What this Deep Cut MJ song is ACTUALLY About 

BONUS: Both MJ’s “I Can’t Help It” and Smokey’s “Quiet Storm” were sampled in De La Soul’s “Breakadawn” - but this video has enough copyright issues as it is 😂

This is one of Mike's BEST songs, along with Human Nature, and Lady In My Life.

This is my favorite Michael Jackson song of all time. I can play this over and over and never get bored.

As a keyboardist, the chord progression of this song is in my personal top 10 fave progressions.

Micheal sounded so happy and free on this album!😊

Ever since i found out MJ did backing vocals on All I Do for Stevie, its like his voice just cuts deeper through the mix

I Can’t Help It is Michael’s greatest work imo. Lady In My Life and Butterflies are surely young siblings that followed.

So very glad you covered this track. It’s the best song on Off the Wall and often goes unnoticed because it isn’t a single. Same scenario with “The Lady in my Life” from Thriller. It’s the best song on the Album, hands down. God bless Rod Temperton.

I think the name Off the Wall is a metaphor describing this period in Michael Jackson's life also. His life as a member of the Jackson 5 and his childhood is on the other side of the wall. Now, he has climbed over the wall and has jumped off the wall to the new phase of his life. Even the picture is him getting over the wall. The wall is behind him and he is looking dance the night away!!

I saw MJ & I immediately clicked😂🔥🤞

That bassline!! Always thought Pharell took that as the main inspiration for the bridge in "Frontin"

Being a woman from D.C. I can't tell how happy you talked about the great D.J. Melvin Linsey.

A combo of Stevie and Michael can't be touched! I wish they would have done more together.

As a kid hearing this song when it came out was hypnotic, magical and mesmerizing. Mike always had an ear for the future.

3:19 he wrote down the vision to make it plain...and then he manifested it! What a man he was.

As an 80's baby 90's kid I got to say, man I miss the Quiet Storm!!

I'm glad you're talking one of Michael's more deep cut songs. The ones that really dont get talked a lot about comapre to his more well-known songs. Here's a bit of Trivia: MJ and Stevie are cousins.

He wrote his existence into reality!!

Stevie Wonder is the GOAT and this is further proof.

Actually, "I Can't Help It" initially appeared as the B-side of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" in July of 1979, just ahead of the release of "Off The Wall".

One correction- Melvin Lindsey was the voice of The Quiet Storm but that show and format was created by Cathy Hughes. She cleared that up on Questlove Supreme

Marsha Ambrosius used the same chords in different progression for Butterflies. Makes sense why MJ chose to cover that song! I also notice Stevie loves using that A dominant chord a lot. I’ve noticed it in some of his other songs.

Thank you for highlighting one of my favorite songs! I'm a Stevie fan from way back, and I've always felt this song was the prodigal child from the Song in the Key of Life family. Love your work, your breakdowns, and your corny jokes! I love this channel "I can't help it" and "I wouldn't help it even if I could!"

I feel like I’m context of MJ’s stacked discography, “I Can’t Help It” might be his most underrated song. It’s in my top 3 for sure

You should definitely break down more Stevie Wonder or Todd Rundgren for that matter. Of course we'd love to see the hip hop content keep coming

This has been one of my ABSOLUTE favourite from MJ for decades!!! So Jazzy, So Smooth, So Slick. The strings (like on most of MJ's smoother tracks) are just perfection

I truly fallen in love with this song from the first time hearing it. Michael and Stevie did their magic with this one❤️❤️

Off the Wall is surprsingly a humbler approach to his style and tone, and this song is possibly its best track. There's a magical quality to how this song expresses love and connection, which has been the ongoing theme through out all his albums going forward. Its why he connected to people. We gravitate to people's passion, and that musical transformation was amazing to witness and hear it over and over again.

I love Esperanza Spalding's version of this song, she manages to put her own groove on it while keeping the original essence of MJ/SW

I remember when I was younger and I was a big fan of MJ and my mom showed me he was in the Jackson 5 for the first time. I was shook😂

If you listen to each MJ album, he has a clear formula. Listen to "Don't Stop" , compare it to "Startin Something" and "Smooth Criminal". "Girl is Mine" with "Loving You", "Beat It", "Dirty Diana", "Give In To Me". "I Can't Help It" with "Human Nature". "Heal the World", "We Are the World". There are more but you get the idea.

I always loved this song, it's one of my fav MJ songs next to Stranger in Moscow.

This video hits me in so many ways it's incredible. First off I'm a huge Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson fan. I had the privilege to having those two legendary artists to be the soundtrack to my life. When I found out Stevie wrote this song it all clicked because that sound is on most of Steve's classic albums like Songs In The Key Of Life, Innervisions and Music Of My Mind. It was the perfect blend of two incredible talents and it's definitely my Top 10 Michael Jackson songs. Plus I'm born and raised from DC the birth place of Quiet Storm. I remember my dad playing the radio late night from WHUR or WPGC and falling asleep with those amazing songs. It takes me back to awesome times in my childhood. This was an amazing video bro especially with your knowledge of music, it was sn incredible experience. Keep up the amazing work sir. You are incredible.

Off the Wall is when Michael became MJ, and I Can't Help It is that good.

My favourite MJ song ever.

There is a video of Greg Phillinganes talking about this song. When he made that demo, he said that when he gave it to Quincy, Quincy told him that he was missing the point. He told Greg Phillinganes that Michael is trying to become a more mature artist, and so people had to see him as such. It had to be more of a slow jam and sexy rather than something to dance to. The demo, which was a lot faster, wouldn’t put people in the mind of Michael Jackson as a mature artist, but the opposite. This was why he changed it to the slow version that we know and love.

Does anybody remember the sample of this song in the song "Here We Go Again" by Portrait? Either way “I Can’t Help It” has always been one of my favorite tracks of his discography, great work man!

This for me is by far the best song on the album. Stevie at his writing best 👌🏾

It may not have been released as a single but it was definitely played on R&B radio in the 80s, I remember hearing it all the time when I was a kid.

Stevie performed "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" at Michael's public memorial service in the summer of 2009. Before the song, he said a few words while playing a bit of "I Can't Help It."

This is my favorite MJ song EVER!!! The music makes my heart smile while I slowly drive, chasing sunsets each night!!!!

Even though I grew up with stuff like Dangerous and Invincible and having written a ton of new jack swing tracks over the years, I think Off The Wall is my fav MJ album, it's so raw and genuine. MJ's music is famous for its studio polish, but this just feels real. I had no idea MJ believed so much into this album, but yeah, suffice to say he was on to something. Though I can't help the fact my mind goes like "oh one two, oh one two" on the Abmaj7 haha.

Dude,love your channel... I've loved "Cant help it" since I was a kid...one of MJs most underrated songs IMHO...the bass line is amazing..glad someone finally mentions the greatness that is this song and the amazing writing Stevie & company have done over the years..💯✨

After hearing Stevie's version, you can definitely hear that it should've been his. But it sounds amazing no matter who performed it. Two greats sharing a great track.

If Motown or Stevie ever allow all the demos or first takes of the 200+ songs Stevie apparently wrote for SITKOL, man... all I can say is I'll buy a ticket and fly wherever they put that out there 😄 Stevland is a genius and I'm glad he was there to show Michael the way. Great video and awesome channel !

I love "Time Waits For No One" His vocals give me chills.

Ahh ☝🏽 The GOAT SEEN HIM IN WEMBLEY NEW YORK & WEMBLEY AGAIN EVEN SAW 3T 🙌🏽 That song is beautiful I was thinking for a second do I know it I have every single album and unreleased album and song Of Course If I’m being totally honest the songs that weren’t released or didn’t have a video are better than the mainstream songs In my opinion Michael Jackson has no rival He was the gift given to us by the gods So glad and fortunate/humbled to be able to watch this man perform live I love you MJ 😊 We all miss you For me personally music died that day You brought so much joy and happiness to billions across the world Hopefully I can watch you live again when I pass Love you forever MJ 🙃 & Ever

This is MJ best track to me. With Stevie Wonder part of the writing process, Louis Johnson on bass, John Robinson on drums, Greg P on Keyboards, Quincy Jones as the producer and under the guidance of Jerry Hey. Quite a number of great talents coming together!!!

I wish I could give you 1000 likes! "I Cant Help" by MJ magically captures the essence of romance through lush chord progressions, sultry crescendos with harmonious ad-libs. It's one of my top go-to quiet storm love songs. Thank you for this master class of one of the greatest ballads ever produced. Cant wait to see your take on my🐐MJ classic, "The Lady In My Life"! You're a master teacher! Well done! 🙌🏽

I never knew about the Stevie Wonder connection but that makes sooo much sense 😂 Beyoncé actually covered it in concert the day he passed and I always thought it was a great choice for an impromptu tribute; everybody of course remembers the singles but he had some amazing album tracks as well. Thanks for putting a spotlight on it, always been one of my favorites from him

this is probably my favorite MJ song ! i never see people talking about how beautiful it is enough.

Why are you so good at making videos

You know something I just noticed and I’ve heard this song a million times or more in my short lifetime, that bass line, although it’s being played on a synth bass, it sounds so jazzy like it could be played on an upright bass, the song itself sounds like something a jazz combo could have done, piano, bass, drums and it still sound incredible. Another thing I’ve noted about Stevie Wonder that I love is his generosity towards other artists mainly during transitional periods in their careers, he never forgot his transitional period back when he was 21 and negotiating his contract for more artistic/creative control over his music/career and once he got it became an even bigger artist than his 60’s output, it’s like he determined to help others through theirs. We’ve seven him to that with MJ, Jermaine Jackson, Deneice Williams, Minnie Riperton, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and etc. Such an innovative phenomenon and yet generous like he is and funny MJ was 21 when Off the Wall was released. Incredible work as always, never dull moment but I always learn something every time I watch your videos, job well done sir. 💯😊🎶

Safe to say im addicted to this channel…. 🔥🔥🔥

Thank you for covering this beautiful classic ❤️

I can't help it has been getting so much attention this year its weird I've heard so many people talking about it in videos, seen a bunch of different Jazz gigs where its performed in different styles, im glad its been getting the attention it deserves.

This was a real treat. 🙏🏽

one of the most heavenly baselines ever

One of Stevie Wonder's best written songs. Beautiful.

My favorite MJ song, so pure. Stevie is a genius. Thanks for this video!

Now my Weekend can Start. Respect for your Consistency again a great pice of music History perfect explained 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

This is one of by favorite breakdowns. The key of life is getting to know yourself to then transcend that person into something better. I've always loved MJ as a child, then thought of him as just great pop signer (In my early 20s), But past my 30's I realize that Mike was a master. This letter to himself shows why. Thank you for sharing. You are doing gods work.

This is by far my favorite MJ song. It’s extremely underrated and one of the few songs I can never get tired of.

Can tell you know so much and dig so deep to share your knowledge with the world. This is one of the joints i can't live without personally and I'm so glad you broke it down for all of us. We all appreciate you for bringing everyone back to understand REAL music. One Love

Off The Wall is the first album I purchased on my own at nine years old. I had many albums because my parents loved music, yet they bought them for me.🦋

Instant chills when he started playing the chords at 1:32.

A perfectionist..

Love the song! I love the way MJ alternates between vibrato and straight tone on every other line. Hearing that made me realize he’s doing the same exact thing on “DSTYGE” it’s just harder to hear on that track with the more full arrangement

This video is flipping incredible

MJ?!?! FUCK YEAH!! lets go dude! cant wait to watch!

Another amazing video! I adore this track and I was so excited when I got the notification!

I really love and appreciate when someone can intelligently talk about the theory of a subject without bringing up controversy surrounding the artist (i.e., MJ's alleged behavior later on in life). Like I can't stand Kanye at all honestly, but your videos on him are still interesting as you cover the theory and history. Not sure if this makes sense or not, but hopefully you get what I mean and continue covering artists that may or may not have colored pasts. Its all still history.

I love your videos so much❤❤ keep up the great job my man

There ain't a lot of people who remember Quiet Storm but OMG, it was a go-to for me. Quiet Storm was for the soul.

This album and this song are my all-time favorites. Nothing compares to these two for me.❤❤

He dug himself into the grates!

Incredible! 1 of my favorite songs from 2 of the greatest artists to walk God’s green earth! I’m a DJ & so it’s only apropos that I cook up a ‘Can’t Help It’ mashup & I’ll be sure to share with you!

'Off The Wall' is an amazing album, 😭🤎 it's definetly in my top three fav albums Michael Jackson ever released. 'Of The Wall' is my favorite track from the album, along with 'Its the falling in love'.

I was on the bus a few days ago one early morning and this smooth intro of a beat just came into my head as I'm riding along so it's dope to see it get a full break down from ya the same week

Your analyses of these tunes are wild. Keep up the great work.

Thank you thank you thank you!! My all time favorite MJ joint!And your breakdown just made it even more special to me! keep up the great work you do ! Your channel is pure 🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!!

De La actually helped me appreciate this song even more

You could probably do a whole episode about the relationship between Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Not just that they started out as prodigies and brought up through the Motown hit process, but how they complimented and worked with each other throughout the 70s and 80s. Throw in the rest of the Jackson brothers as well, seeing as how the Jackson Five sang backup on Stevie's #1 hit, You Haven't Done Nothin'. Damn near the same time Off The Wall is being recorded and Stevie is giving this song to Michael, Stevie's Hotter Than July is in the works, and there's Michael singing backup for All I Do. And of course, Stevie puts Let's Get Serious for Jermaine, giving him his biggest hit, the song virtually a duet. So it's no surprise that, when Michael is working with Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie to put together We Are the World, Stevie Wonder is in the mix. It's also no surprise, in 1987, we hear the two doing duets on each other's albums. Michael's on Get It for Stevie's Characters, and Stevie's on Just Good Friends for the Bad album. By that point, they're both far more commercial than artistic and the songs are throwaways rather than hits or stone cold grooves, but the fact that they're still collaborating, even with both enjoying superstar status, makes those songs meaningful.

My favourite MJ song of all time. ALL TIME! Love this channel!

This song is epic and timeless. Thx to Stevie for realizing that mike would elevate that track even more than he would. Mike’s adlibs are the extra spice on the song to. The finest music right here 🔥👌🏽great video breakdown 🦾

This song is a banger. It's in my MJ Top-5, if not my absolute favorite, tbh.

OMG, this is my favorite song on the album. I'm a HUGE fan (I think I was a prenatal fan). And another one of my favorites, Stevie Wonder, wrote the song. The two are cousins. (Stevie's real name is Steveland Hardaway Morris). My very close friend is cousins to both Michael and Stevie. This song was always so haunting to me. At this point in my lie, I was 10 year-sol. I was soooooooooooo in love with Michael. My heart ached for him. I wanted to marry this man. And though I love the entire album (it's my favorite MJ album of all time), this song was so damned dreamy and just on another level from the rest of the songs on the album. I got so lost in the song and his angelic, sexy voice. Man, what memories!!! And by the way, QUITE STORM is my favorite Smokey Robinson song. It became the nightly lead-in song for Houston's radio station 102 FM's Quiet Storm segment. How fitting!

I remember hearing this song as a child & even then before I could even read or even find intrest in reading about the production of this album I always felt this track was connected to Stevie Wonder it wasn’t until my teen years when I came back to this album that I discovered his involvement in this track. In my opinion this track is the best track on this album

Magnificent! I am more impressed and educated about music I have life long love for with every video you make!

One of Stevie’s great songs that Michael really added a lot to. Tension, anticipation, nervous energy, thrilling joy and private honesty.

"I Can't Help It" is incredibly underrated. It's my personal gem from the whole album.

Michael's vocals are also an instrument, On top of that then he uses his His entire body has instruments

common digging the greats w

What a great video. I write music, trained in musical Theatre. I recently started playing the keyboard as well, and I'm always intrigued by how one can tell the story not only through the lyrics, melodies and harmonies, but also through the selection of chords, and rhythm. I love these sort of videos where you not only break down where the artist was in their life, at the time of writing the song, but also how it is echoed in the chords. This is an excellent video. Keep up the great work. We really appreciate the time and effort put in.

As a Moonwalker, I am absolutely disappointed that this song was never a single it should’ve been because it’s a beautiful song to hear ❤

Good share of information. Something else you may want to make note of with Michael and Stevie (if you haven't already). They had collaborated well before in the studio at Motown somewhere around 75 as MJ was coming out of adolescence. The rumor was, there indeed could have been an album worth of songs. One track in particular is all over youtube and is solid. Apparently, the powers that be at Motown chose not to release it. It indeed had the same "I Can't Help It," type of vibe. I imagine after the J5 did a little backup for Stevie on "You Haven't Done Nothing," it allowed Stevie to grow closer with MJ and do a little more music sessions and experimentations. Here you go --> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--adgKAoLRL4.html

Can you break down some of Outkasts music and the history of Organized Noise please?

i love that we're talking about "mj- i can't help it" and then he found a way to play "smokey - quiet storm" to describe the sub genre AND INTENTIONALLY PLAY THE BREAK OF DAWN SAMPLE THAT BOTH SONGS WOULD BE USED TO MAKE "DE LA SOUL - BREAKADAWN" 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I used to listen to “Quiet Storm” the radio show. Every show started with Smokey’s, “A Quiet Storm”. From 10pm till 2am. I learned a lot about the sounds, instruments, instrumental takes and how to build music from those late night sessions. Still use them today when playing.

why am i getting breakadawn vibes?? oh now i know why lol.