Oct. 22nd, 2007: Michael Jackson by John Legend (Q magazine)
This month Q magazine celebrates its 21st anniversary.
This stunning 204 page November Collector's issue lists 21 album that changed music. THRILLER is # 13 (a special review of the album is included).
Also included is a portrait of Michael Jackson by John Legend. When an artist writes about a genius...
Get Q November issue.
Michael Jackson
He came. He moonwalked. He conquered.
By John Legend
You can't appreciate music and not appreciate Michael Jackson. If you listen to the recordings he made as a kid, his pipes were truly incredible. The precision clarity and extent of the range he could sing at, without changing his vocal style, is just incredible. To be able to reach those high notes... He wasn't just good for a kid; he was amazingly good for anybody. Watch those early Jacksons Variety Shows when he sings Rockin' Robin, and you'll see he had a gift. No one had ever sung like that before. And no one has been able to sing like that since. For anyone who grew up in the '80s, Michael Jackson was the definitive star of our childhoods. Obviously Thriller was a monstruous hit, one of the biggest ever. But I feel, creatively, Off The Wall has the edge - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Rock With You and Off The Wall itself, I think that's such a beautiful song. Off The Wall smashed records [Jackson became the first artist to score four US Top 10 singles from the same album], but at the time Michael said he wasn't satisfied. He knew he could do better. That was one of the things that was new with him: ambition. His family clearly had something to do with that â |