I think it is very important for one to have an objective view of things{in addtion to putting things in the proper perspective. I think because of some of the things going on in his personal life is bizarre, people allow that to cloud their judgement and their ability to assess the musical aspect of his being.

First of all, Mike is a musical icon..PERIOD!!! Yes put his name right there next to Elvis Presley(Spats} and Marilyn Monroe. Do you think it is accidental that 27 million viewers tuned in to his documentary last week. Do you think it's accidental that anytime a MJ special comes on TV...millions on top of millions tuned in. That speak volumes about Michael. Also, if Michael didn't have the talent muscle to back up all of this attention, he wouldn't be such a big deal. But he is!!! Does anyone remember the piece that Vibe did on Mike a few years ago. Th writer was saying that we ought to appreciate someone like Mike while he is still around. I agree with this writer 200% because someone like MIKE comes once in a lifetime. After HIM, there will be no more...just like Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Jr, Jimi Hendrix, Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday etc..
As a former musician who have played before in a band and only play recreationally now when I get a chance, I have nothing but respect to what Mike has bought to the table on a musical front. So let's go back and look at why Mike is such a big deal...


1. Child Prodigy- We've all heard those amazing Jackson 5 recording. Mike's ability {as a child} to interpret and read adult like situations is nothing short of amazing. Listen to the way he sings with such conviction on "Never Can Say Goodbye". You know as a 12 year old child, he has never experienced the trials and tribulations of an adult relationship. But yet he sings and conveys the ups and downs of the relationship so exact and to the point that you may find yourself forgetting that it a little boy singing this. A work of genius. Also hear "Who Lovin You" for the same type of evidence of Mike's GREATNESS...THE EARLY YEARS!!!

2. Spinning In... Back in the early 70's Mike created {even though it is an augmentation of spin moves executed by James Brown and Jackie Wilson..two heroes of Mike} a dance called "spinning in. This is where Mike take his left leg and place it over his right leg and thrust himself around in a circular motions several times."{like an ice skater} This steps has been done by people like members of New Edition, NSYNC, Dru Hill, and countless others!!! Also note the response Mike got when he did " the robot" dance on Soul Train when him and brothers performed "Dancing Machine". Plus his dancing has been praised by the likes of Sammy Davis Jr and Gene Kelly. Mike is a natural dancer who doesn't need classes. As he said in his documentary"you can't teach this, it has to come from within..it's a gift". It's also worth noting that in 1983 when "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" started showing up on MTV along with his Motown 25th performance, the mainstream populaton were like "Gee, I didn't know Michael could dance like that". Man, the Black Community been knowing for years that Mike could dance. But "all of a sudden "it was "discovered" that he has an immense dancing talent...DUH!!!

3. Off The Wall- The Official Transition from Child Star To Adult Artist...I won't say much about this because this record has been discussed so many times. But Mike's vocal turns on this album is pure soul. A work of genius. The way Mike shouts OOO at the beginning of "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" symbolizes his artistic/independence coming of age. Mike sounds as if he's finally liberated. Everything on this landmark record is a work of genius. The producing, the solid musicianship of the musicians, Mike's vocals, the songwriting etc...

4. Thriller- You know the deal on this...the best selling album of all time.IMHO, it won't be broken,,,not in my lifetime anyway. How many copies you have of this album? You dont have to be ashame to tell me.

5. The Business- Mike is also a great business man. And realizes unlike so many black performers in the past that out of the phrase SHOW BUSINESS, the word BUSINESS is longer than the word SHOW. Mike learned this long time ago. Mike is a avid student of black history. And he has read about how so many of the very performers whom he admired growing up got ripped off. So he developed a strong sense of business savvy. One of my very first posts on prince.org{back in 2001} was a statememt I made stating that the media backlash on MJ didn't start until after he acquired the Beatles catalog in the mid 80's{needless to say I go flamed badly}. As a person that has followed media and magazine articles on Mike, I begin noticing that the media didn't start turning on Mike until after he got the Beatles catalog in his possession. Hey it was a great move for Mike. Then when he allowed Nike to run a commerical using one of the Beatles songs..."Revolution", "the mainstream media"{comprised and consisting of majority WHITE PEOPLE ..YES I SAID IT/Beatles fans said "off with Mike's head". Because remember The Beatles are sacred and holy , and NO ONE is to tamper with their art. Plus the thought of an entertainer ahem a black artist having the green light to allow such a thing is too much for them handle. But they will live.Black artists have been getting pimped and screwed for years and no one had a problem with that, so keep your mouth shut about Mike. People have to realize that the Beatles catalog is an asset. And I would say that a substantial amount of those people would have outbidded Paul for those songs too, if they had the financial muscle to do so. But yet they cry and moan about Mike having access to the Fab Four catalog. People talk about that was cold of Mike to outbid Paul after Paul gave him advice sound muscial business advice. As Miles would say...SO WHAT?, Paul should have found an alternate means of acquiring the songs he help write. Anytime the media even think that Mike may be going broke they will print and talk about it to no end, that should tell
you something right there.. The "mainstream media" wouldn't love nothing more than for Mike to go broke and then they'd say "Oh what a tradegy and travesty for this to happen". Then behind the scenes..it;ll be..."another nigger who didn't know how to take care of his business..had it all, now he has nothing".
So you can label Mike's move to get the Sony/Beatles catalog..a work of GENIUS. I'll be the first to admit that Mike has some personal issues. As I stated before, I still don't believe that Mike doesn't have the skin disease he claims to have. Which leads me to say that no matter how much Mike bleaches his skin, he will still be looked as " black man" to the mainstream media.

In closing Mike is a living legend who is one of the greatest live performers to ever STEP foot on a stage. A seasoned veterean to BE EXACT. Sometimes I look at people who post about Mike's LACK of peforming prowness{ he is lame on stage and does the same things on stage OVER AND OVER} and shake my head. Performing on stage is like breathing air for Mike. I know one thing if I wanted some advice on stage performance, he'd {along with LIL MAN, Stevie Wonder. I would consult Miles and Marvin, but they are no longer with us}. Mike could probably sell out nearly every date right now, if he was to embark on a US Tour. Barbara Walters and ABC and all of the other media networks state "Mike is a freak and is weird" but will break their necks {and play 10 million $$$ to get the right to air a documentary on him} You know why..cause Mike is AN ICON and a legend and he means $$$. Remember you don't have to be a multi-instrumentalist to labeled a genius. Webster defines genius as "a natural fitness,aptitude or talent. Now ask yourself does not Mike as it relates to his singing ,dancing and performing has the right to be labeled a genius. Remember... playing an instrument or several instruments is not a prerequisite that must be fulfilled to be labeled a genius. Even Your Royal Badness gave Mike favorable mention in a 1990 issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

Mike may be a little OFF THE WALL, but this BAD and DANGEROUS brother on stage has been THRILLING us for over 30 years..eccentricities aside. That is a testament in itself. Wonder how many MILLIONS will tuned in to FOX on Feb 20th.


OH darn, I just started YET another MJ thread!!!:LOL:

Peace And Blessing Upom You All,
BRO915

chi chi chi chi chi chi dont no what u got till it's gone..

Brother915 said:

yes. yes, u did.

minneapolisgenius said:

You can roll your eyes, and make frown faces all you want as this is a free country. But there have been alot of ignorant things said about Mike in these forums. So roll your eyes as those as well. I think this is my first and will BE MY LAST MJ THREAD I WILL START, I PROMISE. I haven't commented on many MJ's thread recently. Because I have already stated my case and feelings on Mike in the past here in the non-Prince forum. I thought I'd give an altenate view of things, since there is so much ignorance going on in these MJ threads. So there you have my promise to the orgville community. But don't overlook the points presented before you.

Brother915 said:


Hey, I haven't said much of anything either way about M.J. That's just my response to what I think is a boring topic. You started this thread with "Why Mike is a Genius and One of the Baddest Ever" so that doesn't sound like an opinion to me: that sounds like you are stating that as a fact. Some people don't think Michael is a GENIUS, but you are entitled to your opinions of course.

A poetic dedication to Brother915, Joshy, Cloudbuster, Marrk, Papaa, Deeplove et al. Taken from Telia Diane Perryman's "I Can't Believe It! Michael Jackson: Michael Be Strong" book:

Wishing Love

You Hid your smile,
you hid your laugh,
but
my love
I promise
not to hide
I will speak
my mind
and I always
will be kind.
Michael Jackson,
I wish
that we could
meet
down by the sea
where
the lonely trees
blow,
with silent
blows.
Michael Jackson
I wish
you were
the one
for me.

Brother915 said:

no no, fight the power, keep puttin up threads and show em SHOW EM ha ha ha!

minneapolisgenius said:

Hey Ian, Lavist...could you change the thread to "Why I Think Mike's A Genius" to suit the taste of Mineapolisgenius? My humble apologies to you sir/ma'am.

Brother915 said:

You can change it, just click "edit".

Hi Brother915... sorry to be a pain but I think your post is probably better off as a reply to this thread which already exists:

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=36804

By the way - normally you should be able to edit a thread that you created and the title etc yourself... cheers

Ian

PS I agree that it is worth remembering... despite his "eccentricities" MJ has always been an incredibly talented entertainer and has produced some great pop music.