ziegler@lzmi.UUCP (10/20/83)
Though I've never been overly fond of Michael Jackson, I must come
to the defense of his recent album, "Thriller". It is certainly
among the most listenable music I've bought recently. Some of it is
unremarkable pablum, to be sure (e.g. "The Girl is Mine"). But the
album shows a versatility and creativity that few contemporary pop
artists have exhibited in the past few years. From the title cut to
"Wanna be Startin' Somethin'" to the biggest hit (so far) off the
album, "Beat It", there is a unique funk/pop blend that only Michael
Jackson can achieve.
Once you've waded through all that babble above, I feel safe telling
you the truth. I like the album. Anything else I can say, such as
that above, is just trying to justify it to you. I don't need to
justify my tastes to myself.
Joe Ziegler
...ihnp4!hogpc!pegasus!lzmi!ziegler
P.S. Do you drive a pickup truck with a gun rack in the back
window? :-)rlr@pyuxn.UUCP (Rich Rosen) (10/21/83)
I'm not usually the one who rises to the defense of the pantheons of the
music industry, but Michael Jackson has really put together a lot of very
good stuff. Though Quincy Jones often gets a lot of the credit for Michael
Jackson's new success, a quick look at the "Thriller" album (and the even
better "Off the Wall") shows that Jackson gets production credit for most of
the best songs on the albums, and at least arranging credit on many others.
And from what I've seen he IS quite a performer. Remember that on the Motown
reunion TV special, the Jacksons were the only group to actually *move* on
stage (well, I guess the other groups are a lot older now).
My own favorites are "Wanna Be Startin' Something", "Rock With You", "Don't
Stop Till You Get Enough", and "Working Day and Night". I think it's really
funny that 1) so many people have said "I never really liked Michael Jackson
before, but "Thriller" is really great"; interesting in that he's only put
out one other album on his own [not including his "solo" work while he was
still with the Jacksons/Jackson 5], and in my opinion that one had much of the
same style but was really done better overall; and 2) one person said "I'm
a heavy metal freak and classical music buff, and I even like Thriller, but
I can't stand that song my kids always play--"Beat It"; interesting in that
Jackson was attempting a funk-heavymetal fusion (partially with the help of
Steve Howe on guitar---ONLY KIDDING!!!!! It was Eddie van Halen) that took
an anti-macho stand against gang violence. It still ranks as the grandest
of MTV videos, and remember for months *they* had refused to play it because
it was "too black" for them.
The Jackson 5 produced one really great song ("I Want You Back"), and as the
Jacksons they did some work that anticipated Michael's current style. I think
the Jacksons (as a group) are no more. Is this true?
One more interesting item: the person who originally started this poll was
apparently trying to get a consensus deriding Michael Jackson. Apparently,
the consensus seems to have gone just the other way. "Thriller" is some sort
of megaplatinum monster hit, and is probably going to be one of those albums
that *everybody* owns ("Dark Side of the Moon", "Led Zeppelin IV", etc.).
My own opinion is that it will probably not stand the test of time. It is
very contemporary, and very well done, but it is somehow a little too slick for
me to keep listening to it into my old age. Come to think of it, so are most
of the other albums on my "everybody-owns" list. I guess that says something
for music that "everybody" likes. Richsdh@rabbit.UUCP (10/26/83)
Since a request was posted for the general view of Michael Jackson, I couldn't resist the opportunity to post my view. I do not like Michael Jackson. "Beat It" is overplayed. The only redeeming feature of "Beat It" is that Michael Jackson had enough taste to choose "fast" Eddie Van Halen to play the solo (who is best of the remaining 'innovative' guitarists, but that's another matter altogether. I'd love to agrue about Eddie for a while but this is a M. Jackson thing). His videos (that I have seen) are among the best in spite of the music. Would someone send him steroids?
grw@fortune.UUCP (Glenn Wichman) (10/27/83)
I, too, vote for Michael Jackson. I liked his stuff long before
"Thriller". I liked the Jackson Five a lot. I also like his duets
with McCartney, except that Michael's voice is so intense, and Paul's
so laid back, that it always sounds like Paul just woke up in time to
do his part (ditto for McCartney & Wonder on "What's that you're
saying).
I'm not sure what kind of "image" Michael Jackson is trying to
project these days, but I don't think I like it. The music I like.
-Glenn