Thank you so much for your interest in our current music special, The Top 100 Artists of the Rock Era*. We have put a lot of work into it and hope you are enjoying it!
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Michael Jackson, The #5 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One
"You rocked our world, Michael."
"There was tremendous power in Michael Jackson. His music was his mission. His life credo was love and peace! He touched the whole world, he touched our hearts!"
"I will NEVER get over his voice."
"The King of Pop...my greatest inspiration of all-time."
"You know you have reached legendary status when you're internationally known and you have fans from all genres of music who like you. Only a few artists have ever done that."
"His music was immortal."
"Nothing better than celebrating this wonderful person, listening to their entire repertoire!"
"An artist with a rare talent who could entertain and give some understanding about humankind at the same time with his music. A real legend."
"No shticks or violence. Simply good voice."
"Michael Jackson is probably one of the few artists who sang about the important things in this world..."
"His messages were timeless."
"Michael, thank you for your messages, your songs, your magic, and I will always love you."
"Voice of an angel."
"He was a great man with so many talents."
"His unmatched legacy lives on even after he's gone."
"Honestly looking at his track record with music, you could genuinely say he is one of the most talented artists in music history."
"Michael Jackson is the only person who united humanity with his music irrespective of caste, religion, nationality...."
"Can NOT listen to Michael's music without moving your body. Impossible."
"Absolute legend he was."
"The voice just melted me❤🤗😘""Miss u MJ💔 with such beautiful and inspiring music."
"NO ONE can dance, sing, do immense humanitarian work, be a fashion icon, innovate music videos and do all the incredible things which MJ did. The musical and cultural impact this guy made... like damn, he defined his era."
"The greatest musical artist who ever existed."
"One of the greatest artists of all-time."'
"Masterpiece after masterpiece after masterpiece."
"This isn't music. This is heaven."
"The beats in his songs are legendary."
"There’s no other artist than can reach as much people around the world as he did with music…"
"I miss him so badly. How one man can influence so many people around the world like this."
"The most timeless voice."
"0% lies 0% anger 0% drugs 100% Michael Jackson"
"Michael Jackson is one of those phenomena of nature that will only happen once in a lifetim. MJ legend!!"
"Michael Jackson didn't make ordinary music. he made MAGIC."
Michael's voice was so incredibly energetic. Legendary beat and voice!!"
"This man was a legend."
"The greatest artist in history."
"There will never be another Michael Jackson, he taught us all how to dance and sing, and his music videos are still the best to this day, but really he taught us to be kind and giving to others, he was a great man, so misunderstood!!"
"Michael was one in a million."
"They can kill the messenger, but never the message."
"There is something so magical about MJ’s music. You are always in our hearts and never forgotten. A once in a lifetime genius."
"Wonderful music 🎵❤️🌺"
"Michael was such a positive soul who radiated love. He was and still is absolutely timeless!"
"One of the greatest vocalists in the history of mankind."
"MJ is immortal. He will never be forgotten."
"The greatest artist to step foot on Mother Earth... Micheal Jackson 👑👑👑"
"Amazing how he made so much great, timeless music.."
"He is just unique, nobody will ever take his throne, he was so pure, beautiful, and... omg I'm crying too much. His music changed the world, his presence meant too much for everybody."
"This man was 100% genius."
"He inspired so many people. He's a legend."
"I've never seen such a talent."
"He was a legend and his music is beyond groovy."
"Thank you for the everlasting gift of timeless music and expressing your views on humanity."
"Michael Jackson is eternal."
"This dude left us with beautiful music that will last for centuries."
"Incomparable, unrivalled, surmounting, extraordinary... beyond words!!! The legend of the Pop Music for all times!!!!"
"One of the greatest. And his music will always be remembered."
"I never heard music so powerful, authentic , pure , and so real."
"To the unforgettable Michael! Your creativity and charisma broke barriers, here on Earth we still admire you so much, rest in peace .🙏"
"Wow. He was so incredibly talented."
"Damn, this man was a genius and the greatest performer of all-time."
"An amazing catalog of great music. What an extraordinary talent."
"Talent-wise, this guy was scary great, could dance and sing with anybody in the world, probably the most talented person I've ever seen in my life. God Bless and R.I.P. Mr. Jackson, you're a LEGEND!!!"
"His voice is so beautiful."
"God bless this man's soul, Truly had a gift from God to spread love with his music😍🙏"
"Michael Jackson, THE KING OF POP, the best of the world."
"One of the greatest artists who ever lived. He has so many great songs."
"Absolutely the best voice I ever heard. Pure talent."
"The most beautiful, emotional, unique voice in the world. The voice that is able to adapt to a variety of genres and subject matters."
"I’m so grateful to have his music here to listen to. God thank you for putting such a wonderful soul on this earth."
"0% dirty words 100%talent ❤️❤️ My heart is broken ♥️♥️💔💔😭😭😭"
"Michael left such beautiful Treasures for his fans.. Michael forever..."
"His voice is very deep, magical and heart-touching."
"His music is timeless, what a legend."
"Magical. The man was just magical.❤️😍😍"
"Absolutely amazing. A one-of-a-kind."
Note: The "error rate for The #5 Artist of the Rock Era* is zero, meaning he is no higher than #5 and no lower than #5.
(The Jackson 5 Left to Right: Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, Michael and Jackie)
Although Michael's father did much to encourage and help his children pursue musical careers, he was also physically and emotionally abusive, especially towards Michael. Michael and Marlon joined Jackie, Tito, and Jermaine to form the Jackson Brothers, which soon became known as the Jackson 5. With Michael emerging as the lead singer, they exploded onto the scene in 1970 and racked up #1 songs with each of their first four releases, an all-time Rock Era record until Mariah Carey topped it in 1991 with five consecutive chart-toppers.
In 1971, the Jacksons moved to Encino, California and the following year, Michael released his debut album, Got to Be There. The title song, produced by Hal Davis, soared to #3 in Canada, #4 on both the Popular and R&B charts in the U.S. and #5 in the U.K.
Michael's remake of the Bobby Day hit "Rockin' Robin" also did well, flying to #2. Leon René, who owned Excelsior Records and used the songwriting pseudonym Jimmy Thomas to write "Rockin' Robin", said the song was inspired by a mockingbird, not a robin, who bothered him with its incessant singing.
The album went Gold in 2013 following Michael's death, and fans are discovering his solid early albums. Few people could sing the Bill Withers classic "Ain't No Sunshine" and pull it off, but the 14-year-old Michael did.
We also want to feature another solid track on the album, written by Arthur "T-Boy" Ross (younger brother of Diana) and Leon Ware. "I Wanna' Be Where You Are" vaulted to #2 on the R&B chart and #16 overall.
Many artists have covered "I Wanna' Be Where You Are", including Beyonce, Dusty Springfield, and Jose Feliciano. Here is "Girl Don't Take Your Love From Me".
"In Our Small Way" was also included on MJ's next album and was the B-side to the single "Happy".
Michael followed that up with the #5 album Ben, featuring the #1 title song as the theme to the movie of the same name. Michael won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song from a Motion Picture and he just lost out to Maureen McGovern's "The Morning After" at the Academy Awards.
Ben was Michael's best album until much later and reached #5 on the Album chart. Another solid track is "The Greatest Show On Earth".
With such singing talent displayed at an early age, it seems like he was born to be a star. In the next segment, he began to hone his songwriting talent, which took him to another level. Join us for Part Two, exclusively on Inside The Rock Era!
Wednesday, October 6, 2021
The Bee Gees, The #6 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Six
(Continued from Part Five)
The group released the album High Civilization and toured Europe in 1991. "Secret Love" is a prime track.
Barry soon required back surgery and Maurice finally got treatment for alcoholism, which he had battled for many years. In 1993, the Bee Gees released the album Size Isn't Everything, which included this song. With a massive hook and expert songcrafting, here is "For Whom The Bell Tolls".
Maurice delivered one of his best lead vocals on "Omega Man".
We also want to feature Maurice singing lead on "Above And Beyond".
In 1994, the group was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The following year, the Bee Gees released Still Waters, another big-seller across the world, #2 in New Zealand, #4 in Austria, #5 in the U.K. and Ireland and #6 in Germany.
Maurice recalled to Bee Gees World the composition of this song:
I really remember having a
good time writing it. We were
sort of set up in the studio
here with the three of us just
together and I got some
bagpipe sounds. We were
just screwing around. And
BG (Barry) programmed this
groove on the computer. We
thought it was cool. We don't
actually go in and plan to
write a ballad or an R&B
song. We just say, "Let's go
that route." And we'll follow
it. And "Alone" came out of
that. I love the line "I'm on a
wheel of fortune with a
twist of fate."
Here is the most successful Adult Contemporary song of the year, according to RPM magazine--"Alone".
The long and enduring success of the Bee Gees is not only to adapt to new musical trends but to set them. "Still Waters".
The group brought in a cast of outstanding musicians such as David Paich, Steve and Mike Porcaro and Steve Lukather from Toto, percussionist Ralph MacDonald (whose credits number in the hundreds and include "Just The Two Of Us" for Grover Washington, Jr., James Taylor, Paul Simon, Hall & Oates, Carole King, Steely Dan, David Bowie, George Benson, and Luther Vandross, Russ Titelman (who has worked with Taylor, Simon, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Gordon Lightfoot, the Monkees, Steve Winwood, the Allman Brothers, and Brian Wilson), bassist Leland Sklar (who has worked with Linda Ronstadt, Taylor, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne and Carole King, among others), Pino Palladino (who has played with the Who and John Mayer), drummer Manu Katché (who has worked with Joni Mitchell, Dire Straits, Sting, Jeff Beck, the Eurythmics, Tears for Fears and Simple Minds, to name a few), and others. This is "Irresistible Force".
Still Waters has now sold over four million copies. The Bee Gees recorded a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada which was later released on CD as One Night Only, which has topped five million in sales. The event was so successful that even with Barry's health issues, the trio toured throughout the world for the last time, including a show before 56,000 at Wembley Stadium in London and in front of 72,000 at Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
In 1998, the music for Saturday Night Fever, with three new Brothers Gibb songs written for the project, was incorporated into a stage production that was performed in both the West End in London and Broadway in New York. That same year, the Bee Gees collaborated with Celine Dion for "Immortality", a #2 smash in Germany and #5 in the U.K.
In 1999, the Isle of Man Post Office introduced a set of six stamps honoring the music of the Bee Gees. The Bee Gees were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, making the group one of a select few who are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
The next year, the group was elected to the Dance Music Hall of Fame. The trio released the album This Is Where I Came In in 2001, which includes the title song, the final single released by the group.
This is another solid track on the album--"Wedding Day".
Their Greatest Hits: The Record, also released that year, has gone Platinum. The final concert was at the Love and Hope Ball in 2002.
On January 12, 2003, Maurice died from a heart attack while he was waiting to undergo emergency surgery for a strangulated intestine. Out of honor for their brother, Barry and Robin announced that the Bee Gees' long storied career was over.
Robin recorded a solo album and toured extensively. Barry teamed up again with Streisand for the album Guilty Pleasure (Guilty Too in the U.K.).
In 2009, the Isle of Man's capital recognized all three brothers with the Freedom of the Borough of Douglas honor. The compilation album The Ultimate Bee Gees, released in 2009, has gone Gold. Barry and Robin performed together occasionally and appeared on Strictly Come Dancing for the BBC and Dancing with the Stars on ABC-TV in 2009.
More heartbreak came when Robin Gibb announced that he had been diagnosed with liver cancer in 2011. On April 14, 2012, Robin contracted pneumonia and was in a coma. Although he came out of it six days later, he continued to struggle and Robin died on May 20, 2012 of liver and kidney failure.
On February 14, 2013, Barry was present to unveil a statue of the Bee Gees and opening of Bee Gees Way, a walkway with photos and videos of the Bee Gees in Redcliffe, Australia.
Barry went on tour in honor of his brothers in 2013 and continued to make occasional appearances along with the album In the Now in 2016. In 2015, the Bee Gees received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. The following year, the documentary The Joy of the Bee Gees aired on the BBC. In 2018, Barry was knighted by Prince Charles.
The Bee Gees won six Grammy Awards among nine nominations and five American Music Awards. They racked up 32 career hits and 13 Top 10's, with an incredible 9 of those 13 going all the way to #1. Their hits represent some of the greatest songs in history, but as you have heard, it is their album tracks which help get them to #6. The Bee Gees are roughly tied with Celine Dion for second all-time with 220 million albums sold, behind only the Beatles with 265 million.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)