Bolton always had one of the greatest voices in the business, his reputation just overshadowed that for a while. While Blackjack is a solid Bad Company-esque band with some really good deep cuts ("Maybe It's the Power of Love" is a forgotten hit, amazing song), Everybody's Crazy is genuinely the greatest 80s AOR album I've heard, it's like having Adele write songs about heartbreak for KISS and Def Leppard. One of my favourites album ever, it's the best kind of dramatic synth-heavy AOR with Bolton's voice sounding truly gorgeous on it. "Call My Name" is the only song on the album to hint at the things to come but "Start Breaking My Heart" and "Can't Turn It Off" are the true highlights of the album for me, genuinely great pop music.
Michael Bolton is a legendary voice! And I've heard the aforementioned song "Everybody Is Crazy " from his band,Blackjack! And he immediately shows his business card, his powerful voice!
He was never my cup of tea but I never understood people making fun on him. Dude definitely has talent, presumably he enjoyed doing what he was doing, and he was sitting on piles of money while we were a bunch of broke kids haha.
I also don't understand why people deny the obvious... It's like spitting against the wind. you may not like the manner of performance, but talent is a value, and this is an undeniable fact
When I was 14 in the car with my dad, an NSYNC ballad came on the radio and I wanted to tell him that NSYNC sucks and boy bands suck and we are lame for having it on the radio, but he wouldn't listen to me. So I had to sit there and realize that it was a nice melody and the harmony was good and I grew up a bit that day
The Hunger album from 1987 is fascinating as a turning point. Its poppy arena rock but had 2 or 3 really soft songs which became popular and that's the direction he went in. As a huge hair metal fan I love his 83 and 85 albums plus the heavier Hunger tracks. The AC stuff is a guilty pleasure though I remember it as a kid on the radio too
Will never forget working in a Classical department of the Virgin Megastore and him releasing "My Secret Passion", singing opera arias, and we had to stock it. That is a Geek Flag Flying if ever there was one. It did have great booklet notes. Full translations from the Italian and explanations of the plots of the operas.
How Can We Be Lovers… is simply an amazing song. And that key change out of the bridge? Hell yeah. This is the perfect mix of his past, his late 80s present, and where he would go.
Trivia note: His old band Blackjack had future KISS guitarist Bruce Kullick. Michael collaborated with Bruce's older brother Bob (R.I.P.) on his self titled 1983 album which was quite successful. The video for "Fools Game" got heavy rotation on MTV in the early days.
His 1983 album is a fine AOR album and Blackjack is a pretty solid REO Speedwagon, Head East, Shooting Star and 707 sounding effort. But he definitely fit better into the Adult Contemporary world somehow. Maybe it’s the fact even on his earliest solo efforts, there was a certain Blue-Eyed Soul and Soft Rock leaning to it he didn’t realize was what he wanted to flesh out.
“Everybody’s Crazy” sounds so much like 80s “makeup-less” Kiss! Funny how he’d be writing “Forever” for them a short time later. Also “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” has more guitar solos than all of Metallica’s St. Anger album.
Good analysis. I get why he transformed but I like the hair band MB better. When I explained to my kids what a “sappy love song” is I showed them MB and Kenny G.
now I’m starting to wonder why David Coverdale hasn’t become a grandmas’ Phil Collins . he had the following back in the early 1980s when English girls I knew needed the likes of him or Micheal Schenker just to listen to rock instead of Aha or Duran Duran . he’s still alive I guess - perhaps he’s unusual & is contented. 😁👍
There was a bolton every decade remember having to live through bolton musoc as a kid lol. Then fcking michael buble comes along and the fcking ride started again as a adult child 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bolton always had one of the greatest voices in the business, his reputation just overshadowed that for a while. While Blackjack is a solid Bad Company-esque band with some really good deep cuts ("Maybe It's the Power of Love" is a forgotten hit, amazing song), Everybody's Crazy is genuinely the greatest 80s AOR album I've heard, it's like having Adele write songs about heartbreak for KISS and Def Leppard. One of my favourites album ever, it's the best kind of dramatic synth-heavy AOR with Bolton's voice sounding truly gorgeous on it. "Call My Name" is the only song on the album to hint at the things to come but "Start Breaking My Heart" and "Can't Turn It Off" are the true highlights of the album for me, genuinely great pop music.
Did you listen to his version of "Nessun dorma"?
Michael Bolton is a legendary voice!
And I've heard the aforementioned song "Everybody Is Crazy " from his band,Blackjack!
And he immediately shows his business card, his powerful voice!
He was never my cup of tea but I never understood people making fun on him. Dude definitely has talent, presumably he enjoyed doing what he was doing, and he was sitting on piles of money while we were a bunch of broke kids haha.
I also don't understand why people deny the obvious... It's like spitting against the wind. you may not like the manner of performance, but talent is a value, and this is an undeniable fact
Early Bolton is a doppelgänger for 70’s and early 80’s (pre hair) David Coverdale, hell even his stage moves (though not really his voice)
I've also always seen this similarity between Michael Bolton and David Coverdale.
Michael Bolton embraced his soft rock soul and made billions of fans. I’m going to do the same!!!!
When I was a kid I goofed on him constantly but as I got older and became a musician I realized how good he was, dude can sing his balls off
When I was 14 in the car with my dad, an NSYNC ballad came on the radio and I wanted to tell him that NSYNC sucks and boy bands suck and we are lame for having it on the radio, but he wouldn't listen to me. So I had to sit there and realize that it was a nice melody and the harmony was good and I grew up a bit that day
Thank you for this video. You spoke so much truth about Michael Bolton
Amazing man, singer, songwriter, humanitarian! God bless
The Hunger album from 1987 is fascinating as a turning point. Its poppy arena rock but had 2 or 3 really soft songs which became popular and that's the direction he went in.
As a huge hair metal fan I love his 83 and 85 albums plus the heavier Hunger tracks. The AC stuff is a guilty pleasure though I remember it as a kid on the radio too
Will never forget working in a Classical department of the Virgin Megastore and him releasing "My Secret Passion", singing opera arias, and we had to stock it. That is a Geek Flag Flying if ever there was one. It did have great booklet notes. Full translations from the Italian and explanations of the plots of the operas.
How Can We Be Lovers… is simply an amazing song. And that key change out of the bridge? Hell yeah. This is the perfect mix of his past, his late 80s present, and where he would go.
Michael Bolton's journey is brilliant!
Great video of Micheal.. I love everything he sang then and now.He is a beautiful soul!❤thanks for sharing 👍🏻🙏🎵🎼😭👍🏻🎸🎤⭐️
Waooo..this video is great...it says exactly who michael bolton is
Trivia note: His old band Blackjack had future KISS guitarist Bruce Kullick. Michael collaborated with Bruce's older brother Bob (R.I.P.) on his self titled 1983 album which was quite successful. The video for "Fools Game" got heavy rotation on MTV in the early days.
And don't forget that Michael & Paul wrote the KISS song "Forever" for the 1989 Hot in the Shade album.
His 1983 album is a fine AOR album and Blackjack is a pretty solid REO Speedwagon, Head East, Shooting Star and 707 sounding effort. But he definitely fit better into the Adult Contemporary world somehow. Maybe it’s the fact even on his earliest solo efforts, there was a certain Blue-Eyed Soul and Soft Rock leaning to it he didn’t realize was what he wanted to flesh out.
I love u Michael Bolton…❤😂😊👍🏻🇺🇸🙏🎶🎵🫶🏻👱🏻♂️Ilove all Michael’s songs.
He sounded kind of like an infinitely powerful David Meniketti from Y & T. Maybe it's some kint of California accent?
My recollection of Michael Bolton, is Al Bundy, Al Bundy hates Michael Bolton LOL
Why should I have to change my name? He's the one who sucks.
Mine is Beavis and Butthead thinking the “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” video was a coffee commercial.
I remember his “Fools Game” single.
I don't want to pretend to care about michael Bolton I want to actually truly care
“Everybody’s Crazy” sounds so much like 80s “makeup-less” Kiss! Funny how he’d be writing “Forever” for them a short time later.
Also “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” has more guitar solos than all of Metallica’s St. Anger album.
Great mini documentary
How can we be lovers is just incredible.
Love love Michael Bolton ❤❤xxx
You missed one part from his ART life - singing "Nessun dorma"
damn ChatGPT is right, this really is a captivating video!
I love BlackJack. There. I said it. I bought both of their albums on import CD's from Japan a few years ago.
i realized it was Michael Bolton and my bowels let loose
I was hoping to hear you reference "Fools Game", probably my favorite song from MB
I unironically love that album.
Love this
So beatiful
Blackjack worked for him, that style of music just kinda went out after the late 70s.
thanks Michael im thinking about my strike zone now
Saw him with blackjack in the 80's
❤❤
Black Jack Ruled
Normal progression is to try hair metal first while you have hair, and if that doesn’t work and you’re going bald, go directly to elevator music
Good analysis. I get why he transformed but I like the hair band MB better. When I explained to my kids what a “sappy love song” is I showed them
MB and Kenny G.
Evelyn flores calapano🇵🇭👍💙💜💚💛🎶🎶🎶
now I’m starting to wonder why David Coverdale hasn’t become a grandmas’ Phil Collins . he had the following back in the early 1980s when English girls I knew needed the likes of him or Micheal Schenker just to listen to rock instead of Aha or Duran Duran . he’s still alive I guess - perhaps he’s unusual & is contented. 😁👍
There was a bolton every decade remember having to live through bolton musoc as a kid lol. Then fcking michael buble comes along and the fcking ride started again as a adult child 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Michael Bolton hates his past.