To coincide with the upcoming movie with the same name, "This Is It" is the first recording by Michael Jackson that has been released posthumously. I imagine this is only the beginning, since there are probably hundreds of recordings that have never been released... enjoy!
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plez sez: ...it's as though he's still with us!
i like this song... and i'll be going to the movie when it opens later this month.
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Go to MichaelJackson.com and find out more about the movie "This Is It".
Read the Access Atlanta article about Paul Anka co-wrote "This Is It" which he claims was recorded back in the early-80's during MJ's "Thriller" days.
The following Q&A was featured in men.style.com shortly after the death of Michael Jackson:
WISEGUY Q&A: QUINCY JONES' FONDEST AND WEIRDEST RECOLLECTIONS OF MICHAEL JACKSON By Jeff Gordinier
Q: How have you been holding up since Michael Jackson's death? A: Oh, man. It's surrealistic. I went to Shanghai for the movie festival over there—I took Halle Berry—and then went back to Luxembourg, and in three days I lost Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael. And Michael's thing is still surrealistic to me. I can't process it, man. I don't know how to process it. It's just unbelievable—him leaving before me. I can't believe it.
Q: How did you learn that he had died? A: Well, everybody in the world called me. I got 500 e-mails. I've never seen anything like it in my life. At first they said they'd taken him to the hospital, then they said he'd had a stroke or a heart attack—it just kept going back and forth and we didn't know what was really happening. And at first I thought he was just kind of freaked out by the coming concerts, because I was in London when they announced the 50 concerts and they sold out in four hours. . . We'd see each other all the time, and I just can't believe he's not here.
Q: Have you been crying? A: Oh, man, it's more than that. It's way more than that. It hurts my soul, man. It's just a lump down there.
Q: You were there to witness the strange evolution in Michael's appearance. Did you ever step in and saying anything about it? A: Oh, we talked about it all the time. But he'd come up with, "Man, I promise you I have this disease," and so forth, and "I have a blister on my lungs," and all that kind of b.s. It's hard, because Michael's a Virgo, man—he's very set in his ways. You can't talk him out of it. Chemical peels and all that stuff.
Q: Did you believe him about the disease? A: I don't believe in any of that bullshit, no. No. Never. I've been around junkies and stuff all my life. I've heard every excuse. It's like smokers—"I only smoke when I drink" and all that stuff. But it's bullshit. You're justifying something that's destructive to your existence. It's crazy. I mean, I came up with Ray Charles, man. You know, nobody gonna pull no wool over my eyes. He did heroin 20 years! Come on. And black coffee and gin for 40 years. But when he called me to come over to see him when he was in the hospital on his way out, man, he had emphysema, hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and five malignant tumors. Please, man! I've been around this all my life. So it's hard for somebody to pull the wool over my eyes. But when somebody's hell-bent on it, you can't stop 'em.
Q: But it must've been so disturbing to see Michael's face turn into what it turned into. A: It's ridiculous, man! Chemical peels and all of it. And I don't understand it. But he obviously didn't want to be black.
Q: Is that what it was? A: Well, what do you think? You see his kids?
Q: Did you ever discuss it? Did you ever ask, "Michael, don't you want to be a black man?" A: No, no, no, please. That's not the way you do it.
Q: But he was beautiful before? A: Man, he was the most gorgeous guy.
Q: But he seemed to have some deep-seated issue with how he looked? A: Well, that comes about a certain way. I'm not sure how it happens. I'm just a musician and a record producer. I'm not a psychiatrist. I don't understand all that stuff. We all got problems. But there's a great book out called Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart. Did you see that? That book says the statute of limitations has expired on all childhood traumas. Get your stuff together and get on with your life, man. Stop whinin' about what's wrong, because everybody's had a rough time, in one way or another.
Q: I've heard you say that you wanted Michael to sing "She's Out of My Life," the great pop ballad from Off the Wall, in part because you felt like he had to deal with reality. A: I just wanted to hear him deal with a romantic relationship with a human being rather than a rat. I'm saying that facetiously, but it's true. I saw him at the Oscars very emotional about "Ben." I wanted to hear him get in touch with a real human relationship. "She's Out of My Life" was written by Tommy Bahler from a very bad ending to a marriage. So it was very real. I was saving it for Sinatra. But I gave it to Michael. And Michael cried during every take, and I left the tears in.
Q: It's interesting you mention this, because I was just watching a clip on YouTube where you're sitting on a couch with Michael and he's petting a snake the whole time. A: Oh, I remember that. Yeah, that was Muscles.
Q: Muscles? A: Muscles. That's a big boa constrictor he had. Muscles used to wrap around my leg in a record session and crawl across the console. I was never comfortable with that. It was a choice between that and Bubbles—you know, the chimp.
Q: Did you ever meet Bubbles? A: Are you kidding me? He bit a hole in my daughter's hand! Rashida's hand. Rashida Jones—did you see I Love You, Man? That's my daughter. She was a little girl. And Bubbles bit her hand. Michael used to bring Muscles and Bubbles by the house all the time, you know.
Q: What did you think of that? Wasn't that a little weird? A: I don't know, man. Everybody does his own thing. I've met every freak in the business. Everybody has their idiosyncrasies. I try not to judge it, you know. I know all women are junkies for little dogs and bags and purses. Ha ha ha ha!
Q: At root, what do you think killed Michael Jackson? A: I don't know, man. I'm a musician. I'm not a psychiatrist. I would think that the pressure of the concerts and the debt and everything else . . . look, I've been in the hands of Nobel doctors for the last five years, in Stockholm, at the Karolinska hospital, which you can't even pay to get in. I've learned so much about the human mind and the body, and the doctors talk all the time about how you become your thoughts. It's true. With one thought it starts, you know, and if you sit there and just stay hung up on one negative thought, you will become that thought. I know that Lisa Marie Presley said that she always thought he was going to die like Elvis. You sit and think about that stuff, it'll happen to you. If you start thinking about darkness instead of light, or fear instead of love, you'll get in trouble. I really believe that.
Q: With so many people asking you about Michael Jackson, is it hard to find the private space in which to mourn his death? A: Yes, it is. It's surrealistic. I don't know how to process it at all. Because everybody's reacting to it, and making up their own answers.
Q: You've said that you don't attend funerals anymore because you've lost so many friends. Do you plan to attend Michael Jackson's funeral? A: No, not at all, not at all. Because it's going to be, like, 9 million people there, and it's not what I want to see.
Q: You're not going to be there? A: No. I can't be there, anyway. I'm going to Wales the day after tomorrow, I go to Montreux, I go to Marbella, I go to the south of France. My condolences and love I've already sent to the family. But being there with 10 million people is not my idea of a tribute to somebody you were so close to—who's got a part of your soul. Our souls were joined, you know. And a piece of it goes with him.
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plez sez: Q drops the bomb... but then again, is anyone surprised?!? MJ was the KING OF POP, but he was a fatally flawed individual none-the-less: the incessant whining about a childhood lost over 40 years ago, the obvious self-hatred and desire to be anything but Black, the weird social habits, the severe drug addiction, and his desire to rekindle a childhood long past with other peoples' children.
plezWorld hated to see him go, but the sad truth is that he had peaked a long time ago in a land far, far away (his record sales fell off with the allegations of child molestation soon after "Dangerous" dropped in 1992). it's been almost 20 years since he'd had a major hit album of the magnitude of "Thriller" and "Bad." he was a tortured soul... i only pray that he is finally at peace.
Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009.
Michael Jackson leads The Jackson 5 (with recent addition Randy Jackson) in a lively rendition of "Dancing Machine" in 1974 on the Merv Griffin Show (alright everybody, "1 - 2 - 3 - clap!"):
Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009.
Michael Jackson anchors the Jackson 5 at the tender age of 10 years in 1969:
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Practicing "Beat It"... he is better practicing than most performing:
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The King of Pop at the 1988 Grammy Awards (he tears up "Man in the Mirror"):
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The King of Pop does "Smooth Criminal" live:
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plez sez: on yesterday, the world lost the consummate performer. take james brown, elvis presley, jackie wilson, fred astaire, and sammy davis, jr., roll 'em all up into one person and you get MICHAEL JACKSON!
was he weird? no doubt! but i'll be honest, there are few artists who could perform and raise their craft to a level very rarely seen before or since, MICHAEL JACKSON was one such artist. he is definitely "gone too soon!" plezWorld will remember the KING OF POP through his timeless music and videos.
i saw him in concert as a teenager when he was part of "the jacksons" and then again in the early '90s during his "Dangerous Tour"... the boy was bad! it was amazing to witness so much talent in one human being.
For the past three years, month of May has been Recital Month in plezWorld as the SugarPlum spends successive weeks performing in either piano (last weekend) or ballet (this past weekend). This is the 7-year old's fourth year in ballet with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education (Atlanta Ballet Company) and this is her first year in "B" level dance.
As you will see in the following clip, she has really made great strides in the mastery of her performance. This year's performances represent a leap in maturity, focus, and technical ability on both the piano and the dance floor.
This year's ballet performance was held at the Georgia Tech Ferst Center for Arts in Atlanta. Unfortunately, there was significant degradation of the video as it was moved from camera to memory card to YouTube.
The SugarPlum's Ballet Recital
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plez sez: the SugarPlum never ceases to amaze with her stage presence... after her standout performance she was given a big bouquet of roses and was treated to her favorite dessert at the cheesecake factory in buckhead.
This year, SugarPlum has been learning piano via the Suzuki Method, whose principles are not very different from those of the Montessori school she attends: an immersion in playing the instrument naturally at a pace set by the student. My daughter has blossomed with this method with more emphasis on playing melodies rather than with learning to play by reading notes.
My little virtuoso was given her recital piece over eight weeks ago and she mastered it in alittle over three weeks, for the past month she's been playing it while concentrating on various nuances (speed, volume, etc.). Yesterday was the piano recital for all the kids who take piano class at her school. I decided to conduct a "dress" rehearsal prior to leaving for the show.
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plez sez: SugarPlum does not have stage fright and actually thrives in front of a live audience. she played her piece even better at the actual recital!
she's going to be checking plezWorld on a daily basis for updates, so please leave comments!
If you love good LIVE R&B music... this one is for you! On Thursday, April 16, 2009, Jennifer Hudson took to the stage at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. She was joined on-stage for a rare live rendition of "I'm His Only Woman" by her "American Idol" mate, Fantasia! And if that wasn't enough, she was later sang a duet with Jennifer Holliday of their hit "And I Am Telling You" from the "Dreamgirls" soundtrack.
One of my frat brothers shared a bootleg video shot at the show... awesome!
I'm His Only Woman" by Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia
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"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Hudson and Jennifer Holliday
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plez sez: sing it Effie!
just to think, when this concert was going on at the Fox, plezWorld was at the public meeting for the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Southeastern Province Council Meeting about one mile down peachtree street in atlanta. the frat brother who shared this video with me was supposed to be at the public meeting to pick up his 25 year service award... i guess you could say i was on the right street but sitting in the wrong seat! i love my frat, but can't nobody i know sing like this! *smile*
On Tuesday, March 31, Halle Berry visited the "Ellen" show... and did the "Halle Berry" dance with Ellen to the song "She's Fine (Halle Berry)" by Hurricane Chris.
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"She Fine (Halle Berry)" by Hurricane Chris (Feat. Superstar)
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plez sez: hmmmm... she's fine! that's for sure.
the actual song doesn't do much for plezWorld, though.
Someone sent me the link to this song and I just had to share it with plezWorld.
The song aired in 2004 on "The Kay Bain Show," a morning show on NBC affiliate WTVA in Tupelo, MS. It features Minister Cleo Clariet accompanied by his fiance Katherine Lane. Enjoy!
This song shuffled into my earhole from my iPod earlier this evening and the eerie song about a drug dealer (or masturbation) has been playing in my mind ever since... so I have to share it in plezWorld:
"Captain Jack" by Billy Joel
Captain Jack will get you high at night, Take you to your special island.
Captain Jack will get you high at night, Just alittle push and you're smiling.
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There are a number of opinions as to who or what is Captain Jack here and here and here.
This popped up while shuffling through my iPod earlier today and stayed with me all day... enjoy!
plez sez: i feel like today's generation of music lovers are being cheated by the drivel that they are forced to endure. i turn to a radio station that plays current music and i turn it off... i'd rather listen to static. save a few standouts like alicia keys, john legend, babyface, ne-yo, today's music, especially hip hop and rap is trash!
Earlier this week, Apple said that is would remove anticopying restrictions on all songs in the iTunes Store and allow record companies to set a range of prices that consumers pay for the songs. Presently, you cannot copy songs in iTunes from one computer to another... even if you own both computers! And Apple had set the price for all music at 99 cents (last year, they started selling some premium songs for $1.29).
Beginning this week, three of the four major music labels — Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group — will begin selling music through iTunes without digital rights management software, or D.R.M., which controls the copying and use of digital files. The fourth, EMI, was already doing so. And with the copying restrictions removed, people will be able to freely shift the songs they buy on iTunes among computers, phones and other digital devices.
Instead, the majority of songs will drop to 69 cents beginning in April, while the biggest hits and newest songs will go for $1.29. Others that are moderately popular will remain at 99 cents.
The music industry has been in a slump for the past few years, and the on-going recession is not helping. Sales of CDs fell 20 percent last year from 2007. About 2.4 billion songs were bought on iTunes in the last year, aided by Apple’s expansion into international markets. But that was not nearly enough to make up for losses in traditional retail stores.
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plez sez: ding! dong! the wicked witch is dead!
to my way of thinking, the ONLY drawback to using iTunes (and the iPod) was the lack of portability of the music. in my house, my wife, the SugarPlum, and i each have our own iPods. since i travel, i like having music on my laptop as well as my iPod. now, i'll be able to copy my music library onto my laptop.
i love old soul and funk... i never understood why i had to pay 99 cents for a song whether it had just come out or if it had been out for over 30 years! a tiered pricing approach makes more sense.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne?
CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne. And surely ye'll be your pint-stoup! And surely I'll be mine! And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
CHORUS We twa hae run about the braes, and pou'd the gowans fine; But we've wander'd mony a weary fit, sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS We twa hae paidl'd in the burn, frae morning sun till dine; But seas between us braid hae roar'd sin' auld lang syne.
CHORUS And there's a hand, my trusty fiere! And gies a hand o' thine! And we'll tak a right gude-willie-waught, for auld lang syne.
Put some bass in your face. The drummer keepin' you on the one. Drop them funky horns in your ear hole.
"Do it on the good foot. Do it on the right foot. Do it on the left foot."
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plez sez: this is a remix and cover of bobby womack's "I Can Understand It." at the time, this was probably the funkiest thing i'd heard other than james brown (the opening rapper sounds a lot like the godfather of soul). i love the live feel of the groove, that goddamn bass player is all up in it... and the percussion just keeps it movin'!
i just had to include bobby womack's (original) version of this song... it has more of a SOUL rather than FUNK feel. it's slower, more mellow, has fewer sharp edges, a much smaller group of instruments (i didn't hear any horns), but as in the new birth cover, the bass player is all up in it.
enjoy a "double shot" in plezWorld
~ ~ New Birth "I Can Understand It" ~ ~ The Cover & Remix
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~ ~ Bobby Womack "I Can Understand It" ~ ~ The Original
It was reported that Eartha Kitt, 81, died in New York on December 25, where she was being treated for colon cancer. Her daughter, Kitt Shapiro, was by her side.
Her recording of the saucy Christmas song "Santa Baby" was certified gold last week.
Kitt was well known for her distinctive and sultry voice and made a name for herself in her portrayal of Catwoman in the television series "Batman." That role produced Kitt's recognizable sensual cat growl.
She worked in film, theater, cabaret, music and on television during her lengthy career. According to Kitt's official Web site, she was nominated for a Tony three times, a Grammy and Emmy twice.
Eartha Kitt's Biggest Hit "Santa Baby"
Eartha Kitt as Catwoman on "Batman"
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plez sez: it's amazing that Eartha Kitt would pass away on Christmas Day, seeing as her biggest hit was "Santa Baby." back in the day, Ms. Kitt was known as a sultry, seductive beauty... even transcended the taboo of being the Black love interest of whitebread white batman in the mid- to late-1960's (to my knowledge, batman's only Black nemesis).
i still recall being amazed as a youngster watching the SUPER HOT Black catwoman work her magic on batman... and then being mildly upset when Kitt was replaced by lee meriweather (Kitt had replaced julie newmar).
~ husband ~ father ~ son ~ brother ~ mentor ~ subdivision dweller ~ northern by birth ~ southern by choice ~ raised a black baptist, now guided by the spiritual ~ raised a kennedy democrat, now politically dead center (moderate) ~ raised in a Cadillac Coupe Deville, now hooked on an SUV ~ college educated and still a student of life ~ wild college frat boy and now a settled alumnus ~ intellectual yet fun-loving geek ~ technical and leading edge ~ corporate cog ~ consultant ~ college football saturday devotee ~ and a ramblin' gamblin' helluva engineer (GO JACKETS!) ~
This is my personal blog. The views expressed on these pages are mine; and they are in no way associated with the views of my employer, family, friends, or associates.
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