Find out what your voice can really do. Join my free singing course! chrisliepe.com/free-your-voice/

Keep in mind that this is an 19-year old/20-year old Michael during the recording of the Off the Wall album.

Rod Temperton was a songwriting genius.

MJ and Quincy Jones together is pure genius on the albums they put out

The Finger snapper is actually MJ himself. He was known for having the best snaps and also snapping thru most of his songs.

I saw an interview recently with the drummer on this record John JR Robinson, who played on a million sessions and he said Quincy Jones came up to him and asked him could you come up with a little drum intro that will be memorable for all time? He said uhh sure. He thought for a few seconds, played that intro and it made everybody elevate their playing, and that was the take on the record.

Those backup vocals are stunning. He even seems to be able to match his own vibrato across tracks. I love that harmony on "sunlight." Chills.

I got a teary eye just listening to those strings! 🥹😭

Michael Jackson is the King of Harmonies.

Michael’s songs are so complex when you break through the surface. I absolutely love getting to understand the amount of work put into just one song through your videos. Such beautiful harmonies!

20:39 That's the exact reaction I have every time I hear that sick riff/run. The vocal agility and control is absurd.

@ 6:23 The moment he said "it's one of the reasons I love listening to so much Michael Jackson" I clicked on subscribe button!

real musicians making real music, all of them geniuses. One of the best songs ever. Music at the highest level.

Those strings gave me goosebumps, amazingly beautiful.

One of my most favorite tracks in life. Always puts a smile on my face and takes me back to a happier time of being a young kid and hearing this song on my dad’s barely running car while he was dropping me off to school.

Start to finish, top to bottom, a musical masterpiece.

I always thought it was a hot song. But I'm still amazed by how sensual Michael's voice is in this song! 😱 I'm blown away! 😳😵

Love when you do Michael multitracks

He is just an amazing vocalist. That’s why I’ve been a fan all my life. Looking forward to more Michael videos

I was born in 1978. This song is part of my development. Quincy, Rod, MJ and personnel created a funk orchestra. Additionally, perfection of the digital era is why music feels disconnected. It's the imperfection that makes it feel REAL. Analog is the truth. Digital is fear of the truth as far as I'm concerned, which is why we get nostalgic for the music of the past.

Thank you for this analysis. MJ sang as he danced, the whole body decomposed and intertwined right down to the fingertips, everything was meticulously placed. The concert version of this piece is very eloquent in its way of articulating, body and facial gestures. When his note is fully opened, he smiles like Peter Pan flying, sometimes he clenches his teeth to let a little air pass through and to put tension in his note and the intention of the words. Suddenly he sings like a very jerky drum machine, sometimes he sends power into the nose, for you and me it would be a head voice like Justin Timberlake, for him it was mixed with the throat voice lol A very soft blow, a very metal blow, he mastered his voice from the Motown era at such a young age, as soon as he mastered his adult voice he had the good idea to experiment with his voice in several directions/styles towards end of the 70s (Destiny era with the Jacksons or Off the wall, then on the album Victory, Thriller etc) like dance where he mixed Fred Astaire, James brown, Hip hop over time to create his own style. This gentleman was a genius in the noblest sense of the word ! He explained that he didn't know where his inspiration came from, from God, and he let it pass him by. He knew how to sing/perform as a child, where he understood everything was that he mixed his excellent technique, with all his emotional sensitivity, over time that was refined. And that's a bit of the problem today, singers have trouble accepting their voices, their way of singing, they try to ape a style ²/ they don't have enough fun, not just with their voices, with all their bodies, their hearts, the emotional, the soul, to free themselves completely while knowing in what framework they want to evolve according to what they interpret. How to have fun while being channeled, that's what MJ was all about.

The great masterpiece yet is amazing after 45 years . My god. I love this song.

This is phenomenal. How wonderful to get to hear this after all these years. Vocals, guitar, And those strings wow, who knew

This is so cool 😎 Love hearing these studio multi tracks. You bring out soooo much of what Michael does that made him unique and special. Michael “dances with his voice.” That’s going in my collection of useful quotes that shape my own vocals. 🙏🥰

Phenomenal. Just pure genius.

The way I RAN to this video lol This song is so good, and I feel like people don't appreciate the string sections in Michael's songs enough- like they get lost in the beat. There's such a sensual yet playful joy in every part. I have no musical/vocal training but I feel like could rant about Rock With You forever lol Maybe I'm crazy but I could've sworn I saw the thumbnail on your channel yesterday, when I had time to watch it, it was gone. Glad it's here now!

My 2nd favorite song by MJ. Pure genius!

My dad bought me up on off the wall and thriller I am 38 now for a song that is nearly 50 years old it will be a classic forever the greatest voice even from childstar to a mega star never will be replaced love your videos Chris

Amazing you see why his songs such as this stand in a test of time. Real voice and instruments playing the song of M.J.

I think that last little section of vocals isn’t in the final release, or it fades out before you can fully appreciate them! That was incredible! Thanks Chris ✌️

the god of music

Truly a wonderful era for music. This just isn't done anymore.

Why do I still cry hearing the break down of MJ songs ❤ loveeeeeee this so much

Off the wall is my favourite album of all time thank you for all these epic breakdowns and giving me a deeper appreciation of what mj and quincy achieved together on a epic trilogy of albums 😊 ❤

Oh I’ve been waiting on this. Rod Temperton was an amazing song writer. RIP.

The Goat. Best Vocalist of all time, Best Dancer of all time, Best Philanthropist of all time.

Absolutely I cannot believe these harmonies they’re insane MJ

With headphones is heaven🤯🤯

5:00 wow this portion has so many emotions it lifts you up, makes you tear, makes you feel sad but gives you a teaching moment, and just hugs you. wowoowowoowowow I would buy just this striped down versions if I could or blast them in the park.

I was like 10-11 when I had this album and it was by far his greatest work. I knew back then it was special. But hearing the incredible vocal breakdown really shows just how talented he was.

3:58 just does something to my soul that i can’t explain 😮‍💨😂

Wow wow Thank you Chris for showing us this! One of the the greatest vocalist ever!

God bless Rod he wasn’t a singer but he was a genius when it came to writing hits.

Goosebumbs bout the background strings. Nearly emotional tears running down my face when I hear that. Thanks Chris ! You made my day again with that.

Yes was amazing. Thank you. When you watch the music video, then you will see his beautiful smile while singing this song. I can here and feel his smile, even while listening to this amazing song.❤️

Yes, the background Michaels are arguably the best part of a perfect song. One of my all-time headphone songs. I would never recognize that bass from the song. It never occurred to me any of MJ's recordings would have pitch imperfections or spliced vocals but I'm not a music person. An 80's Time Magazine article did some of the interview as MJ drove around. The writer said he was surprised that MJ sounds like everyone else when he sings along with the radio. I was born the same year as MJ and love this song so this analysis/breakdown was enjoyable. I'll remember it every time I hear the record.

Oh those harmonies ! Perfection !

interestingly enough, i first came across your channel back in october through sleep token, who i had recently gotten into. later i saw that you had this michael jackson playlist and it stopped me in my tracks! he’s my favorite artist of all time and i was so excited to dive into these videos. and what a treasure they are! nothing makes me happier as a long time mj fan than to see his artistry being discussed and celebrated and for that i thank you, chris. this one was incredible, rock with you feels like pure love and a slice of heaven. michael will live forever on through his music 💓💫

Legendary song. One of my favorites.

Off the Wall remains the standard to me, everything about MJ was so so so perfect during this time. My absolute favourite MJ album, yes... even more than Thriller.

Man that's just singing with soul

Thank you my favorite! Mj song of all time...my appreciation of this song is even more enhanced

The strings in "Rock With You" and "Off The Wall" the song make me cry. They're SO perfect

The string section by itself is amazing 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

Jaw dropping, I can’t take it - Amazing stuff, more of this please! 🍺

My all time favorite song, you’ve earned my sub.. 🤘🏼✌🏼

THANK YOU so much for this video, I’m literally obsessed with MJ and his voice… you definitely lifted my spirits with this video ❤️ MAKE MORE

Holy moly you actually did it

The guy was a genius and with Quincy Jones and Rod T...

This is so fuckin beautiful

I'm very happy you are still doing these Michael Jackson analysis vids! I enjoy them a lot. If you wanted to do an analysis on something new, you should check out Michael Jackson recording the song Childhood at the Hit Factory Studio in 1994. You can find it on KZfaq and it's about 20 minutes long. You'll see him recording the song, the whole orchestra recording the song, and him talking to his recording team. Definitely could be something cool to do an analysis on potentially?? :)

RIP Michael Joseph Jackson and Rod Temperton!

That song is extremely incredible from all sides.

at the very beginning, that singer who you are hearing is Rod Temperton himself, giving MJ a framework of what the melody is like. Genius

My favorite MJ song. Thanks for sharing this. Just hearing all the sections, never realizing they were arranged that way and the goosebumps I get listening to each. Would be awesome to hear “I can’t help it.”

I watch all you MJ videos and OMG it's my first comment but it feels so good seeing that other people like you understand and explain his talent as a singer that the major part of people doesn't see. You're the only one who point these little details in his music and singing and explain how it's important to be natural, it's way more than crude explanations i love the humanity and spontaneity you put in your videos ! Thanks for being you !

This song and this album in general is interesting. Because Michael wanted to be more than "little michael from the jackson 5". He wanted to finally stand out and ceate his own sound and become his own artist. He started to have a little more creative control and its also the first time he sang a bit lower than he did on the jackson albums. Quincy and everyone wanted to get michaels more adult side on the album. This song was one of them.

Hey Chris, Thanks so much for sharing one of Michael's most iconic songs ever, his music video was so on point and beautiful! MJ's, musical talent and vocal arrangement on this song will be celebrated, Forever!!

On a recent episode of the MJ cast, they had Jennifer Batton ( his BAD, Dangerous and HIStory tour lead guitar player) and she talked about how rediculously amazing the chord changes are in this song. Couldnt agree more.

Absolutely delightful!! Thank you, Chris for bringing this to us with such great analysis ❤Love your videos!👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Just beautiful sound wow.

The infamous horn intro that I wish stayed on the record... *sigh* so beautiful

thanks Chris. this is so helpful for someone like myself who can pick up so much from being able to listen to what someone else is singing without all the intrusion of other musical frequencies mixing in, and up, with the vocal phrases being sung. great video Chris. Cheers.

The way you break it all down and explain the way it’s recorded and isolate sections and vocals is always informative and interesting, seen loads of your videos now and I never get bored, keep up the good work

Rod Temperton, what a musical power house that man was.

What a masterpiece. Thank you Chirs!!

Thank you for these videos. Michael was incredible.

Hands down my favorite MJ song. Thanks for getting these and sharing them!

Thank you Chris!❤

I used to work for Michael in 1988 on the bad tour as an electrician, he was innocent. He got bitten by the electric guitar and wanted to be a rocker,but, the people who make decisions said, 'no, you're a discotheque singer'! He said, "no, I'm doing it" a load of false statements about him got spread about him messing with fans. He re-signed his contracts. That's all there is to it! He was innocent. It was all about money, it's so simple!!!!!!!

I love your videos and I love how you make sense of it all and how much you enjoy it. Maybe one day I get to meet the great Chris Liepe!

This is my favorite MJ song of all time

So much to get out of Michaels voice. Truly amazing what you bring out.

This is AMAZING!!! My all time favorite song!

Damn that sound got the jelly!

so amazingly human!! I LOVE IT. Pure vibes....pure groove.... It does make you reconcile with your own imperfections

This is cool. Your excitement is contagious!

Hi Chris Thanks for the work you always do 😊 A love MJ❤

Man..I mean i am hearing things I never heard before....Strings live horn parts this is so much fun to witness! WOW! And.By the way Chris your analytics are just SUPERB .........very fun to watch you break it all down and you have a great voice man!

Just amazing! You are so fortunate to be able to do this...Like 3d participation!

That was an awesome analysis!

Man was a genius

One of my favorite MJ songs, that I've heard a million times and I never even noticed so many things in this song!

Eargasm 🤩 Pure bliss to my ears....has to be one of my favourite songs and reviews x

Thank you for this video we appreciate you for all your videos and musical teachings!!!!

I really love stuff like this. Breaking down the intricate process and taking a look at what music making processes really look like. I really miss this type of sound. Live instrumentation and synths of the time had so much character as opposed to what we hear in the music making process nowadays. Thank you for this🙏🏿

Love this arrangement.

Me derrito con su voz 😍, gracias por este tiempo ❤

Thank you for all you do🥂

Brilliant on so many levels !