Grateful For Music Challenge Day 4

Song(s): I'll Be There, Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/Blame it on the Boogie/Dancing Machine, Stranger in Moscow, You Can't Win, I Can't Help It, Earth Song/They Don't Care About Us, She's Out of My Life & Man in the Mirror

Artist: Michael Jackson, From MJ: The Musical

Sorry NOT sorry for the plethora of songs today (I wanted to do even more, but stopped myself. You're welcome)!

Cleeeeeeaaaaarrrrr back in February (on Leap Day! 🙏) I was blessed and privileged to get to see MJ: The Musical LIVE and in person!! It was quite a journey to get to do so (see it play out here, here and here!) and I am FOREVER grateful it all worked out! 🙏💓🙌 It's definitely a highlight from my year! It was better than I hoped and imagined it would be! The cast was PHENOMONAL especially MJ...all three of them!! I was blown away! I was cheering, clapping and (quietly) singing along the entire show. The arrangements, dancing, costumes, acting, singing, EVERYTHING was a perfection! ✨ I had no idea what to expect, story-line wise, and I'm kinda glad I went in blind. It made the experience extra magical! 

I dressed in my MJ finest and was so giddy to see others dressed up as well! While waiting in line to get my picture taken with the MJ sign, these older ladies standing beside me and had the exact same glittery jacket and glove as me! 😂 It was awesome! And since I didn't end up bringing my hat along (BIG mistake on my part! I had worried it might block people's view....it wouldn't have! 🤦) the sweet old ladies let me borrow their hat for one of my pictures! I also had to buy myself some merch taking waaay too long to decide what to buy but the cashier was super nice and cool about it, lol. Even though my seats were basically in the "nosebleed" section, I still had a great view of the entire stage and the venue was GORGEOUS! Ugh! I want to go back!! I want to re-live that most MAGICAL, WONDERFUL, HAPPIEST, MOST BRILLIANT of days!! ✨😭💓 

I had major post-musical blues for days afterwards, listening to the album on repeat! I wanted to go back the next day and see it again! If I had the money, I would have gone to every, single show! And be on the floor with all the other rowdy, excited fans like myself, hahaha. Let's just say the poeple I was sitting around....were not as enthusiastic as I was, haha. I was on my own when it came to whoops, cheers & hollers which was a bit awkward but I didn't care! I was too excited!! During the finale number when everyone was taking their bows, I was the only one (in my section) who stayed up on their feet clapping, singing and dancing along! 😂 I'll bet my older lady friends went all out and had seats closer to the stage, doing the same thing as me! I wish I could have been sitting by them, haha! 

I shared in great detail to anyone who would listen to me how amazing the show was (don't worry, I didn't spoil it for anyone...no one I told is interested in ever seeing it because they are INSANE! 😜). So, if you haven't been convinced yet....ABSOLUTLEY 💯 GO SEE IT if you get the chance! If you have to MAKE the chance DO IT!! It's so freaking good!! 😭💓🙌 I don't have the words! It's MJ magic at it's finest!! This musical did him JUSTICE! ✨ And the love and respect the actors clearly have for him was so apparent and I loved it SO FREAKING MUCH!! 

OK. There's the review of one of the best days of my whole freaking year that for some reason I didn't do sooner! I am BEYOND grateful I got to go see this musical that I have been around for since it was announced! It was worth the wait!! It was also my very first Broadway musical EVER! And it was PERFECT! 🥇

I listened to a bunch of these songs today during my "work out" (I couldn't stop myself from singing along so I was a bit winded sooner than I might normally have been 😝) and knew I had to share a couple for today's post! These were some of the stand-out songs from the album and musical.

I'll Be There

The way they portrayed this song was so emotional and beautiful! 💓 I still get chills remembering it.

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough/Blame it on the Boogie/Dancing Machine

This medley was a MAJOR HIGHLIGHT of the show! 🤩👏 Especially the choreography during Dancing Machine! 

Stranger in Moscow

I'm actually shocked at how much I LOVE this track! It's a very small scene in the show, but it was INCREDIBLY done!! The emotion it brought to the story was perfect! It helped portray MJ's feelings of isolation and loneliness beautifully!

You Can't Win

I remember when I was first listening to this album that I was excited to see this rare track included! It became one of my favorites and I was so curious what was going on during the scene! Now I know and it was GENIUS! I love how they would blend his songs into the story and how they worked so well with what was going on! I don't want to say much to give anything away but it's so COOL and creative how they did it! BIG FAN!!  

I Can't Help It

This one wasn't that memorable from the musical itself in my opinion, but I love the arrangement and can imagine it being sung as a duet by a man and woman and being such a fun, slightly sexy love song 😉😍 It's super romantic and swoon-worthy, at least the way I imagine it, haha. This would have been better suited for the Month of Love Songs challenge but since my blog is ending this year (😭) there won't be another Month of Love Songs....so it had to be included here.

Earth Song/They Don't Care About Us

If I HAD to choose a favorite song/performance of the show, this would have to be it! I mean, first of all, the mash-up of the song choices....💓😍 OBSESSED. And then the way it's incorporated into the story....the intensity of the scene and choreography....BRILLIANT! 🤩 AND THE ENDING!? 💥 FIRE! 🔥🔥🔥 

She's Out of My Life

Another song more suited for February....and that wasn't a huge part of the show at all....but the arrangement?? 😍 And hearing both MJ voices harmonize together?? GORGEOUS! Again, I can imagine this being sung as a heartbreaking duet between a man and woman. 

Man in the Mirror

OF COURSE the greatest song of all time had to be featured and given a proper SHOUT OUT!! 😍😭💓🙌 This song sends me to CHURCH! It's straight worship!! 🙌 This is the ending song and....yeah. It's perfect. 💖 It's emotional. It was a beautiful ending! THE FREAKING ENDING!!! I can't spoil it because that would be mean. It's SO WORTH seeing and being surprised, thrilled, awed, losing your dang MIND OVER!! 🔥🤩😱🙌💓

It feels so wrong not to be sharing EVERY SINGLE SONG and moment from the show!! 😩 But I know this post is getting waaaaay too long. NEVER FEAR....MJ: The Musical WILL be back until EVERY SONG has been shared and fangirled over! 😁😍

Have I convinced you to not walk, RUN to get tickets to the nearest showing near you yet?? 😉😊 IT'S SO GOOD!! DOOOOO IT!! SPEND THE MONEY!! BOOK THE FLIGHT!! DO IT NOW!! I PROMISE you won't regret it! It will be money very well spent! And memories that will live with you FOREVER!! ✨

I LOVE YOU MJ!! 🤟💗 

FOREVER THE KING OF POP!! 👑

YOUR LEGACY LIVES ON AND ALWAYS WILL!!

YOU WILL CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN AND INSPIRE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME!!

THANK YOU FOR THE MAGIC!! 💓✨

LONG LIVE THE KING!! 👑