Michael Jackson has Robbie Fulks' respect -- seriously
At one time, Robbie Fulks probably wouldn’t have been on the short list of artists most likely to do a sincere – much less sincerely great -- Michael Jackson tribute. As the songwriter says, “My style is to take things from a contrarian viewpoint,” and Jackson’s career lends itself to all sorts of contrarian sarcasm.
But Fulks says he learned a few things about the King of Pop when he was invited in 1999 to perform a birthday tribute concert to Jackson at the Cultural Center. His respect and appreciation for the singer deepened to the point where last year Fulks released an excellent Jackson tribute album, “Happy: Robbie Fulks Plays the Music of Michael Jackson” (robbiefulks.com), and will perform a Jackson-themed concert March 18 at Lincoln Hall. No doubt there will be a few humorous moments in the show, but Fulks says when removed from all the craziness around Jackson’s life, the singer’s music holds up remarkably well.
“All that celebrity pop music is so far from me now, but in the ‘60s through 1980, to be young and with my head halfway into radio, his music was part of my world,” Fulks says. “In thinking about it, listening to his music, getting more acquainted with it, it was amazing that he was always there for so long. He not only kept up with the times, he stayed a step ahead of them for 25 years. That in itself is culturally significant.”
“He was the Elvis of my generation and I think he was better than Elvis,” Fulks says. “Elvis was a great singer, but Michael was a more resourceful singer, especially when younger. Add to that the dancing, production, songwriting, videos, the image-making. It was half playful, half menacing, with a little bit of a 1920s German horror movie thing, a weirdness and complexity. It was a way more inventive persona than a hip-swinging hillbilly singer.”
The 1999 performance went so well that Fulks decided to start making an album. He sunk more than $35,000 of his own money into the project, working with top-tier musicians such as mandolin player Sam Bush, banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka, pedal steel great John Hughey, post-punkers Shellac and avant-rock singer Azita. The latter two worked on what is easily the album’s most disturbing song, a noise-collage version of the latter-day Jackson track “Privacy.”
“I didn’t want the record to just be a tribute to the glorious days of my youth,” Fulks says. “There are some awful Michael Jackson records, like (the 2001 album) ‘Invincible,’ which is the worst, most conspicuous-consumption atrocity you could ever hear. But that’s where I got ‘Privacy,’ which I heard as an opportunity to explore the psychological horror landscape of Michael’s mind.”
The bulk of “Happy” is made up of undeniably great songs, including “Billie Jean” (“take away the disco beat and you have creepy, suggestive lyrics that can withstand the attention”) and “Man in the Mirror” (“a great song that has a life and majesty outside of his performance”).
Fulks shelved the record for several years while child molestation charges swirled around Jackson, but then decided to put it out himself after the singer died in 2009.
His multi-media tribute concert will include puppets, child actors in “scenes of questionable taste,” and a first-rate group of singers and musicians. One thing it won’t have is Fulks busting some MJ-style dance moves.
“No, no, I’m Caucasian and 48,” Fulks says with a laugh. “That will not work.”
greg@gregkot.com
Robbie Fulks: 9 p.m. March 18 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Av., $15; lincolnhallchicago.com.
I'm from Chi. but live far, far away now. The fact that this article was from the Chi. Trib. AND about MJ made me read it. Robbie Fulks had MY respect until the lame said, "‘Invincible,’ which is the worst, most conspicuous-consumption atrocity you could ever hear." Obviously, this guy is out of his mind! INVINCIBLE is my most beloved Michael Jackson cd. It is brilliant and beautiful like the artist. I love listening to it and was very offended by Fulks' remarks putting it down. He knows not what he's talking about. I was wishing I was back in Chi Town to go to his concert, but no thanks.
Posted by: Sanyo | March 03, 2011 at 04:16 AM
( Without typo)
The tribute by Faulks is well considered -- and hopefully will be well met..
Jackson's death, a source of endless intrigue, debate and conflict as well as real pain for his children, family, friends, fans and supporters -- is intricately connected to the reality of his life.
What killed, or rather exposed Jackson to the world of serious pain medication and the attentions of financial opportunists and unscrupulous medical users, were the combined factors of staggeringly, baseless, accusations given credence and constructed life, by the sustained vivisection of a human being by the fourth estate -- and the full force of the U.S justice system manipulated by a powerful and highly invested individual -- namely, ex-District Attorney Thomas Sneddon.
Not everyone in the media complied, of course not, but a significant proportion made it impossible for the truth about Evan Chandler and the personalities involved in his successful extortion of Jackson, and later the ridiculous claims of the clearly duplicitous Arvisos --to severely compromise Jackson's ability to live, work and cope with what his life became.
An ecosystem and malignant social culture that supports the eroding of someone's civil and human rights in the name of commerce, forced Jackson into seclusion & undoubtedly propelled him into the waiting arms of those who did not have his best interests at heart.
The man should be, and is, respected by millions --many of whom are reading and finding out who and what Michael Jackson was -- and what he was not , for the very first time.I, myself was not a fan, and still am not -- but I recognize sustained brutality when I see it.
First the tributes, then the acknowledgment of what was done?
One hopes.
Posted by: Deborah Ffrench | March 03, 2011 at 07:08 AM
A lot of other stuff won't work for Fulks besides his race and age (which he claims prevent him from busting a move.) His pretentious and condescending comments about "the glory days of his youth" and exploring the "psychological horror landscape of Michael's mind" are a turn off. He sounds like a veritable prig. I'm not hearing much imagination, either.
Who is Fulks and how is he relevant? Most people have no idea. Seriously.
Posted by: Gary West | March 03, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Mr. Fulks misses the mark on Jackson's 2001 album, "Invincible." There was nothing "consumption" about that album. Jackson consistently bared his soul in his work like few have had the guts to do. He explores again the distortion and dehumanization accompanying fame in "Invincible", and there's good reason to listen to a man thrust into the spotlight from such a young age, and as Fulks notes, a huge presence for so many decades. (There are also a number of just plain fun songs and some gorgeous R&B.)
Jackson took always took risks musically and forged unique sounds and images. This is part of the reason he has influenced so many other musicians. He simply towers over popular music. Fulks, on the other hand, hasn't even courage enough to dance, simply because, he says, he's a middle-aged white guy. I guess I prefer Jackson's conspicuous courage to milquetoast in an artist.
Posted by: Ralph Baylor | March 03, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Fulks did an MJ Tribute concert at the Hideout Block Party 3 or 4 years ago.
Posted by: Gary | March 03, 2011 at 12:13 PM
"‘Invincible,’ which is the worst, most conspicuous-consumption atrocity you could ever hear. "
He must of been listening to something completely different, because Invincible is an amazing, totally underrated album, and It deserves be up with the likes of Thriller, Bad etc. I think the albums sound was ahead of it's time. I mean if Michael released that now, the album & its tracks would all be hits.
Posted by: Jenny | March 03, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Just wanted to say that 'Invincible' is one of my favorite, often listened to, cd. I totallty don't know HOW he could critique this cd, the way he did.
Posted by: Suzanne | March 03, 2011 at 03:08 PM
I love Invincible - it's an incredible album! And, I want to know why would this tribute include child actors in scenes of questionable taste? That certainly would not be a tribute to MJ, who was an innocent man.
Posted by: Weffie | March 03, 2011 at 07:38 PM
Yes, Jackson was superior to Presley musically, lyrically, everything. Jackon wrotte most of his songs.Presley didn't. It's nice to hear someone mention it.l
Posted by: Chris | March 03, 2011 at 08:03 PM
I appreciate that Mr. Fulks recognizes Michael Jackson's artistic greatness as a singer, songwriter, dancer, choreographer, producer and showman. It is great that he will be doing a well-deserved tribute to Mr. Jackson.
I will take issue with Fulks dismissal of Invincible. At the time, it was the fastest selling album of all time before the controversy between Jackson and Sony ensued and all promotion stopped. Even the reviews turned poor. It has since sold 13 million copies. That is not a failure by any means especially today when the biggest selling albums in the world don't even top 6 million. If it sells 13 million with almost no promotion, what does that really mean?
Many people disagree with Fulks opinion of Invincible. It was a return to MJ's R&B roots. It has one of Michael Jackson's finest ballads, "Butterflies," on it. Although, it was never released as a single it found huge radio play anyway. Michael's vocals on this song are astounding.
"Unbreakable" is the tale of Michael Jackson's life set to a funky beat with great writing. "2000 Watts" is a rock song that is still played loudly today by those who know of it. It also is a showcase for Michael Jackson's rarely used lower register. It is sexy and funky at the same time. "Whatever Happens" combines Santana's famous guitar skills with Michael's vocals and is my favorite on the album. "You Rock My World" was a top 10 single back in 2001. "Speechless" showcases Michael's 4 vocal range voice. I like to play it in combination with "Who's Loving You" from 1970 and "You Are Not Alone" from 1995. It shows that through the years Michael Jackson maintained his voice in top form.
"Invicible" is one of the finest R&B albums of the last decade but Sony promotion and the fighting left it largely unrecognized. It should be re-released and given proper promotion. Too many people don’t even know of its existence. It would definitely stand out in today's music market as a stellar accomplishment.
I could go on but I recommend that people buy it and see for themselves. Don't take Fulks' word for it.
Posted by: Theresa B | March 03, 2011 at 09:28 PM
I think "Invincible" is Michael Jackson's finest vocal album ever and is highly under-rated.
You only have to listen to "Butterflies" and then "2000 Watts" to gain an easy overview of the exceptional vocal talent the man possessed.
Michael Jackson continually kept striving creatively and artistically throughout his musical career to keep pushing those boundaries and he more than succeeds with "Invincible".
It was also years ahead of it's time and far more interesting than much of what is being released 10 years later.
I highly recommend others to go and buy it and to judge for yourself.
Posted by: Sera | March 04, 2011 at 03:36 AM
Invincible is a Greate album and I can see it's brighter days to come. next generations will give this album a second chance and that day is an invincible day. just wait and watch
Posted by: eli | March 05, 2011 at 04:22 AM
Let's give credit where credit is due. Michael Jackson was a genius and when he made albums, there was never a time where you could say "I only liked that one song, wish I didnt buy the whole thing" as with other artist's albums, save maybe, Rihanna.. If your taste is not with that type of music that's different.
In addition, if MJ had been able to make videos for "Invincible", that would have made it even more popular. Unforunately, MJ's life was put on hold by the likes of Bashir and Sneddon.
Shame on Fulks for choosing to exploit children in his presentation.
Posted by: jm | March 05, 2011 at 06:08 AM
I love "Invincible" especially "Speechless", "Lost children", "butterfly", "Whatever happens", they are great songs. Michael was not crazy, he was unique. You have to understand the torture he had to endure for illnesses, bullying, distort, accusation which are so complicated to explain. Only the media portrayed him as crazy and I don't under why Americans still don't treasure their unique superstar. Perhaps the only reason is he is black. I hope some day Michael will get his "good name" back by the works of his fans for him. Elsewhere is much brighter only in America is the toughest. I just want to wait and see. Siu Siu from the east.
Posted by: Siu siu | March 07, 2011 at 10:05 AM