Happy MLK weekend everyone!
Some of the Black Panther conversations I’ve had this week turned into ‘What other pop culture things felt like everyone had to see it right away (before we had social media)?’
Michael Jackson video premieres definitely were on the list, thus today’s choice (particularly with the cast, setting and director of this one).
Next movie review Monday night. If you’re not working the next few days, enjoy yourself!
The Halloween/creep factor of today’s video is a happy coincidence. Got hit with an 80s playlist today and this gem popped up.
Have to chuckle because, in my entire life, I’m pretty sure this still holds the title for ‘We all know why this became a hit record, right?’
Enjoy!
If you know me personally, you know my personality, you know the city I’ve called home in my adult life, you know the shorts I’ve written and directed…then you know this man’s influence.
Happy Birthday Mike.
Michael Jackson is still not a genre of music, but now that Justin Timberlake is a middle aged man (yeah I said it), this kid can definitely own the corner.
Bonus points for putting little MJ in his video.
Enjoy!
Despite having ample time to plan, won’t make it down to Inglewood tonight to see John perform.
I felt a little better about this when I remembered I checked off seeing Mayer perform live years ago. Playing my all time favorite song in fact, at Mike’s funeral. Also the last time I recall having a full, uncontrollable, both nostrils running cry.
(Hm. Maybe I shouldn’t have typed that out loud. Oh well…)
To my friends heading to the Forum, have fun for me.
To everyone else, enjoy!
It’s a dope trailer. And the song of course, clinched it for me.
To borrow another title from that catalog, Don’t Let Me Down Warner Brothers.
Enjoy!
While my childhood was one of many defined by what came next, as an adult I can’t really argue with anyone who feels ‘Off the Wall’ is a superior album. Spike’s documentary captures all the reasons why.
As the title suggests, the first half covers the journey and how (absurd as it sounds now), Michael Jackson was having a hard time figuring out how to be taken seriously. He was the bubblegum kid singer, he was the novelty at the front of the novelty act the Jackson 5. As (a nice interview choice here) Kobe Bryant explained, young Mike was a hardcore student of his craft. Not just studying Sammy Davis Jr’s moves, and James Brown’s moves, but how the industry treated them as black stars.
After ‘the Jacksons’ became a success after leaving Motown, it was time. The concert footage really captures why ‘Rock With You’ is one of my favorite videos. No one (in all the good and bad ways) was more theatrical than Michael Jackson, but he could blow you away with nothing but the microphone in his hand. A great vocalist.
The last third of the film is the track by track breakdown. Everyone from Questlove to his brothers, to Stevie Wonder breaking down ‘the last great disco record.’ Rock With You. Off the Wall. She’s Out of My Life. I Can’t Help It. Turn this Disco Out.
Yep, that album still holds up. So does this doc.
Was a Showtime exclusive for a long time, now you can rent it on iTunes and I assume your other digital channels.
Looking out
Across the nighttime
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs
Get me out
Into the nighttime
Four walls won’t hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do it that way
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why does he do me that way
Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are everywhere
See that girl
She knows I’m watching
She likes the way I stare
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why does he do me that way
I like livin’ this way
I like lovin’ this way
Why why
(That way) Why why
Looking out
Across the morning
Where the city’s heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I’m dreaming of the street
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say,
Why, why, ooo tell ’em
Why, why does he do me that way
If they say why, why, cha cha cha cha cha cha
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, why, why, ooo tell ’em
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, ooo tell ’em
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, da da da da da da da da
Why does he do my that way, I like living this way
Why, oh why, why, why
The Weekend.
Going to be plenty of ‘wins and losses’ as far as the world goes in the near future, but as far as the mood in the Aziz Household…
Have a good weekend gang!
It’s the weekend!
The news is consistently…jarring to put it nicely.
But personally I’ve gotten used to a certain type of peace and have no complaints.
So I greet you this weekend with one of my favorite covers of my theme song.
Enjoy!
