LOVE STORY

Hillary Clinton’s What Happened Tells the Story of Love in Unexpected Places

Few D.C. pols could have predicted that Hillary Clinton’s doomed presidential campaign would give rise to a sizzling love affair that now graces the pages of her new memoir.  What Happened is the story of both defeat and redemption.  Its passion rises above the petty politics that most associate with the 2016 election.  [More] 

MEDIA MATTERS

Hurricane Irma Exposes Cable News Networks

CNN and other cable news networks found that the worst Hurricane Irma devastation was not in Florida but in a worse place: their credibility.  After convincing the nation that Irma would devour the entire state of Florida, the hurricane fizzled in the Caribbean and left the hysterical media red-faced.  [More] 

IN THE TOILET

Houston Mayor Orders Residents to Flush More

In an executive order that conflicts with conventional wisdom and modern environmental ethics, Houston Mayor orders residents to flush their toilets more to help clear out floodwaters.  [More]

 

 

Can You Remember? -- A Look At Child Prodigy Michael Jackson -- Page 3

 

Here is a stronger 1969 performance (performed in the same outfits as the prior video).  This performance is from a TV series “Live from the Hollywood Palace” and dates from the same month as the release of I Want You Back.  Can You Remember would never be one of the Jackson 5’s hits, but it shows young Michael’s vocal talents (and Diana Ross’ pointy chest) quite well.  (Warning: Sammy Davis, Jr. goofs a little before they come out.  The song starts at 1:30.)

Any stage fright or lack of polish would vanish by the end of 1969.  The Jackson 5 appeared on the Ed Sullivan show in November.  Michael’s live performance of Who's Loving You bested that of the adult Motown legend Smokey Robinson's studio version.   (See page 1.)

Looking back on these videos, due regard should be paid to band members Jermaine Jackson who played a soulful bass guitar and Tito Jackson who played a very capable lead guitar.  Drummer Johnny Jackson (no relation) and keyboardist Ronnie Rancifer played with the group from their beginnings in Gary, Indiana and toured with the all over the world.  They also played during their television appearances.  While no one in the group stood out as much as Michael Jackson, they all played very well and provided Jackson with the perfect platform for his vocal and dancing talents.

Jackson was not a child prodigy only because he could dance on stage and sing bubblegum rock songs.   His uncanny ability to interpret ballads truly set him apart.  Other performers and rock critics at the time wondered out loud how a kid so young could sing about adult longing and pain with such emotion.   What life experience did he have to draw upon?

Observe young Jackson [at 1:25 into the video] interviewed by a rather grating news person who inadvertantly tapped into this question after asking many rather useless questions that Jackson shrugged off.  Jackson's response is that of someone at least 10 years his senior: “I don't sing it if I don't mean it.”

Motown realized that Jackson's vocal ability went way beyond fast pop tunes like ABC. As a result, they had Jackson release solo albums that produced gems like Never Can Say Goodbye and Got To Be There.  These tracks maybe more than any others show us the child prodigy in full form.

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