http://tinyurl.com/29a9vo6 Is michael really michael? 无敌长乐评 是之前写hold my hand乐评的那个人写的 翻个大意 可能有错 This past Friday I listened to Michael Jackson's highly-anticipated posthumous album, Michael (Epic), which is expected to hit stores in the U.S. on December 14th. I had many questions going in, not only about the music itself, but the process. How were the tracks selected? How much were they altered or embellished? And what was the end result? 上周五听了MJ的最新专辑 我有许多的问题 不只对於音乐本身 还有像是歌曲怎麽选的 还有他们是怎麽被改过和润色的 还有成果是什麽 Posthumous works are notoriously tricky. There are essentially two philosophical approaches: 1) present the material basically as it was found; or, 2) try to complete the artist's vision based on instructions and/or intuition. Either way comes with its own unique challenges and complications. 死後专辑的处理是很微妙的 通常有两种作法 1保持原样 2尽量以歌手可能的想法来完成 但两种方法导致的结果都会是个挑战 For the 2009 documentary, This Is It, the Estate of Michael Jackson opted for the first approach. Audiences around the world witnessed the raw rehearsals of what would have been an unprecedented concert spectacle. At the time, some complained that Jackson wouldn't have wanted people to see anything but the final, finished result. He was a perfectionist who gave everything to a performance; in the footage, however, he was often conserving his voice, marking his dance steps, and correcting mistakes. Yet there was something undeniably riveting and enlightening about watching the artist at work. It was tragic, of course, that his full vision was never realized. But for many viewers it humanized the singer, even as it showcased his extraordinary talent. TII电影 就是采用第一种作法 全世界的人见到了最原始的彩排画面 当时很多人认为 MJ不会想要大家看到他未完成的作品 他是个完美主义者 在影片中他并没有全力歌唱 还在研究他的舞步 校正错误 但是看到这个艺术家工作的情形是很令人震惊和神奇的 虽然他的最终想法从来没有真的实现过 但观众看到了他人性的一面 和他惊人的才华 With this first posthumous album, however, a different approach was taken. All of the songs were completed within the past year by various collaborators and caretakers--ranging from Teddy Riley to Neff-U to Estate co-executor John McClain. Michael, his Estate said, left a "roadmap" behind, and they felt an obligation to finish what he had started. It was a risky decision that has caused a severe backlash amongst many of Jackson's core fans. A similar controversy resulted in 1995, when Paul, George and Ringo "finished" two John Lennon tracks ("Free as a Bird" and "Real Love") under the banner of the Beatles. For some fans, it could never be an "authentic" Beatles track without Lennon's full participation. Similarly, no matter how closely Akon, Lenny Kravitz and others worked with Jackson, could they ever fully intuit what he would have wanted on a given track? 这张新专辑 却采用了另一种方法 所有的歌是靠过去几年MJ的合作者来完成MJ开始的作品 遗产公司表示 MJ留下了地图 而他们完成了他起始的作品 这是一个非常冒险的决定 而且 导致了很多歌迷的反对 95年也有类似的事情发生 当时披头四的其他团员完成了两首 约翰蓝侬的歌曲 并且以披头四的名义发行 对很多歌迷 没有约翰蓝侬参与的歌曲就不会 是真的披头四歌曲了 同样的不论阿肯等人曾经和MJ多亲密的工作 他们真的可以完全了解 MJ想要的是什麽? In some cases, Jackson did indeed leave very specific notes and instructions. It is also well-known to those familiar with his artistic process that he frequently returned to tracks from previous album sessions and updated them. Versions of "Blood on the Dance Floor," "They Don't Care About Us," and "Earth Song," for example, were all originally recorded during the Dangerous sessions; but Jackson continued to tinker with each of these songs for years until he felt they were ready. A Michael Jackson song was never final until it made an official studio album. 对於某些歌曲 MJ的确留下了很多确切的指令和讯息 对於熟悉他工作程序的人都知道 他总是会不停的回到过去写过的歌 然後改进 像是血溅舞池 和They don't care about us earth song等歌曲 都是在dangerous时期录制的 但是MJ会花数年不停改正他的歌曲 直到 他觉得满意了为止 MJ的歌曲除非是真的出现在最终发行版 才算真的完成 This return-treatment is essentially what his collaborators have attempted on Michael. They wanted to make these tracks as fresh, vibrant and relevant as possible, believing that this is what Jackson would have wanted as well. Of course, in the end, since none of them are Michael Jackson, the best they could do is approximate. The album, then, is a hybrid creation. At times it feels truly inspired and very close to what Michael himself would have done; at other times, it feels a bit more like a tribute, similar to the remixes on Thriller 25. 而MJ的合作者现在就尝试要完成他 他们想要让这些歌曲尽可能的听起来很新颖 希望能 做出MJ想要做出的歌曲 当然最终他们没有一个人是MJ 他们能做的只是大概 这张专辑是 混种的结果 在某些地方的确很像MJ自己会想做的音乐 但更多的这比较像战栗25的混音 作品 这张专辑更像是个致敬的产物 Much of this probably won't even register to the average listener, who will simply listen to the music and decide whether they like it or not. 但对於一般听众来说 这些他们可能根本不在乎 他们只是单纯的去听音乐来决定他们喜欢 与否 But because Michael Jackson is one of the most important artists of the past century the question of how much to modify the work he left behind is a very serious one. As amazing as the new version of "Behind the Mask" sounds, for example, it isn't the version Michael last worked on in the early 1980s. If for no other reason than documenting history, then, it would seem worthwhile to release the originals/demos as well (perhaps as bonus tracks or a supplementary album), even if they aren't perfectly polished or updated. 但是因为MJ是这一个世纪最重要的艺人 所以这些作品经过了多少加工就是严重的问题 以最新版本的behind the mask举例 这不是MJ80年代初期所录的版本 站在纪录历史的角度 同时放出原始DEMO版本作为bonus将会是非常好的选择 就算是这些歌曲不是完美和经过 精雕细琢的 With that preface in place, I proceed to my review of the actual album, which, on the whole, really is an exciting and enjoyable listening experience. Indeed, for all the controversy about its authenticity, going through the album song by song, Jackson's presence is undeniable. His habits, his obsessions, his versatility, and his genius are on display at every turn. 即使有这麽多关於歌真假的争议 我还是必须说听完整张专辑是很享受和兴奋的 MJ在每首歌都是有强烈的存在感 他的习惯 他的天才都在每一首歌中 Who else could move so seamlessly from social anthem to floor burner, fleet hip hop to cosmic rock, vintage funk to poignant folk ballad? Who besides Michael Jackson would follow a tender love song with a trenchant critique of the media? An uplifting gospel tune with a ferocious polemic on the monstrosity of Hollywood culture? 谁能够像他一样从劝世歌曲到舞曲 嘻哈到摇滚 放克到一般情歌都游刃有余 除了MJ谁能 唱出这样优美的情歌 又接着唱出尖锐对媒体批判的歌曲 一下是振奋人心的福音歌曲 又能 接着唱出好莱屋疯狂的文化 This, ultimately, is the most important quality of Michael: it feels like Michael. 这就是MJ最重要的特质 The Estate and Sony should be given credit for retaining much of Jackson's edginess and eclecticism where they could have easily opted for a more traditional lineup. (For all the uproar over "Breaking News," I thought it was a pretty bold statement out of the gate in terms of its lyrical target.) 遗产公司和索尼应该要因为保留了MJ的尖锐性而得到赞赏 他们原本可以选择更传统的 歌曲 我认为在一切争议下选择Breaking News是个大胆的声明 他歌词中所针对的对象 The album also contains some nice, natural touches, including Jackson's incredibly dynamic beatboxing (displayed most prominently on "Hollywood Tonight"), and a phone message introduction to "(I Like) The Way You Love Me," in which Jackson explains the composition of the song to longtime collaborator, Brad Buxer. The point of these examples is that Jackson the artist and person doesn't get swallowed in "over-production," as some have feared. In spite of its limitations, from opening line ("This life don't last forever...") to closing ("I guess I learned my lesson much too soon") a very intimate, authentic, humanizing picture evolves. 这张专辑同时也保留了MJ一些最原始的东西 像是他不可思议的beatbox 还有电话留言 在留言中MJ向他长期的合作对象解释了歌曲的组成 很多人担心MJ会淹没於过度的加工中 而这些例子证明了他并没有 Below, is my song-by-song breakdown of the album: 下面是每首歌的乐评 Hold My Hand Simple, but powerful love song turned social anthem. Since I already reviewed this, I will just point to the link. I'm actually stunned this isn't charting better in the U.S., but maybe that will change when the video premiers and the holidays draw closer. 简单但有力的一首爱的歌曲转变为劝世歌曲 我之前已经评过这首歌了 本版#1CuK0U21 我很讶异这首在美国的排行居然只有这样 或许在mv放出後会改变 Hollywood Tonight Definitely an album highlight. The song begins with a haunting Gothic church choir, before transforming into an energetic dance stomper. I'm not too keen on the spoken parts (performed by nephew, Taryll Jackson), but clearly there were places in the song Michael hadn't filled yet. The track features Michael in a notably deeper voice, and concludes with military-style whistling. As Ellen displayed on her show last week, the song will get people up and moving. 专辑中的高潮 歌曲的开头是歌德式的教堂合唱 然後转变为有力的舞曲节奏 我不是特别 喜欢讲话的部份 (是由MJ的侄子Taryll Jackson参与) 但很明显这首歌还有些地方是MJ 还没填补完成的 这首歌包含了MJ较低的歌声 还有他军人式的口哨 就像Ellen秀上周拨出 这首歌时一样 这首歌会让人跳上跳下 Keep Your Head Up Narrates the life of an ordinary woman "looking for the hope in the empty promises." The song is well-suited to the current economic climate and will likely resonate with many listeners. The back half of the song offers a classic MJ crescendo, with the gospel choir providing the lift and communal strength the woman needs to keep going. (Fans will be happy to know the "Earth Song" ad libs heard on a leaked version of the track were removed.) 叙述了一个平凡女子想要在空洞的承诺中寻求希望 这首歌非常符合现在的经济状况 会引 起很多听众的共鸣 这首歌後半有MJ最标志性用福音合唱的渐强 提供了女子继续前进的 力量(歌迷会很高兴泄漏版本中 earth song的取样被移除了) (I Like) The Way You Love Me Great new production by Neff-U that was being actively discussed and transformed with Michael in Los Angeles (the original demo appeared on the 2004 boxed set, Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection). The new version retains all of the charm of the original while injecting some fresh elements, including new piano, bass, strings, and vocal effects. Neff-U很棒的制作 最原始的版本发行於2004年的Ultimate Collection 这个版本保有了 所有原始版本的优点 还有注入了一些新的元素 包括新的钢琴 贝斯 管弦乐和歌声效果 Monster A blistering rhythm track that probably hits harder than any song on the album. Features a rap solo by 50 Cent, guitar work by Orianthi, and excellent production by Teddy Riley. As Jackson holds a mirror up to society, asking us to observe the distorted reflection, I couldn't help but picture the horrifying scene of paparazzi shoving their cameras up against the ambulance carrying him to the hospital. "Everywhere you seem to turn there's a monster," he sings. "Paparazzi got you scared like a monster." Some reviewers continue to dismiss songs like this as petty "ranting" and "paranoia," but this is some deft social criticism for those who look beyond the surface. It has all the makings of a hit single. 非常棒的有节奏歌曲 可能比所有歌曲更有冲击力 有五角的参与 吉他是由Orianthi演奏 Teddy Riley非常棒的制作 MJ对社会拿出了一面镜子 要我们好好自问其中扭曲的反射 我不由自主的在脑海中出现画面 疯狂的狗仔队拿出他们的相机对准载着他去医院的救护车 他唱着 每一个转角都会有一个怪兽 狗仔队像怪兽一样让你害怕 很多评论者忽略这首歌 认为这首是咆啸发泄和偏执之作 但是对不只看表面的人来说这其实是对社会批判的灵巧之 作 这首歌有所有会成为畅销歌曲的元素 Best of Joy A breezy mid-tempo ballad, Jackson's falsetto is as effortless as ever as he sings promises to a loved one. Recorded in Los Angeles in 2009, this was one of his final recordings, and he still sounds fantastic. 中板活泼的芭辣歌 MJ的假音对所爱的人唱着 这首歌是在2009年在洛杉矶所录 这是他最 後所录的几首歌曲中的一首 而他听起来依旧棒呆了 Breaking News The song will likely be forever-linked to the controversy surrounding its vocals. Yet in spite of the backlash, the content of the song is classic Michael Jackson, following in the tradition of anti-media tracks like "Leave Me Alone, "Tabloid Junkie," and "Privacy." The repeated use of the name, "Michael Jackson," highlights the way his name has been objectified--it is simply a media construct, a "boogieman," that the real Michael feels detached from. The exaggerated way the name is uttered humorously mocks the way the media exploits him for sensational effect. While the strength and clarity of the vocals clearly aren't up to Jackson's standards, the song itself is quite good. The harmonized chorus is catchy and memorable. Teddy Riley gives the song a fresh but faithful sheen. One can easily imagine the song as an outtake from the Dangerous or HIStory sessions. 这首歌大概会永远和歌声真假争议所联结 姑且不谈这些的话 这首歌的内容是典型的MJ 就像他之前最着名的反媒体歌曲leave me alone, Tabloid Junkie和Privacy 在歌曲中 不停的重复Michael Jackson这个名字 突出了他的名字已经成为因为媒体的打造而成为 了一个代名词 一个怪人 而MJ自己感觉跟这个怪人形象是分离的 这个名字以夸张的次数 出现在歌曲中 幽默的嘲笑了媒体多爱利用他的名字来造成轰动的效果 但这首歌里MJ歌声 的强度和清楚度没有达到MJ的标准 这首歌其实本身很棒 副歌非常的朗朗上口 Teddy Riley给了这首歌新鲜感和光泽 很像是dangerous或是HIStory时期的落选作 (I Can't Make It) Another Day Originally recorded by Jackson and Lenny Kravitz in 1999 at the legendary Marvin's Room Studio, the track has Michael summoning a cosmic power over a rugged, industrial funk beat and a soaring chorus. This is an example, however, of the new version sounding more like a Kravitz tribute to Jackson, rather than a Jackson track. In the original, Jackson's vocals are less overwhelmed by the drums and guitar, allowing him to convey the full mystery and wonder of the lyrics. Kravitz's update isn't too different, but enough to change the feel of the song. It still rocks, but in a different way than the original. 是在1999年由MJ和Lenny Kravitz一起录制的 歌曲中MJ不停的招唤着 还包含了 放克节奏和有力的合唱 这首歌是非常好的例子 那就是新的版本比较像是Kravitz对MJ 的致敬歌曲 而不像是MJ自己的歌曲 在原始版本中 MJ的歌声比较没有被鼓声和吉他声淹盖 MJ的声音比较能够让他传达歌词中的意涵 Kravitz的版本没有太大的改动 但是却足以改变 了整首歌的感觉 这首歌依旧很好 但是以另一种不像原始版本的方式 Behind the Mask "Behind the Mask" was originally intended for Thriller, but left off reportedly because of a song credit dispute. It was later covered by Jackson's keyboardist Greg Phillinganes as well as Eric Clapton. Had Jackson released it in 1982, the quirky Yellow Magic Orchestra adaptation likely would have been a big hit. Estate executor John McClain updates it skillfully in this new version, making it sound brand new and retro at the same time. It is definitely one of the highlights of the album. Still, many fans will likely be anxious to hear those classic sheets of synth and 80s production on the original demo. Modernizing the production does make it fit better with the album, though it's unclear if Jackson himself planned to update the track. 这首歌原来是要放入战栗专辑中 但最後因为歌曲一些版权的争论而没被放入 後来 有被MJ的键盘手Greg Phillinganes翻唱 还有Eric Clapton也同样翻唱过 如果MJ在1982 年就发行这首从Yellow Magic Orchestra唱过而改编的歌曲或许就会成为畅销单曲 遗产 执行人John McClain制作了新的版本 让这首歌听起来更新 这首歌也是专辑中的亮点 当然很多歌迷绝对想要听80年代最原始的版本 比较现代的制作的确让这首歌比较能合於 这张专辑 但我们不能确定MJ是否自己会打算更新这首歌 Much Too Soon An excellent choice to end the album, "Much Too Soon" showcases Jackson's ability as a singer-songwriter to magnificent effect. An exquisite expression of loss and yearning, it stands should-to-shoulder with some of the best folk ballads of The Carpenters and The Beatles. The lyrics almost read like a W.B. Yeats poem. 这张专辑结尾选这首歌是非常棒的决定 这首歌显示了MJ作为一个歌手创作人的功力 完美的表达了失去和怀念 这首歌可比肩卡本特兄妹和披头四最好的芭乐歌曲 歌词念起来 就像是叶慈的诗 The track was first written by Jackson in 1981 and revisited multiple times over the years. The vocal on this version was recorded in 1994 at The Hit Factory during the HIStory sessions. It was originally engineered and mixed by Bruce Swedien (this version leaked online a couple weeks ago); the album version, featuring more prominent accordion and strings, was re-produced for the Michael album by estate co-executor John McClain. MJ1981年时所写的 多年来曾经经过多次改动 这个版本的歌声是录制於1994年 HIStory专辑录制时期 网路上泄漏的版本是由Bruce Swedien录制混音 专辑的版本有包含 更多的弦乐和手风琴 是由John McClain制作的最新版 In the song, a forlorn Jackson, accompanied by the subtle acoustic guitar work of Tommy Emmanuel, sings about being separated from a loved one "much too soon." The bridge features a harmonica solo that highlights the song's folk-blues essence, before Jackson returns with a final verse about "never letting fate control [his] soul." It is a beautiful, bittersweet song that perfectly balances hope and regret, loneliness and the desire for reconciliation. For all Jackson's superstardom, "Much Too Soon" reminds that behind the media construct was a human being. 吉他是由Tommy Emmanuel演奏 歌曲诉说太快远离了他的爱人 在中间有一段 口琴的独奏加重了这首歌民谣蓝调的本质 最後MJ唱到永远不要让命运掌握了他的灵魂 这是一首美丽苦甜的歌曲 平衡了希望和懊悔 孤单和渴望和解 这首歌提醒了大家 在MJ 的巨星光环下 媒体所塑造的一切之後 他其实只是个一般人类 Conclusion: 结论 Call it a collage, an approximation, or a tribute. Or call it, as many of Michael's collaborators have: "a labor of love." That sentiment certainly shines through on the record. Yet obviously, this is not the exact album Jackson would have created. For a variety of reasons, many tracks that Jackson was working on during his final years aren't on the tracklist (including those with will.i.am). In addition, the vocals, particularly on a couple of the "Cascio tracks," don't always measure up to Jackson's typical strength and vitality, leading some to label them as "fake." Until a forensic analysis or some other concrete evidence proves otherwise that conspiracy theory doesn't hold up for me--especially after hearing the final album versions on very good speakers. But occasionally, the creative liberties taken do seem questionable, or at the very least, unexplained. For the purists (myself included), it would be nice, in addition to the current album versions, to have some of these songs as they were last heard by Michael--just as it was nice to see Michael un-mediated in This Is It. 你可以称他是个拼贴之作或是一个致敬之作 或是很多MJ的合作者所说的 为了"爱"而做 的作品 这样的情绪的确贯穿了整张专辑 很显然的这不会是MJ会创作出的专辑 这是有很多 原因的 像是MJ最後几年创作的无数歌曲包含和will I am合作的并没有包含在其中 几首歌 的歌声部份特别是几首卡西欧家族的歌曲 并没有完全达到MJ以往的强度和活力 这导致有 些人把这些歌称为是假的 除非有法医监定分析或是其他绝对的证据证明 这些阴谋论的说 法我不认同 特别是在我是从非常好的喇叭音效系统之下听过了最後的版本 但是有些时候 创作的自由度的确是有质疑点 或许该说有的地方无法解释 对於很多人来说包括我 如果 在专辑最终版本之外还能听到MJ当时所做的最终版会更好 就像如果我们能看到TII一样 But the bottom line is this: Michael contains some very impressive new material. One job of Jackson's Estate is to extend his legacy to new generations of listeners and this album will likely accomplish that. At ten songs, it is a tight, diverse, almost 80s-esque LP--which also means fans have many more songs in the vaults to look forward to. In the meantime, songs like "Hollywood Tonight," "Monster," "Behind the Mask," and "Much Too Soon" make excellent additions to an already legendary catalog. 但最重要的是 MJ有一些非常令人印象深刻的新题材 MJ遗产公司的其中一项工作是要让 他的遗产持续给新一代听众 而这张专辑应该能达到这个目标 这张专辑非常严谨 多元 而这也表示歌迷对於歌曲库中还未发行的歌曲有更多的期待 同时Hollywood Tonight, Monster, Behind the Mask和Much Too Soon为MJ的传奇歌曲条目又增添了许多首 c Joseph Vogel Joe Vogel is the author of the forthcoming book, Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson (Sterling 2011). -- In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. In a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe. ~~~~By Michael Jackson --

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