'This Is It' Michael Jackson, Is Paul Anka Song

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@60s music personalities are still making headlines in the media today. This Is It, the Michael Jackson song that was released on Monday, October 12th, 2009, after Jackson's death was co-written by Canadian singer/songwriter Paul Anka. After This Is It began streaming online there was much controversy amongst listeners and fans.

Music experts were able to spot similarities between the track and one recorded nearly 20 years ago. On Monday afternoon Anka told The New York Times that he had written the song with MJ in 1983. Anka complained that he had not been contacted about using the song and was not given proper credit for it. He was later promised to be given credit and paid 50% of all profits.

Reference/article: http://www.popcrunch.com/

Image: http://www.onlineseats.com/

Image: http://www.belgianhall.ca/

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Michael Jackson - The King Of Pops 1958 - 2009

Monday, September 7, 2009

***********************************************************************We would all love to remember Michael Jackson when he was at his best, with his music, songs, dance, style and stage presence.

"Ben, most people would turn you away/I don't listen to a word they say/They don't see you as I do/I wish they would try to/I'm sure they'd think again/If they had a friend like Ben..."

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Michael Jackson 60s Songs: I'll Be There & Ben

Friday, September 4, 2009

As he is laid to rest on his 51st birthday, two of Michael Jackson's 60s songs come to mind. They are I'll Be There and Ben, best remembered by many Singapore's pop music lovers.

Ben is a number one hit song recorded by Michael Jackson for the Motown label in 1972. Originally written for Donny Osmond, Ben was offered to Jackson as Osmond was unavailable for recording. It spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop chart, eight weeks at the Australian pop and was number seven on the British pop chart. It was the first of 19 number-one pop hits for Jackson in the US and won a Golden Globe for Best Song and an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1973.

I'll Be There (image) is a U.S. number one hit single soul song recorded in 1970 by The Jackson 5. It is notable as the most successful single released by Motown during its Detroit Era, from 1959 to 1972. It is also the fifth in the group's string of five consecutive number one pop hits, making them the first black male group to achieve this.

I'll Be There remains one of the most popular of the Jackson 5s hits and sold 4.2 million copies in the United States, and 6.1 million copies worldwide. The song has been covered by other artistes.

"I'll reach out my hand to you/I'll have faith in all you do/Just call my name and I'll be there..." Goodbye Michael Jackson, may you finally rest in peace.

Reference: Wikipedia. Image: Classic Urban Harmony Archives, USA. Vinyl/M1171/1970 Motown.

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'We Are The World' Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Paul Simon

Thursday, July 2, 2009

This song is not from the 60s but some singers are, and as a tribute to Michael Jackson, it has to be posted. It is one of the greatest pop songs and it helped to raise much money for the poor in Africa.

We Are The World was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and directed by Quincey Jones and performed by 45 of the best of America's current pop singers. Island In The Sun, 60s Calypso singing sensation Harry Belafonte suggested it, and proceeds from the single and album helped relief organizations in Ethiopia, Sudan and other African countries.

Michael Jackson skipped the American Music Awards ceremony that night, to record the chorus of the song, as a guide to the other singers. The lyrics and melody are similar, but each star put his or her own style of delivery. The whole gigantic effort, Hands Across America raised about $100 million for famine relief. Both the single and album won 1985 Grammies for Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

The singers, starting with Lionel Ritchie were, in order of appearance: Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, James Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, the late Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

Then a new verse with Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Al Jarreau, Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Loggins, Steve Perry, Daryl Hall, Huey Lewis, Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan and the late Ray Charles.

Backup singers were: Dan Aykroyd, Harry Belafonte, Lindsey Buckingham, The News, Sheila E.,Bob Geldof, Jackie Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Marlon Jackson, Randy Jackson, Tito Jackson, Waylon Jennings, Bette Midler, John Oates, Jeffrey Osborne, The Pointer Sisters, Smokey Robinson.

Watch out for the Springsteen, Wonder combination and the final fade out, going one full circle with Lionel Ritchie. Quincey Jones conducted and those who didn't turn up were: Linda Ronstadt, Madonna, Pat Benatar and Prince.

Catch them as they sing?

Original article: Andy Lim Collection.

From: http://www.open.saloon.com/

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Michael Jackson King Of Pop Music Gone At 50

Thursday, June 25, 2009

There are approximately 68 million Google search for Michael Jackson when he died 50 years young in Los Angeles, California today. Next to Elvis Presley and John Lennon, he was one of the most celebrated and talented singers, selling about 750 million albums worldwide.

He started singing as a child of 5 and in 1964, joined his brothers to form the Jackson Five and later Jackson Brothers but when Michael went solo, he became an international sensation.

He won 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles in his career, more than any other male artist in the Hot 100. One album Thriller (image), sold about 50 million copies.

He was a pop icon for four decades, married twice - once to Elvis Presley's daughter, Lisa Marie -and his private life, deemed by many as weird, was shared by all. He left behind 3 children.

Michael Jackson performed 3 concerts at the National Stadium in Singapore, on August 29 and 31, 1993 and another on October 25, 1996 during the HIStory Concert. The stadium packed an average of 40,000 fans (approx: 90,000 and 30,000) from all over South East Asia and beyond.

"Heal the world/Make it a better place/For you and for me/And the entire human race/There are people dying/If you care enough for the living/Make a better place for you and for me..."

Statistics on Michael Jackson: Wikipedia, The Straits Times, Singapore and minor sources.

The innumerable websites on this super star is unbelievable.

Image/MJ Thriller album cover/original article: from Andy Lim Collection.

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Sound Of Music - Julie Andrews - Do Re Mi

Saturday, May 16, 2009

This 1965 musical, with Julie Andrews/Christopher Plummer, needs no introduction. The 8-year-old knows the tunes of almost all the songs that the 80 year hums with the grandchild. "The Sound Of Music" (image) came right after the success of numerous other musicals that invaded Singapore in the 50s and 60s.

Besides the 2 musicals posted, "Kismet" (Stranger In Paradise), "West Side Story" (Maria), "Oklahoma" (Oh What A Beautiful Morning), "Fiddler On The Roof" (Sunrise, Sunset) and "South Pacific" (Bali Ha'i) were only a few musicals that burst on the scene during Singapore's youth. These images came way before "Cats", "Phantom," and "Miss Saigon," flirted with our population.

There is no need to list the songs from TSOM because anyone who knows 60s music, knows them. Remember the 5 year old? He or she could have learnt "Do Re Mi," one of twelve songs in the musical, before the other hits. "Edelweiss," is another pop classic. This musical, ironically, became popular on Broadway only after the film version was embraced by the public in the U.S.

The Quests recorded a 45 vinyl single of "Sound Of Music" (Rodgers/Hammerstein's title song, EMI/Columbia: DO 4638) with Reggie Verghese, "Love Has Gone," on the flip. What about other groups? Have they recorded musicals?

Image: Sound Of Music website

Original article: Andy Lim

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