Why does it take someone’s death appreciate an artist’s genius?
The Michael Jackson’s death has proven several things:
1.) We are not here forever
2.) While we are here, we should make an impact
The King of Pop’s legacy ranges from music to videos to dance. With each, he left bits of pieces of himself that will continue to influence generations, much like James Brown, Fred Astaire, Jackie Wilson, Gene Kelly, Sammy Davis Jr. and the film "West Side Story" did for him when he was a young icon in waiting.
Below is a listing of some of Michael Jackson’s most underrated songs. Some are familiar, while the others are not, but all of them will be with us until the end of time.
-
Show You The Way To Go-The Jacksons
Right after The Jacksons left Motown without Jermaine (who was married to Berry Gordy’s daughter at the time), they were searching for new fresh sound that would please their fans, but push them musically. Enter Philly International’s Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, who produced two albums for The Jacksons. “Show You The Way To Go” with its classic Philly Soul sweeping strings and infectious horns, could easily be confused for a House music song in 2009 (right down to the house-like vocals by Jackson at the end of the song). At this point of his musical growth, a more mature sounding Michael Jackson was starting to flex his muscle in the studio, which would be precursor to great things to come.
-
Get on The Floor- Michael Jackson (Off The Wall)
On this joyous post-disco track, Michael Jackson tells a young lady “I love the way you shake that thang.” This funky, but too often forgotten track from could have easily been another hit single from “Off The Wall”, but after Jackson didn’t receive the Grammy for Album of the Year, he was determined to make the greatest album of all-time.
-
Never Can Say Goodbye-Jackson 5
Wait, how can one of the Jackson 5’s signature end up on the list? Easy, people forget how rich Michael Jackson’s vocals were was at 12 years old. Usually a kid singing adult lyrics would come across sounding childish, but Michael Jackson’s vocals were so mature, it was scary. Sadly, a 12 year old Michael Jackson is still vocally stronger than The Dream, Jemimah (“Birthday Sex”) T-Pain, Akon or any other vocally challenged, auto-tune loving R&B “stars” of today.
-
All I Do is Think Of You—The Jackson 5
In the early 90s, the R&B group Troop had major R&B hit with “All I Do is Think of You”. Very few knew that track was actually a carbon-copy remake of one of the Jackson 5’s last hit songs for Motown. While the members of Troop effectively traded off vocals on their version, the original was all MJ, where he was transitioning from a cute kid with a big voice to a young man with yet untapped talent.
-
You Can’t Win-Michel Jackson (The Wiz)
“The Wiz” was a so-so remake of the “Wizard of Oz, but when he made “You Can’t Win”, it was the first time the teenage Jackson teamed up with Quincy Jones. The pairing would change the pop music landscape forever as the duo went on to make “Off The Wall”, “Thriller” and “Bad”. Much like Martin Scorsese to Robert Deniro, Quincy Jones was not only Jackson’s musical director, but also the most important mentor in Michael Jackson’s life since his father Joe and Motown CEO Berry Gordy, (years later, MJ’s baby sister Janet would follow the same successful formula, pairing up with producers Jimmy “Jam” Harris & Terry Lewis and creating more hits than the Jackson/Jones connection).
-
I Can’t Help Myself–Michael Jackson (Off The Wall)
Another gem from “Off The Wall”, the swirling jazzy feel of “I Can’t Help Myself” wasn’t released as single, but became a favorite sample for rappers in 90s like De La Soul, who used the track for the hit song “Breakadawn”.
-
Heaven Can Wait-Michael Jackson (Invincible)
“Invincible” was the album that pop radio turned their back on. Embracing his R&B roots, Jackson worked with young producers and songwriters like Rodney Jerkins (“Rock My World”) Andre Harris & Vidal Davis (“Butterflies”) as well as Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius and made an eclectic album mixed with neo-soul and new R&B. Many “critics called “Invincible” a flop, but in fact the album is still a favorite of old school R&B radio stations. The melodic “Heaven Can Wait”was a great example on how Michale Jackson didn’t sing songs, he used his voice as an instrument, twisting and bending it to soothe and excite listeners ear.
-
Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming—Jermaine Jackson and Michael Jackson
By the mid 80s, Michael Jackson was Frank Sinatra. Michael Jackson was Elvis. Michael Jackson was The Beatles. A performer who was not only the best musical performer around, but a Jesus-like pop culture figure. On this breezy track, MJ trades vocals with his older brother Jermaine with greater zeal than awkward “Torture” on the “Victory” album Although Jackson’s appearance on Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” might be more more familiar to music fans, this lost track is reminder how good the Jackson brothers sounded together before “Thriller”.
-
Lady in My Life—Michael Jackson (Thriller)
An R&B staple for slow jams, “Lady in Life” along with “Baby Be Mine”, could have given nine for nine in top ten hits from “Thriller”. While Prince made more slow jams with greater effect in the 80s, Jackson’s soulful yearning in “Lady in My Life” made the the listener feel as if a mic was placed in the bedroom of Tatum O’Neal, Brooke Sheilds or any other young woman connected to Micahel Jackson during that time; only Marvin Gaye could have pulled off such a feat in the 1980s.
-
Can’t Let her Get Away—Michael Jackson (Dangerous)
Just when critics were about to write Michael Jackson off, he reinvested himself with a little “New Jack Swing”. Pairing with super-producer Teddy Riley (Guy, Blackstreet), Jackson found his most successful successful pairing since Quincy Jones on The Wiz. Jackson’s “Dangerous” is a bevy of hits including “Remember The Time”, “Jam “and “In The Closet”. The Bobby Brown feel of “Can’t Let Her Get Away”, reaffirmed that Jackson was more than just a singer, but a musician who at that time knew what was a hit and what was not; very much like his former mentor Berry Gordy.
Bonus :
State of Shock-Michael Jackson w/ Freddy Mercury (Victory)
Most people remember “State of Shock” with Mick Jagger, but the original actually featured Queen front man Freddy Mercury. It’s unknown why, Jackson decided to go with Jagger than the charismatic Mercury who that point passed Jagger at most popular rock artist in the U.K, but both versions are still fascinating to listen to.
Triumph (Album)-The Jacksons
Post-”Off The Wall”, Michael Jackson teamed up with his brothers for one of their best albums. Almost an extension “Off The Wall”, Triumph featured the best elements of MJ’s solo effort and the group’s previous album, the dance heavy Destiny (which featured “Blame it On The Boogie” and “Shake Your Body”). The terrific “Triumph featured the stomping club anthem “Can You Feel It”, the playful R&B romp of “Lovely One”and the album’s crown jewel “This Place Hotel (Heartbreak Hotel)”. Unfortunately, the success of “Triumph” would be short-lived as this would be the last time MJ would join his brothers full time on wax ever again.
Say, Say, Say–Paul McCartney W/ Michael Jackson
This post-Thriller track is hardly played at all on the radio nowadays, but back in the day the fun loving “Say Say Say” was a massive hit back in the day. This was of course before Mike pulled a playe move and bought The Beatles publishing catalog, after Sir Paul told young Jackson that owning publishing was a great investment. Allegedly during the conversation, Jackson told McCartney that he was going to buy his music one day. MJ might’ve across as being soft, but he was just ruthless in business like his fatherJoseph and Berry Gordy.
Why-3T featuring Michael Jackson
“Why” by MJ’s nephews (Tito’s kids) didn’t make much of an impact on the charts, but this well crafted track by LA and Babyface makes one wonder what would have happened if Jackson hooked up with dynamic after the success of the album “Dangerous”.
Gone Too Soon—Michael Jackson (Invincible)
The song says it all.
To hear the songs go to: http://tinyurl.com/mnflne
————————————————————————