A GREAT new POSITIVE article on Michael. :)

[lovemj4everandever]

From the Chicago Tribune

Was Michael Jackson a genius?

No doubt about it, according to experts who convened over the weekend at the Harold Washington Library Center to explore the topic.

For more than three uninterrupted hours, the Jackson aficionados played audio tracks, showed video, traded anecdotes and otherwise analyzed one of the most prolific careers in American music – albeit one cut short by the singer-songwriter's tragic death last year, at age 50.

With a throng of Jackson admirers queuing up an hour in advance on Friday night, the connoisseurs were preaching to the choir – and they did not shy away from the "g" word.

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"He IS a genius," proclaimed reissues producer Harry Weinger, refusing to revert to past tense.

By way of proof, Weinger played tracks from early Jackson recordings – many still unreleased – drawing from Weinger's work on forthcoming Motown and Jackson 5 catalog reissues. In one excerpt after another, listeners heard Jackson as a child, singing with remarkable prodigiousness.

The most shattering cut was an a cappella version of "Never Can Say Goodbye," a pre-teen Jackson phrasing like a master. Without the benefits of instrumental or rhythmic support, Jackson easily keeps time, but he also finds ways to stretch it. He unerringly holds his pitch, until he decides to bend it, for expressive purposes.

The yearning intensity of Jackson's tone, the disarming "oohs" and "aahs" he improvises at key moments in the song, the silvery clarity of his high-pitched voice simply defy rational explanation. No one under 12 can sing with such craft, ardor and musical wisdom without the benefit of extraordinary gifts.

Jackson's talents, of course, eventually made him an object of adoration around the globe, the crushing attention perhaps explaining some idiosyncracies of his personality.

"The guy was painfully shy," said keyboardist Greg Phillinganes, who recorded and toured prolifically with Jackson.

"You may wonder, 'How could he be so shy?'" asked Phillinganes, pointing to a performer who appeared fearless on stage.

"If you were chased (by fans), and you had to run for your life, if that's what you experience from 11, you would be a little different, too."

The real Michael Jackson, explained Phillinganes, was the man who stood before the microphone – particularly in the recording studio – and let all that glorious music flow out of him, without qualm or inhibition.

When Jackson was recording "She's Out of My Life," with Phillinganes on keyboard, they kept reworking and refining the performance, the pianist remembered.

"And at the end of every take, he'd cry," said Phillinganes. "And it was real."

All the panelists in the symposium, which was organized by the Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago, concurred that Jackson was thoroughly "hands-on" in recording sessions.

Though he didn't play instruments – with the exception of a rare turn on drums – he routinely "would sing percussion parts and bass lines" and other musical details, recalled singer Siedah Garrett, who wrote "Man in the Mirror" with Jackson and duetted with him on the single "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

Yet for all Jackson's involvement with musical and production aspects of his recordings, he often would playfully wreak havoc in the midst of sessions.

"Michael would make it his business to make other artists mess up," recalled Garrett, with a laugh. "He would sing his part. Then when I would sing my part, he would throw peanuts or something at me.

"And Q (producer Quincy Jones) would say (to Garrett), 'You're wasting studio time!' "

The cumulative effect of all these insider recollections and newly unearthed recordings proved quite moving, especially to those in the audience who already revered Jackson.

"You gave me the soundtrack to my life," one observer told those on the stage, a lineup that included Jackson drummer Ricky Lawson and former record executive Ed Eckstein.

Toward the end of the evening, 79-year-old Oscar Walden Jr., a Chicago TV and radio producer, got up from his seat in the crowd and, leaning on his cane, prepared to read a poem he had written for Jackson.

"I love Michael," he told the crowd, which fell to a hush.

"He was a genius."


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From the comments it looks like TEAM MJ is hard at work.  

We love you, Michael! And YES we will be there!  

[anewfan]

It's nice to see a positive article for once! Thanks for sharing!

[SoldierofLOVE]

There are a number of positive articles about Michael that we usually post here.

This one is lovely.  Thanks for posting it.

[all4loveandbelieve]

Allelluia! I am happy we finally have a very positive article on Michael.

[voiceforthesilent]

This article was awesome - thank you so much for sharing this. It brought tears to my eyes.

I sat here thinking "did 'experts' get together to critique John Lennon, James Brown, Elvis, or any of the other greats of recent years? I believe the answer would be no. Not that these men weren't excellent and didn't deserve high praise. They will have forever their own place in the history.

This also reminded me of the story from last week where members from the BAR Association, including the legal team for and against Michael in his court trial, got together to discuss the court case. Has this been done before? Not to my knowledge.

Why now? Why Michael? The little boy who took the world by storm at the age of 5,who won the hearts of the world, who gave everything he had for his fans and his family. The man who never forgot to treat others with love and respect. The man who didn't just break records but crushed the record books making it look like mere child's play. The man who laughed in the face of adversity, cried without being ashamed, loved without being inhibited, and looked at all people as equal. Yes, that man, Michael Jackson, the man who caused the world to stand still on June 25, 2009. Michael the genius.

It's my hope and prayer that he may finally get the vindication and acknowledgment that he most certainly should have received years ago.

The Bible says that when a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). In my opinion this is what is happening. Thank you Lord. The truth does prevail in the end.

[lilwendy]

@voiceforthesilent - Well said!  I don't need to say anything else!  

[tekamjforever]

This is fantastic,  but I remember the words of Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, something like "If all this recognition would have been before 25/6/2009, so maybe Michael would still be here." :cry:

Barry Gibb, who was (is) a personal friend of long standing, in my opinion suggested that Michael was feeling like a "useless" or "abandoned" by the music (by critics and industry)  for his enormous contribution and importance (innovation , revolution, etc. ..) reflects that, even today, most likely in the future, as is the undeniable fact!

[tekamjforever]

@ Voiceforthesilent, thanks for your wonderful words,  although they make me cry with longing and sadness ... :cry:

[voiceforthesilent]

Thank you. I, too, believe that Barry Gibbs is right. And it breaks my heart. Blessings.

[darkchild]

This article was awesome - thank you so much for sharing this. It brought tears to my eyes.

I sat here thinking "did 'experts' get together to critique John Lennon, James Brown, Elvis, or any of the other greats of recent years? I believe the answer would be no. Not that these men weren't excellent and didn't deserve high praise. They will have forever their own place in the history.

This also reminded me of the story from last week where members from the BAR Association, including the legal team for and against Michael in his court trial, got together to discuss the court case. Has this been done before? Not to my knowledge.

Why now? Why Michael? The little boy who took the world by storm at the age of 5,who won the hearts of the world, who gave everything he had for his fans and his family. The man who never forgot to treat others with love and respect. The man who didn't just break records but crushed the record books making it look like mere child's play. The man who laughed in the face of adversity, cried without being ashamed, loved without being inhibited, and looked at all people as equal. Yes, that man, Michael Jackson, the man who caused the world to stand still on June 25, 2009. Michael the genius.

It's my hope and prayer that he may finally get the vindication and acknowledgment that he most certainly should have received years ago.

The Bible says that when a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him (Proverbs 16:7). In my opinion this is what is happening. Thank you Lord. The truth does prevail in the end.

Thank you lovemj4everandever  for sharing this amazing article.  What a blessing of joy.

Thank you, Voiceforthesilent, for your beautiful, loving and inspirational words of love for MJ.

I am truly moved to tears and truly moved to heartbreak.  What our sweet angel endured on this earth haunts me daily.  But, I am like you.  I will never give up on finding out what happened to our beloved MJ on June 25, 2009. Thank you and God bless you for your strength and your love.

You guys are simply the best! xxxxx

[Integrity]

This was so beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[chloead505]

Beautiful...Brought tears in my eyes.

We love you, Michael!

[BeTheChange]

Thanks for posting this wonderful article.  Most of us have always recognized the 'genius' of Michael; articles like this one help shed some light for those who were blinded to it.  Considering the man that Michael has always been, articles like this should have been, and should still be, what is written about him.

@voiceforthesilent...your words always touch my heart, you truly are a beautiful soul.  

With L.O.V.E. always.

[angelshadow]

This is nice!!! Thanks to divide it with us

[Stranger In Chi-town]

The Chicago Tribune! Awesome! One of our Chi-town papers here! =] Thanks for sharing!