Perhaps more than any other pop act, Texas-born Usher has cast himself as the heir to Michael Jackson. Making albums from his early teens; the voice, the dance moves, the faux-military costumes have all been carefully honed since his 1994 debut. Playing the same venue as Jackson’s ill-fated 'This Is It’ concerts has therefore given the chart-topping star his best opportunity to fill the King of Pop’s empty shoes. Sadly however, so considerable was the Jackson-aping that for the majority of the evening Usher’s own personality was curiously lacking.
The ’King’ is dead, of course, and the 32-year-old pretender to his throne has been left a host of big-impact, mesmerising concert tricks which many contemporary artists use to ensure the success of their arena shows. Few other stars would dare emulate Michael Jackson’s performances quite so completely, however.
From the start, big screens showed Usher in the same unappealing role of messianic dictator Jackson so loved to play. The younger man took off a helmet to show us his face for the first time — just as Jackson did 20 ago.
’U Remind Me’ (a wonderfully bouncy record from 2001) used choreography eerily mirroring Jackson’s performances of ’The Way You Make Me Feel’. There really was little you hadn’t seen somewhere before in a Michael Jackson show.
Had the reclusive pop icon survived for his concert run in 2009, the biggest doubt was whether a 50-year-old could keep up with the dance moves he’d made famous three decades previously. In contrast, this is where Usher is undoubtedly at the top of his game: body-popping and sliding with elegant ease. Yet, even during his most recent monster hit 'OMG’, Usher needlessly brought out Jackson’s trademark trilby. The routine could have been excellent if Usher’s personality — rather than that of his hero – had been allowed to shine through.
From the start, big screens showed Usher in the same unappealing role of messianic dictator Jackson so loved to play.
Is wearing a helmet some sort of a dictatorship trademark? Hmmm...
Or does he mean Mike's standing frozen for ten minute not doing anything and the crowd will still go mad? I think that's for effect more than anything else- to hype up the crowd.
Good luck with the rest of the tour, Usher. The reviewer was a bit harsh. He did not mention much about the concert other than comparing him to Michael. :/
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From the start, big screens showed Usher in the same unappealing role of messianic dictator Jackson so loved to play.
Is wearing a helmet some sort of a dictatorship trademark? Hmmm...
Or does he mean Mike's standing frozen for ten minute not doing anything and the crowd will still go mad? I think that's for effect more than anything else- to hype up the crowd.
Good luck with the rest of the tour, Usher. The reviewer was a bit harsh. He did not mention much about the concert other than comparing him to Michael. :/
Ain't like Mr. Raymond's the innocent victim either. He's the one that claim he was going to fill Michael's shoes and "revolutionize music" or something.
Usher must really be taking something (i.e. drug or something). You know ever since that last mishap, the man's been looking rough. This whole thing about him wanting to be the next MJ to him wanting to create a new genre of music needs to stop now. Why do we even pay attention to these crappy wannabes that have been polluting this industry for decades? Something needs to change on this forum...
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Usher must really be taking something (i.e. drug or something). You know ever since that last mishap, the man's been looking rough. This whole thing about him wanting to be the next MJ to him wanting to create a new genre of music needs to stop now. Why do we even pay attention to these crappy wannabes that have been polluting this industry for decades? Something needs to change on this forum...
Completely disagree. MJ fans enjoy saying male artist copy MJ.
Musically there styles are much different and if your familair with dance choreography their dance styles are different. MJ fans will see the slide and say ooooh Usher is a copycat even though its only one move. Also the slide is not MJ's move.
Example is the "Caught up" video....MJ fans made points that he copied. You have got to be kidding me. MJ doesn't even use dance moves like that.
Mj is more of a classical/broadway dancer. Bad video, Smooth Criminal, Scream, Beat it video.
Usher dances more street and hip hop. Usher also sings LIVE more.
Another thing is african americans have sported the fedora hat since the 1940s in the cotton clubs back when Sugar Ray Robinson was boxing. Its not a MJ thing only.
The dance moves Usher does immedietely after getting out the car in the "Caught up Video".....MJ has never even attempted.
You should be happy artist still show MJ love and respect. Lets be realistic here.
1. Usher
2. Beyonce
3. Justin
4. Chris Brown
There fans can care less if their favorite artist show MJ a tribute. Its not gonna affect the 14 year old Beyonce fan from wanting to buy her album, or the 17 year old female in 2004 from wanting to buy the Usher confessions album. The same with Justin. His fans can give a rats ass weather he does a MJ tribute. There gonna buy his album anyway. Matter fact most Justin fans don't even like Michael Jackson.
Like Usher needed to do this just to have success. Honestly these artist if they wanted could choose to never mention MJ's name again and it wouldnt affect their sales becasue their fans can care less.
So be happy when you see a current popular artist showing MJ love because they really dont have to. Usher's fans are gonna buy his music without a MJ tribute and so are Beyonce and Justin fans.
Usher has all the stage presence and personality of a wet mop.
He also has delusions of grandeur to talk about himself as some kind of natural successor to MJ. He's just another generic male R&B artist with mediocre material and a high opinion of himself.
Sure, he's had a few hits, but nothing memorable and nothing that will stand the test of time. He's never had what I'd call a crossover hit. I think the majority of folks over 30 would struggle to hum you one of his songs.
Bobby Brown > Usher.
Having said that, most people could hum Two Can Play That Game....
okay... i try to stay out of these conversations... but NO ONE, and i mean NO ONE, will EVER take the place of michael... so i for the life of me will never know why usher hopes to fill his shoes... why don't we just learn from michael and learn from our elders, just as michael learned from his? michael took what he learned to the next level... please respect his legacy, and don't try to replace it. thank you for listening...
okay... i try to stay out of these conversations... but NO ONE, and i mean NO ONE, will EVER take the place of michael... so i for the life of me will never know why usher hopes to fill his shoes... why don't we just learn from michael and learn from our elders, just as michael learned from his? michael took what he learned to the next level... please respect his legacy, and don't try to replace it. thank you for listening...
I didn't see this until after I posted, but exactly.
"I don't think you'd do well in captivity." - random person's comment to me the other day
You should be happy artist still show MJ love and respect. Lets be realistic here.
1. Usher
2. Beyonce
3. Justin
4. Chris Brown
There fans can care less if their favorite artist show MJ a tribute. Its not gonna affect the 14 year old Beyonce fan from wanting to buy her album, or the 17 year old female in 2004 from wanting to buy the Usher confessions album. The same with Justin. His fans can give a rats ass weather he does a MJ tribute. There gonna buy his album anyway. Matter fact most Justin fans don't even like Michael Jackson.
Like Usher needed to do this just to have success. Honestly these artist if they wanted could choose to never mention MJ's name again and it wouldnt affect their sales becasue their fans can care less.
So be happy when you see a current popular artist showing MJ love because they really dont have to. Usher's fans are gonna buy his music without a MJ tribute and so are Beyonce and Justin fans.
It's one thing to show MJ love and do a tribute during their shows. That's understandable and show of the respect they have for the man and his craft.
It's something else altogether, to honestly think that you can fill the gap that is left by Michael's absence by merely imitating Michael. That is what Usher is attempting and he's failing miserably at it.
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I think that's for effect more than anything else- to hype up the crowd.
