MJ was 24 years old when he wrote this angry POP song in 1982 about Billie Jean. As MJ's most successful single, it is frightening for me to read in the comments in over 100 reaction videos that many do not know the lyrics, do not grasp the topic. Everyone remembers the "beat" that "Hiiiii", "Ooo" and his dance moves didn't really listen to. In her jasszy cover Angelina tells the story about the Billie Jean from her point of view without changing the text. Only through Angelina's arrangement, interpretation and empathy do many people hear and understand the sad story about of Billie Jean. 💯 AJ 💯
She’s on record as saying she wants to bring jazz back into peoples hearts as it once was..she’s doing this by taking contemporary pop classics and turning them into jazz classics..she pretty much always arranges all her performances and has done since the age of 7..I’m not 100% but I’m fairly sure the pianist was Rob Christie, Studio Director for Republic Records with whom she signed aged 14..he seems to mentoring her along the way and often plays piano for her. Enjoyed your thoughts on this performance..btw she sought and secured approval for this rendition from the Jackson family through mutual friend Omar Bhatti (he was a judge on Norway’s Got Talent who became a family friend..he used to stay at Neverland when he was younger I believe)
Kevin, I also think you are right, as Omer Bhaty (her first Judge in NGT 2014) introduced her to the Jacksons, so it was told, she surely asked their permission for that song. No sense in irritating the Jacksons. You keep it up. man. German Greetings and stay safe.😁😇
Kevin A couple of added tidbits: In an interview, Rob has said that it's actually Angelina who is mentoring him!.....Omer is the son of MJ's housekeeper, which is why he was living at Neverland. (He's been notoriously and falsely named as MJ's son.)
Many people say that they listened to this song many times but they never payed attention to the lyrics until they listened to Angelina’s version. Michael Jackson’s version gives the vibes of anger and denials. Angelina’s version gives the vibes of a broken heart and sadness. Maybe she is telling the story from the woman’s point of view!!! Brilliant arrangement and performance by Angelina. Thank you for your reaction and insights and more Angelina please.
I have that experience with what a few Angelina‘s other recovers. She sings in with a specific clarity that makes the context more accessible. She’s very deliberate with her delivery of all her tones how much to each letter. She vamps or vocalizes it’s at soundscape to be experienced like when touching velvet. Something very comforting about her tone.
@@osovagabundo1 Angelina could take any song and add her own spices and flavours and before you know it a song as plain as Mac & Cheese turns into a culinary delight. Thank you chef Oso for supporting Angelina.
Now that Angelina has a group of pros behind her at Republic records, I can’t imagine that her ideas and arrangements don’t benefit from advice and comments from the Republic team. But to me, this sounds 100% like the Angelina that has captivated my for about five years. It’s a classic song that mere mortals are afraid to touch-like Bohemian Rhapsody or California Dreamin-and we get a stunning version that doesn’t compete with the original, but clearly pays respect to Michael. Angelina applies her jazzy-bluesy magic and we’re hooked. Comparisons to the original are not her intent. It’s classic Angelina-minimal instrumentation behind her- her voice dancing around the melody and her unique musicality giving us a new way to love a classic song.
Angelina may be sweetly saying (without saying), I'll take on this iconic song and dramatically change it up and do it without moving a muscle..no dancing, no moonwalk, no grabbing myself, no glove, just the voice. Listen to the words (for maybe the first time) and enjoy!
Great reaction and analysis. The guy on the piano is likely Rob Christie. He has done a lot of her recent covers and originals. Part of team Republic Records has assigned to her since signing at 14. 16 today. I can only say that whoever Angelina works with, she always gets what she wants and she has worked with some of the best. They call her the boss.
I love how she takes on whatever pleases her: big huge epic songs, side show songs I never heard of and songs I had almost forgotten about. Who would have thought a slow jazzy stripped down version of Billie Jean work this so well. It makes long for sitting in a lounge chair at the beach sipping a beer as the sun sets. What it also does for me is making me really listen to story. I bought MJ’s album the year it was released, yes I’m old, but it took this version to really take the story in. I love both version and they are so different I find it hard to figure out which one I prefer. But anyone should make their own picks. I do not know for sure she did the arrangement on this song, but recently she confirmed she did most of the arrangements herself. Since she signed up with Republic Records, Rob Christie played quite a bit on the piano for her. So my guess would be it is Rob playing here. You can see the enormous growth she has gone through since she skipped into the lime light at 7 to now 16 with ‘My Funny Valentine’ (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ETGLbsGDAI0.html) from February this year showing what she is capable of now. This means she has still a decade of growth to go through. Already she has a very rich and versatile vocal toolbox and can do about anything with her voice. I find it hard to pinpoint one particular strength in her voice: she can blast (I have nothing: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eTcvvO6B3Io.html, she can sing soft and breathy (When you believe, When you believe: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uAlVzI8-5hQ.html , she can use vocal fry (I’d rather go blind, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-pK8mMXQb3_I.html ) has an amazing vibrato, can go straight as an arrow (Bang bang - NGT: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-HCaDyiqs7Wg.html), can change from breast to mixed to head to falsetto in the blink of an eye and do incredible runs (e.g. the top to bottom run in ‘Yellow Brick Road’ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4XOMskgN8w4.html towards the end), can do all sorts of other wild stuf (‘You put a spell on me’ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nwFloCPXzCs.html). If anything I’d say she is an incredible story teller making you feel the song and is able to use her skills to give the best possible performance with jazz as her base.
As others have said, the pianist is probably Rob Christie, her mentor at Republic Records. I asked Angelina (or her team) in a comment for Billie Jean whether it was Rob, but never got an answer. In her cover of Yesterday, she lists the piano backing as a karaoke track. As far as the mic goes, she got a Neuman TLM 102 for her 12th Birthday, just before she moved from Oslo to LA. She recorded many songs with it at home for the next 3 years. Then with this video of Billie Jean & Yesterday, the mic experts say it's an upgrade to a TLM 103. I don't know if it's her mic or the studio's where it was recorded. As far as your next reaction, you really need to hear her latest (16 yo) version of the classic jazz standard, My Funny Valentine, covered by many legendary artists. Angelina's version is a master class in vocal control that is the most beautiful, emotional version I've ever heard. It's STUNNING, as is she! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ETGLbsGDAI0.html
GUAUUUUUU GUAUUUUUU NOOOOOOO INCREÍBLEMENTE MARAVILLOSA ÚNICA ESPECIAL BRILLANTE FELICIDADES ANGELINA TE SOBRA TALENTO PEQUEÑA 😇👣💯💯💥👍👍👍👍🥰❤❤❤❤❤❤GRACIAS A TI POR TAN IMPECABLE REACCIÓN...SALUDOS DESDE ARGENTINA ABRAZOS 😁👍👍👍👍❤❤❤
Thanks for another nice reaction to another masterful reinterpretation & performance by Angelina - this time of MJ's classic. IMHO Angelina is truly a master of taking very well known songs & reinterpreting & singing them in a way that allows us to not only understand the lyrics, but also to deeply FEEL the essence of each song in our hearts & souls. (She did the same thing with Bohemian Rhapsody, Yellow Brick Road, etc.) Thank you. And may GOD continue to watch over & bless Angelina Jordan.
It's so amusing to hear someone say "this is in her wheelhouse". You could say that about any performance she has ever done. It's almost like they can't help themselves and just have to put her in a box in order to make sense of what they are experiencing.
Hi DJ, Thank you for that great input & reaction to (15) Angie. Yes she did the arrangement & the piano player is Rob Christie, is a Grammy winning producer & chief executive of RR of UMG. He will follow her lead & let her have the control over the song etc & you know they did a brief practice, for Angie likes to keep things raw & organic if you will. DJ will you please react to Angie singing this fun cover. “You Make Me Feel So Young” cover by Frank Sinatra ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-MQN3ecsutLs.html She’s 13. She did her hair & clothes in the era of the song. She's singing this in a type of duet style, this will really blow your mind. Her range in this song gets down into her low lower register, well into the 2nd octave with clarity & resonance etc. She sings both parts in this. (Male & Female)
I finally understood the story in the song ❤️ Great singing, and the colours was very Nice ❤️ Looking forward to her album coming out this year 👍❤️ Have a nice day 👍
I read a posting about a year ago when this came out that Angelina and her uncle wrote and produced both this and Yesterday videos on their own. The piano styling sounds like Rob but it could also be Dylan Meeks who is on the 7th Heaven and What Is Life videos. In any case this shows her genius very well for arrangements and interpretation. I agree that MJ hit this into outer space with thi song as arranged by Quincy Jones. Another well done cover by a young lady was by UK X Factor 2015 winner Louisa Johnson age 17 at that time. She is a belter!
I understood that Angelina did the arraignment and Mike did the set up. Not sure who came up with the theme of the little girl in the shopping cart. The original by Paul was about a broken relationship. Angelina is too young to use that as a guide for this songs interpretation, so the young girl became to focus.
It's normal that people like the original version more, we are talking about a music icon, and to say otherwise would be to take away his merit, something that nobody is willing to do. But I think we forgot something important, it's a totally different version, not comparable at all, we should focus on her enormous talent, on doing something that very few established singers, if any, would dare to do. I don't have neither your knowledge nor your technical preparation to analyze with the same precision, but in my opinion, it's an amazingly good performance.
The sound of her voice is nothing but a style choice ,almost every new song she sings now can be a completely different sound .a song like my funny VALENTINE which she just did again is clear and beautiful .enjoyed your reaction .,thanks
Wow! I REALLY enjoyed this! I loved the vibe she went for - for one thing, I could understand the words…some, for the first time! Michael’s performances always lean heavily on his terrific dance moves - this was stripped down and laid bare by contrast, and it was different enough from his version that you enjoy them both because they’re like two completely separate songs! I love the down & dirty attitude she pulls off beautifully. She is so young and has such a sweet countenance, that this singing style…it’s like she KNOWS things that no pretty young girl should know! That insight and her unique instinct in how she perceives each song she sings, is just one of the things that separates her from the pack. I love how, once she decides how she wants to treat each song she does, she just…goes for it, total commitment and no self-consciousness whatsoever. I’m a pro singer but that’s something I need to work on. Somewhere down deep, I’m still trying to please someone. Angelina goes with her gut and never apologizes while she’s singing. That kind of maturity is something I admire about her so much. I’m old enough to be her grandma but she teaches me something new and surprising every time she sings.
She can play the piano and a a bit of guitar. But the assumption here is that she's lipsincing to a prerecorded track. In that case the reasonable assumption is they recorded it in the studio and we're hearing Rob Christie playing. Judging from past covers she has a lot more versatility than just one style, e.g. her Heal the world cover is 180 degrees different. We'll see what approach she's going to choose for her upcoming album.
thanks for a new descriptor for one my favorite singer's styles. "Cabaret Jazz.' BTW This recording was the first time that I ever really HEARD the words to this song. What a shock, I had no idea what the song was about. (even after hearing MJ's version a million times) weird eh?
Another reactor who specializes in recording equipment commentary said Angelina got this mic as a birthday present (assuming she requested it). This mic is very sensitive to picking up small details, which is ideal for her singing ability, so nothing is missed.
what upsets me is that if I go to Angelina's cover channel I see many songs that have low views ie 4k. Yet the same songs on reactors channels have up to 10x more than that. We need a push because even though I am subscribed to her U tube offers me reactors and not her channel version of songs. We need to get her analytic numbers up. Surely the artist should be rewarded for her work equally if not more than the reactor.
I appreciate your concern, but where on Angelina’s cover channel do you find videos with 4k views? As far as I could tell, the one with the least views has 233k, and most have a million plus…all the way up to 13 million.
Excellent reaction and A.J. is in control of everything on her way to create new genre, Jazz/Pop. I believe the person who played piano on "All I Ask" and "Easy On Me" played the piano here, from Republic Records, God Bless!
When Intelligence, Creativity and deep Emotions come together, you get a new masterpiece.💝🎵🎼💃 She found a good home with RR and the support of Rob Christie, the Director and fine Musician of the LA Studio. Can't wait for the new Album release, they created the last two years 🙏
Loved your analysis and comments for this Jazz masterpiece created by Angelina...we all know there are 1000's of covers of this great MJ song, pretty much trying to sound like Michael.. then we have this young music genius recreating this song in a way that is totally unique....just who she is, no fear with the talent to do something like this. Pretty sure it probably does not sit well with the "cookie cutter" cover bunch but then again music is up to the interpretation of the artist and Angelina is an artist....not a singer. Nice to see you back again with Angelina. For me the first time I actually understood what the song was about.....her gift
IMO many reactors and other people who listen to Angelina for the first time or even more have not understood what Angelina has been doing since the very beginning, she has the intelligence to reveal and highlight the true meaning of the text of a song . There are a lot of songs where the music takes precedence over what the story of the song for commercial reasons, or fashion to make the song the most attractive and popular to people's ears. Angelina remains faithful to the message of the story, she makes the author's message known without musical artifice in the simplicity of few instruments and decor. I simply want to remind you that the name Angelina means MESSENGER and that is what she is by the very evidence of the impact she has on people with her voice.
I wonder how Angelina related so well to a song about a paternity suit? The mic she is using was a birthday present, which she also used for her "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "You Make Me Feel So Young" renditions.
Angelina has had that mic since her 12th birthday. She has recorded numerous songs on it, straight with no pop filter. She records her raw voice a lot, including on Tik Tok, showing her high level of confidence.
Welcome back to the AJ rabbit hole. It would be fun if you next time did a double reaction when she is singing “My funny Valentine”, from the age of 10 year and the latest when she’s sweet 16. Just to hear her development.
Not a good idea. Some Haley Reinhart fans are among the worst fans ever. One of these Haley fans insulted Angelina badly. I can send here the link of his comment.
@@AJ_Angel_of_A none of the singers are permanent. About 12 regularly perform and record and about 6 do legs of the tour. Haley Doesn’t have to be anywhere near
She definitely made it her own, while staying true to the original. She sang this as if it had happened to her, even though it is impossible for her to get any woman pregnant with a child that has eyes like her's.
If you think the mic sounds HOT .. believe me .. that was Angelina's choice. There is nothing she misses. I've seen people comment that the band or orchestra was too loud somewhere .. on some video .. but I go back and look at it again and I can see, clearly, that she asked for it loud to go with the level of belting she wants to use in the song .. like in It's a Man's World. So pretty much any time anyone says something where they feel it should be otherwise or that it was a 'mistake', I go back and watch it from HER point of view and I always end up getting it. If one looks for it, one finds it .. her level of musicality is so developed and refined, that even though there are situations where being outside affected something, either in the way she sounds or the musicians sound .. there are few .. very few .. considering the number of videos we have from her. I can find things to criticize in her tiktoks and then remember that it is her fun time, her fooling around with whatever comes out of her as she walks the streets of Venice or Santa Monica simply taping herself with her cell phone. I have come to find how much I appreciate seeing every single one of those tiktoks .. it makes me feel that I know her better .. and I love the rawness of it and the truth in it. So ... just sayin' .. and not saying that anyone is wrong .. but instead I'm saying she is exploring .. this is not show business here YET .. it is HER world to explore and she is doing an extraordinary job of it. Hearing the recent My Funny Valentine can really show us how stunning her voice and her choices are and how it's all paying off, these years of freedom and exploration. She has such an amazing work ethic .. unlike so many of us .. she never stops working, exploring, singing in any way and place she can fathom. It is such a gift she is giving us and if I were young and wanting to be a singer, I would study that very carefully. Freedom. Just sayin' ...
IMO, in most of here current or recent Post/Videos you can hear her breathe in between lines. Maybe it is the Hot Mic or maybe it is just what she is used to. In either case it does not seem to deter people from listening to here Post/Videos. Again, IMO. Good Post.
Angelina Jordan published the book Mellom to hjerter (Between Two Hearts), which was illustrated by her grandmother, Iranian artist Mery Zamani The book tells the story of her meeting a poor motherless girl in the Middle East who has no shoes. After a long conversation in which they discuss their dreams in life, she gives the girl her shoes and the girl promises to pray for Jordan to fulfill her dream to become a successful singer. According to Jordan the book is based on a real incident that happened when she was six, which she cites as the reason for always performing barefoot.
I doubt if that is Angelina on the piano. As other people mentioned, it's probably Rob Christie. The microphone looks like the one she got for her birthday at, I think, 13 years old. Check out the video she whipped out when she got it, doing "I'd Rather Go Blind". You Don't have to choose between Michael Jackson and Angelina Jordan. Of course Michael's original version is iconic, it's his song. Angelina pays tribute to him while not copying him. She can make it her own without taking it away. Thank you for liking Angelina and her style.
Thank you for your reaction. I am so glad Angelina doesn't sound like MJ. His voice as an adult is for me very difficult to listen to. It was good when he was very young.
Please react to “I’m still am holding out for you” (demo): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Dv8mjCh5iiE.html It was recorded one week before she turning 11. Some consider it to represent one of Angelina's best vocal performances. It would be important to know your criteria about that.
Comparing is a choice. You can choose it or you can listen with new ears. You ask a lot of questions about how she works. Why is that important to you? WE do not know who plays the piano in each piece .. we can guess because Rob Christie has played in her full videos but we don't know. None of us "angels" (I don't believe) work at Republic Records and /or spend personal time with Angelina when she is arranging a new song or watching it for new ideas etc.. She is the Queen of one-take videos .. so perhaps she doesn't even have the tendency to watch the videos over and over but simply she has the confidence that she will know what to do and it will come out organically and beautifully and lacking in "importance" .. which is tension and attempt to force something. I think she is unique and has understandably developed a relationship with the way she plays around with a song and trusts it. That does not mean that every person who hears it will love it or would think to do it, or would even like what she did .. it just means that this is HER offering, her choices, her soul, her joy, her gift and she should indeed do it however she wants to. We have the honor of enjoying and accepting her gift. Some might think they have some better ideas for certain things and they will offer those ideas whether asked or not .. and there's nothing wrong with that. It makes all of us consider certain concepts that some people have. I have no clue if she reads comments or not .. or if anyone on her "team" (her grandma, her uncle) reads them but where is the magic, the miracle of it all .. if we don't not only allow her her choices, but let her develop or throw things out as she goes .. with her inner critic .. not ours.
I strongly believe she's choosing a way to do Michael .. i think she got it pretty well. When she covers icons she is very specific .. nothing is just as it always is .. nothing. Often it's super subtle.
Does Michael Jackson hear the world and it’s very wonderful this time it’s his style. It’s very very very wonderful to hear it’s me by people cry sentimental reasons to, but Angelina Jordan heal the world she says from. Yeah I know you just look it up on the door to heal the world by cover by Michael Ja
Angelina Jordan Queen of Jazzy 💋❤️ so good Angelina Arrange some of it I don’t know if may uncle Michael Astar may have About the Piano 🎹 Rob Christy? Speculation on only
🤗When u say u prefer the original, I feel u miss the point of what Angelina does. It is MJ’ s iconic song, b the two can not compare. It’s almost as - not a cover, but a new song based upon. Sadly, MJ is no longer here, so my focus is how lucky we are with her dusting off old classics. She knows how great the big ones were. She is paying homage, and reminding us of what real music is. Very smart to turn this into a jazzy version- f the first time I actually understand the lyrics. I do not prefer the original over this! It is beautiful touching my soul, and gave me a gift of understanding what MJ ment with this song.
I want to like this… yet I’m of the MJ generation and remember when this came out. MJ was a pure genius. AJ did sound good and jazzy which I love but I just didn’t care for this song. As far as the aesthetics, it reminded me of PTX Can’t Sleep Love video. Not saying she copied at all… after all there has been many to do color blocking. I would give it a 5/10. My opinion y’all have yours.
Not much of a Michael Jackson fan (one dimensional squeaky voice and choreographed dancing) but what a MESS; no justice to the the so-called, "King of Pop"😢
It seems that her schtick is to take popular songs (that could never write)and slow them down.Just not a fan.But thanks for posting it And have a great day.
I'm not a big AJ fan. It's only been lately that I have come to like her doing certain songs. She has a really nice tone and resonance, but as she is older, imho, she lost that great voice. (My favorite is Mary's Boy Child at the Oslo Christmas festival, she sings beautifully and it makes me sad that Ukraine might have been happy like the people in the video), but anyway, she sings Fields of Gold just gorgeous, then for the most part, she sings like in this song, all cackley, too much breath, it's like Marilyn Monroe singing to Kennedy, it's not sexy, her diction is awful and her high notes as one said, sounds like a screeching cat. She's known as the girl with 1,000 voices, she needs to bury 999 of them. It's hard to like her, as much as I want. And her fans are REALLY nasty, rude and bazaarly obsessed so to get an honest reply is a catch 22. I don't know who is responsible for her but it seems to me they aren't doing her any favors
