Kelly

Just to hit on this bit... In the Living With Michael Jackson documentary from 2003 his make up artist of 20 years discusses how it happened (whether you believe her or not is a different story). She basically said that he indeed WAS blotchy with different shades and that initially she was covering up his white patches with darker makeup, but then the whiter parts began to take over and eventually she had to make up his darker sides to look white because otherwise she would have had to make him up from head to toe which seemed like nonsense to Jackson and the make up artist. In addition to the above in the same documentary Michael says that he did have two surgeries on his nose, both to change the shape to make it easier for him to breathe and so he could reach the higher notes better. He also said that he had to have plastic surgery because his face was set on fire during the making of some advert (which they showed on video the accident). I think the most telling thing that he says in this particular part is that "Plastic surgery wasn't created for Michael Jackson, they didn't invent it for me, everyone in Hollywood does it so why can't I?" I sort of took that as an admission of extensive surgery on his part. I'm not saying I believe any of the above, because to be frank I don't know what I believe about his skin, more to the point I don't actually care why his skin was the way it was. Just pointing out that it all has been explained at some point, maybe not the full extent or truth, but it was definitely explained.

I think people like that though! The TMB video (if I remember correctly!) was #1 on both UK and US iTunes for AGES because people loved the humour, subsequent videos with Mariah running around in skimpy bikini's etc. however didn't seem to catch the public. So humour is a good move if it's going to get her noticed. ^_^ What do people think about the chances of a US #1? Black Eyed Peas are losing grip now, Michael Jacksons effect is decreasing... Could we be in for the 19th? :D I'm sure I remember reading that the video wasn't due out until the 10th, I would rather she waited until after the video was out to release it to download though, because it's just good sense really! With the premiere of the video it'll cause a lot of attention with it being supposedly about Eminem etc. and people will download the song, which as of the 7th people are going to be doing based on airplay. I have no idea how to read those airplay charts but can anyone decipher how she's doing with that? I don't even think it goes for adds until the 21st of July. :mellow:

Thank GOD somebody else loves this! I went through a phase of loving it ages ago when I first bought the MC album, I actually thinkg (not being a fan of Vision Of Love personally...) that Prisoner is the best track on the album, I reckon it would have been a smash for her. It's a shame that the track wasn't held back and later used on Butterfly or something (obviously being re-worked a bit since the album was 8 years later.. :P ) it would have been quite apt. Love it nonetheless, her vocals are absolutely flawless, it shows how powerful her voice really is. Although it saddens me to think that she might suffer cardiac arrest if someone told her to sing it live today. :lol: :(

To reiterate what Scott said (thanks by the way ;) ) i'm under no illusions about Michael Jackson, of COURSE it was weird. Would I let my kids within a billion feet of him? No I wouldn't, to put it simply. A lot of people find it difficult to divorce the man from the music, and as you've already stated in this thread you're one of them. I, however, don't think it's a crime to judge his music based on what it is. Did I think he was the best human that ever lived? No. Do I think the man had issues? Hell yes. Do I enjoy his music? Definitely. It was a soundtrack to my childhood, so I am grateful to him for his music. Please don't be fooled into thinking that i'm some kind of Jackson obsessive, I loved his music and respect his contributions but that's about where I draw the line. Oh and don't badger me about what his contributions actually were in terms of creative control etc. I believe he did make massive contributions, whether you doubt his input or not. Just because there aren't endless videos of him sitting with a guitar doesn't mean he wasn't creative. Obviously on an entirely different scale I can't stand Madonna as a person and many of the things she does deeply offend me, but I can divorce her dire personality and private life from her music, which I do enjoy and respect her massively for.

I love the way Keri Hilson recently said that she thought the Dolls were holding back Nicole because Nicole was "FORCED" to shelve her album because she was again forced to go back and do another album with the Pussycat Dolls. Nothing to do with the complete lack of interest despite the multiple singles she sent to radio, which no one would touch with a barge pole.

Firstly, i'm not getting into this debate I just want to kind of make a little point here - Rob, how do you know Kate Bush wrote all of her material? Or John Lennon? Paul McCartney? Did they tell you they did? The same uncertainty looms over them as it does Jackson. They all have vast amounts of writing credits, but you're doubting Jackson wrote his with no real foundation to do so but you don't doubt Kate Bush or the others I named? I don't quite understand how that works really...

Been hearing this quite a lot on the radio, hopefully a hit for her! ^_^ I think it'll sneak into the lower Top10, #8ish or so. I hope it surpasses my prediction though. ^_^

Why is a song called P. Diddy? :|

In fairness if ALL of the topics on Michael Jackson were moved to the Jackson Forum (as is done with every other AF) then we would see a lot more activity in there, but since it's not quite as clear cut as his music we're allowing it in other parts of the forum. If we were to police the forum heavily and restricted conversation about him to his own forum people just wouldn't talk about it, which isn't the point of a forum really. The forum has been reinstated for now anyway, and it's as simple as that. I'm tired of reading about this f***ing situation. So this is another one that's getting closed.

The album is called "I Look To You" as confirmed by her website and record label. :D We should be hearing something very soon really... By comparison, Mariah's album is released the week prior and her single has already been around 2 weeks or so now. :o Exciting times! :D

Lest we forget that we have reigning Queen of the X-Factor - Leona Lewis also debuting new material on there. :P I'm predicting her album is gonna be released in early October, so she'll have a slot sometime around then... Plus Whitney Houston's new album is out on the 1st of September, it would be a massive coup if they could get Whitney on. It would be very "will she mess up or won't she" a-la Britney's performance last year, which if i'm not mistaken gave the X-Factor their highest viewing figures ever. :o I, for one, would love to see it. ^_^ Plus Alexandra, Shayne Ward (apparently), Cheryl... Sounds good to me. :funky:

ADORE the cover! :D After the dark covers of the previous 2 (well 3 if you include The Ballads I guess...) albums I think this is nice and fresh. I also LOVE the Butterfly at the end of her name, hopefully a bit of a return to the sound from that era. So excited for this! :D

You do a really good job around here Britster, thanks for all the hard work! :D

E as in the drugs E's? Ecstasy? That's one of the reasons why people are speculating it's about Eminem because on his new album he's talked in depth about his recent drug addictions...

Heard this today for the first time, i'm not sure really... It doesn't seem to go anywhere? I like the instrumental, but it all seems to be sort of on one level and it stays there. I don't really know what i'm trying to say other than it doesn't go anywhere. :lol: It's the sort of thing I would usually like though so it may grow. ^_^

Absolutely adore this, I think it deserved to be #1 too. Very catchy song! I recall seeing adverts for her ages ago on music channels and being like "errr yeah, BOMB!" - my intuition for music is getting worse. :(

Just heard this for the first time today. :o (Yes I do live under a rock. :P ) and I ADORE - and I don't really like dance songs. :P ^_^

I've just heard this today because I downloaded it, hadn't really stumbled across it until today. One is holidaying in the US and was bored so decided to download some tracks from iTunes from her iPod. :P This was one of them because one does love a bit of SE-B. :heart: This is alright, maybe a grower? I can listen to it, but it doesn't scream SMASH or anything, saying that (to me) neither does When Love Takes Over. :lol: So whaddo I know? :P

Hmmm, I don't think it's a fair question really! Firstly, because only Obsessed will have a "full package" so to speak, i.e it'll have a video, live performances gallore, potential chance at #1, loads of publicity, potential award nominations etc. Whereas Migrate has none of the above and is only an album track. Also, because we've had Migrate a lot longer so it's had more of an opportunity to become a 'fan favourite', likewise some may say Obsessed because it's got the novelty of being a brand new Mariah single. Although, right now I would say Obsessed. I love Migrate (obviously!) but it's a pretty run-of-the-mill clubbing track, and whilst that's great and all, I like the lyrics to be a little more relateable and to mean a bit more. ^_^

Well, in fairness you could do Roy Orbison in Retro and Hitch in Cinema, so not all is lost. :P

Me neither! :D Also something has just come to my attention... August 25th, that is the week before Whitney Houston's comeback album too. :o I see a big tabloid fodder "Battle of the diva's" styleeee in the near future. Which also means that Whitney's new single can't be that far off either. Which is brilliant news as a fan, bad news if you don't want them to collide. I would hate to see Whitney either of them knock Mariah the other one off the top spot. :heehee: Provided either of them get there in the first place mind you... :unsure: It'll be interesting either way... I want Whitney to be huge again and really make herself a prominent name in music as she once was, but not by slaying Mariah, because with E=MC2 not going as well as planned, she really needs to get a good seller under her belt again, but so does Whitney. AHHHH! The excitement will give me a stroke. :(

BEP's better enjoy it while it lasts... Mariah is going to tear up iTunes. :kink:

Yeah I thought that too Aaron! I think though that Eminem must have really pissed her off for her to go to this length to hit-out at him. It's quite a brash song, I mean forgive me as a Mariah fan but to ANYONE listening to this song and knowing about the whole Eminem thing, he comes across as looking very stupid. The only thing i'm afraid of is that he's going to reply (as he does...) and this is going to spiral out of control. Controversy aside... I'm on like my 64th listen today or something. :ph34r: I'm terribly tragic, but i've been dying for this. :lol: I was honestly terrified waiting for it to come on, expecting something slushy and TMB-esque, but this is hard-hitting, strong urban beats (= smash hit in the US), witty, meaningful lyrics, and it has a killer hook. I'm just thrilled about the whole thing. :D I just can't wait to see her perform it... :o The UK had BETTER get a tour out of this album like or i'll personally murder Mims myself.

OH MY DAYS. I LOVE IT. It's so current, so bitchy, SUCH a slap at Eminem. :D The US will eat this up I reckon, pending the video it could do well here too, absolutely THRILLED. Bring on Memoirs, I have a much better feeling about this than I had about E=MC2, the lead single is just FI-YAH. I am reporting from the US as I am on holiday at the minute, but I just had to post. *Dies* Fandom has struck. :(

*SCREAM* That could be true because it would work in conjunction with the whole Grammy thing... I'm with Aaron though, I like Tricky and The Dream but a Touch My Body Part II is NOT what I want from the lead single. It's my least favourite lead single, I still like it, but it's certainly not one of her better tracks. Still keeping in mind that the same people worked on Rihanna's "Umbrella" it could be a lot different than we're expecting! :D