MotownSubdivision said:

paisleypark4 said:

All I know is no pop artist today are making any expensive epic tracks like Earth Song, Keep The Faith, Will You Be There, Man In The Mirror, History, We Are The World or even What More Can I Give in thier catelogues. That was really his own lane and takes a certain amount of care and experience to write songs like that.
Even though back then maybe they felt corny...now a lack of anything like that on the radio or on anyones albums says a lot.

[Edited 12/7/21 13:58pm]

The 90s were probably the most cynical decade. There was a foundation for that cynicism but it went overboard when it came to certain things and Mike was an easy target in that grungier time period.

Im just saying...no one goes out of their way to make inspirational humanitarian songs like that anymore

paisleypark4 said:

alphastreet said:

paisleypark4 said:

All I know is no pop artist today are making any expensive epic tracks like Earth Song, Keep The Faith, Will You Be There, Man In The Mirror, History, We Are The World or even What More Can I Give in thier catelogues. That was really his own lane and takes a certain amount of care and experience to write songs like that.
Even though back then maybe they felt corny...now a lack of anything like that on the radio or on anyones albums says a lot.

[Edited 12/7/21 13:58pm]

Not corny at all, mj doing that totally inspired me and pointed me in a good direction in life

thats awesome!!

paisleypark4 said:

MotownSubdivision said:

paisleypark4 said:

Im just saying...no one goes out of their way to make inspirational humanitarian songs like that anymore

Because nobody knows how plus they're considered preachy despite the genuine message behind (most of) those songs. Look at that horrendous song Lil Dicky slapped together a few years ago trying to make a charity single in a time where nobody buys music and with a high production animated video of which the money put towards producing it could have went to the cause they were bringing awareness too.

Sarah McLaughlin's did a video like that in 2004.

After watching another video by the detail, I didn't realize "Gone Too Soon" was actually a song from '83 and sung by Dionne Warwick on a TV special, but never recorded the song. MJ told the songwriter Buz Kohen that he wanted to record it one day.

After MJ's friendship with Ryan White, and White's subsequent passing, MJ recorded the song. He had originally intended to put White in his next video, but White died. So MJ called White's mother, and asked if he could do a song for him and make a video about him. She was amazed, but agreed to it.

Warwick struggles on the high notes, IMO. So I'm rather glad that MJ recorded a much superior version.

The above linked video also talks about "Dangerous."

Also, take note of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette review of Dangerous that flashes on the screen at 8:55. It calls "Gone Too Soon", a "truly dreadful song," says "Heal the World" is "banal" (I don't disagree) and compares it to Wham's "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. The reviewer says he wouldn't be surprised if "Jackson mysteriously pulled it from future versions of the album."

He says the album "may not be as ingratiating, innovative, or startling as his previous three solo albums, but it isn't the warmed-over pastiche of cliches some critics have suggested." He sums up the album as "This, after all, is what constitutes black pop in the 90's."

He notes Prince as Jackson's "80'sera evil twin," and makes a note about how Prince incorporated rap into "the textures of his new songs or [else] appear hopelessly behind the times. Several of the songs he wrote with Riley reflect this potentially desperate strategy."

He gives the album a B overall. For me, I think it's MJ's best record, from Off The Wall to Invincible.

[Edited 12/30/21 23:58pm]