Favorite Michael Jackson videos

[ladyheather69]

I think Smooth Criminal and Thriller are my two top videos of all time. I will admit that I LOVE all his stuff. He was innovative and a genius in my opinion.

And to harken back, like USS Triumphant, my husband and I were just friends at the time, and we were in college, and walking from his dorm to the student union. It was eerily misty, and the moon was out... he started singing and dancing the beginning of Thriller to me..you know like when he and Ola Ray are walking? Totally freakin awesome!

It is amazing to think how integrated his music was to our lives... like the soundtrack to our lives.....

( we have been married now 19 years too... and we still talk about when he did that

 

[melancholymecha]

Watching some of his videos now. "Scream" (with Janet Jackson) is quite notable as its direction and cinematography seems to set the tone for RnB music videos for the next 15 years.

Mark Romenek directed that one, he directed NIN's Closer & a whole slew of other iconic 90's era videos...

so the lean from Smooth Criminal- was that a special effect or was the dude really that awesome?

 

[USS Triumphant]

Fuck the fact that not a single lyric is legible, (Annie are you Wookie???")

I've actually never had any problem understanding any of it, but I copied this from one of the lyrics sites on the web (lyrics007.com), just cause it's easier than retyping the whole thing:

As He Came Into The Window
It Was The Sound Of A Crescendo
He Came Into Her Apartment
He Left The Bloodstains On The Carpet
She Ran Underneath The Table
He Could See She Was Unable
So She Ran Into The Bedroom
She Was Struck Down, It Was Her Doom

Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK
Are You OK, Annie
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK
Are You OK, Annie
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK, Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You Ok, Are You Ok, Annie?

(Annie Are You OK?)
(Will You Tell Us That You're OK?)
(There's A Sign In The Window)
(That He Struck You - A Crescendo Annie)
(He Came Into Your Apartment)
(He Left The Bloodstains On The Carpet)
(Then You Ran Into The Bedroom)
(You Were Struck Down)
(It Was Your Doom)

Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
You've Been Hit By
You've Been Hit By - A Smooth Criminal

So They Came Into The Outway
It Was Sunday - What A Black Day
Mouth To Mouth Resus - Citation
Sounding Heartbeats - Intimidations

Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK?
Are You OK Annie?
Annie Are You OK?
So, Annie Are You OK
Are You OK Annie?

(Annie Are You OK?)
(Will You Tell Us That You're OK?)
(There's A Sign In The Window)
(That He Struck You - A Crescendo Annie)
(He Came Into Your Apartment)
(He Left The Bloodstains On The Carpet)
(Then You Ran Into The Bedroom)
(You Were Struck Down)
(It Was Your Doom)

(Annie Are You OK?)
(So, Annie Are You OK?)
(Are You OK Annie?)
(You've Been Hit By)
(You've Been Struck By -
A Smooth Criminal)

Okay, I Want Everybody To Clear The Area Right Now!

Aaow!
(Annie Are You OK?)
I Don't Know!
(Will You Tell Us, That You're OK?)
I Don't Know!
(There's A Sign In The Window)
I Don't Know!
(That He Struck You - A Crescendo Annie)
I Don't Know!
(He Came Into Your Apartment)
I Don't Know!
(Left Bloodstains On The Carpet)
I Don't Know Why Baby!
(Then You Ran Into The Bedroom)
I Don't Know!
(You Were Struck Down)
(It Was Your Doom - Annie!)
(Annie Are You OK?)
Dad Gone It - Baby!
(Will You Tell Us, That You're OK?)
Dad Gone It - Baby!
(There's A Sign In The Window)
Dad Gone It - Baby!
(That He Struck You - A Crescendo Annie)
Hoo! Hoo!
(He Came Into Your Apartment)
Dad Gone It!
(Left Bloodstains On The Carpet)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
(Then You Ran Into The Bedroom)
Dad Gone It!
(You Were Struck Down)
(It Was Your Doom-Annie!)
Aaow!!!

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Does anyone remember, post Thriller, talk that there would be a song & video on the "next" album that was supposed to be scarier than Thriller?

This might have been around the time of the Victory tour, I'm sure I heard this on whatever radio station I listened to in those days. I don't think any of the songs on Bad or Dangerous were in this vein though, but I haven't had these albums in 10+ years, so it's hard to remember.

Just saw the Thriller video last night on VH1 Classic. This one's still the best video. Too many good songs to pick one.

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

Watching some of his videos now. "Scream" (with Janet Jackson) is quite notable as its direction and cinematography seems to set the tone for RnB music videos for the next 15 years.

Mark Romenek directed that one, he directed NIN's Closer & a whole slew of other iconic 90's era videos...

so the lean from Smooth Criminal- was that a special effect or was the dude really that awesome?

He had a special device that held his feet steady while he leaned, so he was actually leaning, but it was with assistance.

 

[Aurian]

I have always had a soft spot for MJs videos even though he has never been a favorite artist of mine. It's one of those things where really a lot of music is awesome, but I only listened to it on the radio. (or MTV)

 

[Trekker4747]

Watching some of his videos now. "Scream" (with Janet Jackson) is quite notable as its direction and cinematography seems to set the tone for RnB music videos for the next 15 years.

Mark Romenek directed that one, he directed NIN's Closer & a whole slew of other iconic 90's era videos...

so the lean from Smooth Criminal- was that a special effect or was the dude really that awesome?

He had a special device that held his feet steady while he leaned, so he was actually leaning, but it was with assistance.

IIRC in the video it was wire, on stage and other performances it was the special shoes (that hooked onto pegs that extended from the floor.)

 

[acappellasaurus]

My favorite is the video/short movie "Ghosts". Kind of surprised noone has mentioned it yet.

 

[FemurBone]

I never knew the Smooth Criminal video was so popular.

For me, I have to go with Thriller. I also like the Remember the Time video.

Another excellent video is "Can you feel it" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xW1fXL3s7bk . It's technically a Jacksons video, but it still deserves a mention.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

^ That one is sooo 1980.

Torture was an good video, but would have been better if Michael & Jermaine were in it.

Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me was a good song with MJ.

 

[Venardhi]

Mark Romenek directed that one, he directed NIN's Closer & a whole slew of other iconic 90's era videos...

so the lean from Smooth Criminal- was that a special effect or was the dude really that awesome?

He had a special device that held his feet steady while he leaned, so he was actually leaning, but it was with assistance.

IIRC in the video it was wire, on stage and other performances it was the special shoes (that hooked onto pegs that extended from the floor.)

Pretty sure it was the shoes and stage 'hooks' in both the video and stage shows. Even if they did it with wires in the video they would have needed some way of fixing their feet to the floor. If he had the leg strength to do it live, he wouldn't have needed the wires. .

 

[Trekker4747]

He had a special device that held his feet steady while he leaned, so he was actually leaning, but it was with assistance.

IIRC in the video it was wire, on stage and other performances it was the special shoes (that hooked onto pegs that extended from the floor.)

Pretty sure it was the shoes and stage 'hooks' in both the video and stage shows. Even if they did it with wires in the video they would have needed some way of fixing their feet to the floor. If he had the leg strength to do it live, he wouldn't have needed the wires. .

The wires would've helped the whole "gravity" thing.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I still go with the obvious one, Thriller. I just remember that being such a powerhouse thing for a three-year-old to see. It literally forced to react to it. The presence of the song, the music, the dancing, all of it was just literally that great.

I'm not what you'd call a Michael Jackson fan, but the best of his work did exactly what brilliant music, regardless of genre, is supposed to do. It engaged you on every possible level.

 

[Venardhi]

IIRC in the video it was wire, on stage and other performances it was the special shoes (that hooked onto pegs that extended from the floor.)

Pretty sure it was the shoes and stage 'hooks' in both the video and stage shows. Even if they did it with wires in the video they would have needed some way of fixing their feet to the floor. If he had the leg strength to do it live, he wouldn't have needed the wires. .

The wires would've helped the whole "gravity" thing.

Yes, but if he had the strength and balance to do it LIVE in front of millions of people without the wires, why would they bother with wires for the video where they can do multiple takes and don't need to worry about screwing up?

 

[Trekker4747]

Pretty sure it was the shoes and stage 'hooks' in both the video and stage shows. Even if they did it with wires in the video they would have needed some way of fixing their feet to the floor. If he had the leg strength to do it live, he wouldn't have needed the wires. .

The wires would've helped the whole "gravity" thing.

Yes, but if he had the strength and balance to do it LIVE in front of millions of people without the wires, why would they bother with wires for the video where they can do multiple takes and don't need to worry about screwing up?

Because when they made the video they hadn't invented the shoe-thing?



Just as I understand it: For the video they used wires, they tried to adapt this for the stage later on but couldn't find a way to easily do it so Michael -along with others whose names are on the patent- invented the shoe things where strength doesn't factor in just a bit of agility.

 

[Goliath]

7. Bad

I'm sorry, but I just could not take "Bad" seriously after seeing Weird Al Yankovic's "Fat".

I could still take "Beat It" seriously after Weird Al parodied it. But not "Bad."

 

[USS Triumphant]

I'm sorry, but I just could not take "Bad" seriously after seeing Weird Al Yankovic's "Fat".

I could still take "Beat It" seriously after Weird Al parodied it. But not "Bad."

Too true.

"Ding dong, man. Ding dong. Yo!"

"I think I've got an extra piece of pizza around here somewhere, if you want one..."

 

[nx1701g]

Thriller

 

[Gil T.Azell]

NONE!

 

[FPAlpha]

Smooth Criminal.. the movie version.

I'm still blown away today at the near perfection of the video.. the dance choreography, the setting, the costumes and THE LEAN

Whenever i hear and see i involunntarily get a move on.. it is that good and i got really upset when some years ago the music TV stations only showed an adapted, i.e. cut up and retooled version of it (probably due to movie rights). It ruins the whole thing.