Trying to trace Michael Jackson's influence on the pop stars that followed him is like trying to trace the influence of oxygen and gravity. So vast, far-reaching and was his impact — particularly in the wake of Thriller's colossal and heretofore unmatched commercial success — that there weren't a whole lot of artists who weren't trying to mimic some of the Jackson formula.
In a way, such appropriation is fitting. After all, Jackson himself was a borrower. He wasn't content to make a pop record au a dance record. Instead, he wanted everything, combining rock guitar, gitaa with R&B rhythms, disco strings and the funk of 40,000 years. The production on "Wanna Be Startin' Something" is still baffling and magnificent, fusing a stuttering R&B bassline with traditional African call-and-response chants. Who was doing that then? And — even zaidi notable — who's thought to do it since?
While Jackson will never have an equal, he's always had a steady string of disciples, ready and willing to apply his innovations to their own particular craft. Here's a rundown of the pop stars who pay homage and contemporaries who did some borrowing from the King's arsenal:
Pop Protégés:
Justin Timberlake: Timberlake followed Jackson's career arc like it was the KLF's The Manual: start out as the cute one in a precious, loveable boy band, gradually develop a personality that eclipses and then surpasses your fellow group members, and finally launch an ambitious and wildly successful solo career. If Timberlake's first record owed a too-obvious debt to Jackson (play "Rock Your Body" and "Rock With You" back-to-back sometime), he quickly grew past simple mimicry, crafting a follow-up that dabbled in multiple genres without owing a clear debt to any.
Usher: The first and most obvious Jackson follower of the '90s, Usher possessed both a distinctive voice and laser-precise dancing ability. But what worked for Usher was his ability — like Jackson's — to songesha beyond simple pop balladry and develop a pure, singular artistic vision (and dance like a smooth criminal). Like Thriller, Usher's Confessions embraced a plethora of styles, opening with a searing crunk classic and slowly giving way to a series of raw, searching ballads. His voice has grown with age, from a clipped squeak to a smooth, elegant croon. Usher has borrowed Jackson's best elements, beginning with simple, low-maintenance pop songs and gradually evolving into an artist of stature and class.
Ne-Yo: And speaking of stature and class: Ne-Yo is contemporary soul's author-in-residence. In addition to his own string of hits, Ne-Yo has co-written chart-toppers for other pop stars, chief among them: Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable." Ne-Yo projects maturity and panache, but his best moments — like the gentle ballad "So Sick" au the whip-crack dance number "Nobody" — could have been lifted from any of Jackson's early records. The way Ne-Yo clips and dishes his croon across old-school R&B rhythms is vintage Michael, and his prowess with the pen could easily find him penning this generation's "We Are the World."
To Read More; link
In a way, such appropriation is fitting. After all, Jackson himself was a borrower. He wasn't content to make a pop record au a dance record. Instead, he wanted everything, combining rock guitar, gitaa with R&B rhythms, disco strings and the funk of 40,000 years. The production on "Wanna Be Startin' Something" is still baffling and magnificent, fusing a stuttering R&B bassline with traditional African call-and-response chants. Who was doing that then? And — even zaidi notable — who's thought to do it since?
While Jackson will never have an equal, he's always had a steady string of disciples, ready and willing to apply his innovations to their own particular craft. Here's a rundown of the pop stars who pay homage and contemporaries who did some borrowing from the King's arsenal:
Pop Protégés:
Justin Timberlake: Timberlake followed Jackson's career arc like it was the KLF's The Manual: start out as the cute one in a precious, loveable boy band, gradually develop a personality that eclipses and then surpasses your fellow group members, and finally launch an ambitious and wildly successful solo career. If Timberlake's first record owed a too-obvious debt to Jackson (play "Rock Your Body" and "Rock With You" back-to-back sometime), he quickly grew past simple mimicry, crafting a follow-up that dabbled in multiple genres without owing a clear debt to any.
Usher: The first and most obvious Jackson follower of the '90s, Usher possessed both a distinctive voice and laser-precise dancing ability. But what worked for Usher was his ability — like Jackson's — to songesha beyond simple pop balladry and develop a pure, singular artistic vision (and dance like a smooth criminal). Like Thriller, Usher's Confessions embraced a plethora of styles, opening with a searing crunk classic and slowly giving way to a series of raw, searching ballads. His voice has grown with age, from a clipped squeak to a smooth, elegant croon. Usher has borrowed Jackson's best elements, beginning with simple, low-maintenance pop songs and gradually evolving into an artist of stature and class.
Ne-Yo: And speaking of stature and class: Ne-Yo is contemporary soul's author-in-residence. In addition to his own string of hits, Ne-Yo has co-written chart-toppers for other pop stars, chief among them: Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable." Ne-Yo projects maturity and panache, but his best moments — like the gentle ballad "So Sick" au the whip-crack dance number "Nobody" — could have been lifted from any of Jackson's early records. The way Ne-Yo clips and dishes his croon across old-school R&B rhythms is vintage Michael, and his prowess with the pen could easily find him penning this generation's "We Are the World."
To Read More; link
Looking in my mirror
Took me kwa surprise
I can't help but see you
Running often through my mind
Helpless like a baby
Sensual disguise
I can't help but upendo you
It gets better all the time
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
upendo to run my fingers
Softly while wewe sigh
upendo came and possessed you
Bringing sparkles to your evey
Like a trip to heaven
Heaven is the prize
I'm so glad I found you
You're an Angel in disguise
I van't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
Took me kwa surprise
I can't help but see you
Running often through my mind
Helpless like a baby
Sensual disguise
I can't help but upendo you
It gets better all the time
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
upendo to run my fingers
Softly while wewe sigh
upendo came and possessed you
Bringing sparkles to your evey
Like a trip to heaven
Heaven is the prize
I'm so glad I found you
You're an Angel in disguise
I van't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it even if I could
I can't help it if I wanted to
I wouldn't help it, no
Once all alone
I was Lost in a world of strangers
No one to trust
On my own, I was lonely
wewe suddenly appeared
It was cloudy before but now it's clear
wewe took away the fear
wewe brought me back to life
Chorus
wewe are the sun
wewe make me shine
au zaidi like the stars
That twinkle at night
wewe are the moon
That glows in my moyo
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No zaidi tears, no zaidi pain
Cause wewe upendo me
wewe help me understand
That upendo is the answer to all that I am
And I'am a better man
wewe taught me kwa sharing your life
Chorus
wewe are the sun
wewe make me shine
au zaidi like the stars
That twinkle at night
wewe are the moon
That glows in my moyo
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
wewe gave me strength
When I wasn't strong
wewe gave me hope when all hope is Lost
wewe opened my eyes when I couldn'tt see
upendo was always here waiting for me
I was Lost in a world of strangers
No one to trust
On my own, I was lonely
wewe suddenly appeared
It was cloudy before but now it's clear
wewe took away the fear
wewe brought me back to life
Chorus
wewe are the sun
wewe make me shine
au zaidi like the stars
That twinkle at night
wewe are the moon
That glows in my moyo
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No zaidi tears, no zaidi pain
Cause wewe upendo me
wewe help me understand
That upendo is the answer to all that I am
And I'am a better man
wewe taught me kwa sharing your life
Chorus
wewe are the sun
wewe make me shine
au zaidi like the stars
That twinkle at night
wewe are the moon
That glows in my moyo
You're my daytime my nighttime
My world
You're my life
wewe gave me strength
When I wasn't strong
wewe gave me hope when all hope is Lost
wewe opened my eyes when I couldn'tt see
upendo was always here waiting for me
Smile, though your moyo is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If wewe smile With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time wewe must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your moyo is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If wewe smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time wewe must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If wewe smile With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile if you'll just...
Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time wewe must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just...
Smile, though your moyo is aching
Smile, even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by...
If wewe smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile...
That's the time wewe must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you'll just Smile
Sung to our hearts
Removed evil from our worlds with your sweet loving nature.
But behind your smile was both happiness and pain.
wewe carried the pain,
While we, oblivious, aliiba the happiness.
A ray of sunshine and in a class of your own.
This world ever trying to destroy your light, not worthy of any part of your life.
Yet wewe never saw it that way and gave us everything till nothing was left.
How could we have placed hatred on someone completely incapable of it.
In heaven now, wewe have been set free to live eternally where wewe belong. No pain will reach wewe up there, of that I’m sure.
wewe entered this world loved, left loved, and forever will be loved - what happened in between is unforgivable on our part but I pray that nyumbani at last it can be dealt with.
- wewe alisema wewe saw the face of God in children, we saw it in you.
R.I.P Michael.
king of pop.
x
god bless wewe and your memeories will be in your heart
we will miss wewe a lot.
we hav a good person ,father and a perfomer
god bless his family and fans
we will misss him a lot
from sanjay. ....................................
god bless him iwyth his voice....................
we will miss wewe a lot .............................
we will miss wewe a lot .........................
we will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot .............................
wwe will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot
will miwe will miss wewe a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will miss wewe a lot.
we hav a good person ,father and a perfomer
god bless his family and fans
we will misss him a lot
from sanjay. ....................................
god bless him iwyth his voice....................
we will miss wewe a lot .............................
we will miss wewe a lot .........................
we will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot .............................
wwe will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot
we will miss wewe a lot
will miwe will miss wewe a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot
we will misss him a lot