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Post by Liberian Girl on Dec 27, 2017 5:27:06 GMT
Back in 2009, news of Michael Jackson's death consumed search engines and social media, changing the way we view celebrity culture. Yet, it was Jackson's life and his music that left the biggest impact.
Everyone knows the huge hits like "Billie Jean," "Bad" and "Beat It" (the list goes on). Yet, even Jackson, one of the most listened to artists of all time, has a few under-appreciated gems in his catalog. Here are seven:
"Just Good Friends" (featuring Stevie Wonder)On the Stevie Wonder assisted "Just Good Friends," Jackson goes into full 1980s funk mode, producing the sort of nostalgic factor that holds up well today. "Just Good Friends" was one of just two songs not released as a single from the album "Bad," which is probably why it didn't get as much attention as it deserved. "Dangerous"Jackson's most underrated album is his 1991 new jack swing opus "Dangerous." So it's no surprise that the album's fantastic title track slipped under the radar. Perhaps more than any other track, "Dangerous" captures Jackson's knack for the dance-heavy pop of new jack swing. In fact, had Jackson gone on to produce more tracks like "Dangerous," his career probably would have continued to thrive throughout the 1990s. "They Don't Really Care About Us"Jackson focused more and more on social commentary during the mid-to-late 1990s, which is maybe why his "HIStory" album didn't fare as well with critics or fans. "Scream" and "You Are Not Alone" were standouts on the charts, but "They Don't Really Care About Us" showcases Jackson as his most inventive during that period. He wrote and produced the fist-pumping rock/hip-hop anthem that has aged very well. "You Rock My World"The last hit Jackson produced while he was alive was "You Rock My World," a song that these days gets lost in the shuffle of early 2000s R&B. You have to erase the corny images of the video featuring Chris Tucker, but at its core "You Rock My World" is a brilliant soul song that underscores Jackson's chemistry with co-writer Rodney Jerkins. "Baby Be Mine"It's really hard to say there's an underappreciated song on "Thriller," the greatest selling album of all time, but if there is one it's "Baby Be Mine." The song lacks the epic nature of singles like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." Plus, it follows "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," one of the greatest album openers ever. Still, "Baby Be Mine" is just as well written as any of those songs. It probably fits in better with the music from "Off The Wall," an album some consider to be superior to "Thriller." "Working Day and Night"After the brilliance of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," just about anything on Jackson's breakthrough solo album seemed a little subdued. Yet, you could make the case that "Working Day and Night" is the best pure dance track on "Off the Wall." The song's percussion (some of the best you will ever here on a Jackson track) was the blueprint for Jackson's posthumous, Timbaland-produced single "Love Never Felt So Good."
"Ain't No Sunshine" Jackson showed early flashes of brilliance on his first two solo albums, "Got to Be There" and "Ben." Yet, the best indication that we were witnessing an artist whose biggest days were still yet to come was Jackson's cover of "Ain't No Sunshine." The Bill Withers classic is a soul tune drenched in pain and heartache. To here Jackson capture that, as a younger teenager, is something to behold. www.cleveland.com/music/index.ssf/2014/06/7_michael_jackson_songs_that_d.html
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Post by Russg on Dec 27, 2017 5:45:48 GMT
Some nice selections there and always good to see You Rock My World and Just Good Friends getting some well-deserved props.
I wouldn't necessarily call TDCAU underrated. Maybe it was before he died, but posthumously, it has soared in popularity after the world was reminded of how great the song is on This Is It.
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Post by HIStoric on Dec 27, 2017 6:48:36 GMT
Yeah, TDCAU has soared back into popularity, especially in America once those Black Lives Matter movements kicked off. Whilst I enjoy listening to it, I wouldn't say Just Good Friends is underrated. It's not a bad song, but it's not that great either - I think it just sticks out more on the album because it's literally completely surrounded by 10 other songs that are sheer 80s pop perfection and thus it's averageness sticks out more. Michael and Stevie's duet on 'Get It' was much better, helps Stevie wrote it too.
Glad to see Baby Be Mine get some attention, I really like that song! Thriller's an album where honestly every song is just sheer pop perfection with an equally perfect track listing.
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Post by MattyJam on Dec 27, 2017 7:26:28 GMT
Probably not the seven songs I would pick, but anything that shines a light on the songs outside of the usual hits is a good thing, I guess.
I wouldn't say Baby Be Mine or Just Good Friends are underrated at all though. They get less attention than the other songs on their respective albums because they're not as good.
Seven underrated songs that deserve more attention imo, are:
Who Is It Little Susie Unbreakable Threatened Get On The Floor I Can't Help It Is It Scary
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Post by respect77 on Dec 27, 2017 7:31:46 GMT
Get on the Floor!!!
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Post by mjjfan810 on Dec 27, 2017 7:45:34 GMT
Everything on OTW bar DSTYGE, Rock With You and She's Out Of My Life is underrated.
Lady In My Life is THE underrated song from Thriller imo.
Speed Demon and Just Good Friends are both incredible songs, and definitely underrated.
I don't care for much of the first half of Dangerous, but I'd agree with Matty that Who Is It is definitely underrated and I would also suggest Keep The Faith as well.
The title track on HIStory is underrated, as well as This Time Around, Money and 2 Bad.
All the new songs on BOTD were underrated, except for the title track, which seems to be fairly well remembered and liked.
And most of Invincible is underrated by both fans and the general public, most of whom never got the chance to rate it in the first place, due to lack of promotion and singles. Songs like Whatever Happens, Butterflies, Unbreakable, Speechless, Break of Dawn and Threatened should've been big hits.
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TonyR
The Legend Continues
Posts: 8,423
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Post by TonyR on Dec 27, 2017 8:06:10 GMT
Few lazy choices there, I think most of us would agree BBM and JGF are amongst the weakest in their respective albums.
For me, the 7 would be...
Who Is It Stranger In Moscow Give In To Me Jam Whatever Happens Will You Be There (it's known and often covered on talent shows but never played on radio) Workin Day and Night
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Post by dancingmjsdream on Dec 27, 2017 8:30:50 GMT
I think Heartbreak Hotel is also very underrated (not by fans though)
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2017 10:19:13 GMT
I have always loved Just Good Friends and of the list, this song by far gets the most shit from the general public, casual fans and the hardcore. The other 6 songs are at least well regarded and I doubt anyone truly underates TDCAU, currently our number one favourite here on the MJJForum.
Maybe its because it is a duet between megastars and these usually attract shade, what is there not to like, great singing, voice, melody and a song about a girl leading them one. Michael and Stevie both soar. Even next to the magnificence on Bad, it still shines, on Invincible or a posthumous album, this would be acclaimed as a revelation!
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