Thursday, March 10, 2005
George Carlin says in his latest book that Michael Jackson has put out so much GOOD music over the years that they should let him do whatever he wants. To whoever he wants. Seems like an even trade.
Not sure I agree with that but being about his age and from Gary Indiana I can remember visiting relatives there in the late 60s (after we had moved) and seeing posters up all over the place to concerts featuring the pre-famous Jackson 5. Maybe pushing them that hard is what made them all crazy.
And they ARE all crazy. A few years ago, Randy Jackson, the youngest brother and the one who replaced Jermaine Jackson when he left the group to go solo, felt it was important to release a list of Jackson 5 hits to the press that his brother Jermaine did NOT perform on. He apparently did this because Randy's wife had recently divorced him in order to marry Jermaine.
Still, "I Want You Back" is in my top ten list of best debut singles ever released by anybody, simply because it's a great freakin' song and even though Michael was like, a FETUS when he recorded it he sings with more soul than the entire white population of the world can muster up in their little fingers. And Jermaine's counter-voice to Michael's is just perfect. Having a good backing band for the session didn't hurt either. How can you not get excited when you hear the first couple of beats of "I Want You Back?" Even before they start singing, you just wanna dance, even if you can't. And I can't.
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Other Great Debut Singles:
"Do It Again" -- Steely Dan
Why? Because it's completely unpredictable. Unique chord changes,original melody, and lyrics about a determined loser who won't give up. Were YOU expecting this in 1972 when you first heard it on the radio? Of course not.
"Please Please Me" -- The Beatles
Far from their best song, but those "Come On" harmonies in the chorus indicated that there was a force to be reckoned with brewing. (I just found out that apparently John Lennon wrote this song to a girlfriend who refused to go down on him, even though he was quite willingly and happily servicing her in that way on a regular basis. Think about the lyrics to that song in that perspective and it's absolutely hilarious.)
"Wuthering Heights" -- Kate Bush
Why? See "Do It Again" and replace 1972 with '77. Okay, in this case it's the GHOST of a determined loser. But still...
TT
Not sure I agree with that but being about his age and from Gary Indiana I can remember visiting relatives there in the late 60s (after we had moved) and seeing posters up all over the place to concerts featuring the pre-famous Jackson 5. Maybe pushing them that hard is what made them all crazy.
And they ARE all crazy. A few years ago, Randy Jackson, the youngest brother and the one who replaced Jermaine Jackson when he left the group to go solo, felt it was important to release a list of Jackson 5 hits to the press that his brother Jermaine did NOT perform on. He apparently did this because Randy's wife had recently divorced him in order to marry Jermaine.
Still, "I Want You Back" is in my top ten list of best debut singles ever released by anybody, simply because it's a great freakin' song and even though Michael was like, a FETUS when he recorded it he sings with more soul than the entire white population of the world can muster up in their little fingers. And Jermaine's counter-voice to Michael's is just perfect. Having a good backing band for the session didn't hurt either. How can you not get excited when you hear the first couple of beats of "I Want You Back?" Even before they start singing, you just wanna dance, even if you can't. And I can't.
------
Other Great Debut Singles:
"Do It Again" -- Steely Dan
Why? Because it's completely unpredictable. Unique chord changes,original melody, and lyrics about a determined loser who won't give up. Were YOU expecting this in 1972 when you first heard it on the radio? Of course not.
"Please Please Me" -- The Beatles
Far from their best song, but those "Come On" harmonies in the chorus indicated that there was a force to be reckoned with brewing. (I just found out that apparently John Lennon wrote this song to a girlfriend who refused to go down on him, even though he was quite willingly and happily servicing her in that way on a regular basis. Think about the lyrics to that song in that perspective and it's absolutely hilarious.)
"Wuthering Heights" -- Kate Bush
Why? See "Do It Again" and replace 1972 with '77. Okay, in this case it's the GHOST of a determined loser. But still...
TT
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