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Post by mjjfan810 on Aug 10, 2017 6:52:25 GMT
To me, this is up there with Motown 25 in being one of his all time best television performances. I know some fans prefer the WMA performance with the live singing at the end (that bit is incredible, granted), but there's just always been something a bit magical about his performance of Earth Song at The Brit Awards in 1996.
I can't even put my finger on what it is that I love so much about it. I think partly, I love the sloped staging that MJ walks down, I love the way the performance is filmed - the dimmed lighting during the first half of the song and how you don't really see MJ properly and there are no close-up shots until those drums kick in on the second chorus. It all adds to the power and the atmosphere. I think these are creative decisions that MJ took seriously and he really believed in the power and importance of these details.
Even though it's lip-synched, that doesn't really bother me so much with television performances and so was Motown 25 and nobody complained about that. I love how theatrical the Earth Song performances were in general, but I think there was just something a little extra special about that Brit Awards performance.
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Post by Russg on Aug 10, 2017 21:25:20 GMT
Unfortunately, this performance will forever be associated with that stupid Jarvis Cocker publicity stunt, which overshadowed the performance itself.
It is a great performance, although I think I prefer the WMA one.
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Post by Liberian Girl on Aug 12, 2017 5:44:20 GMT
Always loved this performance of Earth Song. Although I find the preened stage school kids dressed in rags with their perfect haircuts to be hugely unbelievable.
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Post by dancingmjsdream on Aug 19, 2017 18:31:20 GMT
Many people think that MJ started to develop a messiah complex during History era and that he was OTT in this performance.
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Post by MattyJam on Aug 19, 2017 18:35:55 GMT
Many people think that MJ started to develop a messiah complex during History era and that he was OTT in this performance. Meh, fuck em. I thought it was great.
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Post by dancingmjsdream on Aug 19, 2017 19:11:33 GMT
youtu.be/M9UrQOYOnWoHow could people celebrate this moron? I understand that he didn't like the performance but there are certainly better ways to critisize something than to run up the stage and show people your butt. What a prick. I had no idea the Brits mocked MJ too, makes me mad. I liked the performance, I think it was slightly OTT but I know that MJ wasn't trying to be Jesus or something and that he meant well.
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respect77
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Post by respect77 on Aug 20, 2017 6:18:40 GMT
I would understand it if someone religious felt offended but Cocker is hardly the religious type, so I don't get why he was so upset. I get it that maybe such a grandious and sentimental pop performance is not for a cynical Brit pop artist, but respect the freedom of artistic expression. Not being your taste is no good excuse to invade anyone's performance. If artists started invading performances they don't like at award ceremonies where would that lead? Not everyone may like Pulp either. How would he feel if people who don't like them started invading their performances?
We used to discuss it on MJJC and IIRC his real reason was that they weren't allowed in the room while MJ was rehearsing. Something like that. He felt offended by that and this was the childish revenge. Later he said it was because of the "messianic" posturing to garner sympathy and support for his action in the media, but that's very questionable considering he invaded the stage before the "messianic pose".
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Post by MattyJam on Aug 20, 2017 6:27:23 GMT
I would understand it if someone religious felt offended but Cocker is hardly the religious type, so I don't get why he was so upset. I get it that maybe such a grandious and sentimental pop performance is not for a cynical Brit pop artist, but respect the freedom of artistic expression. Not being your taste is no good excuse to invade anyone's performance. If artists started invading performances they don't like at award ceremonies where would that lead? Not everyone may like Pulp either. How would he feel if people who don't like them started invading their performances? We used to discuss it on MJJC and IIRC his real reason was that they weren't allowed in the room while MJ was rehearsing. Something like that. He felt offended by that and this was the childish revenge. Later he said it was because of the "messianic" posturing to garner sympathy and support for his action in the media, but that's very questionable considering he invaded the stage before the "messianic pose". It was blatantly done as a publicity stunt on Cocker's behalf. And whilst it may have helped generate positive headlines for Cocker at the time in the British press, who, back then, were very anti-MJ, in the long run I'm sure he regrets it. Not only did he get dropped from Alanis Morrissette's US tour as a result of his stage invasion, which could've helped Pulp break America, he is now pretty much only mentioned in relation to his stunt at The Brits in 96. It kind of became what he was most renowned for, being a footnote in MJ's legacy, which kind of sums up the whole sorry saga. The British press are fickle. He may have been hailed as an anti-hero at the time, but it did lasting damage to his own music career, so who had the last laugh, really?
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respect77
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Post by respect77 on Aug 20, 2017 6:46:27 GMT
I would understand it if someone religious felt offended but Cocker is hardly the religious type, so I don't get why he was so upset. I get it that maybe such a grandious and sentimental pop performance is not for a cynical Brit pop artist, but respect the freedom of artistic expression. Not being your taste is no good excuse to invade anyone's performance. If artists started invading performances they don't like at award ceremonies where would that lead? Not everyone may like Pulp either. How would he feel if people who don't like them started invading their performances? We used to discuss it on MJJC and IIRC his real reason was that they weren't allowed in the room while MJ was rehearsing. Something like that. He felt offended by that and this was the childish revenge. Later he said it was because of the "messianic" posturing to garner sympathy and support for his action in the media, but that's very questionable considering he invaded the stage before the "messianic pose". It was blatantly done as a publicity stunt on Cocker's behalf. And whilst it may have helped generate positive headlines for Cocker at the time in the British press, who, back then, were very anti-MJ, in the long run I'm sure he regrets it. Not only did he get dropped from Alanis Morrissette's US tour as a result of his stage invasion, which could've helped Pulp break America, he is now pretty much only mentioned in relation to his stunt at The Brits in 96. It kind of became what he was most renowned for, being a footnote in MJ's legacy, which kind of sums up the whole sorry saga. The British press are fickle. He may have been hailed as an anti-hero at the time, but it did lasting damage to his own music career, so who had the last laugh, really? Wow, I didn't know Alanis Morisette dropped them for this. Kudos to her. I actually liked Pulp's "Common People" and "Disco 2000", but they are nothing more than a passing fancy in pop music history with those two moderate hits. When it comes to Brit pop people will think of Oasis and Blur. Compared to them Pulp were second-tier. They were only really popular in the UK. And yes, it is ironic and kind of poetic justice that this stage invasion is why he is most remembered for, not his music. LOL.
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Post by dancingmjsdream on Aug 20, 2017 7:23:38 GMT
I can't even take him seriously, Jarvis claims in 2009 that Michael hadn't done 'any good music in 20 years' but he's a genius because 'he invented the moonwalk'
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Post by respect77 on Aug 20, 2017 8:17:51 GMT
Says the one (or mostly two) hit wonder. LOL.
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Post by respect77 on Aug 20, 2017 8:34:42 GMT
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Post by dancingmjsdream on Aug 20, 2017 8:36:57 GMT
I don't feel sorry for him at all. I hope he regrets it.
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