The BEST Moments from MJ's Greatest Run, Ranked
6/8/202622 min
Jazz musicians Adam Maness and Peter Martin review their three favorite songs from Michael Jackson's most iconic albums: Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall. And their choices aren't what you might expect.
Plus - Adam, Peter and the Open Studio band play their jazzy interpretation of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.
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Off the Wall: https://youtu.be/jR9zxGueeq4
Thriller: https://youtu.be/KZx6W3SI8JA
Bad: https://youtu.be/XgcI9LkZqeo
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About You'll Hear It:
In this popular music series, Adam and Peter break down the greatest albums of all time. Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Joni Mitchell, D'Angelo: Jazz is the foundation of the most GENIUS music in recent history. These seasoned jazz pianists bring their deep musical knowledge to every joyful episode to help you hear the hidden qualities that make music AMAZING. You'll never hear music the same way again.
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00:00 The Top 3 Songs on Bad, Thriller and Off the Wall
00:55 #3
05:02 #2
12:23 #1
16:40 "Smooth Criminal" - Open Studio
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsPeter Martin· Host0:00
[upbeat music] You know, I was- Mind-blowing. Yeah.
Adam Maness· Host0:03
That is, that is a vocal performance that only Michael Jackson could do.
Peter Martin· Host0:06
That's a perfect track.
Adam Maness· Host0:07
It's a perfect track.
Peter Martin· Host0:07
I'm gonna put it out there.
Adam Maness· Host0:08
It's a perfect- It wasn't until I was a teenager that I discovered this specific track.
Peter Martin· Host0:12
I said, "Is that Michael Jackson?" [upbeat music] Hey, Adam.
Adam Maness· Host0:29
Yes.
Peter Martin· Host0:30
You know what we're do- [laughs] You know what we're doing today?
Adam Maness· Host0:32
What?
Peter Martin· Host0:32
We're gonna look back at some of our favorite moments. Yeah, no, over here.
Adam Maness· Host0:36
Oh.
Peter Martin· Host0:37
Yeah.
Adam Maness· Host0:37
[laughs] Okay. Sorry, sorry.
Peter Martin· Host0:38
But we're looking back in time.
Adam Maness· Host0:39
Oh, okay.
Peter Martin· Host0:40
You know, what would you say is the f- our favorite period of Michael Jackson, the greatest run, if we were to isolate three albums?
Adam Maness· Host0:46
Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad.
Peter Martin· Host0:47
Yeah, that's what we're looking back on.
Adam Maness· Host0:48
Every moment with these albums is amazing, but these are some that stand above the rest.
Peter Martin· Host0:53
So stick around. You'll see it and you'll hear it.
Adam Maness· Host0:55
[upbeat music] Thriller, at the time when, when it came out, was and still remains one of my all-time favorite. I think Thriller is as close as a perfect pop record that's ever been made. I, I think we can all agree that it should be talked about in that- Yeah ... in that sense. But I didn't really know Off the Wall, 'cause it was a little bit before my time.
Peter Martin· Host1:15
Yeah.
Adam Maness· Host1:15
Thriller was so massive, and then Bad was so massive.
Peter Martin· Host1:19
Oh, yeah.
Adam Maness· Host1:19
Those two specifically, and I love Dangerous, too, by the way, don't get me wrong.
Peter Martin· Host1:22
Yeah.
Adam Maness· Host1:22
But, like, that run, Thriller and beyond, kinda just took over my early childhood. Michael Jackson was my favorite