Michael Jackson - Music & Me album review
Michael Jackson - Music & Me explores Michael’s love for music. The vocal changes on this album are due to changes and evolution in music that was happening in 1973. Disco and funk were becoming the trending genres of music. So Michael chose to go different route musically by leaning towards the sounds of R&B and pop music. Michael Jackson - Music & Me is similar to a soundtrack album to a movie with cover songs and whatnot.
Now Michael had more lucrative control as he chose different songwriters than what Motown had provided him with before on his previous albums. He chose to sing songs written by Oscar Hammerstein, Smokey Robinson, and Lone Ware. He wrote Music & Me, Up Again, and Happy. His father, Joe Jackson, worked hard to get him lucrative control of his own music even though Motown refused to allow Michael full control over songwriting. Michael wanted to include his own songs on the album. Sadly Motown still refused to allow Michael full control over songwriting.
With A Child’s Heart explores the simplicities of being a carefree child. The song is a cover of Stevie Wonder - With A Child’s Heart. Children face no worries as all they do is play. They turn each problem into play. No need to worry or fear. Just being alive makes it all so very clear. Nothing can ever get you down with a child's heart. No grown-up thoughts to lead their hearts astray. Children are so gay and carefree. Life is so easy when you’re a child.
These lyrics below explore and explain the simplicities of being a carefree child.
With the child's Heart
Go face the worries of the day
With the child's heart
Turn each problem into play
No need to worry, no need to fear
Just being alive makes it all so very clear
With the child's heart
Nothing can ever get you down
With a child's heart
You've got no reason to frown
Love is as welcome
As a sunny, sunny day
No grown-up thoughts
To lead our hearts astray
Take life easy, so easy, nice and easy
Like a child, so gay and so carefree
Yeah
The whole world smiles with you
As you go your merry way
Michael shares his love for music on the title track Music & Me.
Michael and the sound of music have been together for such a long time now. Music and him. He does not care if his songs rhyme. They are as close as two friends can be. Birds of a feather will fly together. There have been others but never two lovers like music and him. You will find a melody in a world of sweet harmony.
Michael shares his love for music in the lyrics to this song.
[Verse 1]
We have been together for such a long time now
Music, music and me
Do not care whether all our songs rhyme
Now music, music and me
[Verse 2]
Only know wherever I go
We are as close as two friends can be
There have been others
But never two lovers
Like music, music and me
[Verse 3]
Grab a song and come along
You can sing your melody
In your mind you will find
A world of sweet harmony
[Verse 4]
Birds of a feather will fly together
Now music, music and me
Music and me
Morning Glow is from the musical called Pippin. Michael does an amazing job with singing the cover song without a doubt. This is one of those songs that warms the heart. Michael’s pop flair blended in perfectly with the groovy guitar you hear in the background.
The song All the Things You Are covers the soundtrack song Oscar Hammerstein - All the Things You Are. In terms of form and harmony, All the Things You Are uses the usual 32-bar AABA song-form by taking the major main key of measures 1 to 5 as A-flat major. The chorus is a 36-measure AA2BA3 form with two twists in with the usual 32-bar AABA. Now what stands out is the entirety of this song uses a simple modal mixture in bar 7 in all the keys and chords.
5/5*****!!
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Michael Jackson - Ben album review
Michael Jackson brings us joy and enchantment on the Ben album with production help from the famous record label Motown. Each and every track on this particular album is memorable. Ben features Michael Jackson in the spotlight of course. Most of the Ben album is geared towards a cheerful mood as that's what pop star Michael Jackson is known for. You have amazing pop classics such as Ben, Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day, People Make the World Go Round, and In Our Small Way. 1972 proved to be a good year for Michael Jackson as he had a string of No. 1 hits.
The song Ben is about a rat that is loved by an abused child, which is Michael Jackson, and the rat returns his love. The rat, Ben, isn’t welcome or accepted by many as he is constantly searching for a place to find acceptance and approval. People don’t understand the value of Ben though.
Ben was a reflection of himself. Ben was his only friend since he didn’t get to have a childhood. The song captures all of those deep emotions of a mature singer. That is the beauty of this song. There is something about the beauty of a boy and his rat that gets people emotional. You’ll start to cry whenever you hear this song.
Ben is the best song written about a rat in the history of music. No one can sing a song about a rat the way Michael Jackson can and could. Even at such a young age, Michael had such an amazing voice. Michael was a prodigy. Michael Jackson captured deep emotions at a young age where most child singers don’t until they’re adults.
The song Ben was the theme song for the 1972 movie Ben. Michael Jackson wrote the song for the 1972 movie Ben. He also sung the theme song for that movie. The movie and single helped Ben become Michael Jackson’s first No. 1 hit.
Here is an interesting fact about this song. “You've got a friend in me" were the lyrics later used in Randy Newman's song You've Got A Friend In Me that was used in the Toy Story movies series. Randy Newman gave Michael Jackson credit of course.
People Make the World Go Round addresses the political issues and social issues the world faces. The song also addresses environmental upheaval as a result of human nature. This song isn’t about love as many people would’ve you think or believe it to be.
Michael Jackson was right on point for his time when he sung the lyrics for this song. Even at a young age he was fighting for the world to be a better place and he was fighting for equality. He also addressed the issue of environmental upheaval as a result of human nature coincidentally as well. Michael just wanted the world to become a better place.
Read the lyrics below to get an understanding.
[Verse 1]
Teachers on strike, no more school today
They want more money but the board won't pay
People
Everybody is talking about ecology
The air is so polluted that it is hard to breathe
People
[Verse 2]
Old folks judge you by the clothes you wear
They swear you're a hippy if you have long hair
Young politicians fight for poverty
While people still cry for equality
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day has that Jackson flavor to it with help and production by Motown prodigy Stevie Wonder. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day is cover of Stevie Wonder - Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day. Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder were geniuses for writing this song. The Motown prodigy collaboration is purely genius! Results prove otherwise.
The pop ballad surely displays its mood in a seldom cheerful manner. As a musical prodigy, his music brings us joy and enchantment. The song uses the elements of jazz, pop, and soul.
In Our Small Way is cute, special, and moving. Not to mention the cheerful mood. After all, this is a Michael Jackson song that features Michael in the spotlight of course. Michael Jackson and Beatrice Verdi wrote a portion of the lyrics.
The song teaches us that a smile makes all the difference in the world. He changes the world in a small way through smiles. Love is all we need. This Michael Jackson stands out because the amount of positivity inside of the lyrics.
These lyrics in Verse 3 say it all. “Just a little time is all it takes/What a difference just a smile can make, you will see/Love is all we need” Love and smiles are what we need. This is the song summarized in nut shell.
So do these lyrics. “Maybe you and I cannot do great things/We may not change the world in one day/But we still can change some things today/In our small way” “In despair we will be the hope/And the prayer that frees the soul/We will be there to share each lonely road/Because we love, I know/We care enough”
The Greatest Show On Earth is a song about love. You know what they say. Love is like a circus and carnival that is beautiful to see. Love can turn your mind around like ferry wheels and spinning carousels. You will be a part of the world of make believe. Flying high like a man on a trapeze.
Everybody's Somebody's Fool shines light to the audience as a love song. Despite that, the lyrics don't sound very convincing as they are not very happy. The sound quality is perfect though.
5/5*****!
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Michael Jackson - Got To Be There album review
Got To Be There is a highlight album in Michael Jackson’s career which did not get much attention or the attention it deserved. The album today is considered by Michael Jackson fans to be an amazing classic. The album has amazing pop classics such as You've Got A Friend, Ain’t No Sunshine, Got To Be There, and In Our Small Way. However the album is mostly cover songs. Despite the album being mostly cover songs of songs by different artists and groups, Got To Be There is the soundtrack to many people’s lives. That is what makes this album a classic.
In Our Small Way is cute, special, and moving. Not to mention the cheerful mood. After all, this is a Michael Jackson song that features Michael in the spotlight of course. The song teaches us that a smile makes all the difference in the world. He changes the world in a small way through smiles. Love is all we need. Michael Jackson and Beatrice Verdi wrote a portion of the lyrics.
These lyrics in Verse 3 say it all. “Just a little time is all it takes/What a difference just a smile can make, you will see/Love is all we need” Love and smiles are what we need. This is the song summarized in nut shell.
So do these lyrics. “Maybe you and I cannot do great things/We may not change the world in one day/But we still can change some things today/In our small way” “In despair we will be the hope/And the prayer that frees the soul/We will be there to share each lonely road/Because we love, I know/We care enough”
Michael covers Carole King - You've Got A Friend on the song You've Got A Friend. Michael did an amazing job of singing the lyrics despite not having sung the song before. So you have to give the man credit for that.
Here is an interesting fact about the song You've Got A Friend. “You've got a friend in me" were the lyrics later used in Randy Newman's song You've Got A Friend In Me that was used in the Toy Story movies series. Randy Newman gave Michael Jackson credit of course.
Michael Jackson did an amazing job singing and covering Bill Withers - Ain’t No Sunshine on the song Ain’t No Sunshine. You can hear and feel emotion as he is singing the leads and hooks. Even as a kid, you already tell Michael had that soul touch inside of his voice. That’s how beautiful his singing is. You don’t often hear a cover song as perfect as the original version.
Read the lyrics and you can hear Michael Jackson singing the song.
[Verse 1]
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
It's not warm when she's away
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long
Anytime she goes away
[Verse 2]
Wonder this time when she's gone
Wonder if she's going to stay
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And this house just ain't no home
Anytime she goes away
Maria (You Were The Only One) was about how a girl named Maria was the only one for Michael. He begs her to come back into his life repeatedly. She keeps running away. The song serves as a plea for sympathy.
4/5****
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Michael Jackson - Forever, Michael album review
Michael Jackson - Forever, Michael strayed away from the Motown pop sound Michael had been accustomed to singing to. He had adopted a smoother soul sound with elements of funk incorporated. Michael sung as a tenor rather than soprano as he did before. Forever, Michael would Michael’s final album for Motown as music was changing and evolving during that time in 1975. Disco and funk were selling at that time. While not as successful as his previous 3 albums, Forever, Michael was the soundtrack to many people’s lives. That is what makes this album a classic.
Take Me Back serves as a plea for Michael to have that girl back in his life. He will do anything to get her back in his life. Take Me Back is The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back revisited.
He wants the girl he is dating to take him back where he belongs. He belongs with her. Michael thought the grass was green on the other side and the sun shone brighter without saying goodbye. This is not true as tears fall like rain. Ain't no love in this world without her.
Michael tries to find himself as he keeps seeing her face. He explains this in the lyrics to Verse 2. “In my search to find myself/I saw your face and nothing else/Every place I go with everything I do/I still feel the need for you/“
He wants to make up for all the problems he’s caused her. He asks for forgiveness. He tells her, “Take me back. Forgive me. Take me back to where I belong. If you can, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me.” Clearly he needs her in his life.
Lyrics to the outro highlight this.
[Outro]
Take me back, forgive me
Take me back where I belong
If you can, if you can find it
In your heart to forgive me
Just a Little Bit of You is a sweet sordid love song. Just a Little Bit of You was written by the Holland Brothers of Holland–Dozier–Holland.
Sometimes a doctor’s remedy does cure love sickness. In some cases, the power of love is all you need to cure love sickness. Just a little bit that person you love will surely keep the doctor away. That is in a daily dosage.
The power of the woman he loves love can heal. No doctor's remedy can ever do what she does for him. Just a little bit of her every day will surely keep the doctor away. That is all he needs. Since the day Michael had been loving her, he cannot catch a cold or the flu. The sweet loving she has been giving him has become a daily need for him definitely.
These lyrics explore how love can heel.
[Verse 1]
I told my mama how I feel about your power
Your love can heal, no doctor's remedy
Ever do what you do for me
[Verse 2]
Just a little bit of you every day
Will surely keep the doctor away
Eeny weeny teeny bit of your love
Baby it is all I need, it is all I need
[Verse 3]
Since the day I have been loving you
I cannot catch a cold, I cannot catch the flu
The sweet loving you have been giving me
Has become my daily need
[Verse 4]
Just a little of your love, every day
It is all I need, that is all I need
Just a little bit baby
That is all I need, that is all I need
[Verse 5]
So do not send no doctor to my door
Because Doctor John has been here before
Do not you send him, just come yourself
Bring your love and nothing else
[Outro]
Ooh just a, just a
Just a little bit of you every day
Will surely keep the doctor away
Just a little bit of you every day
Will surely keep the doctor away
The song We’re Almost There teaches us not to give up on our hopes, dreams, and plans. This is one of the inspirational and motivational songs on the album that has a positive vibe.
No matter how hard the task may seem, don't give up on you hopes, dreams, and plans. No broken bridges can turn you around. What you’re searching for can be found. Life's a long, hard climb. So don’t give up on yourself is the message Michael is trying to convey to us.
Michael coveys that message in the lyrics to Verse 1
[Verse 1]
No matter how hard
The task may seem
Don't give up our plans
Don't give up our dreams
No broken bridges
Can turn us around
'Cause what we're searching for
Will soon be found
4/5****!
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Lil Meeze - Tha Thrill album review
Lil Meeze - Tha Thrill is one of many Texas rap albums that got lost in the shuffle during the peak popularity and rise of Southern rap in 2004. Texas rap was becoming mainstream at that time and this album unfortunately got overlooked despite the flashy Pen N Pixel designs, Dirty South flavor, and high quality production.
The album has something for everyone including those crunk club songs with tight beats. So expect things to get crunk with that Dirty South flavor as Lil Meeze kills each song with his flowing skills. You have songs about materialism such as Finer Thangs and Tha Thrill Is Gone on the album. Tha Thrill has all the underground hits and club bangers which are Finer Thangs, Tha Thrill Is Gone, Picture Me Ballin’, What I Suppose to See, and Ask for Me.
The album was favored by the streets of Sherman, Dallas, and Denton. Tha Thrill is an underground classic which came out of dat 903 in Sherman, Texas near Dallas, Texas.
The album was produced by A.T. and Lydell Lucky of Corner Pocket Records. However all the songs were produced by A.T. though. Lydell only co-produced Finer Thangs and Tha Thrill Is Gone. Those were the only 2 song he co-produced.
Finer Thangs is about the finer things in life. So expect to hear about materialism. Crunk beats are used. Lydell Lucky from Dallas, Texas produced Finer Things in 2004 which is when the song was recorded. The song was included on the 2005 compilation album 214 & dat 903.
Lil Meeze knows his girl wants the finer things in life. She wants the finer things in life which are materialistic items such as jewelry, accessories, and clothing. She doesn’t mind those things in her life. He can prevent her from being sad by giving her the finer things in life. That is if the streets stop calling.
Lil Meeze risks his life all while ballin’. He tells her they can tear up the mall by going on a shopping spree. She don’t have to buy shit. He wants to see how good she would look sporting Gucci and Prada. All the chic things. She doesn’t have to be top dollar to be looking hotter. He can take her mind away by making her feel like a queen.
He remembers the first time he met her. How could he forget? He saw step into the club. His niggaz told him to go scoop that chick. Lil Meeze played dumb like he was a pimp. He said “Who? That bitch?”. He never met a female who smelt like that before. So he approached her and they ended up engaging into a conversation. She smiled at him. So he bought her a glass of top class wine which was served in a tall glass. Only the finest wine in town. He would hit her back later at 8 PM. It’s on.
Then he realized that female are females meaning that girls will be girls. Bitches only want riches such as money and jewelry. She’s coming onto to him. He can stop her tears from falling because he knows what she needs.
He saw her leaving as looked at her through the window. He wanted to know where she was going and what she was doing. Then he asks her, “Would you jump into this Range Rover?”. So he makes love to this nympho. He’ll do anything to keep her by his side. She has seen more than that. Lil Meeze knows she loves the way Coco Chanel clothing feels on her waist.
Tha Thrill Is Gone is the title track of the album. This is a love song written by Lil Meeze himself. Crunk beats are used. Lydell Lucky produced Tha Thrill Is Gone in 2004 which is when the song was recorded. The song was included on the 2005 compilation album 214 & dat 903.
Lil Meeze hasn’t been feeling right. So he decided to call the girl he loves on the phone tonight. She told Lil Meeze about herself and what she would like to do. Shit. He was feeling her style and the way she moves. Then she suddenly dove into a conversation about the last man she was dating. He is past tense.
So he invited her to a party that one of his friends was having. She said she likes to dance and shake her ass. He hopes she notices him. He’s gonna be all up in her. She likes the way she feels when she gets close to him. So she clings onto him and holds him tightly. That is until they get tired and go to sleep. He was still focused on her as he was chilling. He starts talking and she begins telling him how she feels.
She says, “I’ve been feeling like you’re the only one for me. But I guess that you can’t see.” He replies back by saying, “Say, what the fuck am I supposed to see? All I know is money, hoes, Jheri curl, and weed.”
Lil Meeze knows she’s looking for a man be he is not the right man for her. He tells her he is not the one. She’s just looking freeload off of him. She likes the way Lil Meeze drives different cars. He’s got the masterpiece. He’s got her screaming ugh like she’s Master P. Then he puts her on the bus with a bag of weed. Lil Meeze is just being himself. He can’t tell her what she sees.
She might be loving these big things but the thrill is gone since Lil Meeze is not the one for her. She knows what this means. He had to slow down his game since he wasn’t feeling right. The thrill of this girl loving him is now gone.
Lyrics to the hook are what make Tha Thrill Is Gone memorable. “I’ve been feeling like you’re the only one for me/But I guess that you can’t see/Say, what the fuck am I supposed to see?/All I know is money, hoes, Jheri curl, and weed”
Getcha Mind Right is a crunk 903 song that became an underground classic quickly enough due to the Dirty South flavor and beats. He encores people to get their money on this song. So getcha mind right!
Picture Me Ballin' is a club hit backed by crunk beats and that Dirty South flavor. Lil Meeze talks about Gucci designer clothing throughout the song. He shows off throughout the song also.
What stands out with What I Suppose to See is the snap music beats used over the sample of Zapp - Computer Love. A.T. put in finger snapping, funky guitar synths, and clicks over beats from the Zapp sample. Listen closely and you’ll hear finger snapping over funky guitar synths
5/5*****!
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MC Overlord - House Of Funk album review
MC Overlord - House Of Funk is funky funk hop album where the sounds of funk meet hip hop/rap. Each track is funky and has a unique sound. Austin rap was leaning towards funk music at the turn of the 20th century in 1999. Most bands and artists were using a funky sound at this point. MC Overlord was no exception since he had already been incorporating funk into his music. Songs such as House of Funk, Fat Man, Move On, More, and Bounce Yo Ass are examples. Now this album did not sell as successfully as its predecessor The Dark Side. House Of Funk sold less units than House Of Funk.
Keep It Real is a smooth soulful rap song with Lisa Tingle and Malford Milligan in the background vocals. Overlord talks about how he maintains his sanity and control his emotions on this track. He keeps things real in his life. That’s what he does. The calm smooth background vocals are what make this song smooth and soothing. The beats and vocals are set on an equal level production wise.
Bounce Yo Ass is a funky hip hop/rap that you can surely get up to dance and jiggle to. This is one of his lesser known songs.
The title track House Of Funk is a funky funk hop song where the sounds of funk meet hip hop and rap. MC Overlord and the contributing musicians put in a lot of effort into composing this song. You can tell by listening to this song that Overlord’s heart was into music at the time.
The song October Again is October revisited. This song is the 1999 version of October which came from his 1993 album October.
The song October deals with the death of Cory Paul Ziegler who lost a long battle with leukemia in October 1992. Cory had been battling leukemia for 5 years since 1987. Instrumentation is compromised of an acoustic backing track which is Jason Mozersky playing a guitar. This song was the way he dealt with Ziegler's death. Corey Ziegler was one of his closest college friends when he attended UT Austin.
October was solely dedicated to Cory Paul Ziegler after he lost a long battle with leukemia. The profits from this recording were donated to “The Cory Ziegler Fund” which went to a scholarship fund in Ziegler's name. This song was something he started as a plan to commemorate a close friend.
4/5****
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