borrows heavily from his last few years of recording plus a few glimpses to earlier recordings how will this album stack up against the other albums in his catalogue?

The impending release raises many questions (least of which is how much Michael is on Michael?).

Will it feel like a comprehensive album?

Will it be the typical mix of hits?

Will it satisfy the fans who want finished tracks and not demos?

Will it satisfy the fans who want the tracks as Jackson left them, rather than given a bit of polish?

And if Jackson never saw fit to getting round to releasing these tracks should we be hearing them at all?

Many fans might buy the album hoping to hear a Thriller or Dangerous style album packed with killer tunes and hit singles.

But they need to keep in mind Sony is playing a long game. They won't be putting all the A-Class material on this first release. You can bet your bottom dollar that they will have a few more killer tracks for future releases. After all they have a few more albums to flesh out from the Jackson vaults yet. Instead the smart thing to do is to have enough killers to keep fans and a curious public interested and eager to hear more, and let the fillers be a reflection of Jackson's range as an artist.

So what can fans expect? Or should they expect anything at all?

Maybe all the expectations need to be checked at the door - set aside prior to listening. For if fans are expecting an Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous, HiStory or even a lopsided Invinvible - they will undoubtedly be disappointed.

But if they allow for the music to reflect where Jackson was at the time of recording, and let it touch them emotionally and see it for what it is - a glimpse inside his creative workings - then they may find that it surpasses all their lofty expectations and surprises them after all.

Timmy84 said:

That's what kills me about Michael, he had all this great unreleased material but he had cold feet on when to put it out. Perfectionism is good but it can be a disease if you're so used to making great albums and don't know how that song would fit.

I feel the same way about Prince.Both of these guys have unreleased songs that are better than the stuff that made it onto the albums.

SoulAlive said:

Timmy84 said:

That's what kills me about Michael, he had all this great unreleased material but he had cold feet on when to put it out. Perfectionism is good but it can be a disease if you're so used to making great albums and don't know how that song would fit.

I feel the same way about Prince.Both of these guys have unreleased songs that are better than the stuff that made it onto the albums.

Right. You hear their unreleased material and go "damn why didn't they put that on the album!?"

ANOTHER LEAK?!

bboy87 said:

ANOTHER LEAK?!

Can't keep up with all the leaks! Definitely sounds like MJ to me, would like to hear the rest of this track...

CPest1 said:

bboy87 said:

ANOTHER LEAK?!

Can't keep up with all the leaks! Definitely sounds like MJ to me, would like to hear the rest of this track...

that ain't all....

A Cascio track titled "All I Need" which isn't on the album, JUST leaked

someone is unloading tonight

bboy87 said:

ANOTHER LEAK?!

sounds promising I just wish the DJ would shut up so we can hear it better,lol

bboy87 said:

CPest1 said:

Can't keep up with all the leaks! Definitely sounds like MJ to me, would like to hear the rest of this track...

that ain't all....

A Cascio track titled "All I Need" which isn't on the album, JUST leaked

someone is unloading tonight

If only you had left the word Casio out of that I would be getting excited, as it stands I will prepare myself for a big fat load of disappointment and head shaking

CPest1 said:

bboy87 said:

that ain't all....

A Cascio track titled "All I Need" which isn't on the album, JUST leaked

someone is unloading tonight

If only you had left the word Casio out of that I would be getting excited, as it stands I will prepare myself for a big fat load of disappointment and head shaking

basically that was my reaction

Man, "Slave To The Rhythm" has all the ingredients to a KILLER song - but WHY oh why have they thought it's smart to glue it to that $0.50 Eurodance production?!? SO lame. Just because GaGa has made it popular (as a contemporary sound, that is) when it peaked), doesn't mean it'll work on every damn song.

Can't believe they have access to unreleased Michael Jackson accapellas and they f*ck it all up.

[Edited 12/1/10 6:41am]

[Edited 12/1/10 6:43am]