The Game, Chris Brown draft tribute to Michael Jackson. Too soon?
June 26, 2009 | 5:27
pm
Less than 24 hours after Michael Jackson's death, local rapper the Game dropped a tribute entitled "Better on the Other Side." The song comes complete with a chorus from Chris Brown, less than a week after he pleaded guilty to felony assault on ex-girlfriend Rihanna.
Yet are we ready to hear Brown singing sympathetically about angels crying? Will we ever be?
Maybe if the song was decent. Opening with a spoken-word refrain from Diddy, the song is a cut-and-paste affair, segueing into Brown's croon and the Game's somewhat ridiculous stabs at illustrating Jackson's universal appeal.
Raps the Game: "Who's Michael Jackson? / You're Michael Jackson / I'm Michael Jackson / We all Michael Jackson."
"We Are the World" it is not. The piano refrain is telegraphing emotion more obviously than a love scene in a Michael Bay film, but never fear -- a smattering of electronic, rocket-ship-like sound effects will help you keep the tears at a distance.
"We Are the World" it is not. The piano refrain is telegraphing emotion more obviously than a love scene in a Michael Bay film, but never fear -- a smattering of electronic, rocket-ship-like sound effects will help you keep the tears at a distance.
But listen below. Are we at Pop & Hiss just being harsh?
Those looking for a Jackson tribute are advised to check out Rhymefest's "Man in the Mirror," a more artful interpretation of one man's relationship to Michael Jackson -- the artist and the myth. It was released in 2008, and can be downloaded for free here.
-- Todd Martens
Photo: The Game. Credit: Los Angeles Times
Yes, you're being harsh. If you didn't feel the emotions behind the song and listened to the lyrics close. It's pretty touching and a track down in less then 24. It's pretty hot.
obviously this isn't going to be the only song coming out. People need their own way to mourn MJ and this is how these artist are doing it.
CB has to be the one biggest affect by it. He's the only most compare or mentioned with MJ and himself was close to MJ and having to talked to MJ. It must be hard on him. Having the person he looked up to most and basically owed his career too. He has to be feeling it. Also this is BIGGER THEN Chris Brown personal issues. It's about Michael Jackson and that's the positive it should be looked to as. MJ comes first before everything and he is entitled to do a tribute to MJ. No one should judge others and it's better to forgive and forget and too be bitter and hateful.
Posted by: Kate | June 26, 2009 at 05:51 PM
your Right Kate..!!
R.I.P Michael Jackson
"King Of Pop"
Posted by: :( | June 26, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Michael was a musician, these artists are musicians so what better way to express condolences through music?
Posted by: Luke Barnett | June 26, 2009 at 08:02 PM
Couldn't have said it better Kate. You wonder how much emotion enabled them to put out the beat, hook, rhymes in less than 24 (it aired on hot97 at 2pm). I felt the emotion. It's the type of negativity in this article MJ did not understnad but still didn't hate. It's a shame though that it's published and we have to defend such great deeds put out by mourning artists.
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
Posted by: Cam | June 26, 2009 at 08:43 PM
its not about Chris right now...its about Michael. chris is one of his biggest fans. yeah he messed up recently, and i personally don't forgive him. but that doesn't mean that he doesn't have talent or love for Michael.
Michael Jackson is dead.
I'm 90% sure BET is going to have a tribute performance at the awards on sunday and chris should defiantly be in it. out of any artist of there, he's the one to do it. Remeber the World Music Awards? His performance for 25 years of thriller was amazing.
Even though no one will ever compare toMJ, chris is pretty good, and the best anyone can find on short notice.
Michael deserves millions of songs because he influenced millions of artists. just because he mess up doesn't mean he can't pay his respects, by doing the things Michael influenced him to do.
Even though Chris isn't the best person, he's defiantly the best choice, and Micheal deserves the best we have.
Posted by: lizzy | June 26, 2009 at 09:13 PM
I LIKE IT! IT COMES FROM THE HEART , EVERYONE GROW UP WANTING TO BE LIKE MJ.
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS A JOB WELL DONE! STOP BEING SO HARD!
Posted by: STACY | June 26, 2009 at 10:16 PM
The BET award show should invite Chris Brown to the show. Most people have forgiven the late Michael Jackson for all of the speculations he has been charged of in the past only after he passed on to the next life. Chris is still here, and it is time to forgive him now, while he is living. No one is perfect in this earth. I think this will be a great redemption for his sanity and self-assurance to be able to move passed his troubles. We as HUMANS should support this effort, to allow him to celebrate the life of Michael Jackson. I know he has been influence by the legend. CB yeah!
Ckingcarey
Posted by: ckingcarey | June 26, 2009 at 10:26 PM
These lyrics are lame.
Posted by: Joe | June 26, 2009 at 10:50 PM
why your hating so much on this song? probably youre not a big fan of rap... still, ridiculous. do something better than this before pullin out the trigger
Posted by: Angelo | June 27, 2009 at 04:43 AM
>> Are we at Pop & Hiss just being harsh?
Hey, remember, this is not about you... right?
And who cares if it's too soon or not?
It's a tribute, that's all, don't look at it in any other way.
Posted by: ? | June 27, 2009 at 06:29 AM
are you kidding?
this song is amazing!
Chris Brown is a great singer, you cant criticize his singing just because of his personal life
Posted by: Bob | June 27, 2009 at 11:49 AM
i wanna cry :(, you are being harsh this song is deep and you should learn to forgive and forget. CB will be finding it very hard, he was one of the main people who looked up to him. CB was the one who was compared to MJ and omd i love this track !!! R.I.P MJ!!!
Posted by: kam | June 27, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I heard the song already and it was a great song almost a brilliant tribute to the one and only Michael Jackson. He would of been PROUD
Posted by: kieron singh | June 27, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Agreed Kate. This is about the greatest pop artist of all time, this is a tribute to him and is not about the singers in it. Considering that it was made in such a short time frame it is a very nice tribute to the king of pop.
R.I.P Michael Jackson.
King of Pop FOREVER!
Posted by: Mike | June 27, 2009 at 01:00 PM
i think your being dumb like Kate said this has nothing to do with Chris Brown's personal issues it's A TRIBUTE TO MJ !!! Chris Brown has the right to mourn this way MJ was like Chris Brown's idol !! so just hop off && stop talking ish that it's too soon. Atleast they're showing they cared && are more interested in showing love to MJ rather than be all up in other people's buisness when it has nothing to do with this song. LISTEN TO THE SONG!! IT'S AMAZING!!!
Posted by: Cathy | June 27, 2009 at 01:45 PM
http://awakening3000.blogspot.com/2009/06/game-chris-brown-tribute-to-michael.html
Todd your post made someone upset, calling you out!
Yea todd you were a bit harsh.
Posted by: soljahdunn | June 27, 2009 at 04:54 PM
Chris brown will be the perfect person to tribute to mj. R.I.P Mj King Of Pop
Posted by: vanilla | June 27, 2009 at 04:59 PM
Mr. Chris Brown should be invited to the Bet awards. He has been a longtime friend of Michael Jackson, and if the deceased was alive he would most certainly want Mr.Brown to be around. there is no other suitable person than the one and only Chris Brown.
Posted by: Cindy | June 28, 2009 at 12:09 AM
For the love of all that is holy, this is a tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON! What does it matter who sings it, he only did the damn chorus! Stop making such a big deal out of everything! The Game is a well-known Blood and I don't see anything about him doing the song! Ckingcarey, Chris will be opening the show with a tribute to Michael. BET finally realizes that he needs to be there, though having Beyonce say anything about Michael is a mistake seeing how she had some words about his family not too long ago.
Posted by: Naila | June 28, 2009 at 01:50 AM
like Ckingcarey said; when is the world going to learn to forgive while people are still alive? i am sure most pple here hated on MJ cos of all the allegations but now he is gone and we are all loving him...the truth is if pple forgave MJ while he was alive maybe just maybe he would have been happier and still be with us.
if we are not learning the lesson of forgiveness here then the world is indeed getting lost. why must we always wait for people to die before we can forgive?
like MJ rightly said if we want to make the world a better place we need to take a look at ourselves and make the change.
MJ is chris's greatest influence and he is on the right track...he definitely is perfect to do this for MJ and he shouldnt be denied the right to mourn his hero....R.I.P. MJ.....gone too soon.
"Wish the world could have gathered together to celebrate you while you were still here"
Posted by: fii09 | June 28, 2009 at 02:15 AM
This song is perfect. A perfect tribute to the king.
Chris was one of MJ's biggest fans. Its because of Michael Jackson that Chris Brown is the performer he is today. Its shocking to think that you can attempt to criticise his music simply because of events in his personal life. No matter what he does, no-one can EVER say he isnt talented!!
Leave him to mourn his idol in peace. This song is beautiful, it makes me cry everytime i hear it.
I support you Chris!!!!
Rest In Peace MJ...Truly Missed. xxx
Posted by: Zakiya | June 28, 2009 at 11:08 AM
TO the author,
stop being so judgmental. It's not the time for that. These talented artist wanted to make a song as a tribute to Michal Jackson so let them. Who cares if you dont like it!
Posted by: VICTORIA | June 28, 2009 at 02:28 PM
this wedsite is the reason the make ppl look bad i swear
there still talkin about chris wen dis tribute is about michael
Los Angels Times You guys are idiots
Posted by: Efrain Rojas | June 28, 2009 at 09:19 PM
um yes u are being completely biased, unfair, and harsh. iagree w/ everyone's responses. theres nothing wrong w/ an artist payin tribute to his idol.chris browns personal affairs should not effect that.especially considering BET wouldnt let chris brown pay tribute on his awards. SUPPOSEDLY BECAUSE JAY-Z DIDNT WANT HIM TO.yeaa, how ridiculous.
Posted by: msdesibby | June 28, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Yes you are being harsh. I respect the sentiments expressed in this song. Musicians express themselves in music and I really like the song. More than harsh I think someone with your organization is a HATER! What's the matter, mad that you don't have talent? Don't hate congratulate! The song is beautiful. Get over that Chris Brown crap it's petty at this point. Micheal Jackson said from his own mouth that he loved Chris Brown and admired his talent. It's only right that Chris and the others would want to sing out their pain.
Posted by: Tracie | June 29, 2009 at 07:43 AM