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Rating: The brand "Michael Jackson" has unfortunately become synonymous with "pedophilia," "bleached skin," "psychopath." Just mention his name to trigger negative reactions from the public, which is such a pity! I believe there should be a distinction between his private life and artistic life, but it seems the latter has been forgotten by a large part of the population, not only due to the countless gossip stories of the tabloid press but also because of a lack of creativity from the artist (subjected to continuous psychological stress and victim of a corrupt system in the record industry). What happened to Michael Jackson?
Invincible is his last album (2001), a collection of new songs after 10 years from his underrated masterpiece Dangerous. 10 years of waiting and an epic production cost (the most expensive album in history!), fans in delirium, press and media ready to assault the new work of the "monster," so many years of waiting and so much hope to hear a new masterpiece album... But unfortunately, something has changed! And not for the better.
Invincible is a ReB album that divides itself between classicism and technology, a journey that aims to explore Michael Jackson's world by retracing his origins (a brilliant performer of melodic and rhythmic ballads who changed the history of pop forever) and his current state (an artist capable of adapting to modern times using contemporary means to appeal to the new generation, with electronic and futuristic songs), but this experiment unfortunately only half-succeeded! The feeling you get listening to this album is like being in a Ferrari Testarossa that just can't start; there's technology, millions of dollars, countless special guests (including Carlos Santana in the beautiful and Latin-flavored "Whatever Happens" and the late Notorious B.I.G. sampled in "Unbreakable") but he's missing... Michael Jackson is missing!! We are faced with a skilled interpreter but nothing more, the charisma, style, and emotions he could convey with previous albums, his screams, his genius flair, are gone! What can be perceived during the listening is only "methodology," as if Jackson was forced to make this album (a plausible hypothesis for many). The primary aim (which failed) of this record is to appeal to the new generation, starting with three rhythmic songs conceived for dance floors, ranging from futuristic ReB to pure electronic. The three songs are "Unbreakable," "Heartbreaker," "Invincible," which manage to engage the listener but not for long; the synthetic rhythms and rather slow execution speed become boring in the long run. The best of the three is undoubtedly "Unbreakable" (classic piano, marked percussion, Michael's stunning voice, and a splendid choral finale), but six minutes and twenty-five seconds are too long, and this is precisely one of the main flaws of the album, too many songs and too long (sixteen songs of almost 5/6 minutes each!!!). If Michael Jackson disappoints a lot in the futuristic field (remember that the songs from the Dangerous album were considered 15 years ahead of their time and still today the sounds of the album are sampled to create current music!), he always manages to convey emotions in his ballads. "Break of Dawn" is the first ballad of the album, a great song suitable for making love, sung divinely but slightly monotonous toward the end, "Heaven Can Wait" passes almost unnoticed and below average, "You Rock My World" was the single that brought Michael Jackson's name back to the forefront (number one single in Great Britain and fourth in Italy), a song not up to par with the artist but manages to fairly recall his vocal and musical origins, the only success among the 16 songs!. "2000 Watt," "Threatened" and "Privacy" are songs to fill the clubs (especially the former two, while the third is a protest rock against the tabloid press), they are danced at first, but as usual after ten listens interest already drops. I think the main defects of this album are largely due to Michael's collaborators, the days of the brilliant Quincy Jones are a distant memory, this record was produced by Rodney Jerkins who worked with Britney Spears and Destiny's Child, and the songs were composed by three people!! Absurd things for an album by the greatest pop artist of the century! The Michael composer is missing. Nevertheless, the album offers a couple of gems entirely written by Michael Jackson, the masterpiece "Speechless" (one of the highest moments of his career, introduction and finale a cappella, it was compared to "Imagine" by John Lennon) and the very sad but beautiful "The Lost Children," but two songs are not enough to uplift an album in my opinion too mechanical and soulless, Michael chose the wrong collaborators.
This album was considered a FLOP! A flop of 10 million copies!!! This just goes to show that the name Michael Jackson is still big, 10 million copies are sold by a successful group at the end of their career, but for Michael Jackson, it's a flop!! Fans (and Michael himself) claim that Sony boycotted the album due to financial issues. Sony wanted to gain control of the billionaire copyright catalog of The Beatles, owned by Michael, but he refused to renew his contract and President Tommy Mottola decided to withdraw the promotion of Invincible... it was war!. Others, however, claim that the failure of the album is solely due to the poor quality of the product. The truth will never be known, the only thing known is that this album lacks "soul," but it is still a quality album, its author is now a victim of a system leading him to self-destruction (which, of course, he has also sought himself) increasingly sidelining the artist (relying mainly on the wrong people). What saddens me is that today's generation could not experience the true power of this music genius, and they are now "Convinced" that Jackson is anything but something good. I don't know if this media phenomenon will one day manage to reassert itself as a great music artist to the new generation, but for the sake of record, it's right to remember what Michael Jackson represented for the world of music from the '70s to the mid-'90s. The greatest pop star on the planet, and without exaggeration, the most famous pop/rock artist of all time. With the hope of a return to the limelight, all we have left is to play yet again that masterpiece of "Off The Wall/Thriller/Bad/Dangerous" on our CD player and keep dreaming.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Unbreakable (06:27)
Artist: Michael Jackson f/ Notorious B.I.G
Album: Invincible
Song: Unbreakable
Typed by: sahoob_h@hotmail.com
[Michael Jackson]
Now I'm just wondering why you think
That you can get to me with anything
Seems like you'd know by now, when and how I get down
And with all that I've been through, I'm still around
Don't you ever make no mistake
Baby I've got what it takes
And there's no way you'll ever get to me
Why can't you see that you'll never ever hurt me
'Cause I won't let it be, I'm too much for you baby
Chorus [Michael Jackson]:
You can't believe it, you can't concieve it
And you can't touch me, 'cause I'm untouchable
And I know you hate it, and you can't take it
You'll never break me, 'cause I'm unbreakable
[Michael Jackson]
Now you can't stop me even though you think
That if you block me, you've done your thing
And when you bury me underneath all your pain
I'm steady laughin', while surfacing
Don't you ever make no mistake
Baby I've got what it takes
And there's no way you'll ever get to me
Why can't you see that you'll never ever hurt me
'Cause I won't let it be, see I'm too much for you baby
Chorus (2x)
[Michael Jackson]
You can try to stop me, but it won't do a thing
No matter what you do, I'm still gonna be here
Through all your lies and silly games
I'ma still remain the same, I'm unbreakable
[Notorious B.I.G.]
Uh, uh, what, uh
I'm a lime to a lemon, my CeCe women
Bringin in ten G minimums to condos with elevators in 'em
Vehicles with televisions in 'em
Watch they entourage turn yours to just mirages
Disappearing acts, strictly nines and macs
Killers be serial, Copperfield material
My dreams is vivid, work hard to live it
Any place I visit, I got land there
How can players stand there and say I sound like them
HELLO?!
Push wigs back and push six Coupes that's yellow
Plus clips that expand from hand to elbow
Spray up your Day's Inn, any 'telle you in
Crack braggin sick of braggin how my mink be draggin
Desert ease street sweeper inside the beamer wagon
I rely on Bed-Stuy to shut it down if I die
Put that on my diamond bezel, you're messin with the devil
WHAT!!
Chorus (3x w/ Ad Libs by Jackson)
You can't touch me
You can't break me
You can't stand with me
'Cause I'm unbreakable
OWW!
GO ON!
02 Heartbreaker (05:12)
Deceitful eyes, she's got those come get me thighs
she only knows how low that she can go
She speaks the lines that can control my mind
Wherever she goes I know my eyes follow
She blew a kiss, I swear that it was meant
only for me, then spoke with her body
her only goal is just to take control
And I can't believe that I can't tell her no
[CHORUS]
That girl I can't take her
should have known she was a heartbreaker
that girl I can't take her
should have seen right through her she's a heartbreaker
That girl I can't take her
should have seen it coming heartbreaker
that girl I can't take her
should have seen right thriough her
she's a heartbreaker
She plays a game with such an innocent face
I didn't know heartbreaking was her case
Her actions confess and put me through the test
I was surprised that I was caught inside
Now she's thinking that I will never know
ans she'll keep playing until I let her go
But I hope in time that she will finally realize
I'm onto her game and she'll get played the same
[CHORUS 2x]
I never thought that I would stop dreamin' about you
Stop being without you
But everyone told me so, to stop caring about you
and start being without you
but I'll find a way to go and start doin' without you
and stop talkin' aboout you
and what will she say?
She will say I was the man that got away
[RAP ]
[CHORUS OUT]
07 Butterflies (04:42)
All you gotta do is just walk away and pass me by
Don't acknowledge my smile when I try to say hello to you yeah
And all you gotta do is not answer my calls when
I'm trying to get through
To keep me wondering why, when all I can do is sigh
I just wanna touch you
{Chorus}
I just wanna touch and kiss and i wish that i could be with you
tonight cause you give me butterflys inside inside and i
All I gotta say is that I must be dreaming, can't be real
You're not here with me, still I can feel you near me
I caress you, let you taste us, just so blissful listen
I would give you anything baby, just make my dreams come true
Oh baby you give me butterflies inside
{chorus}
If you would take my hand, baby I would show you
Guide you to the light babe
If you would be my love, baby I will love you, love you
'Til the end of time
{chorus} (2x)
08 Speechless (03:20)
Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But I have not the words here to explain
Gone is the grace for expressions of passion
But there are worlds and worlds of ways to explain
To tell you how I feel
But I am speechless, speechless
That's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away and nothing is for real
When I'm with you I am lost for words, I don't know what to say
My head's spinning like a carousel, so silently I pray
Helpless and hopeless, that's how I feel inside
Nothing's real, but all is possible if God is on my side
When I'm with you I am in the light where I cannot be found
It's as though I am standing in the place called Hallowed Ground
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away and nothing is for real
I'll go anywhere and do anything just to touch your face
There's no mountain high I cannot climb I'm humbled in your grace
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am lost for words and nothing is for real
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am far away, and nothing is for real
Speechless, speechless, that's how you make me feel
Though I'm with you I am lost for words and nothing is for real
Speechless
Your love is magical, that's how I feel
But in your presence I am lost for words Words like, "I love you."
11 Privacy (05:06)
Ain't the pictures enough, why do you go through so much
To get the story you need, so you can bury me
You've got the people confused, you tell the stories you choose You try to
get me to lose the man I really am You keep on stalking me, invading my
privacy Won't you just let me be 'Cause your cameras can't control, the
minds of those who know That you'll even sell your soul just to get a story
sold
I need my privacy, I need my privacy
So paparazzi, get away from me
Some of you still wonder why, one of my friends had to die
To get a message across, that yet you haven't heard
My friend was chased and confused, like many others I knew
But on that cold winter night, my pride was snatched away
Now she get no second chance, she just ridiculed and harassed Please tell me
why Now there's a lesson to learn, respect's not given, it's earned Stop
maliciously attacking my integrity
I need my privacy, I need my privacy
So paparazzi, get away from me
Now there's a lesson to learn, stories are twisted and turned Stop
maliciously attacking my integrity
I need my privacy, I need my privacy
So paparazzi, get away from me
I need my privacy, I need my privacy
So paparazzi, get away from me
I need my privacy, I need my privacy
So paparazzi, get away from me
13 Cry (05:02)
Somebody shakes when the wind blows
Somebody’s missing a friend (Hold on)
Somebody’s lacking a hero
And they have not a clue when it’s all gonna end again
Stories buried and untold
Someone is hiding the truth (Hold on)
When will this mystery unfold
And will the sun ever shine
In the blind mans eyes when he cries
You can change the world (I can’t do it by myself)
You can touch the sky (It’s gonna take somebody’s help)
You’re the chosen one (I’m gonna need some kind of sign)
If we all cry at the same time tonight
If people laugh when they’re feeling sad
Someone is taking a life (Hold on)
Respect to believe in your dreams
So tell me where were you
When your children cried last night
Faces filled with madness
Miracles unheard of (Hold on)
Faith is found in the winds
All we have to do is to reach for the truth, the truth
You can change the world (I can’t do it by myself)
You can touch the sky (It’s gonna take somebody’s help)
You’re the chosen one (I’m gonna need some kind of sign)
If we all cry at the same time tonight
And when that flag glows there’ll be no more wars
And when all cause I will answer all your prayers (Prayers)
Show the world…
You can change the world (I can’t do it by myself)
You can touch the sky (It’s gonna take somebody’s help)
You’re the chosen one (I’m gonna need some kind of sign)
If we all cry at the same time tonight
15 Whatever Happens (04:56)
He gives another smile, tries to understand her side
To show that he cares, she can't stay in the room
She's consumed with everything that's been goin' on
She says
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Everything will be alright, he assures her
But she doesn't hear a word that he says
Preoccupied, she's afraid
Afraid what they've been doin's not right
He doesn't know what to say, so he prays
Whatever, whatever, whatever
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't you let go of my hand
Don't let go of my hand
Don't let go of my hand
He's working day and night, thinks he'll make her happy
Forgetting all the dreams that he had
He doesn't realize it's not the end of the world
It doesn't have to be that bad
She tried to explain, "It's you that makes me happy,"
Whatever, whatever, whatever
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't you let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't you let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't you let go of my hand
Whatever happens, don't let go of my hand
[Carlos Santana:] Thank you, man!
[Michael Jackson:] Thank you, Carlos!
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Other reviews
By ronnie92
In making Invincible, it’s as if MJ was undecided about whether to take the path of his origins or the modern one.
The album will be (perhaps) remembered for its extraordinary ballads and for being the only flop… of MJ’s career.
By Darius
"Invincible" intends to pursue a more intimate and profound self-analysis in a less bombastic manner and with a much less angry tone.
"You Rock My World" ... is tasty, danceable, engaging in itself, perhaps the track on the album where he performs with the most assurance and confidence.
By jif09
"Invincible is presented as a misunderstood work that holds pleasant surprises."
"If the album had received an excellent advertising campaign... its fate would have been brighter and more memorable."
