Clearly Inspired by The King Of Pop

Michael Jackson has inspired so many current artists. In remembrance and memorial to Michael Jackson, here is a look at a few (in no particular order)...

Britney Spears
Spears has become one of the biggest selling artists in the 2000s and partly because of her tours which feature what many think Spears does best, dance. A lot of her dancing has been influenced from Michael Jackson.

Chris Brown
Brown has been labeled in some cases a younger version of MJ. Once again his dance moves catapult him towards this comparison. At the 2007 MTV VMAs he performed to "Billie Jean," in tribute to MJ.

Justin Timberlake
Timberlake has become another entertainer who's gained many MJ comparisons from his particular dancing. Along with 'N Sync, he even performed with one of his idols, MJ.

Usher
Very similar to MJ, Usher grew up in the spotlight and became the star he is today right in front of the public. As he grew up, his dancing became more respected and appreciated; from his distinctive moves such as his handstand, he's obviously been influenced by MJ.

Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo alike MJ has became a prominent and popular songwriter. As he has been dancing for some time now, he really showed off his MJ moves and swag with the live performances and music video to 2008s "Closer."

Rihanna
While Rihanna isn't really the dancing music superstar, she sampled the MJ made famous "Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa" chant in her hit "Don't Stop The Music." Following, she also used the dark eerie vibe from "Thriller" in her music video to "Disturbia."

Ciara
Unlike many others Ciara has listed both MJ and his younger sister has big influenced to her style of dance. While some label her the new era Janet, in a recent interview with ThatGrapeJuice she actually picked MJ over Janet!

Ashanti
While Ashanti isn't really compared to MJ for her dancing, she was definitely lyrically inspired by The King Of Pop. Her 2003 hit single was titled "Rock Wit You (Awww Baby)" similar to MJs 1979 hit single "Rock With You." She also remixed the song to feature a beat more similar to MJs version and a bridge featuring his lyrics.

Beyonce
Beyonce is one of the biggest females when it comes to putting on a show filled with dance routines and memorable performances. Similar to MJ's moonwalk, Beyonce's dance routine for "Single Ladies" was inspired from a past similar number she saw. She has recently claimed him as one of her heroes.

Omarion
Even though Omarion isn't currently in the spotlight as he used to be, Omarion's dancing has been clearly inspired from MJ. If you watch his videos including "Touch" you can see resemblances to how MJ would effortless move in Omarion as well.

As you can see many artists have been and continue to be influenced and inspired by The King Of Pop. Michael Jackson will stand forever as the guideline of what an ultimate global star is and should be like. And if that statement seems to big for me to make, just look at some of the extremely popular stars who have emulated Jackson in some way, shape or form. [Do you know someone who deserves to be on this list? Drop a comment, and list your name and you will receive credit if added to the list]

R.I.P. Michael Joseph Jackson
August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

3rd Times A Charm | "Love Sex Magic" -Ciara & Justin Timberlake

I can not be the only one feeling that Ciara is scrapping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to her originality lately. As she still struggles to release her 3rd album Fantasy Ride, the single choice hasn't been on point, is a light statement.

"Go Girl," which featured T-Pain just wasn't half as catchy or energetic as it should have been, and quickly got forgotten. T-Pain, what happen to your Top 10 magic? Since it has been switched from being labeled as a lead/1st single to the albums buzz single; even though a video was created for it [sounds like a failed single, to me].

The second shot at jump starting Fantasy Ride, brought us a mid tempo collaboration featuring Young Jeezy. With a semi-catchy sampled chorus, "Never, Ever" managed to gain more attention than its previous, but not enough for LaFace [Records-Ciara's Label]. [Which is odd because I was actually starting to like the song, the more and more I heard it!]

Trying for a 3rd attempt, only a month after the initial release of "Never Ever," Ciara's next collaborative choice, was no one other than Justin Timberlake. Good collaboration when you first think about it huh? But "Love Sex Magic," just doesn't cut it for me. It seems overly Poppy for Ciara's style, and after disliking the song's demo [done solo by Justin Timberlake] and not liking it doesn't help either. "Love Sex Magic," really seems like the type of song you would have to let grow on you, as an R&B fan, though if you love Pop or Dance music, it's definitely for you!


Over all it just comes off as a forced, awkward duet. The duo could have done a lot better. Timberlake's production on this song, doesn't match his previous work such as "Dead And Gone," or "4 Minutes." They basically went for an extremely club song, with a massive Dance Pop feel to it. Who knows, since Pop is whats selling, especially for the average R&B artist (Rihanna, Beyonce) maybe this will finally help catapult Fantasy Ride, for the public to hear. I'm just hoping in the end, they continue to push "Never, Ever" at R&B and Rhythmic radio because over time, people will like that song, more and more too.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF "Love Sex Magic," LISTEN to the song HERE!

The Ciara Formula-Polow Da Don-ized

Ciara obviously is experimenting with new sounds, because she clearly isn't doing her signature Crunk sound ("Goodies," "Get Up"). First failed lead single "Go Girl," featuring T-Pain, didn't manage to allow the album for a late 2008 release-probably because people expected a high energy single since T-Pain was the featured guest.

"Never, Ever" takes a semi-catchy sample for the chorus, and has Ciara sing it in an almost adolescent tone. It attempts to bring a light dance feel to a laid back track With the songs producer being Polow Da Don, who worked with Ciara on her only hit mid-tempo, "Promise," and a feature from Young Jeezy," (also featured in the Polow Da Don produced "Love In This Club") you can tell that plans to create a mix of the two songs was in mind.

It's nice to hear Ciara try new things, but sometimes you gotta stick to what your good at. Though many claim Ciara to be a "young Janet" and Janet did have success with ballads (such as "Again") so it makes sense for Ciara to want to slow down the tempo as well.

"Never, Ever" isn't a bad song, it just isn't what fans exactly expect from Ciara [minus the fact they do expect her singles to be collabos ("1, 2, Step," [featuring Missy Elliott] "Oh," [featuring Ludacris] "Can't Leave Em Alone," [featuring 50 Cent] the list goes on...) so the success of this single can go anyway! Listen & watch the video to Ciara's "Never, Ever."

Ciara's Album Dilemma

“Go Girl,” from the start WAS expected to be the first single for Ciara’s Fantasy Ride, there’s no denying that. All artists’ singles which are made into videos were intended singles; whether they become hot or not. Otherwise record labels would just solicit them to radio, and not create an expensive music video for it. Just like how Keri Hilson’s people are trying to say that “Return The Favor,” [which I really like the demo version of…] wasn’t the album’s second single. Saying “Turnin’ Me On,” now is. Nope to me if the label goes as far as dropping tons of money for a video, especially as they did for “Go Girl,” it was intended as a single.

I am not looking toward Ciara’s album. I bought The Evolution: of Ciara and it wasn’t a bad CD at all, but she just doesn’t have the same buzz that she used to. I didn’t even like “High Price,” that opera style singing was trash, doesn’t have the voice to make something like that cool AT ALL! Maybe it’s the age that is turning me away from her music. Kinda like the Crunk style worked better when she was 19, rather than, what isn’t she 23 now. So the only way for Ciara to engage me again in her music is for her to release a bangin’ NEW (2nd) single from the album. And please don’t try to come with some “Promise,” wannabe type of single, highly doubt that will work again.

Sadly I still to this day have not seen the entire video of Ciara’s single, “Go Girl.” Probably since the fact of her and T-Pain on a song should have been a Crunk to the 10th level type of song, and it definitely is not, Disappointment! And the other sad thing about it was the other collaboration they did for T-Pain’s album Thr33 Ringz wasn’t a high energy track either. But I must admit, “Blowing Up,” was better!

Also, for Ciara to try to make up a alter ego named Super C [which did seem like a competition with Sasha Fierce] is extraordinarily lame, like c'mon there were better names than that. Somebody had said it sounded like a Gas Station, and they were right (LMAO!)