"Lucy", Skillet

 
Hey Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I'm in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
I got some things I need to say
 

Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I'd give up all the world to see that little piece of heaven looking
back at me
Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I've gotta live with the choices i made
And I can't live with myself today
 

Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it'd bring some closure to say your name
I know I'd do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can't help me make amends
 
Here we are
Now you're in my arms
I never wanted anything so bad
Here we are
For a brand new start
Living the life that we could've had
 
Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Just another moment in your eyes
I'll see you in another life
In heaven where we never say goodbye
 
Here we are, now you're in my arms
Here we are for a brand new start
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today

Me and Lucy walking hand in hand
Me and Lucy never wanna end
Got to live with the choices I've made
And I can't live with myself today

Hey Lucy, I remember your name


"Typically I don’t write in a way where a song can have an open ended interpretation, but this is a song about loss and can be applied to a whole range of situations. It has a gist of regret where you wish you had done things differently and it could be about mourning the loss of someone who died or a relationship. It seems sad, but it’s strangely hopeful because it gives off the idea that you can change your life right here and now – you have been given a second chance so you can remember to live and love with no regrets." - John Cooper (Skillet)


This song has had a lot of impact on me as of late. It's a somber song touching on a tough topic-- loss, regret. I've done many things to people whom I have lost, and I regret it everyday. While nothing I say will come out as well as the quote above, I am adding my thoughts. This song can relate to me in many ways. "Lucy" is my friends that I've lost due to life taking us on different paths, or death has taken them away. "Lucy" is my former life-- when I was much more carefree. Everything I do has a consequence. I can choose to have good consequences or bad consequences happen to me, because I can make my own choices. This is a lesson I have to learn and live daily. "I have to live with the choices I've made, and I can't live with myself today..." That lyric is my daily life. I have to find strength from inside. I have to find a will to go on. Each and every path you take, all the choices you make, shapes your legacy. Love to live, live to love. <3

I Recommend - 3/22/10

Recommended for 3/22/10 - Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak (2008)

Yeah, yeah yeah. I know. What the hell am I doing recommending a Kanye West CD? I know, I know. The guy is an egomaniac who can't carry a tune in a bucket. Thankfully, he uses auto-tune to sing (you read that right: sing, not rap) for all of this disk. If you do not know what auto-tune is, it's basically hip-hop's favorite toy. It's a tool used to computerize (and unfortunately, in most cases, monotonize) the singer's vocal, leaving it wholly inhuman, but leaving it with a perfect pitch. The album is pretty much consistent throughout, with only a couple filler tracks to fill out the disk, but the good tracks more than make up for it. While it shocked all of Kanye's audience in late '08, mainly because it featured no rap and a bare-bones sound, consisting of nothing more than some 808s (tribal drums), keyboards, Kanye's vocals, and perhaps a few embellishments on the musical side of things. It leaves the listener feeling overcome with emotion, which is more than any other rapper's album is doing in the current music biz.  

Song Highlights: Love Lockdown, Heartless, Welcome to Heartbreak, Street Lights, Say You Will

Have comments on this album? Questions? Feel free to comment!

Expansion

So, I've decided to expand my blog a bit. Writing about music, while interesting, can get a bit monotonous after a while. So, while music will always be the main focus of my blog, I'm going to try and branch out a bit-- reviewing other forms of entertainment such as movies and books. It may work, it may not. Who knows? So be checking back here often in the next few days and weeks, as changes are visible on the horizon. Thanks!

He May Be Invincible, But Is The Album?

Ah, Michael Jackson. He was such an interesting character. I've already reviewed his 1991 Dangerous album here, which you can read below. This 2001 disk, Invincible, was to be the last album he would release in his lifetime, so of course it's a bit bittersweet to listen to, despite it's many shortcomings. This disk was released a whopping 6 years after his last full-length album, HIStory (released in 1995), so it was highly anticipated in its time. Jackson decided to team with a new producer, Rodney Jerkins, whom was responsible for many popular artists from the late '90's/early '00's, such as Destiny's Child and NSync. The album took over two years to record, due to the hiring and firing of producers, writers, staff, etc., so by the time the album actually did drop in fall '01, was it worth the wait? Well, it depends on what kind of standard you're holding MJ to. If you're comparing this album to any of his earlier work, then no, it was certainly NOT worth the wait. But if you're comparing him to many other artists from that time period, then yes, it was worth the wait, because we all know MJ's C game could beat practically any other artist's A game. So, without further ado, I give you, once again, a track-by-track analysis of this album:


1. Unbreakable

You can try to stop me, but it won't do a thing
No matter what you do, I'm still gonna be here
Through all your lies and silly games
I'll still remain the same, I'm unbreakable...

You know, if you're anything like me, when you first pop this disk in, after all the electronic bloops and bleeps that go on for about half a minute, and you're introduced to heavy-dance sounds of this song a'la' NSync, you're probably going to want to vomit. It's that bad, until you get used to it. This is one of those songs that have to "grow on you". After you grow to like it, you'll find it's actually a pretty decent song, with a killer hook for its chorus. Clocking in right at 6:25, it's the album's longest track, and it can seem even longer placed right at the front of the disk. This is one of the only songs here reminiscent of HIStory at all, with this song dispelling the notions that MJ's career is over (which it basically was by the time this album released, sadly).

2. Heartbreaker

She plays a game with such an innocent face
I didn't know heartbreaking was her case
Her actions confess and her actions put me through the test
I was surprised that I was caught inside...


Here we are at the first track that is pure filler. It's VERY similar to "Unbreakable" musically, perhaps too much. You'll notice something that unfortunately pops up in many of the others songs here, too-- MJ's voclas sound strained, half-hearted, and nasally (one too many nose surgeries, perhaps?) It also doesn't help that the chorus is so repetitive, It's actually sad to see songs like this come to fruition on a MJ record, when I know he can write stronger songs about women. Just look at "Liberian Girl", "She Drives Me Wild", "Dangerous", and "Human Nature" for solid proof of that.

3. Invincible

If there's somebody else, he can't love you like me
And he says he'll treat you well, he can't treat you like me
And he's buying diamonds and pearls, he can't do it like me
And he's taking you all across the world, he can't trick you like me...


And, we hear the same recycled electronic/dance beats from "Heartbreaker" and "Unbreakable". Ugh. At least it's a light at the end of the tunnel tot hink this song's going to be another one about Jackson being "invincible" from the media's accusations or whatever. But no, it's another song about Jackson trying to get a woman, so I guess the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train. That's lovely. The lyrics are strained here, once again, but at least the chorus is half-way catchy. This song says nothing the previous train wreck of a song didn't, but if I had to pick, I'd choose this one, mainly because it has a good hook. But that's just me grasping for something good to say about this song. So... next!

4. Break of Dawn

I don't want the sun to shine, I wanna make love
Just this magic in your eyes and in my heart
I don't know what I'm gonna do, I can't stop lovin' you
I won't stop 'til break of dawn makin' love... 

This is where the album takes a sharp upward turn, with it's first ballad - a slow jam, no less. Yes, it's about making love, and yes, it's important to get the mental image of Jackson nude out of your head to be able to fully enjoy this song. It's this album's ballads that show us Jackson had any musical talent left, with this song being exhibit A. While this isn't my very favorite song here (some are just better by comparison), it's high up on my list.


5. Heaven Can Wait

Unthinkable
Me sitting up in the clouds and you are all alone
The time might come around when you'd be moving on
I'd turn it all around and tyr to get back down to my baby girl...

Alright, Mike. This is getting a bit ridiculous.  This song is downright embarrassing to listen to.  The lyrics are dismal at best, with no creative energy, the song itself drags on way too long, and MJ, you sound like Justin Timberlake in the chorus, and no, that's NOT a good thing, no matter what your 7 producers tell you. It's kind of amazing (in the not-so-good way) how similar parts of this album are to NSync. Maybe that was all on purpose. I hope so, because if not, that's downright sad, considering the gems from earlier in his solo career. Whatever. It's nothing the skip button can't fix.

6. You Rock My World

Ooh, it feels so right
I've searched for the perfect love all my life
Ooh it feels like
I have finally found a perfect love this time...

It's a relief! Finally, we have arrived at some musical sanity! ("Break of Dawn" notwithstanding) While I could do without the cheesy introduction to this song, featuring comedian Christ Tucker and MJ admiring a girl whom is "pretty bangin", the song itself is classic (although I did have to chuckle at the part in the introduction when Christ Tucker bet Jackson Never-Neverland he couldn't get said girl). The rhythm and vocals are reminiscent of Jacko classics such as "Remember the Time" and "Rock With You". This song was released as the debut single from this album back in '01, but sadly only peaked at #10 in the U.S, due to lack of promotion on Sony's part, and that is rather unfortunate, because this song had the potential to go to #1, with proper promotion, in my opinion.

7. Butterflies

All I gotta say is that I must be dreaming, can't be real
You're not here with me, still I can feel you near me
I caress you, let you taste us, just so blissful listen
I would give you anything baby, just make my dreams come true
Oh baby you give me butterflies...


In perhaps what is MJ's best vocal performance on this album (a la' Off the Wall), we are given another excellent slow jam. This is one of the only songs here MJ had no part in writing - Andre Harris and Marsha Ambrosius penned this one. It was also released as a single, but also didn't chart very high, due to a lack of a music video and again, lack of promotion. Perhaps my favorite part of the song is the second verse, where Michael goes into a heart-wrenching falsetto, something we haven't heard since Thriller, if even that album.

8. Speechless

Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But I have not the words here to explain
Gone is the grace for expressions of passion
But there are worlds and worlds of ways to explain
To tell you how I feel...

Here we are, the centerpiece of the album, and also my favorite track here, hands down. This is one of two songs solely penned by Jackson, and it's everything you'd expect from the "king of pop". The basis of this song is nothing more than Mike's (excellent) vocals, a few strings, and a drum machine. It's pretty much a Capella for the first minute or so, and it's absolutely beautiful. However, I have to admit, what made MJ first think of the idea for this song is a bit... odd. Basically, MJ had a water balloon fight with some children (in his Neverland home, perhaps?), and he wrote this song dedicated that - the love he felt for/from those children, and the wonder of being with said kids. Creepy? A bit, but that's just Michael Jackson for ya.

9. 2000 Watts

Bass note, treble, stereo control, how low you go
Just enough to make your juices flow
Press play, don't stop, rotate, too hot
You feel I'm real...

You know, this song would be a great energetic moment for the album, if it made some fucking sense. Seriously, all this song is is MJ listing off different musical things such as Dolby, bass notes, treble, ohms, and feedback, all in a low electronic vocal. It's all a bit weird for me. Maybe it would've been better live. MJ didn't promote this album with a tour or anything, however, and this song wasn't ever performed live, as far as I know, so the world will never know what this song would've sounded like in a live setting. It certainly isn't the album's worst track (we'll get to that in a while), but it would've been better if it made some sort of sense. Oh well.

10. You Are My Life

Now I wake up everyday
With this smile upon my face
No more tears, no more pain
'Cause you love me...

And here we are, traveling down abysmal lane, once again, with a song so cheesy it should be illegal. The song actually sounds like Jackson is gonna pull some psychotic, stalker song (which I have to admit would have been... interesting), but no, all we get is a slow jam about how great some girl is, and how she is "the moon", "the stars", :the sun", "the daytime and nighttime", and on and on and on. It gets to be a bit vomit-inducing, actually.

11. Privacy

Ain't the pictures enough, why do you go through so much
To get the story you need, so you can bury me
You've got the people confused, you tell the stories you choose
You try to get me to lose the man I really am...

Ah, "Privacy", my second favorite song here. It's the song on this album that's the most similar to the fierce, take-no-shit attitude that made up so much of HIStory, with this song taking the same approach: screaming (sorry, no pun intended!) at the press to back off, and leave MJ alone. (Again, sorry, I didn't mean to make a punny!) I also like the vocal style that Mike uses here -- his 'deep-er, snarling-through-the-teeth" type of singing, which hasn't been used on this album at all up until this point. Perhaps I could've done with a bit more originality in the chorus, instead of it's "I need my privacy, yeah yeah, so paparazzi, get away from me," but that's just a miniscule complaint.

12. Don't Walk Away

I close my eyes
Just to try and see you smile one more time
But it's been so long, now all I do is cry
Can't we find some love to take this away...

Now this song works, unlike its kin "You Are My Life" and "Heaven Can Wait". The emotion felt in MJ's vocals here: the pain, the regret as he realizes he is losing the love of his life just radiates through your speakers. The music is based around a rather somber electric acoustic guitar pluck, some strings, and the works. It's nothing short of amazing, because the emotion is just so real. The backing vocals layered behind MJ's just add to this, mournfully singing, "If you go, I won't forget you girl / Can't you see that you will always be / Even though I had to let you go / There's nothing left to do / Don't walk away..." We can all relate to this song, because break-ups are never easy, and this song captures that feeling quite beautifully.

13. Cry

Stories buried and untold
Someone is hiding the truth, hold on
When will this mystery unfold
And will the sun ever shine
In the blind man's eyes when he cries...

Ah, you knew it was coming. This wouldn't be a Michael Jackson album without a socially-conscious song, and "Cry" is that for this CD. Perhaps it's a little too similar to "Man in the Mirror" from Bad, what with the gospel choir and all, but it's a good song, albeit cheesy in some areas, what with the line sin the chorus "You can touch the sky (Gonna take somebody's help) / You're the chosen one (I'm gonna need some kind of sign)", and it's certainly not as elegant as "Earth Song" from HIStory, but ti works, especially in comparison to the some of songs from earlier in the album. But by this point, you are getting a bit weary of this disk, simply because of the decent song/good song/cheesy ballad type of formula that's going on, and for the fact this disk has already been running for 13 damn tracks, and you still have 3 more to go!

14. The Lost Children

Home with their fathers
Snug close and warm, loving their mothers
I see the door simply wide open
But no one can find thee...

Alright, Mike. I've cut you a LOT more slack that I could've in this review, but this is just bad. There are no other words for this. It is bad. I'm not exactly sure what you're trying to convey here, or what the hell this song is even talking about-- is it about kidnapped children, or is it a loose metaphor for those who feel they have lost their childhood? If it's the latter, dude, you already have a song about that, it was on your last album, and it's called "Childhood". And if it's about the former, well... that's just creepy. It doesn't help that this is the other song that you penned solo, and it also doesn't help that you have children singing the chorus of this song with you on toward the end of the track. This song does nothing more than leave a bad taste in my mouth.

15. Whatever Reason

'Everything will be alright,' he assures her
But she doesn't hear a word that he says
Preoccupied, she's afraid
Afraid that what they're doing is not right...

This is probably the most interesting track here, musically anyway. Featuring a guest guitar lead from Carlos Santana, this song is given a Spanish flavor, which is desperately needed at this point, because the songs are starting to sound similar, so this song is excellently used to break up the monotony. It's an interesting tale-- a man and woman are making big changes in their lives, that much is obvious, with the hook of the song being "Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand". I could have dealt with perhaps a bit more detail-- what exactly is happening to the man and woman, are they getting divorced, are they moving, what? But even without that much in the way of detail, the song gets merit for being musically different (in a good way, mind you).

16. Threatened

You're trapped in halls, and my face is the walls
I'm the floor when you fall, and when you scream it's 'cause of me
I'm the living dead, the dark thoughts in your head
I know just what you said
That's why you've got to be threatened by me...

Fortunately, this album ends with another gem, this time the "Thriller"-esque "Threatened". What truly makes this song stand out is it's multiple samplings of Rod Sterling, whom in the beginning of the track, introduces us to the "monster", leading into Jackson's vocals for the first verse. The production and music here may be a bit too much like Rodney Jerkins had too much control, but that's just a little beef. However, in light of MJ's death 9 months ago in June, this track can be a bit eerie to listen to, especially with the sampling of Rod Sterling saying "What you have just witnessed could be the end of a particularly terrifying nightmare. It isn't. It's the beginning," but it's a great way to show that MJ actually had balls, unlike many of the other songs here.

*Whew*
You're still there? You read all of that? Congratulations! While some songs here are nothing short of dismal ("The Lost Children", "Heaven Can Wait", "You Are My Life", "Heartbreaker"), other tracks such as "Don't Walk Away", "Speechless", "Threatened" and "Privacy" more than make up for it. I'm actually torn on this album, as to whether to label it "good" or "bad". I think that's impossible, because this CD has elements of both. I'm going to call it spotty, and leave it at that. It's excessively long, with too many filler tracks. I recommend it, but only at a low price, and do not let this be your introductory to the wonderful world of MJ. I'd recommend Dangerous, Bad, Thriller, or Off the Wall for the potential fan.

3/5

Our Hearts are Close, even if we are 600 Miles Apart.

"Vanilla Twilight", Owl City
The stars lean down to kiss you
And I lie awake and miss you
Pour me a heavy dose of atmosphere

'Cause I'll doze off safe and soundly
But I'll miss your arms around me
I'd send a postcard to you, dear
'Cause I wish you were here

I'll watch the night turn light-blue
But it's not the same without you
Because it takes two to whisper quietly

The silence isn't so bad
'Til I look at my hands and feel sad
'Cause the spaces between my fingers
Are right where yours fit perfectly

I'll find repose in new ways
Though I haven't slept in two days
'Cause cold nostalgia
Chills me to the bone

But drenched in vanilla twilight
I'll sit on the front porch all night
Waist-deep in thought because
When I think of you I don't feel so alone

I don't feel so alone, I don't feel so alone

As many times as I blink
I'll think of you tonight
I'll think of you tonight

When violet eyes get brighter
And heavy wings grow lighter
I'll taste the sky and feel alive again

And I'll forget the world that I knew
But I swear I won't forget you
Oh, if my voice could reach
Back through the past
I'd whisper in your ear
Oh darling, I wish you were here

Long-distance relationships can be a hard. With no means of communication besides phone calls, text messaging, and internet chat sites such as myspace and facebook, it can be a bit harder to help these kind of relationships grow. This song I just quoted could be applied to this type of situation -- a long-distance relationship, which is the type of dating relationship I am in currently. And it's hard. But I can honestly say that I would not wan to be with anyone else. This song helps me a lot when I feel alone -- it brings back the image of Austin (my girlfriend's) face, her voice, her laughter, and as the song so excellently puts it, it makes me feel "not so alone". So, if you are in a long-distance relationship, let this blog entry be an encouragement. Work at it. Anything you work hard at will work out in the end, no matter how hard or difficult your relationship is now. I'd also recommend checking this song out. <3

I Recommend - 3/8/10

Recommended for 3/8/10 - Jars of Clay - The Long Fall Back To Earth (2009)

After 2 1/2 years of waiting, Jarks (Jars of Clay fans) finally got what they had been waiting for in spring 2009, with The Long Fall Back To Earth, and it certainly didn't disappoint. The band had changed their sound up once again -which is something these guys are notorious for- to a rather 80's inspired synth-pop sound, and it works. After the stark, dark, rock sound that was Good Monsters in 2006, this album was a bit of a surprise, but... it was a good one. The whole album is consistent, keeping with the overall theme of relationships -- with God and with one another.


Song Highlights: "Safe To Land", "Closer", "Headphones", "Scenic Route"

Have comments on this album? Questions? Feel free to comment!

From bad to dangerous: The saga of MJ

Alright, so today, I'm going to attempt to review my very favorite album of all time, Michael Jackson's 1991 Dangerous, without being overly biased. This is a daunting task, so please excuse me if I "fanboy" during this review at any given time.

In 1991, the world had a very different opinion of MJ than their opinion of him now (or, better yet, the last few years of his life). In 1991, MJ was known as being rather quirky and eccentric (Elephant Man's bones and the oxygen chamber he was rumored to sleep in, anyone?) in the late '80's. While the two events I just told you about were planted into the press by Michael himself, the fact that he did plant those stories himself further proves the man was a little odd.  Also, him having Vitiligo (which is a skin disease, causing pigment in the skin to lighten) didn't help his "weirdness" case much. So, while almost everyone thought he was a bit of a nutcase, or at least a little eccentric, he was still the biggest star in the music biz in the '80's/early '90's. And in the tail-end of his heyday, he released what is (in my opinion) the best album of his career, Dangerous, which featured a different producer than whom he had previously worked with, Teddy Riley, a producer who helped change MJ's sound from soul/pop sound to a more hip-hop feel (with pop elements still blended in), AKA "jack swing".

So, this review is going to be in a style in which I usually write, despite my general hatred for it: song-by-song analysis. It usually takes MUCH longer to type, but I feel this is the only way this excellent album can be described: each individual song spoken about.

(If you do not wish to read through each song description, please skip down to the bottom.)

1. Jam

 Nation to nation, all the world must get together
Face the problems that we see
And maybe we can work it out...


As soon as you pop this disk in, you hear the sound of shattering glass, and sampled of voices saying "jam", before giving way to a very '90's-esque hip-hop beat. This tune gives us an idea as to what to expect throughout the album: more "socially conscious" lyrics, usually sung over a new (at the time, anyway) funky beat. This song is actually really fun to listen to and sing along with, especially it's chorus, which goes as follows: "Go with it / Go with it / Jam! / It ain't too much stuff / It ain't too much / It ain't too much for me to jam," repeated twice. Rapper Heavy D makes a guest appearance, adding to the new sound MJ wanted in his music here. Overall, it's a catchy song, even if it can drag on a bit too long when you're not in the mood to listen to it (a problem that plagues a good portion of the songs here, actually).

2. Why You Wanna Trip On Me

We've got drug addiction
In the minds of the weak
We've got so much corruption
Police brutality...


If you're not a HUGE Michael Jackson fan like myself, then chances are pretty high that you've never heard this song before. It's one of only two songs here not penned by Jackson - this song's lyricists being producer Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle (whoever the Hell THAT is). It pretty much follows the same formula that "Jam" did, which may or may not be a good thing. "Jam" was a good song, yes, but the same idea of "let's join together and heal the world" DOES get admittedly tired after two straight songs about it. But, that doesn't necessarily make it a bad song. There are some great points brought up here, such as awareness for the AIDs epidemic (which was extremely bad in 1991), world hunger, etc. And the vocals in the chorus are outstanding. But does this album really need this song? No, not really. But that is proof that even when MJ is bad, he's good (seeing as I do like this song, I just don't love it).

3. In The Closet

One thing in life you must understand
The truth of lust, woman to man
So open the door and you will see
There are no secrets, make your move
Set me free...

Ah, this is where the album gets really interesting. Easily in what is the sexiest song of his career, MJ gives us a song about a woman cheating on her husband with him, and how they must keep this affair "in the closet". Lyrics like "And if it aches, you have to rub it" make this song extremely sensual, but that's not a bad thing AT ALL. Easily one of the best tracks here, this is a unique tale about the "truth of lust". While certain lines like "Just promise me / Whatever we say / Whatever we do / Let's make a vow / For now/ To just... keep it in the closet" seem creepy now, seeing as this song was released a mere two years before Jackson was sent on trial for molestation charges, this song is easily the best song on the first half of the album. It's songs like THIS that make this my favorite album of all-time.

4. She Drives Me Wild

She got the look, she's so fine
nd you know damn well the girl will be mine
She got the breaks, she's a scene
And you know damn well she gives it to me...


With a musical soundscape of beeping car horns, and a once again hip-hop/"jack swing" beat, we set to sail with a rather playful song, which is about a rather lightweight topic - a woman Jackson finds enticing, and thus, she "drives him wild". At first, I hated this song. I really did. But after a while, it really started to grow on me, and now it's one of my favorite songs here. It's one of the shortest tracks here, running at just over 3 1/2 minutes, and is a catchy song that I'm surprised was no released as a single way back when.

5. Remember The Time

Do you remember back in the Fall 
We'd be together all day long
Do you remember us holding hands
In each others' eyes we'd stare...


Ah, yes. The second single released from this album, with it's video that's more memorable than than the song itself, with it's Egyptian theme. You can hear the desperation in Jackson's voice as he pleads with a girl, asking her if she "remembers the time". It doesn't stick out to me as much, as, oh say, "Jam", "She Drives Me Wild", "In The Closet", "Dangerous", or "Heal The World", but it's still a pretty damn good song, even if it isn't as immediate as one would like. It made for a pretty good choice for a single, however.

6. Can't Let Her Get Away

I try so hard to love you
Some things take time and shame
I think the whole world of you
Your thoughts of me remain...

Okay. As tough as I have been on the sings leading up to this point, I love all of them. But this... this is perhaps the only song not deserving of being here. It's cheesy at best, and by this point, you're ready to hear something other than the early '90's-influenced "jack swing" style Jacko has been employing heavily on this album. Also, the repetition of "I can't let her get away" throughout this song's duration doesn't help much. It's nothing more than wasted space, sadly.

7. Heal The World
  
And the dream we were conceived in will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in will shine again in grace
Then why do we keep strangling life, wound this Earth, crucify its soul
Though it's plain to see this world is heavenly
Be God's glow... 

Here we are, at the center of the album, with what is my favorite song of MJ's. Heck, this is my favorite song, period. Everything about this song is just... perfect. It's structure, the vocals, the lyrics, the music, everything.It starts out with a light piano intro, with the sound of a little girl talking, speaking about how we should make the world a better place, for our children, grandchildren, etc. It really opens up the song nicely, giving it a light, friendly feel. The chorus is nothing short of anthemic, and it's catchy as Hell, too. Some people write this song off as a cheap, cheesy version of "We Are The World", but I beg to differ. This one features Jackson at his very best vocally and musically here, making this the standout track on the album, for me, anyway.

8. Black or White

I am tired of this devil, I'm tired of this stuff, I am tired of this business
Sew when the going gets rough
I ain't scared of your brother, I ain't scared of no sheets
I ain't scared of nobody
Girl, when the goin' gets mean...

And here we have what was the first single released from this album. The controversial music video for this song, which had a record-setting audience for it's debut in late 1991 sparked immediate interest in this album (the original music video was about 7 minutes long, featuring Jacko vandalizing a car, grabbing his crotch, pretending to masturbate, etc. The video was then edited, cutting that out. The original music video is now referred to as the "panther video", because at the end of the original video, MJ turned into a panther), causing high sales in its first week of release. It's actually a REALLY catchy song, calling for equality within all races. 

9. Who Is It

I am the damned, I am the dead
I am the agony inside the dying head
This is injustice, woe unto thee
I pray this punishment would have mercy on me...


Perhaps this is the most underrated cut on the album. It's a song that hints at the paranoia that was prevalent in Jackson's previous two albums - Thriller and Bad. This song finds him searching for answers, as he realizes his girlfriend has left him, asking the inevitable question, "Who is it?" It's not as immediate as some of the other cuts here, but it's an epic song once you let it sink in, and it's internal beauty shines through.

10. Give In To Me

Love is a feeling
I'll give it when I want it
'Cause I'm on fire
Quench My Desire...

And here we have the token rock song, with legendary guitarist Slash showing up to do a cameo guitar solo (he also appeared in the intro of "Black or White"). This shows Jackson being the most brutal, with rather demanding lyrics (for him, anyway), talking to a girl, telling her that "he's on fire", and for her to "give in to him". While it's (sadly) not as popular as his other takes on the rock genre - "Beat It" and "Dirty Diana", respectively - it is perhaps the best song out of those three. MJ is very passionate in his vocals here, and you can tell the song means a lot to him. It shines here because it shows an attitude that we don't get to see much otherwise on this album, with that album being nothing more than Jackson being a bad ass, and not caring anything about what others think.

11. Will You Be There

Everyone's taking control of me
Seems that the world's got a role for me
I'm so confused, will you show it to me
You'll be there for me, and care enough to bear me...

Didn't Skillet have a song titled "Will You Be There" at track 11 on their Alien Youth album? No matter. This song is the strongest ballad in the back-half of the disk, being an inspirational song, asking the question of "will you be there to hold me when I fall?" and the like. It's a beautiful song, albeit the 1 1/2 minute intro does drag it down some, pushing the song to a very lengthy 7:40 running time. It's a good track nevertheless, and it's even better live (you can check it out on his live concert DVD of the Dangerous tour). Perhaps what is my favorite aspect of the song is the spoken outro at the end, with Jackson saying, and I quote: "In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair... will you still care? Will you be there? In my trials and my tribulations, through our doubts, and frustrations, in my violence and turbulence, through my fear and my confessions, in my anguish and my pain, through my joy and sorrow, in the promise of another tomorrow, I'll never let you part... for you're always in my heart." It's very touching, actually, although I could do without the crocodile tears as he says this.

12. Keep The Faith

If you call out loud
Will it get inside
Through the heart of your surrender
To your alibis...

MJ goes gospel on us here, with a song that inspires to keep the faith, and if we do so, we could move a mountain with said faith, and the like. It's a good song, sure, but it can be a little cliche'. The chorus is pretty sound, musically, however, with it's interesting drum-and-percussion rhythm, and the bridge is pretty killer, with a gospel choir repeating "keep the faith" under Jackson's vocals, with all the sound dropping, except the drum machine (at least, I think that's what that is). But the song is too similar to "Man In The Mirror" for comfort, in my opinion. I can see why the song was placed on the album, with it working so well right after "Will You Be There", but the song itself can come across as filler.


13. Gone Too Soon

Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly right
Here one day
Gone one night...


This would be the other song that was not penned, or co-penned, by Mr. Jackson. It's an excellent vocal performance from the man, with a musical background that gives off the atmosphere of a faraway, Disney-esque wonder land, with the song topic being that of a serious one: death. This song is, in fact, dedicated to AIDs victim Ryan White. It's the shortest song here, running just under 3 1/2 minutes, which is a welcome break from some of the longer tracks from earlier in the album.

14. Dangerous


I never knew, but I was walking a line
She said, "come go with me"
I said, "I have no time"
She said, "don't you pretend we didn't talk on the phone"
My baby cried, and left me standing alone...

And last, but certainly not least, we have the title track for the album. This is probably the most epic title track from any MJ album (yes, including Thriller), with it's spoken, sexy verses, and it's catchy-as-Hell chorus. You can just sense the tension from the situation, with this strange, dangerous woman, as she hurt Jackson's "baby", and how he can't "sleep at night" because of this. It's the best way possible to end the disk, honestly. The chorus is perhaps the best part of the entire song, with it's exclamations of "the girl is dangerous!", with Jacko's signature "hee-hoo's!" in the background. The song doesn't get old, not once, in it's entirety: just at 7 minutes. Like I said, this is the single best MJ title track, and quite possibly the best album closer of his career, too.


... and there you have it. If an album can sell over 27 million copies worldwide, and still be underrated, this would be it. This was solid proof that the magic MJ put into his music easily carried over into the '90's. Sadly, however, this CD is often overshadowed by his three albums that were released earlier in his career: Bad, Off The Wall, and Thriller, specifically the latter. Honestly, there is only one song I wish was not here, being "Can't Let Her Get Away". And while there are certainly a couple "filler" tracks, the albums overall is mind-blowingly amazing, a true masterpiece. And this opinion isn't me just "fanboying", it's my purely objective view. So, even if you don't like MJ's '80's stuff, pick this one up. And if you've never checked out the music of Michael Jackson, I would highly suggest starting here. This is one of very fews albums in my musical collection that I truly could not live without. So, check out the music of MJ, as he was teetering on the edge of insanity, as this album was released a mere 2 years or so before his personal AND public life would be in smithereens, due to child molestation allegations. He was certainly bad, and he was also... dangerous.

5/5