CD Review
This review was originally written by Jose Bernardo for www.theweeklyriff.com between 2008 and 2010.
Artist: Michael Jackson
Album: Dangerous (1991 Epic)
Tracks: 14
Artist website: http://www.michaeljackson.com
OVERVIEW
Dangerous was the second album I was excitedly waiting for. However, I ended up being disappointed by this album. There are a lot of good parts, but also a lot that I didn’t bond with. I had started listening to Guns N’ Roses and Metallica and more hard rock stuff. I still love some of the songs from this album and always thought the B side should have been the A side.
UPDATE 2016:
When MJ died in 2009, I was sad because I had always been a fan of his music. I was especially sad that he had not “returned to form” as an artist and that his output in the late 1990’s was unable to touch the the genius of his output from the 1980’s. At the time of his passing, I dedicated an entire issue of the TWR webzine to him and reviewed “Bad” and “Thriller” as well. I got to see Jackson in concert in Singapore in 1996. It was a concert experience I’ll never forget, but is sadly not even in the top 5 of all concerts I’ve seen. Of the MJ material that has been released posthumously, the only thing I’ve enjoyed is “Love Never Felt So Good”, which was penned in 1983. The 80’s were a magical time and that was Jackson’s era.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Gone Too Soon, Keep The Faith, Black or White
PLAY BY PLAY
Track 1 – Jam
This is one of those songs that the message gets lost in the music. It always failed to grab me.
Track 2 – Why You Wanna Trip On Me
This didn’t have the same subtleness that Leave Me Alone had. This song might well be the first time that a pop star was so direct with the media for sensationalizing him and following him around and disrespecting his space.
Track 3 – In The Closet
I always felt that this was a strange song. I didn’t really like the video either.
Track 4 – She Drives Me Wild
I always thought that the use of car horns was great. But it failed to impress me on a musical level.
Track 5 – Remember The Time
This will always be a great one for me. I love this song.
Track 6 – Can’t Let Her Get Away
I never liked this song.
Track 7 – Heal The World
Perfection!
Track 8 – Black or White
Not only did this song feature my favorite guitar player at the time, but the video was incredibly cool. This is a great song.
Track 9 – Who Is It?
I liked this song, but it wasn’t a favorite.
Track 10 – Give In To Me
More Slash! I loved it. It had a harder edge just like Dirty Diana, but the lyrics were easier to understand.
Track 11 – Will You Be There
This song was over played thanks to it being on the Free Willy soundtrack.
Track 12 – Keep The Faith
This is one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs. What a great song to help one get through those hard times.
Track 13 – Gone Too Soon
This is my favorite recorded performance of Jackson’s singing as an adult. It has so much emotion. Such a beautiful and simple song. Such elegance!
Track 14 – Dangerous
I never liked this song.