Edd’s MANtra: Michael Jackson Lives On
I know that the majority of Georgia Mae’s readers love Michael Jackson (as they should), and I wanted a little feedback on his new duet with, ugh, Akon. It’s called “Hold My Hand.”
Well, it ain’t bad. It’s way more Akon than I can usually stomach but it’s not offensive.
Will.i.am, however, might not be a fan. Will is pissed that Sony Records is preparing to release a posthumous MJ album. He doesn’t think it’ll live up to Michael’s absurdly-high standards. From sohh.com:
“Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are,” he says, “to say that what [Michael] contributed during his life wasn’t enough. He just wasn’t any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it’s disrespectful. There’s no honoring…Michael Jackson songs are finished when Michael says they’re finished. Maybe if I never worked with him I wouldn’t have this perspective. He was very particular about how he wanted his vocals, the reverb he used…he was that hands-on.”
I actually brought this point up awhile back, wondering if record labels would do to MJ what they’ve done to artists like 2pac, Biggie and Left Eye – slapping unfinished or old material over shoddy beats and bookending it with a bunch lame rappers. Remember when Puffy remade Biggie’s “Nasty Boy” song with Nelly, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Uncle Scrooge, Megatron and the 1988 Harlem Globetrotters? What a disaster.
I heard that 50 Cent will be featured on the new MJ album and I immediately rolled my eyes, until I discovered that the track was recorded before Michael passed and 50’s contribution was not a recent cut-and-paste job.
I’m on the fence about the album. It’ll be great to hear new material and if these are tracks MJ actually finished (like the ones with Akon and 50) I think it’s OK to release them. But I have no interest in hearing half-finished songs with Waka Flocka and Nicki Minaj filling in the gaps. I bet Mike would be spinning and moonwalking in his grave.
What do you think of “Hold My Hand?” Are you looking forward to more unreleased material?
Well, it ain’t bad. It’s way more Akon than I can usually stomach but it’s not offensive.
Will.i.am, however, might not be a fan. Will is pissed that Sony Records is preparing to release a posthumous MJ album. He doesn’t think it’ll live up to Michael’s absurdly-high standards. From sohh.com:
“Whoever put it out and is profiting off of it, I want to see how cold they are,” he says, “to say that what [Michael] contributed during his life wasn’t enough. He just wasn’t any ordinary artist. He was a hands-on person. To me it’s disrespectful. There’s no honoring…Michael Jackson songs are finished when Michael says they’re finished. Maybe if I never worked with him I wouldn’t have this perspective. He was very particular about how he wanted his vocals, the reverb he used…he was that hands-on.”
I actually brought this point up awhile back, wondering if record labels would do to MJ what they’ve done to artists like 2pac, Biggie and Left Eye – slapping unfinished or old material over shoddy beats and bookending it with a bunch lame rappers. Remember when Puffy remade Biggie’s “Nasty Boy” song with Nelly, Jagged Edge, Jazze Pha, Huey, Dewey, Louie, Uncle Scrooge, Megatron and the 1988 Harlem Globetrotters? What a disaster.
I heard that 50 Cent will be featured on the new MJ album and I immediately rolled my eyes, until I discovered that the track was recorded before Michael passed and 50’s contribution was not a recent cut-and-paste job.
I’m on the fence about the album. It’ll be great to hear new material and if these are tracks MJ actually finished (like the ones with Akon and 50) I think it’s OK to release them. But I have no interest in hearing half-finished songs with Waka Flocka and Nicki Minaj filling in the gaps. I bet Mike would be spinning and moonwalking in his grave.
What do you think of “Hold My Hand?” Are you looking forward to more unreleased material?
Well, I heard the remake of P.Y.T. (have you heard it Edd) and I don’t like it! I was pissed that they would remake that song to begin with…and then the remake is T-Pain and Robin Thicke. You auto-tuned MJ’s song? WTH!!! I’m not happy with Quincy Jones about that one. Everything is not meant to be remade. Just leave MJ and his music be and let him rest in peace.