The Sonic Fantasy Movie

I sent you the password. Tomorrow June 1st is the last day available for us to watch the documentary.

Very emotional to watch at times, I bawled my eyes out when Bruce and Brian Vibberts talked about Michael. It's interesting to hear stories from his musical side and the reverence they talk about Bruce but MJ's music truly lacks.

I know it's about copyright but it would be good for his brand and legacy to have his name associated with Sonic Fantasy. I don't know if the estate is obtuse, doesn't give a fuck, lazy or all of the above to not associate Michael with positive documentaries.

I sent you the password.

Thanks! Although Marcos actually did eventually send it to me (after I was asleep, ha). But thanks anyway!

I just finished watching it. It was very good! Was neat to hear about the technical aspects of the album, and I actually got emotional at one point which I wasn't expecting. It's a shame that they couldn't actually use Michael's music in this movie. We need more docs like this for sure; ones that focus on the creative process and not the bullshit.

Thank you, unfortunately I didn't have the time to catch it during the window. I believe it expires tonight? 

No I just meant I didn't have the time unfortunately. 

I finally got to watch it this morning at 2am, thanks to the help of a kind fan who reached out to me. kiboy6 thank you my friend. Very much appreciated. Get yourself on here! 😎👍🏼

Possible spoiler alert.

Well, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Poignant, introspective, thoughtful, considered and apart from it presenting Bruce in the light that is long overdue and he undoubtedly deserves-such an unsung hero for decades and especially what he did to rescue Thriller- it presents Michael Jackson as an actual artist and musician! Not a celebrity, not a TV star, not a franchise brand, not a shiny sparkly thing.

It places Michael alongside the likes of The Beatles, Bowie, Prince in terms of focusing exclusively on the work ethic, blood sweat and tears that went into what he was chasing and wanted to achieve, and that he/they/Bruce ended up actually achieving.

It’s extremely emotional. Bruce was a very spiritual, loving, kind hearted and thoughtful family man. He immediately understood the importance of what they were setting out to achieve and how important it was to Michael and he gave MJ every ounce of his being and soul. When the initial sessions wrapped and the sound was a disaster it broke Michael’s spirit. And I believe Bruce seeing Michael in that broken state is what made Thriller the sonic masterpiece it is. If the album had been -good- on first playback and the record label gave it the green light then we wouldn’t be where we are today. It had to fail and brake MJ completely and for a genius and spiritually in tune soul such as Bruce Swedien to truly go back in -and sleep in the studio under the mixing desk- and pour his heart and soul into it with compassion and love for MJ and with the support and love of his wife sat beside him in a picture frame.

I always knew as a kid growing up that MJ’s albums were somehow just better than other albums but could never quite put my finger on it. They sounded vast and with depth, and seemed to have entire landscapes within them and various instruments and sounds sort of popped out involuntarily as though they were alive and were breathing. Years later learning about the production of HIStory was finally where I got the answer I didn’t know how to question. The answer of course was Bruce. A musical colossus in the industry. A mythical genius that even Quincy was in awe of.

Bruce is levels above Quincy in my estimation in terms of just about everything! Obviously they were in different roles but I just think Bruce was a better person. A better human being. Bruce was not about ego or style or how others perceived him. Bruce was about kindness, consideration, compassion, loyalty, harmony and understanding. And Dangerous and HIStory are proof of that! Proof that Michael didn’t need Quincy -apart from quality control perhaps- to make great records. Bruce didn’t need the plaudits.

Nah Quincy was surrounded by people who were as good as or better than him. Michael bringing him fully realised demos produced by himself and those other unsung heroes that were inconsiderately dubbed “the B-team!” and a vast wealth of musical talent that all helped create this. And without Bruce it would not have been what it was. Without Bruce we would not have had that magic in the way that MJ’s albums sound. Quincy got to say “Sprinkle some hot sauce on this” or “Dab some yada yada yada on that” But if he was the glue that held it all together then MJ and Bruce were the heart, soul and fantasy of everything that makes Thriller truly what it is.

The documentary isn’t about saying one is better than the other by the way. I’m just saying how I feel. Some exist on reputation, others exist on human compassion, empathy, love, understanding and genius.

Beautiful documentary. Massive congratulations to Marcos on his achievement and we really need Michael Jackson to be presented in this way. We need to detour -or even altogether move away- from this glitz and glam tabloidy franchise thing and move more towards a musicians musical expo that allows for a much more thoughtful and a considered approach as apposed to all that razzel dazzle.

It definitely needs to. It works on several levels; Michael Jackson, Bruce Swedien and the making of a classic album. Well….Thee classic album! 




Question; Was Quincy Jones asked to take part? I can’t remember if he was or not. It doesn’t need him nor actually even miss him. There’s just something raw and honest about this documentary that simply works.