Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson - "Girlfriend"

In the 80's, seeing Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney side by side was standard fare. Until MJ bought out all of Macca's beloved Beatles' rights, the two were fast collaborators, working on a number of hit singles, and also spending time together in their social lives. To many, it seemed that Paul had found an ideal songwriting partner, and that Michael had found a pop balance to the soulful influence of producer Quincy Jones. However, the pairing of this dynamic duo actually started much earlier, with the single "Girlfriend".

McCartney had written the song in the mid-70's, and (apparently) at a Hollywood party, even suggested to Jackson that he record the song. For whatever reason, the recording never happened, and Paul made the decision to include his version on the 1978 Wings record London Town. In that version, it's incredibly evident the degree to which McCartney had intended the song for Jackson: the vocals are an incredibly high falsetto, and the piece has a minimalist bass groove that tips its hat to the disco era. Still, as with most things McCartney, it works on many levels, and is a song well worth its weight.

Fast forward to the late 1978 recording sessions for Jackson's debut record Off The Wall: as Jackson worked with Quincy Jones in the studio, Jones (unaware of original intentions) suggested McCartney's "Girlfriend" as a track for the debut Jackson solo project. Jackson agreed, and the two laid down what is arguably the perfect version of the song. Anchored by a fat bass and drum groove, and synths that undoubtedly inspired the Talking Heads' "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)", Jackson's version of "Girlfriend" is a sweet R&B testament to McCartney's original version of the song. Topped off with the singer's bulletproof early-career vocals, the song is all at once fun, danceable, and endearingly poppy.

mp3: Paul McCartney - Girlfriend

mp3: Michael Jackson - Girlfriend

The Dandy Warhols Cover "Blackbird"

In perhaps the most auxiliary turn of events resulting from the death of Michael Jackson, The Dandy Warhols have indeed covered "Blackbird".

For those not aware, on the opening track to Welcome To The Monkeyhouse, the Dandies promised "when Michael Jackson dies, we're covering "Blackbird"". Presumably this was in reference to Jackson's rather obnoxious purchase of the Beatles' catalog rights from under Paul McCartney's nose many years back, and a desire to deny Jackson any royalties.

Well, now here we are post-Jackson-mortem, and The Dandies have lived up to their promise. Ironically, the event also comes right on the heels of the band re-releasing their alternate version of Monkeyhouse entitled "The Dandy Warhols Are Sound". The cover of "Blackbird" is now being included as a bonus with the purchase of the new record.

We gave the track (which you can hear below) a listen, and we have to say we're a little bummed. It's such a straight-ahead cover, with Zia on vocals a highly manipulated Courtney Taylor Taylor on vocals and a bunch of layered synths, that it never seems to really go anywhere or do anything. Granted, the original is pretty mellow as well, but we were kind of hoping the Dandies would push it to another level. That being said, at least they kept their promise!

RIP: Michael Jackson Dead At Fifty

Well, by now the news is everywhere, but just in case you missed it: the King Of Pop, Michael Jackson himself, died of a heart attack in Los Angeles this afternoon. While Jackson has unquestionable had a rough decade, there can be little said to understate the magnitude and importance he has to the world of music.

For those who were around in the 80's, he was more than a dominant force: he was the definition of musical success. Even more than that, he crossed musical boundaries in such a versatile way that he simultaneously ruled rock, pop, and R&B chart.

We thought we'd include the above video because it captures Jackson at the height of his success, before things devolved, but after he had become a seasoned performer. That, and we just dig "Man In The Mirror" beyond compare.

Keep dancing and singing wherever you are Michael, you will most certainly be missed.