Michael Jackson's GHOSTS is on YouTube right now. If you've never seen it, have a seat. It's just shy for 40 minutes long, and is like "Thriller" on steroids. I have the VHS box set with a programme and CD single. But the VHS is Region 2, so I was never able to watch it. It's probably never been played. The CD had just a couple of songs on it.

1. On The Line (produced by Babyface)
2. Ghosts (Mousse T's Radio Rock Singalong Remix)
3. Is It Scary (DJ Greek's Scary Mix)

GHOSTS | Box info

That link says that the Blood on the Dance Floor CD was included as well, but I don't remember that. Maybe it was. It's been a minute since I've opened that box. It's in a closet in storage somewhere around here.

Good video, great song, but I wish the video had been more adult oriented darker as the song is, without the childish tone it has. Is It Scary is another dar masterpiece kind of song.

I have the Video CD. It plays in my Sony Blu-Ray player but not in my Samsung blu-ray player.

alphastreet said:

I think it was intended to be semi-autobiographical and was a bold move

I believe at that point, MJ probably felt he didn't have much to lose. He had the clout to make the moves he wanted in his career. The Dangerous and beyond area seemed like a new era for him.

I totally agree with a lot of the auto-biographical stuff in it. The answering of critics about being a "freak" or "freaky boy," those sorts of things was clear.

Also, his frustration with the towns people when he said, "Is it scary?" and no one responded, then he sorta raises his voice, claps and stomps his foot. Like "c'mon people, are you paying attention?!" Despite his enormous fame, MJ is still viewed by his appearance more than his talent, to the general public and naysayers. That was a bit of a plea of frustration on his part. "Look what I can do, not what I look like."

Then the bashing of his face, it crumbling to dust. That was bold.

slyjackson said:

Good video, great song, but I wish the video had been more adult oriented darker as the song is, without the childish tone it has. "Is It Scary" is another dar masterpiece kind of song.

It's interesting that (and even Joe Jackson said this) they never gave MJ a movie. Madonna got Desperately Seeking Susan. Prince had Purple Rain. MJ had these little bit parts here and there (mostly there). But he never had a proper movie centered around him. I think he eventually took it upon himself to do his own thing, like with Moonwalker and Ghosts. And really, the "Smooth Criminal" centerpiece of Moonwalker is about the same length as Ghosts. So those two are about the length of a feature film. But one does wonder why MJ never got his movie.

I never loved those songs as much until I saw the video. Gave me a new appreciation for them. I loved how they were remixed and used in the video. It makes me think how Prince could use parts of a song for a purpose (eg: the drums in "Mia Bocca," or a replayed "New Position" etc).

TrivialPursuit said:

slyjackson said:

Good video, great song, but I wish the video had been more adult oriented darker as the song is, without the childish tone it has. "Is It Scary" is another dar masterpiece kind of song.

It's interesting that (and even Joe Jackson said this) they never gave MJ a movie. Madonna got Desperately Seeking Susan. Prince had Purple Rain. MJ had these little bit parts here and there (mostly there). But he never had a proper movie centered around him. I think he eventually took it upon himself to do his own thing, like with Moonwalker and Ghosts. And really, the "Smooth Criminal" centerpiece of Moonwalker is about the same length as Ghosts. So those two are about the length of a feature film. But one does wonder why MJ never got his movie.

I never loved those songs as much until I saw the video. Gave me a new appreciation for them. I loved how they were remixed and used in the video. It makes me think how Prince could use parts of a song for a purpose (eg: the drums in "Mia Bocca," or a replayed "New Position" etc).

A pitty because it was something he really wanted to make, it's surprising as well that Disney never offered him to make a soundtrack for one of their 90's classics or late 80's classic movies.

[Edited 10/31/20 9:18am]

i never saw this shit EVER...this is better than Thriller or Remember The Time... maybe adult MJs best video performane ever... thanks for showing this

RJOrion said:

wilmer said:

alphastreet said:

alphastreet said:

He had captain eo at Disney, but I agree a soundtrack would have been nice

Captain EO was maybe 15 minutes or so. Far from a movie.

RJOrion said:

i never saw this shit EVER...this is better than Thriller or Remember The Time... maybe adult MJs best video performane ever... thanks for showing this

How have you never seen this before now??!!?

TrivialPursuit said:

alphastreet said:

Love Ghosts, haven’t seen it in years though.

Ditto

TrivialPursuit said:

alphastreet said:

I think it was intended to be semi-autobiographical and was a bold move

I believe at that point, MJ probably felt he didn't have much to lose. He had the clout to make the moves he wanted in his career. The Dangerous and beyond area seemed like a new era for him.

I totally agree with a lot of the auto-biographical stuff in it. The answering of critics about being a "freak" or "freaky boy," those sorts of things was clear.

Also, his frustration with the towns people when he said, "Is it scary?" and no one responded, then he sorta raises his voice, claps and stomps his foot. Like "c'mon people, are you paying attention?!" Despite his enormous fame, MJ is still viewed by his appearance more than his talent, to the general public and naysayers. That was a bit of a plea of frustration on his part. "Look what I can do, not what I look like."

Then the bashing of his face, it crumbling to dust. That was bold.

More like "Look, I'm doing nothing bad. I'm innocent. The children love me. I'm their friend.". With the mayor being D.A. Sneddon and the towns people whoever wanted him gone from Neverland for disapproving of his lifestyle. It had nothing to do with his appearance. And the smashing of the face is more like, the only way for him to go is to die.

[Edited 11/1/20 9:51am]

TrivialPursuit said:

slyjackson said:

Good video, great song, but I wish the video had been more adult oriented darker as the song is, without the childish tone it has. "Is It Scary" is another dar masterpiece kind of song.

It's interesting that (and even Joe Jackson said this) they never gave MJ a movie. Madonna got Desperately Seeking Susan. Prince had Purple Rain. MJ had these little bit parts here and there (mostly there). But he never had a proper movie centered around him. I think he eventually took it upon himself to do his own thing, like with Moonwalker and Ghosts. And really, the "Smooth Criminal" centerpiece of Moonwalker is about the same length as Ghosts. So those two are about the length of a feature film. But one does wonder why MJ never got his movie.

Why? Because he always was gonna be Michael Jackson. Larger than life. And what role do you think he should have been cast in?

TrivialPursuit said:

RJOrion said:

i never saw this shit EVER...this is better than Thriller or Remember The Time... maybe adult MJs best video performane ever... thanks for showing this

How have you never seen this before now??!!?

Yeah. And isn't it kinda funny that the people who dismiss later MJ do not really know later MJ or what he did?

PatrickS77 said:

Why? Because he always was gonna be Michael Jackson. Larger than life. And what role do you think he should have been cast in?

And Madonna melted into Susan Thomas? We didn't see Madonna playing a role? Prince was certainly all Prince in Purple Rain. While I agree MJ was bigger than life, it wouldn't necessarily preclude him from being in a movie beyond some silly cameo. I do think he got it out of his system to a great extent by simply using his music videos as his own movies. "Rock My World," "Remember The Time," "Thriller," "Ghosts," "Bad," "Black or White," "Smooth Criminal," and so forth were his movies. I suppose the video DVD set was called Michael Jackson's Vision for a reason.

PatrickS77 said:

More like "Look, I'm doing nothing bad. I'm innocent. The children love me. I'm their friend.". With the mayor being D.A. Sneddon and the towns people whoever wanted him gone from Neverland for disapproving of his lifestyle. It had nothing to do with his appearance. And the smashing of the face is more like, the only way for him to go is to die.

Yep, the Sneddon thing is pretty clear, too. Totally spot on.

[Edited 11/1/20 22:29pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

PatrickS77 said:

Why? Because he always was gonna be Michael Jackson. Larger than life. And what role do you think he should have been cast in?

And Madonna melted into Susan Thomas? We didn't see Madonna playing a role? Prince was certainly all Prince in Purple Rain. While I agree MJ was bigger than life, it wouldn't necessarily preclude him from being in a movie beyond some silly cameo. I do think he got it out of his system to a great extent by simply using his music videos as his own movies. "Rock My World," "Remember The Time," "Thriller," "Ghosts," "Bad," "Black or White," "Smooth Criminal," and so forth were his movies. I suppose the video DVD set was called Michael Jackson's Vision for a reason.

Yes. Madonna melted in that role. She's an average looking woman. Prince is as different story. Purple rain was a Prince vehicle, built around Prince the pop star. Under the cherry moon and Graffiti Bridge where flops, because he he tried to play average roles. Michael is times 10 that. He would have had a shot pre Thriller. But once Bad came around that ship had sailed.

wilmer said:

Read somewhere that Tim Burton wanted to cast Michael for a musical version of the House of Wax. That would have been interesting. Unfortunately, the execs shut him down. Michael was also working on a movie about Edgar Allen Poe, but that was abandoned too.

I can totally see that happening. But I guess Ghosts is what we got instead. I can handle that.

RJOrion said:

TrivialPursuit said:

How have you never seen this before now??!!?

not only had i never seen it, id never even heard of it... i stopped followin MJ after Dangerous...i still havent heard that blood on the dance floor (?) lp

And what are you waiting for