Did Michael Jackson influence prog?

Ivan_Melgar_M wrote: Oh please come on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The next thing will be suggesting him for Prog Related.   Iván

Why are you complaining?  We all know that you would vote for Michael Jackson before you voted for a legitimate prog related band like Boston.

Progosopher wrote: There are a lot of positive remarks on this thread I agree with.  For one, yes, I think respect is due.  His life became a circus, and he had enough fame and money to become as eccentric as he wanted.  He also got eaten up by the hype machine - not that he resisted it.  His solo music and with his brothers was sometimes quite sophisticated - Quincy Jones provided excellent production, and a friend of mine who plays bass said that ABC was one of the most difficult songs he'd ever learned (and this is from a guy who transcribed Telemann onto the electric bass).  No, he wasn't Prog of course, nor did he have a direct influence on it, but a good number of our bands on this site have dipped into the waters of Pop, so something may have come through.  Since Prog was more mainstream in the 70s than it is now, it did have a wide influence.  I can't point out any specifics, but influences don't always come directly.  I don't have any of his albums, and probably never will, not my style.  I do think the guy has had an influence on music in general over the past 30 years - with his immense popularity, how could it not?   I think Magna Carta should get some of its artists together and do a tribute album.  Or maybe Jon Anderson - his voice is in the same register (can't dance worth beans, though).

No word from OP.  I no longer care.  Unsubscribing, good bye.

Just because Michael Jackson sold mass of records does not mean he should influence every style of music that there is. Well, it depends on what you understand under the term 'music', if it is considered as music to which you can dance then, yes, Jackson influenced the whole music. Apart from that, culture is not ruled by the force of gravity of great masses.

Jackson was not nearly influential on music like some other famous artists. Not because he was lousy artist and entertainer - he wasn't - because he was too good in songwriting and production to be bothered with. I mean, is any of contemporary little pop "artists" remotely resembling all of Jacko's grandeur? I don't think so.

The only one which was somewhat close in terms of quality while doing that type of funk/soul/jazz/rock/pop is Prince.

On the other hand, I'm glad I don't hear much of his influence around. Take a look at all great, influential artists: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen...they yielded to a countless herds of empty-headed, washed-out imitators (respect to the notable exceptions) who were borrowing the style but contributed next to nothing to the art of music.

Come on, he was more a fan of Disney's musicals , not sympho-prog!

Good thing you edited, because I near broke a blood vessel.

The only connection I see with prog is Kevin Gilbert :

Hell, maybe in a fringe kind of way...




Edited by Slartibartfast - June 27 2009 at 00:32

There are a lot of positive remarks on this thread I agree with.  For one, yes, I think respect is due.  His life became a circus, and he had enough fame and money to become as eccentric as he wanted.  He also got eaten up by the hype machine - not that he resisted it.  His solo music and with his brothers was sometimes quite sophisticated - Quincy Jones provided excellent production, and a friend of mine who plays bass said that ABC was one of the most difficult songs he'd ever learned (and this is from a guy who transcribed Telemann onto the electric bass).  No, he wasn't Prog of course, nor did he have a direct influence on it, but a good number of our bands on this site have dipped into the waters of Pop, so something may have come through.  Since Prog was more mainstream in the 70s than it is now, it did have a wide influence.  I can't point out any specifics, but influences don't always come directly.  I don't have any of his albums, and probably never will, not my style.  I do think the guy has had an influence on music in general over the past 30 years - with his immense popularity, how could it not?