Did Michael Jackson influence prog?

All that made Mike jackson  in music was invented before,he was good in his style ,but not original,except maybe in his way of sing

markosherrera wrote: All that made Mike jackson  in music was invented before,he was good in his style ,but not original,except maybe in his way of sing

so what.... music is visceral... not intellectual.  Prog fans have the reputation they do for trying TO MAKE what is meant to stimulate and provoke emotions... into something that it not meant to be..an intellectual exercise.  That is what books for are for.  Music is made for enjoyment.... nothing less.. nothing more.  Who cares if he was not original.  The point was...and always has been...  can an artist make great music. 

I did.... that was the discussion he was having with the other guy.. not whether MJ was an influence on prog.. but whether his lack of influence on prog kept him from being considered AS influential on music as the Beatles were. 


that might just me though... that's how I read it....

oh fun.....  maybe the dude can use you as an agent...  his current one sucks.   He might try a country-western forum next. 

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?

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




Edited by Slartibartfast - June 27 2009 at 00:32

The only connection I see with prog is Kevin Gilbert :

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

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

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.