I heard Stevie's "Higher Ground" earlier in a commercial or somewhere. It was sort of in the background. I was jamming with the groove, and he was at the "higher ground..." part, then I instantly found myself singing "...just stop doggin' me around".

It hit me. MJ's "Leave Me Alone" is almost a fucking clone of "Higher Ground".

Now that you say it... it sounds a little bit like Higher.

It really does

ThatWhiteDude said:

It really does

214 said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

It really does

There's a "hee hee hee" somewhere in here

TrivialPursuit said:

I heard Stevie's "Higher Ground" earlier in a commercial or somewhere. It was sort of in the background. I was jamming with the groove, and he was at the "higher ground..." part, then I instantly found myself singing "...just stop doggin' me around".

It hit me. MJ's "Leave Me Alone" is almost a fucking clone of "Higher Ground".

I always noticed that as well! When I first heard it consciously it was in Pursuit of Happiness and I had the exact same reaction!

MickyDolenz said:

There's a "hee hee hee" somewhere in here

That album and track is a masterpiece!

alphastreet said:

MickyDolenz said:

There's a "hee hee hee" somewhere in here

That album and track is a masterpiece!

Whicho one Leave Me or Higher?

214 said:

alphastreet said:

That album and track is a masterpiece!

Whicho one Leave Me or Higher?

BOTH!

Mike considered Stevie a teacher, so...

214 said:

alphastreet said:

214 said:

Whicho one Leave Me or Higher?

The one I quoted.

Sorry i can't watch any Youtube link.

Prince I like bother artists......but I have more of Stevie's albums than MJs.

Both artists are geniuses, I like Michael Jackson more as he was in my generation and Stevie was a bt before it, still he has blow your head off songs and albums and he is an absolute genius.

.

His genius rubbed off completely on Michael and Prince, Michael's leave me alone definitely has the organ/synth line from higher ground, but it has been modernised into a more dance and drummed up sound for the dance factor of MJ music. Also remember it was Quincy producing and he probably knew a lot of how Stevie worked in the studio (Even if Stevie was with Motown and Quincy was running Qwest at the time). Plus remember Stevie did cut Just Good friends with Michael and the flop single Get it at the time. I don't think there is bad blood at all.

.

Plus it was Stevie who really brought synths to pop and R&B music, and many artists borrowed them, even Prince's early rhythms have a Stevie Wonder feel to them. I think there is some Pfunk in that musical gumbo too.

Cloudbuster said:

Mike considered Stevie a teacher, so...

Michael learned from the best

TrivialPursuit said:

It hit me. MJ's "Leave Me Alone" is almost a fucking clone of "Higher Ground".

Well, "Leave Me Alone" is written in the key of E minor and "Higher Ground" is in Eb; and the move-
ment before each song reaches its chorus are dissimilar too, so they really aren't alike musically. But
there are some rhythm similarities that I never heard before until you pointed it out, so kudos to you!

Dasein said:

TrivialPursuit said:

It hit me. MJ's "Leave Me Alone" is almost a fucking clone of "Higher Ground".

Well, "Leave Me Alone" is written in the key of E minor and "Higher Ground" is in Eb; and the move-
ment before each song reaches its chorus are dissimilar too, so they really aren't alike musically. But
there are some rhythm similarities that I never heard before until you pointed it out, so kudos to you!

That's my case as well, but it's crystal clear the similarities.

MJ was always a bit cheesy for my taste, unlike Steve who is a complete songwriting genius (maybe cheesy with that christams album )

stpaisios said:

MJ was always a bit cheesy for my taste, unlike Steve who is a complete songwriting genius (maybe cheesy with that christams album )

Would you mind explain yourself?

214 said:

alphastreet said:

214 said: The one I quoted.

Sorry i can't watch any Youtube link.

I was referring to the talking book CD being a masterpiece , and yes higher ground is brilliant and also reminds me of leave me alone

alphastreet said:

214 said:

Sorry i can't watch any Youtube link.

I was referring to the talking book CD being a masterpiece , and yes higher ground is brilliant and also reminds me of leave me alone

Of course a beautiful masterpiece, my favorite from Stevie Wonder. The ballads are my favorite thing.

214 said:

alphastreet said:

I was referring to the talking book CD being a masterpiece , and yes higher ground is brilliant and also reminds me of leave me alone

Of course a beautiful masterpiece, my favorite from Stevie Wonder. The ballads are my favorite thing.

I read somewhere he put this album out after touring with the rolling stones, it's almost like a musical response to it. Also love maybe your baby, living for the city

alphastreet said:

214 said:

Of course a beautiful masterpiece, my favorite from Stevie Wonder. The ballads are my favorite thing.

I read somewhere he put this album out after touring with the rolling stones, it's almost like a musical response to it. Also love maybe your baby, living for the city

He's got so many great songs, it's hard to decide which one is better, having said that, his ballads on Talkin Book are the best ballads he ever composed.

Forgive them Stevie.

2freaky4church1 said:

Forgive them Stevie.

Why does Stevie have to forgive us for?

214 said:

stpaisios said:

MJ was always a bit cheesy for my taste, unlike Steve who is a complete songwriting genius (maybe cheesy with that christams album )

Would you mind explain yourself?

Well, over the years he becomed more cheesy, overall style, appereance, he never developed that character that adorns his early delightfull qurikiness (of the wall, forever michael etc)... even Jarvis Cocker wanted to kick his ass on stage in mid-90's.