We're back again this week for a timely review of Michael Jackson's Vision. I picked up the DVD set yesterday from the library. I didn't expect it would arrive that quick, but sooner is better than later in any case. The library also had a sale on old VHS tapes and I purchased the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory film for fifty cents (what a steal). Can't wait to watch it. Anyway, Vision does not disappoint in its deliverance of quality.
It features thirty five of Michael's songs in video format, plus seven bonus tracks mixed in from his both his earlier days and later years as a performer. One song I particularly like from this selection of music is "One More Chance" (released 2003, on video 2010). Why the delay between the two release dates? Michael's Neverland Ranch was raided when he was recording the music video (he called them "short films", referencing his creative endeavor in the genre), as part of the second set of child abuse allegations against him.
The song -- creative in its lyrics and sporting a smoothly-paced tempo -- will have you groove to its rhythm as Jackson delivers the song with his trademark vocal hiccups. The central theme of the song surrounds unrequited love and asking for redemption in the face of apparent rejection, hence the lyrics "...all I need is one more chance at love". Out of the rest of the songs this collection offers, I would rank this song in the top five. Much of the collection draws upon the height of Jackson's career. Most of Thriller, some of Bad, and some of Dangerous as well as HIStory's songs are featured in here. If I were to rank my favorite songs in order of how much I favor them, from top to bottom, they would be:
"Scream" is more up-beat in its bridge but, almost paradoxically, imparts a message of frustration to the audience. For context, Michael collaborated with his sister Janet in this song to express their anger towards Michael's misrepresentation in the media. "Liberian Girl" bears a message of confessed love with an almost tropical-resembling tune. I recommend that you at least listen to this song, even if it's not ranked on top. And last, but not least, the music video for "Come Together" was notably recorded in front of a live audience, and is Michael's own cover of the Beatles song, with his characteristic grunts accompanying the lyrics, imparting to some degree, a unique spin in this regard, on the classic.
If the songs themselves are of quality, what of the container they're packaged in, you ask? The front of the box is adorned with selected holographic shots from the various music videos contained in the package, which move when you tilt the box downward toward yourself a little (a neat feature in my opinion). It comes with a booklet listing the songs on each disc, the length of each, and snapshots from the sets each video took place in (when recording wasn't in session). The box material is of standard quality but guarantees excellent protection of the three discs enshrined within. Overall, considering the price of the box set ($36.99 CAN), it averages out to a little under a dollar for each video, translating to a good deal for all appreciators of Jackson's music, no matter the degree of said appreciation or length thereof.
That's my update for this week.
David
It features thirty five of Michael's songs in video format, plus seven bonus tracks mixed in from his both his earlier days and later years as a performer. One song I particularly like from this selection of music is "One More Chance" (released 2003, on video 2010). Why the delay between the two release dates? Michael's Neverland Ranch was raided when he was recording the music video (he called them "short films", referencing his creative endeavor in the genre), as part of the second set of child abuse allegations against him.
The song -- creative in its lyrics and sporting a smoothly-paced tempo -- will have you groove to its rhythm as Jackson delivers the song with his trademark vocal hiccups. The central theme of the song surrounds unrequited love and asking for redemption in the face of apparent rejection, hence the lyrics "...all I need is one more chance at love". Out of the rest of the songs this collection offers, I would rank this song in the top five. Much of the collection draws upon the height of Jackson's career. Most of Thriller, some of Bad, and some of Dangerous as well as HIStory's songs are featured in here. If I were to rank my favorite songs in order of how much I favor them, from top to bottom, they would be:
- One More Chance
- Give In To Me
- Scream
- Liberian Girl
- Come Together
"Scream" is more up-beat in its bridge but, almost paradoxically, imparts a message of frustration to the audience. For context, Michael collaborated with his sister Janet in this song to express their anger towards Michael's misrepresentation in the media. "Liberian Girl" bears a message of confessed love with an almost tropical-resembling tune. I recommend that you at least listen to this song, even if it's not ranked on top. And last, but not least, the music video for "Come Together" was notably recorded in front of a live audience, and is Michael's own cover of the Beatles song, with his characteristic grunts accompanying the lyrics, imparting to some degree, a unique spin in this regard, on the classic.
If the songs themselves are of quality, what of the container they're packaged in, you ask? The front of the box is adorned with selected holographic shots from the various music videos contained in the package, which move when you tilt the box downward toward yourself a little (a neat feature in my opinion). It comes with a booklet listing the songs on each disc, the length of each, and snapshots from the sets each video took place in (when recording wasn't in session). The box material is of standard quality but guarantees excellent protection of the three discs enshrined within. Overall, considering the price of the box set ($36.99 CAN), it averages out to a little under a dollar for each video, translating to a good deal for all appreciators of Jackson's music, no matter the degree of said appreciation or length thereof.
That's my update for this week.
David
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