Michael taught us to rock
30 Aug 2014 3:41 AM IST
If this were a television show, I’d only be playing Michael Jackson songs on this week’s episode. MJ turns a year older this Friday, the 29th. As do I. But, this column is about him, not me.
I did not grow up on MJ’s music. Or, any of his contemporaries even. My knowledge of ‘english’ music was limited to Wake Me Up by Wham, which happened to be a demo tune on my mini Casio keyboard- a gift from my parents on my 5th Birthday. My first brush with MJ was in high school when it was decided that the choir would be singing Heal The World at an inter-school singing competition.
I remember borrowing a friend’s audiocassette, playing it in a loop, and jotting down the lyrics. Once done, I was hooked enough to explore the rest of the cassette. It was his 1991 album, Dangerous.
And, had terrific tracks like In The Closet, Remember The Time, and Black Or White. I was in love with MJ. The way he traversed genres with remarkable ease, the way he beatboxed, the way he stuck to his musical roots while exploring newer sounds, the way he never let the musician in him take a backseat even when he’d proven himself to be an enigmatic entertainer. My musical leanings, sadly, don’t bear much resemblance to his. But, as far as inspiration goes, I’m not sure if anybody has inspired me more than him. Here are 3 of my absolute favorite MJ tracks, songs that I can never tire of listening to, and some interesting anecdotes associated with each. The actual list is seemingly endless, but since my editor will crack the whip if I exceed the word limit (yet again!), I’m going to stick to an (extremely) abridged list. Here goes!
Will You Be There (Dangerous Minds, 1991)
Even by Jackson’s wildly ambitious standards, the theme song for the 1993 movie Free Willy, and the eighth single from Dangerous, was one of his most grandiose recordings. Written while sitting in his Giving Tree at Neverland Ranch, Will You Be There is a gospel song that continues a theme of his career: from I’ll Be There to Got to Be There to Will You Be There, summing up a journey from exuberance and boundless confidence to loneliness and solitude.
Blame It On The Boogie (Destiny, 1978)
Now this is one track that always gets me grooving and my feet moving! After the Jacksons’ 1977 Goin’ Places flopped commercially, it took Michael Jackson to help rescue the band – but not the one you think. Blame It was co-written and performed by Michael Mick Jackson, a bearded Yorkshire singer-songwriter. He even released a version of his own, almost simultaneously. But, of course, that stood no chance against the Jacksons’ disco inferno.
Say Say Say (Pipes Of Peace, 1983)
Jackson and Paul McCartney co-wrote the smooth Say Say Say during the same sessions that yielded The Girl Is Mine. Jackson later recalled that he and McCartney ‘shared the same idea of how a pop song should work.’ The song’s snake-oil-themed video was filmed not far from an estate just north of Santa Barbara that Jackson later purchased and renamed Neverland Ranch.
Happy Birthday, MJ! Thank you, for the music, and for teaching me to Beat It!
Malini Banerjee is a snotty single child, mountain junkie, playback singer, Austen addict, hopes to soon finish writing her debut novel, and dreams of singing alongside Buddy Guy.
I did not grow up on MJ’s music. Or, any of his contemporaries even. My knowledge of ‘english’ music was limited to Wake Me Up by Wham, which happened to be a demo tune on my mini Casio keyboard- a gift from my parents on my 5th Birthday. My first brush with MJ was in high school when it was decided that the choir would be singing Heal The World at an inter-school singing competition.
I remember borrowing a friend’s audiocassette, playing it in a loop, and jotting down the lyrics. Once done, I was hooked enough to explore the rest of the cassette. It was his 1991 album, Dangerous.
And, had terrific tracks like In The Closet, Remember The Time, and Black Or White. I was in love with MJ. The way he traversed genres with remarkable ease, the way he beatboxed, the way he stuck to his musical roots while exploring newer sounds, the way he never let the musician in him take a backseat even when he’d proven himself to be an enigmatic entertainer. My musical leanings, sadly, don’t bear much resemblance to his. But, as far as inspiration goes, I’m not sure if anybody has inspired me more than him. Here are 3 of my absolute favorite MJ tracks, songs that I can never tire of listening to, and some interesting anecdotes associated with each. The actual list is seemingly endless, but since my editor will crack the whip if I exceed the word limit (yet again!), I’m going to stick to an (extremely) abridged list. Here goes!
Will You Be There (Dangerous Minds, 1991)
Even by Jackson’s wildly ambitious standards, the theme song for the 1993 movie Free Willy, and the eighth single from Dangerous, was one of his most grandiose recordings. Written while sitting in his Giving Tree at Neverland Ranch, Will You Be There is a gospel song that continues a theme of his career: from I’ll Be There to Got to Be There to Will You Be There, summing up a journey from exuberance and boundless confidence to loneliness and solitude.
Blame It On The Boogie (Destiny, 1978)
Now this is one track that always gets me grooving and my feet moving! After the Jacksons’ 1977 Goin’ Places flopped commercially, it took Michael Jackson to help rescue the band – but not the one you think. Blame It was co-written and performed by Michael Mick Jackson, a bearded Yorkshire singer-songwriter. He even released a version of his own, almost simultaneously. But, of course, that stood no chance against the Jacksons’ disco inferno.
Say Say Say (Pipes Of Peace, 1983)
Jackson and Paul McCartney co-wrote the smooth Say Say Say during the same sessions that yielded The Girl Is Mine. Jackson later recalled that he and McCartney ‘shared the same idea of how a pop song should work.’ The song’s snake-oil-themed video was filmed not far from an estate just north of Santa Barbara that Jackson later purchased and renamed Neverland Ranch.
Happy Birthday, MJ! Thank you, for the music, and for teaching me to Beat It!
Malini Banerjee is a snotty single child, mountain junkie, playback singer, Austen addict, hopes to soon finish writing her debut novel, and dreams of singing alongside Buddy Guy.
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