I've been listening to disc one of Michael Jackson's HIStory a lot while driving.
Some thoughts:
1. "Billie Jean"
Idea: "Billie Jean '14."
@Billie_Jean is not my lover
She's just a guy who claims that I am the one
But the pic is not my junk
People always told me be careful of what you do
Don't go around sharing private parts
I fancy myself as a millennial Frank Jacobs.
3. "Black Or White"
How does anyone not fast forward through the minute-long bootleg Macaulay Culkin/George Wendt prologue?
How did George Wendt get that role? Was John Candy unavailable?
John Candy's death is one of the few celebrity deaths to jar me. John Candy, Phil Hartman, Chris Benoit. I remember where I was when I learned that John Candy died — renting The Bodyguard on laserdisc.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, JOHN CANDY.
This song features both a bridge and a rapper guest spot. Normally, in a pop song, isn't a rapper guest spot also the bridge?
I wonder what the first pop song to feature a rapper was.
6. "Bad"
Your butt is mine – Best opening lyric ever?
Imagine a 66-year-old Michael Jackson singing Your butt is mine at Coachella.
Michael doesn't provide any examples of how bad he is. The lyrics are empty posturing. This song is all Quincy. Dat rhythm guitar!
Michael on The Dirty Dozens: "Your mama's so bad, she's really really bad."
Ain't nothing bad about an organ solo.
We can change the world tomorrow
This could be a better place
If you don't like what I'm saying
Then won't you slap my face
Who would disagree that the world could be a better place?
Michael speaks softly; "Bad" is his big stick.
10. "Beat It"
"Beat It" is odd, a song about being a dove presented in a hawkish manner. Michael sings with such urgency about pacifism.
5. "She's Out Of My Life"
7. "I Just Can't Stop Loving You"
11. "The Girl Is Mine"
I don't care for Michael's… "Ballads" is the wrong word. Softer songs? His softer songs are snoozefests to me.
12. "Remember The Time"
Michael's riffing over the chorus in the final third of this song is sublime. So raw and soulful.
13. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Michael's voice is kinda unrecognisable here.
Now I want to listen to "Canned Heat" by Jamiroquai.
15. "Heal The World"
Why did Michael leave "Smooth Criminal" off HIStory?
Bonus disc two thoughts:
2. "They Don't Care About Us"
The instrumental is straight fire.
Idea: A mash-up of "They Don't Care About Us" and "Black Skinhead."
#12 is spot-on. I call it the pop song that accidentally let someone tastefully scat. So good!