Did Michael Jackson change music history?

[Iván Sparrow]

A few days back someone told me MJ changed music history. Did he really?

[paul bailey]

i guess this is only obvious to me. MJ was a crossover entertainer who brought an interesting combination of R+B and dance music into the mainstream. as performer he was probably was unmatched at his peak, but as a songwriter i can't see how he comes close to stevie wonder's songs in the key of life or marvin gaye's what's going on. looking back at the thriller album seems more of a product of its time (similar to the big budget popcorn movies like raiders of the lost arc and ET) a heavily produced album that is dependent on its tie-in's with mtv videos and the heavy advertising campaigns (pepsi cola). its fun pop music of my youth, but seems as useful now as a VHS tape.

[Steve Moshier]

"as useful now as a VHS tape" lol

paul bailey said:

i guess this is only obvious to me. MJ was a crossover entertainer who combined a unique combination R+B and dance music into the mainstream. as performer he was probably was unmatched at his peak, but as a songwriter i can't see how he comes close to stevie wonder's songs in the key of life or marvin gaye's what's going on. looking back at the thriller album seems more of a product of its time (similar to the big budget popcorn movies like raiders of the lost arc and ET) a heavily produced album that is dependent on its tie-in's with mtv videos and the heavy advertising campaigns (pepsi cola). its fun pop music of my youth, but seems as useful now as a VHS tape.

[J.C. Combs]

Agree. He wasn't a songwriter. He was a performer, a great pop virtuoso of song and dance. His best works are written by Quincy Jones.

paul bailey said:

i guess this is only obvious to me. MJ was a crossover entertainer who combined a unique combination R+B and dance music into the mainstream. as performer he was probably was unmatched at his peak, but as a songwriter i can't see how he comes close to stevie wonder's songs in the key of life or marvin gaye's what's going on. looking back at the thriller album seems more of a product of its time (similar to the big budget popcorn movies like raiders of the lost arc and ET) a heavily produced album that is dependent on its tie-in's with mtv videos and the heavy advertising campaigns (pepsi cola). its fun pop music of my youth, but seems as useful now as a VHS tape.

[Harriter88-aka terry harrington]

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last Forty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.It was Sly that inspired Both Miles & Herbie to go "Crossover",and he had equal appeal for White & Black fans alike(hell some of the family stone members were White)Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.

[Steve Moshier]

And don't forget the Motown hit factory (talk about influencing pop history)!

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last thirty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.

[Harriter88-aka terry harrington]

Yeah Steve those Motown Back up Musicians,don't get nearly enough credit,they are to Motown what George Martin was to the Beatles.But yeah Gamble & Huff as well as the Stars-Acts and song teams for Motown,just great.OH....! Gamble & Huff were on Atlantic,i forgot,they were Motown Competition,the point is the collective-individual genius of Black pop-R&B-Funk at that time.

Steve Moshier said:

And don't forget the Motown hit factory (talk about influencing pop history)!

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last thirty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.

[J.C. Combs]

Although it's hard to judge "thriller." I can't enjoy Billie Jean anymore since I've heard it probably 5 thousand times. But the song is incredible. The whole "thriller" album is a great example of near perfect sound quality. I remember my dad pumping it through his gigantic speakers and subwoofers when I was 14. It was amazing.

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last Forty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.It was Sly that inspired Both Miles & Herbie to go "Crossover",and he had equal appeal for White & Black fans alike(hell some of the family stone members were White)Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.

[Harriter88-aka terry harrington]

I agree JC it's the best song on the album.Kickass ostinato bass line(in Gb)with nice moving harmonic chords over it.Add MJ's stellar Vocal & Dance talents and you have what it became.MONSTER HIT!

[Shane W. Cadman]

The Motown musicians were called the Funk Brothers. If you haven't seen it yet, hunt down "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" on dvd. Great music. Great history lesson.

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

Yeah Steve those Motown Back up Musicians,don't get nearly enough credit,they are to Motown what George Martin was to the Beatles.But yeah Gamble & Huff as well as the Stars-Acts and song teams for Motown,just great.OH....! Gamble & Huff were on Atlantic,i forgot,they were Motown Competition,the point is the collective-individual genius of Black pop-R&B-Funk at that time.

Steve Moshier said:

And don't forget the Motown hit factory (talk about influencing pop history)!

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last thirty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.

[Harriter88-aka terry harrington]

Thanks for the clarification Shane,i knew they had a name,i just couldn't think of it.I do remember that one of them was a killer B3 player.

Shane W. Cadman said:

The Motown musicians were called the Funk Brothers. If you haven't seen it yet, hunt down "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" on dvd. Great music. Great history lesson.

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

Yeah Steve those Motown Back up Musicians,don't get nearly enough credit,they are to Motown what George Martin was to the Beatles.But yeah Gamble & Huff as well as the Stars-Acts and song teams for Motown,just great.OH....! Gamble & Huff were on Atlantic,i forgot,they were Motown Competition,the point is the collective-individual genius of Black pop-R&B-Funk at that time.

Steve Moshier said:

And don't forget the Motown hit factory (talk about influencing pop history)!

Harriter88-aka terry harrington said:

I agree with Paul & Steve,there is a handfull of really good MJ tunes,but mainly from the J5 and "off the wall"Thriller is fetching catchy dated slick fare,reliant on visuals(esp the title track)Paul mentioned stevie wonder-i agree, but lets not forget Sly Stone-if any body is tops as creator-performer in Black pop of the last thirty years,it is he,with those six or seven blues-funk-romantic masterpiece songs of his.Also Smokey Robinson & the M's.