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Behind the Mask - Official Discussion Thread

Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

analogue said:
This song MUST be released as a single. It shouldn't even be questioned. A song like this will give the mainstream music scene the good kick up the ass that it needs.
Click to expand...

:punk:
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

Yeah release it as a single, followed by Hollywood Tonight.
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

What i love most is how melodic this song is.
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

Fantastic song, I just don't understand why the second and third verses are practically identical. It honestly doesn't bother me too much since I love the rest of the song so much.
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

A brief background before I give my opinion: I always loved Behind The Mask. As a deep lover of japanese culture, people and, of course, music, I always enjoyed Sakamoto-san's work. He's a genius. He wrote one of the greatest songs that my beloved Okada Yukiko ever recorded. His work with the Yellow Magic Orchestra is also great.

Clapton's and Phillingane's versions are also good, especially Eric's, which is my favorite version. So after years of talking about MJ's demo, I always wondered how it sounded. Of course I had no doubt that it was amazing... I mean, MJ + a song I love? Not only that, but a song from the almighty Sakamoto-san? It must be one of the greatest things ever, I thought!

Sadly, the 2010 execution of it stomped on my dreams until they broke. Don't get me wrong, it's MJ... And it's Behind The Mask. But any historical value and greatness were left behind thanks to the 2010 production. Without a bit of doubt, the greatest things in the song are the original vocals and the YMO-style back vocals. But the rest... Sheesh, where to begin? I actually care less about the live elements than the awful sax and other things that took a bit away from this great work. Sax can be great, sure, but this song has no place for a sax. The live elements, on the other hand, actually don't interfere much with the flow of the song.

Just listen to YMO's original work, then Eric's, then Phillingane's. Noticed something? All three are driven by the great keyboard, the same melody, the same "line". And for some reason they decided to take it away from MJ's version, which I'm sure had it in first place. It's just not the same characteristic BTM anymore...
Still, one of the best songs from the new album, no doubt. It absolutely destroys all the other bad things that one could have heard until BTM starts (starting with awful Akon and 50 cent "cooperations" - and to think Sony's considering a duet album! Now THAT could be proof of them wanting to destroy MJ...)..
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

I have to agree a bit with you yes...
anyway the sax is very great..
but some other stuff could have been better produced

especially this stupid live elements -.-
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

am i the only one who loves the live sound? It makes it sound epic. Totally different from any other track. I love EVERYTHING about this song. To me its perfect.
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

Amazing song! :dancing: One of my favorites from the album. There is such an energy and joyfulness in his voice IMO :heart:.
What are the additional lyrics Michael added to this song?
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

billyblues said:
A brief background before I give my opinion: I always loved Behind The Mask. As a deep lover of japanese culture, people and, of course, music, I always enjoyed Sakamoto-san's work. He's a genius. He wrote one of the greatest songs that my beloved Okada Yukiko ever recorded. His work with the Yellow Magic Orchestra is also great.

Clapton's and Phillingane's versions are also good, especially Eric's, which is my favorite version. So after years of talking about MJ's demo, I always wondered how it sounded. Of course I had no doubt that it was amazing... I mean, MJ + a song I love? Not only that, but a song from the almighty Sakamoto-san? It must be one of the greatest things ever, I thought!

Sadly, the 2010 execution of it stomped on my dreams until they broke. Don't get me wrong, it's MJ... And it's Behind The Mask. But any historical value and greatness were left behind thanks to the 2010 production. Without a bit of doubt, the greatest things in the song are the original vocals and the YMO-style back vocals. But the rest... Sheesh, where to begin? I actually care less about the live elements than the awful sax and other things that took a bit away from this great work. Sax can be great, sure, but this song has no place for a sax. The live elements, on the other hand, actually don't interfere much with the flow of the song.

Just listen to YMO's original work, then Eric's, then Phillingane's. Noticed something? All three are driven by the great keyboard, the same melody, the same "line". And for some reason they decided to take it away from MJ's version, which I'm sure had it in first place. It's just not the same characteristic BTM anymore...
Still, one of the best songs from the new album, no doubt. It absolutely destroys all the other bad things that one could have heard until BTM starts (starting with awful Akon and 50 cent "cooperations" - and to think Sony's considering a duet album! Now THAT could be proof of them wanting to destroy MJ...)..
Click to expand...

I will admit I have not heard the other versions, but if you strip away the historical context of the other songs including the original, you have to admit this MJ version sounds very good. I know taste is subjective, though, I honestly liked The sax parts...
 
Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

Just had to say it!
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

Agree 100 % !!!
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

jep it's grate
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

Agree! Wooow it's actually really good . Could be a single
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

minus the crowd bit half way through and they repeat a verse its by far the best song on the album, this and hollywood tonight are the only songs i'm listening to off the album.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

i love this song too (best of album), but i don't think it will be released as a single :(:(:(

That goes to monster, hollywood tonight and another day! More singles won't be released
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

Can someone make a thread (Vote for next single) with a poll so we can vote for the next single? i'm curious but i don't know how to do that.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

i really like the verses but the chorus hasn't grown on me yet.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

I love this song too!! But the live verses are stupid in the song !! Don't know what the persons where thinking when they added some live verses !! They really need to release the song without the live stuff!! Even the beginning, just let the saxophone play WITHOUT live in BUcharest !! But the song is amazing !!
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

Agreed. One of the all time greatest songs.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

I really think this was finalized by MJ himself. - Otherwise only very little changes have been made.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

It is even better then most songs on Thriller if you ask me. This should have been on it instead of The girl is mine!
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

I really like the live parts in the beginning.
It makes the song more exciting when the real deal is about to start.

So I don't see why everyone seems to hate it so much.. :/
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

I could only imagine if this was a single from thrilller, I seriously think this would have been as big of a classic as Billie Jean and Beat It. I love this song, although I would also like to hear the original version from the Thriller recording sessions, because this one has obviously been updated.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

I agree. It's my favorite song from the album. I believe there already was a Behind the Mask thread though. Maybe this should be merged.
 
Re: Behind the mask. What a fuking grate song!!!!

This is already gonna be my favorite song from the album aside from a few ballad-y songs. I just LOVE the electronic push in the verses! That part drives me wild!

And I don't mind the crowd cheers, but WHY did they use it from the Bucharest concert? Probably because they chant his name...but it's just too familiar to me. I know those concert cheers so well thanks to watching all these bootleg tours.
 
Re: The "Behind the Mask" Thread [Merged]

I would guess the reason why the used that particular concert is the same reason why the lifted vocal "parts" from other other released songs. Because it was easier.

Of all the concerts that were recorded, they used the crowd noises from that concert?
Of all the recording sessions that never saw the light of day, even MJ warming up with whooo, Ughhhhh, Ouh!s, they used stuff from songs we all know well. Why?

1. It was easier/lazy to use this stuff than to track down anything else.
2. Hardcore MJ fans will recognize it, but most people won't, so they probably figured it would be ok.
 
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