Michael Jackson JAM Original Studio Multitracks (Listening Session & Analysis)

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My Website: chrisliepe.com
The beatboxing, though not the focus of the final mix, RULES this groove. As we dive into the multitracks/stems, you'll hear immediately that the instrumental arrangement is, of course, amazing!
...But all the programming precision and masterful arranging in the world can't create... Soul... Groove... POCKET!
Watch and listen as I discover just how Michael subtly pulls and pushes the beat with his voice in only the genius way he can do.
THIS is why we love this music so much. THIS is why, in its relative simplicity by today's standards, we cling to to these songs.
It is the raw, struggling... Fighting-to-be-released presence of a voice that projects so many different emotions and colors that keeps us coming back! Enjoy with me...
-Chris

[@chrisliepe]

MJ's copyright owners will allow this video to remain on youtube but there must be consistent use of frequent stops. No one part of the the song in part or in whole can be played without frequent interruptions. This is partially why I stop and comment and sing during and after key sections that I play. If I just play the files, the video will be taken down. Presenting the files in this format with this kind of flow cements the FAIR USE intent which is why it can remain up on KZbin. Along these lines, I can not reveal where or link to the source files or I'll get a takedown notice as well. Giving away content that is not mine to give also falls outside of FAIR USE intent. Thanks for understanding and for enjoying the video! I'm excited for you to hear all the wonderful nuances!

[@philwebb2579]

have you done who is it at all

[@renatevanhaaften8059]

can you imagine Chris, how surprised we were in 1991, listening to Jam as the first song of Dangerous? This was completely different to listen to, we could hear how he developed himself, a complete new style, a complete new Michael. Therefore Dangerous will always be my favorite album.

[@eliasringquist]

Remember it very well… I admit I was shocked by the hidden sound of the vocals and the weird soundscape but that just shows how ahead of us it was (I was only ten at the time). My favorite album too! It’s a perfect combination of street style R&B and classical, harmonically beautiful lushness and God given melodies.

[@affonsocordovil2932]

Dangerous is my favorite Michael's album because is pure Michael for the first time in his career

[@jalonjones8567]

@@affonsocordovil2932 Agreed

[@chrisliepe]

I was 10 and remember the whole thing with Michael Jordan too. What a magical time!!!

[@eliasringquist]

@@chrisliepe it certainly was. You and I seem like having fairly the same age at that time. I miss it often and if time travel is invented, that’s where I’ll go!

[@mira4724]

I just can’t say it enough. Michael was an absolute genius. He knew exactly what he wanted and how he wanted his art to be. He lived along with his art and really appreciated every instrument and person that took part in creating such art. For me he is the best artist.

[@TravisPayne1]

Excellent breakdown, Chris! Had the honor of co-choreographing this song with Michael too.🙏🏾

[@chrisliepe]

What an incredible opportunity!!!!

[@fatimadarwish-gv2er]

A memorable video, excellent cinematography and camera direction using shadow elements and lighting effectively.

[@kaicanyonellis]

Travis you are a legend. Thank you for all the truly inspired choreography you brought to life with Michael!!!

[@bnicolette14]

The legend Travis Payne! Love you and your work so much. Thank you ❤

[@SubhansVault]

*who needs any music when you've got that kind of voice*

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

Exactly. The music actually ruins it 😂

[@jipiju]

​ It actually really does ruin it lol. The song is groovy as heck with just MJ singing and doing his rhythmic stuff and some of it gets lost with the instrumental added in.

[@SOC675]

He truly was a musical genius. I hope a lot more people start to wake up and realize that he wasn't the monster that the media portrayed him to be. He was innocent, and a beautiful human being and his music should be listened to and studied for eternity. Great video Chris!

[@ANITACHEONG-em8mt]

100% with you

[@Jennifer-cz2if]

Watching your videos is like listening to and discovering MJ’s music all over again. It adds a whole new dimension.

[@chrisliepe]

Glad you have enjoyed!!

[@mi-key]

Jam is ao underrated. It’s got so much power

[@MarkoTiano]

That beatbox loop he does through out the whole song is simply genius. It so rhythmic, the true definition of a dance/soul/pop song. I love how he just looped that through out the whole thing, then lead vocals come in and fits beyond great. I never heard no artist do that. The King

[@robdisner]

I was a studio runner on Dangerous. It’s so fascinating to break down all these tracks that I heard blasting out from those studio doors for two years straight! Excellent work. No idea how you get ahold of this stuff!

[@simonm9235]

Hey Rob, most of MJ’s multitracks have leaked and publicly available from Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and History. Nothing much after that. It’s not right but better to listen to than anything the MJ Estate have released unfortunately.

[@lilyCharalabidou]

He said in an interview that when he would write a song he would beatbox the main foundation of the track and build the sounds around it. He was hearing all the instruments in his head, the base, the drums, everything! He was a music genius and an unbelievable talent.

[@vinjmac]

MJ was a very underrated singer, I always thought of him as one of the best due to the varying range he had.

[@actionau]

Mj's BREATHING /inhalation alone sounds so musically/aurally on point. Who else in music history ever did that with their voice in their songs?

[@killstreak4767]

I'm a simple boy, I see Michael, I click instantly Btw also do listen all songs from ghosts short movie of Michael like is it scary, ghosts, they're all underrated masterpieces

[@salemworld86]

Same haha!

[@mikkolaine23]

Agreed.

[@jipiju]

Is It Scary especially. I checked out MJ's streaming numbers recently and Is It Scary is really really unknown. Crazy to me since ever since the song came out I've regarded it as one of the most quintessential MJ songs. It's trademark MJ perfection.

[@Tradewindrain]

Jam, jam, here comes THE MAN, hot damn 🔥

[@diegomax]

This just shows how huge of a musical genius teddy riley really is. The synth/sampler programming on this track is out of this world, speacially for the 90s.

[@billyjay86]

Yes! Teddy & Michael were incredible together. Genius.

[@khairt1731]

Can you please do "Who is it" this is 1 of my favorite song from Michael. He made the beat with his mouth and build the song around his beatboxing. He sings with so much emotions on this song. Thank You

[@sujugasim753]

I don’t think there is a multitrack for who is it available

[@Soos_Day]

I really hope that too

[@chrisliepe]

You’re right. No multitracks circulating for that one unfortunately

[@khairt1731]

@Chris Liepe too bad thanks tho!

[@bstorm44]

There really should be an MJ Acapella album. The vocals are so much more soul than the final mix. great review dude

[@zuzanazuscinova5209]

This

[@thayssaaquino]

without a doubt one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs, I think the beat of this song is AMAZING, thanks again for bringing mj's multi tracks, always please❤️🇧🇷

[@jamiegunn]

Another amazing video! It’s amazing how rhythmic MJ’s vocals are along with his melodies on the isolated versions without all the instruments in the mix.

[@camptube7621]

To match to a downbeat is genius. His ear for rhythm was simply amazing.

[@asnova81]

I love how passionate you are about music and especially Michael Jackson’s music! It’s such a delight to listen and watch! 🙌🤩❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💫💫💫💫

[@wrathfulpanic3128]

Hope you're having a great day Chris. Love your videos, especially these breakdown videos

[@chrisliepe]

Thanks, you too!

[@danieldeldaniel3919]

that song is the proof that Michael Jackson is genius even without Quincy at the production

[@Behnan]

if you love this, They Dont care about us will be an eye opener...I always wondered how they did the rhythm on that track. on the mix you hear the kick and the stick but that's just 50%. The rhythm what we feel is his beat boxing. Masterpiece in rhythmic and vocal control

[@JonathanLeon]

The instrumentals are what make the song amazing! Also Michael’s voice too.

[@garyleem2000]

Thank you for a year of great MJ breakdowns. I’d love you to breakdown “Scream” ft. Janet.

[@arccosinusopinion2323]

Totally agree! this one has enough power to drive a jet plane for sure

[@marshallgoggins5450]

I gotta stop by and give credit for Chris’s videos…Man U do educate ppl…with or without a music career in the future ppl learn from your videos…a lot. Thank u for making such high quality analysis…ur channel is no underrated.

[@lightgangsta]

as a I michael jackson fan since the day I was born, you make me discover his music again. precious work. thank you for this gitft

[@bstorm44]

8:27 he really pushes the verse lyrics forward so awesome. the rest of the music industry is nowhere close

[@shanefoote4808]

Perhaps his most underrated song. Pure rhythm and funk. Love it!!!

[@samuelpascual2462]

I will never tire of thanking you these analyses. Merry Christmas and more MJ for the coming year🤗

[@Gabrielle4870]

Forever etched in my memory as the first song during the Dangerous Tour concert.

[@tikobakhtadze6877]

his music is a soundtrack of my life ❤❤❤❤❤

[@dominicsantiago8177]

Jam is one of my favourites from Dangerous. Alongside Black or White, Will You Be There and Remember the Time. Another great video Chris ;)

[@giogamer4825]

Really love the MJ sessions!! Thanks 👍Wondering who provide you the MJ master tracks...Thanks to him/her also for approving this and let us look deeper into MJ's work, with help from Bruce Swedien. Feel like every MJ fan should check your MJ sessions out!

[@GOUST3]

you really need to get morphine or something of the album "invincible" there are a lot of his vocals that gave me goosebumps ( I'm Brazilian and my English isn't the best but i love Michael and your channel are the best, you really helped me improve my voice and sing better.. thank you very much ❤️)

[@GalDaniel82]

If I wasn't already a huge MJ fan I would be for sure after watching your videos. Your enthusiasm is so cool. Thank you for sharing all of these multitracks.

[@kowloonbroadcast]

man, u’re fucking killing me. i’ve already wrote somewhere in the comments to MJ video(s), that i enjoy your collection of his breakdowns particularly for the songs they feature - often not the most popular from the discography, but yet ones of the most defining and significant for the man’s artistry in general - like Dirty Diana, BOTDF, Earth Song, etc. But *Jam* - is by far my favorite one of the whole Jackson’s catalog. I guess it’s literally Christmas for me indeed. Thanks for this gem, so cool 🙏🏼

[@Ratcliffe1981]

Yes, Jam, up there as one of my all time MJ tracks. Love these videos. Would love it if you could get a hold of Why U Wanna Trip On Me from Dangerous.

[@NaetionOfBeauty]

That would be FIREEEE

[@simonralpmet7901]

I never realized that pull &push thing! But you are so.. right! He adds just that what I feel "miss" in modern pop music, 'humanised' machine music. Even in a fixed tempo, he create an illusion of acceleration & slow down. He does the magic with his voices tracks [background]. Janet has same complexity but feel less humanised quantisation. No satiation in the REPEAT LOOP. That's the Magic of his songs...

[@marggiepv]

You’d have a field day with Heartbreaker from the Invincible Album 😮‍💨

[@halfMoon675]

This made my day! Indeed, made my week... Indeed, made my 2022!!!! Thank you Chris!

[@Boiiiiwhatttt]

if i could afford to work with you i would chose you above all other coaches because of these videos, Mj is the biggest reason i make music and sing. thank you for these

[@brodylanetx]

Yessir let’s go. I hope one day you can do get on the floor, or heartbreak hotel.

[@brodylanetx]

13:04 amuch for me always cracked me up lol Mike will make up a word like nothing “shamon” 😂

[@Snyper1405]

Only Mike could make it sound badass in a song and still make it a "masterpiece" 😉🙌🏽✨️🧡💯🎯👑

[@jetdeleon]

Thank you so much for these videos Chris.. This one in particular is such an important reminder that if we want to have music that truly moves us as human beings, we have to learn to perform it ourselves and not defer everything to machines

[@jooei2810]

I would love to hear these multitracks on a good studio setup.

[@sh1maru]

The bass part in this song is a masterpiece

[@JMrealgamer]

Appreciation for MJ’s stuff is amazing. I appreciate you for really getting into the details.

[@meels9796]

Michael is A GENIUS! I know for sure if Michael was still with us he would absolutely love your channel and probably feature on it!!! AMAZING WORK

[@SkepticalTeacher]

The main vocal line is also in trochee and not iambic pentameter like the majority of normal speech in English, this gives it that sense of urgency, FYI.

[@natoriousyes3773]

I've been binge watching these breakdowns for the last few days. i hope they are never ending. so glad i came across your channel. great stuff. keep it up!

[@Life0fGreg]

Great video again

[@KingOfAssyria_IIVI]

Brahhh this guys voice in the video is the highest quality an most well tuned iv seen. Trying to master it to get it this good. .. Mastery

[@dalisman]

Jam is a marvel - one of his very best IMO and that’s saying something - great analysis!

[@ocramknight]

Yes!! I was hoping for you to analyze my favourite MJ track!

[@stefanmatschke8017]

Oh lord! More of these. Yes!!!

[@nicksharma8238]

wow. The inhalation in the upbeat, never noticed that. It really gives the beat a "train" feel

[@pranz5]

incredible stuff! just getting into your channel; im a big mj fan and these breakdowns of the composition of these classics is captivating

[@camilaleonor_]

Loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Chris !

[@Dublinproud]

Love your MJ videos man keep up the good work!

[@KamoMustafaWWE]

Thanks for another video, Chris. Jam is #4 on my list, yet I listen to it more than any other MJ song.

[@187onasimp]

I love this man's passion and appreciation of music Chris always does a great job. Also you can hear so much of James Brown's influence on Michael's vocals on this it's awesome. Where he doesn't fully pronounce words as he sings. It's a James Brown technique. There's an old interview of Teddy Riley talking about recording Michael in the studio. It may have even been about this song but it was his Dangerous era of music. When he first started recording with Teddy Riley early on Teddy Riley thought Michael was making mistakes in the lyrics because he wouldn't fully pronounce the words in some of the lyrics and Michael basically had told Teddy Riley that this is how he usually sings and that he rarely pronounces the words all the way. Teddy Riley was just blown away by that method. I have a personal theory that Quincy Jones probably didn't like Michael doing that to lyrics when he was producing for him so when Michael switched over to Teddy Riley he had more freedom to express himself vocally and started using the technique more often because it's all over Teddy Riley era of music but only hints of it on the QJ era tracks but it was still present on tracks like Smooth Criminal and a few others on BAD. Just my theory.

[@smallbigsparks7980]

DANGEROUS nextt !!!!This was great!

[@chrisliepe]

Trying to find it :)

[@Yannplaysguitar]

Probably my favorite track of Michael Jackson

[@BlackPrimeMinister]

I've finally given in and subscribed. Your analysis is too good.

[@chrisliepe]

ha, thanks for the sub!!

[@affonsocordovil2932]

I love this song ♥️ One of my favorites from Dangerous album

[@foodaddict2759]

One of my favourite. Mj tracks! Such suspense building and so much almost anger in hes voice singing 👌🎶

[@katehinman6283]

I so enjoy these and listen to a new one every couple of days. I then post them to FB and highly recommend anyone who is a musician or a fan of MJ listen to capture his brilliance. So. Well. Done.

[@SkepticalTeacher]

I should add: his tour drummer, Johnny Moffett, is known for his style where he plays slightly behind, that Funk style. Listen to him playing Jam on Drumeo (I think it is). You'll hear the same thing there.

[@chrisliepe]

Yessssss!!!

[@lartisan6274]

your analyse is gold 💥💯

[@jarradhurley4866]

After being a fan for 30 years I didnt think I could gain a new appreciation for Michael's music. Somehow Chris has proved me wrong!

[@Jemar630]

As a huge basketball fan I was tempted to say well that was some really good from the vocals.

[@Jemar630]

Yeesh! When did I put this crap in?

[@juliarebecca451]

It’s amazing how much you actually care. Your work is phenomenal.

[@ChapC_YT]

When I was a kid, I couldnt listen to any other music since I felt like all other songs were missing something. Now it all makes sense. No other songs has these many layers to it.

[@eliasringquist]

I really enjoy these MJ dissections and since I’ve adapted this very much into my own songwriting and soundscaping I must say that I’d really love a dissection from you ❤ it would be a future bucket list thing. Nerding down…

[@MJKingofPopNL]

Thank you Chris for a new awesome video ✌️🙏

[@The-Flute-Wizard]

Your videos are always such a delight to watch, amazing analysis and passion in the diagnostics you share, as always great job brother!

[@barryglennon1442]

The universe exploded when I first heard JAM

[@NOYBNOYB]

Chris your MJ vids bring me greater appreciation of the intricacies of music creation. Quick question - If you have grown up watching MJ’s live performance you know he matches his voice, inflections, and *hee heee’s* perfectly live to his studio tracks. Some people like it when Artists do this, some people like original sounding live performances. For me it depends on the artist. I liked that Michael memorized even the smallest background sounds in “Man in the Mirror” live as he does in the studio. Have you ever compared Michael’s live version of a song to a studio track? The similarities sound insanely close to my ears but I wonder what they look like in a track breakdown. Cheers bud and thanks again for these incredible vids.

[@chrisliepe]

That is a fun idea for a video approach! Live vs studio!

[@MrWhiplash7x]

Not to rain on your parade, but any tour after the Bad tour consisted of about 75% lip syncing on Michael's part, so that is what you are most likely hearing. From Dangerous on he focused a lot more on the stage show and dance routines and as a result start utilizing lip syncing to songs that required a lot of movement. Because of this, I find the Bad tour the peak of Michael's live performance because he struck a nice balance between dancing and being able to pull off live vocals.

[@JarrodFactor]

@@MrWhiplash7x This is very true. He also perfected this gesture where he appears to be adjusting his microphone, but it just happens have his entire hand covering his mouth as he does it (i.e. he weirdly always uses the hand on the opposite side to the microphone). And these always seem to happen during rhythmically complicated or irregular parts, where his lip syncing would be obvious. Once you notice it you can't unsee it.

[@christophersony7975]

@@MrWhiplash7x spot on. It doesn’t particularly bother me that he chose to lip sync in his later performances. We all know he could sing. What rattles me slightly is the collective “no he isn’t” that comes from the super fans.

[@salemworld86]

Oooh this is going to be good

[@omgnetwork5231]

This song will always be my favorite song on that album and one of my favorite one's to dance to.

[@franklee3800]

Love this!!

[@darrellwallace4182]

It's always sad that the full realization of a true genius is only appreciated after their gone. Michael was an incredible and instinctive artist. I love Chris' dissecting Michael's music, but I think what I can understand from these reviews is that Michael did not sing with thinking to much about what he was doing. He was an instinctive artist. He felt it to his core!

[@NTJx_1]

This is really genius. Michael along with Teddy Ridley… chef’s kiss

[@Guitarist888]

Teddy Riley did a magnificent job composing the beat! Got a love new Jack swing!

[@rossfromsa]

If you know anything about Michael, you would know he created a beatbox and other parts simply with his voice for a producer to add to. What Teddy did was not composition.

[@Guitarist888]

@@rossfromsa teddy was co-composer of the beat and harmony! He arranged it. Do yourself a favor young blood, go to a record store and look at the back of the album jacket and read the credits to the track “Jam”. Or better yet, watch the dangerous 25 anniversary documentary on KZbin. Teddy talks about how he arranged beat & harmony! Give the innovator of New Jack Swing his credit!

[@rossfromsa]

@@Guitarist888 his name is third on the liner notes for arrangement. Michael composed it, did the vocal arrangement and Bruce Swedien and Michael seems to have done most of the bulk work of this song. In the closet I give Teddy his flowers for and Remember the time.

[@d.vinc1387]

@@Guitarist888 No this is not completely true. Bruce Swedien and René Moore came up with the drum beat before Teddy had even joined the Dangerous project. It was between 1989-1990 and was originally called Time Marches On and was going to be for Rene’s next album but they gave it to Michael to use. Michael ended up working more on the song and came with the hook and an arrangement. Then when Teddy Riley joined he gave it to him to work on. Teddy reproduced the track and added the horns, keyboards, guitar parts, and percussion elements and other things to rhythm section. Michael then wrote all of the lyrics and came up with the vocal arrangement. So it overall was a team effort.

[@Guitarist888]

@@d.vinc1387 you’re partially right except for, Bruce swedine and Rene Moore doing the drum beat. Bruce main job was to mix and record. Not to make beats. And Rene was responsible for repetitive synth strings. Teddy came up with the beat, the glass breaking samples, the record scratching and the synth 🎷 .

[@iremainproductions4827]

You are extremely inspirational!!

[@100-beats8]

Go Michael Jackson-give in to me (dangerous)

[@RhiannonTyler]

It’s amazing to hear the parts within the song in these breakdowns. So much is lost in the mix especially with lower quality speakers. This one is truly a study in percussion too. Reminds me of Carol Kaye’s bass lesson on making your metronome groove. Syncopation in the pocket ❤

[@amj_as]

I Enjoy very much oll your reaction of Mj songs... and I thank you very much ❤️🌏🕊️🌏♥️

[@steffieamaya2035]

Michael is so amazing ❣🙏🏾 I love Jam, i love the wholy dangerous album. Thank you for your new video. ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

[@GantzGeo]

Thank you for this Dangerous is my favorite album. And it's sooo underrated.

[@fuadtaghizade]

Ohh my God. Love it

[@Bow503]

Bravo..! 👏 The most prestigious Royal Academy in the solar system.

[@sepheroth709]

This just gets better and better! My two favorite vocal coaches with my favorite harsh vocalist! Sometimes this world is amazing!

[@marggiepv]

Loving all these break downs lol So interesting

[@BJ17.]

Love ❤️ it..

[@klarapfister783]

ain't nobody like him, he had passion for music, he lived for music

[@cgazlan]

thanks for the MJ content...