Added: 4 years ago
From: JudgingNoone
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  • Please never turn off your account a video clip of this is PRICELESS!! I LOVE YOU MJJ!

  • Seriously the best version of They Can't Take That Away From Me at the beginning. I wish I could find a copy of it :/

  • Most impressive!

  • oh my lord damn mj could do it all

  • I didn't know he could tap dance too. impressive.

  • DAYUMN!

  • MJ Owned Astaire.

  • @MrKareemRuiz Without Astaire, this song would've never been made. Fuck off kid.

  • @Tplayer48 You mad MJ better. Dude wtf?

  • michael jackson should be illegal. he's too good. go mj

  • yUK! fRED aSTAIRE MUST BE TWIRLING IN HIS GRAVE!!! mj IS OFF KEY AND SOUNDS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL! eAR POLLUTION!

  • Pleasantly surprised :)

  • I can't believe the controversy happening on here over tedious ass things! Michael is using falsetto, or a higher register of male voice (in the beginning). And this is meant to be a tribute to Fred Astaire. Even Fred loved Michael's dancing. In fact, shortly before Fred's passing, he said "I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”.

  • @MyCherieAmour90 And there you have it. Both men were geniuses and amazing dancers. Let's get back to the music and dancing and remember these wonderful people. If you're just here to throw shade at one or both of them, bugger the fuck off. Seriously.

  • Fred needn't worry 

  • @BadAssBoogers Fred Astaire did call michael when he was at home, after Fred watched his Motown 25 performance and told MJ that he was a great dancer, and "A hell of a mover" so yeah. Don't act all surprised, cause MJ was the best dancer, who could do any genre, without getting trained. He was born with that ability. BTW he was not a pedophile, because the FBI followed him for twelve years and could nt find anything on him. They just released the FBI report, he is and was always innocent. STFU

  • @925lexi Why did the FBI follow him for 12 years? Were they bugging his bedroom as well? I think your defence rather misses the point.

  • @925lexi is it when michael jackson performed billie jean?

  • called him to his house eh? ya right..any little boys there?

  • Michael once said that Fred called him to his house to tell him that he had taped Michael's performance (in some awards) and that he thought it was great!

  • Michael when he was young and black beautiful. So sad.

  • I think Fred would have smiled :)

  • Nothing tops Fred.

  • I will always miss him

  • What an insult to Astaire.

  • @clearlogicify why it's an insult? you're blind he was extraordinary in this.....

  • @Susi2584 On all levels, it's ghastly. His voice, the band, his "dancing" the costumes, the cheesy set. Not even going into why there is more than one dancer.

    I mean, I understand why they had to do it like this, he could never come close to Astaire's Ritz, just why did they even attempt this crap in the first place.

    Also, the song was specifically references whites (the original was quite racist), so again, another weird thing for these guys to perform.

  • @clearlogicify I never said it was better than Astaire's...also Fred said for MJ (when he was at a peak of his career) that ''he was one hell of a mover''...too bad MJ ruined his career because if you watch some of his videos he never copied anything from Fred he came up with his own moves...

  • @Susi2584 I have issue with the whole production, cast and quality. Whether it's equal or even better than Astaire's is irrelevant. Astaire wasn't even the first do it. However, it was intended as a tribute to Astaire, which allows/encourages comparison. As I said in my first post, its bad enough to actually be an insult to Astaire.

  • @Susi2584 Um several choreographies were completely ripped. Try smooth criminal. Michael Jackson was a great contemporary dancer with a personal style. However, a lot of his inspiration came from OLD HOLLYWOOD and JAMES BROWN. He couldn't touch Fred Astaire and this attempt is a joke. Sorry.

  • @clearlogicify

    Could you explain further? I didn't realize the song was rascist. I guess I should go look up the lyrics...

  • @clearlogicify from Wikipedia:"The original version of Berlin's song included references to the then-popular fad of flashily-dressed but poor black Harlemites parading up and down Lenox Avenue, "Spending ev'ry dime / For a wonderful time"." it then says that Astaire sung the revised version?

  • @tripudium17 Ouch, Wikipedia as a fact site is a big no-no.

    well-to-do white New Yorkers visiting African American jazz

    music venues in Harlem

  • Mm the king of pop.... King of entertainers... He is amazing I love him, RIP MJ we all miss you...

  • Hell of a dancer, he is just dazzling to watch

  • O.O This was amazing! And he's only 17 here.,... So great!

  • Michael Jackson's voice is higher than the girls voice Haha

    

  • @BoooooooosaTheReal thats his sister

  • It's crazy how insanely talented Michael was, those spins he does.... I fall every time I try to do it but he is just always in perfect balance, and he does it so fast, I have to learn it, love you forever MJ you are my biggest inspiration <3<3

  • Better than I expected. I'm not an mj fan. He had great talent, may he rest in peace ( oops, too late-autopsy). Maybe I'm just an old soul, but fred astaire was a lot better, granted he had more practice. I did love the gotta dance part. I'm ignorant and only know it from singing in the rain and don't know if fred sang it first. All in all, both are great, but micheal was too young. Astair had a deeper voice and pulled off the song better

  • king

  • shite

  • which one is michael jackson??? haha kidding ;)

  • OMG MJ's feet are off the chain that man will never be touched!!!!!!!!!!!

  • @buckweet08

    MJ was awesome, his singing dancing and music production. However he is bested by Fred Astaire in this style. Again he is very, very good. Its just that noone can touch Fred Astaire. Go watch some Fred Astaire.

    Not disliking MJ , just correcting you - FRED ASTAIRE was the best at this.

  • an instrument of our universe.my thought's are with you,and your family.

    i hope justice is done.i hope that we all can see the connection that we have to each and everyone of us is recognised,and that our connection is with all that is within our universe.we are all and all is we.love is the only answer.peace and love to all.i have seen good people destroyed by bad and evil people in this world.i have never doubted you.the truth and love will alway's win.

  • the singing is terrible...but i still love young michael.

  • @Habanero212 You mad white boy lmao, MJ is a better singer when he was younger dumb ass

  • @200damary first off, you ignorant ass motherfucker, your grandparents are white. if you took 2 seconds to read my name you'd realize i am not. second, this is shit singing...cannot be compared to "never can say goodbye," "i'll be there" or any of the other GREAT singing MJ did as a child. he is CLEARLY not as young and probably having a bad day. third off your mom is the dumb ass for obvious reasons.

  • @Habanero212 My granddad is not white, BTW MJ way not trying hard

  • Astaire was even the ONE who told Jackson he was gonna make it big.. he would watch him rehearse and knew he had a big future ahead, so everyone needs to STFU.

  • Omg.. MJ WAS exceptional. The way he moved was like nobody before, not even Astaire.

  • @SuperTSpain3 Same <3 :)

  • That Janet is great

  • love mj best ever

  • Back when "Michael-Jackstyle" was cool.

  • I love and miss them both. But I know that when it rains, it is because Fred and Michael are dancin' up the storm together in Heaven!

  • here for the the haters the full! ". Fred Astaire is quoted saying, “Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century” and upon his death was further quoted saying, “I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”

  • thats why mj is the G.O.A.T

  • Comment removed

  • Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Ginger Rodgers, you name em'............. I MISS AND LOVE THEM ALL!!!

  • Michael + Fred Astaire = Heaven

  • I love this vid -- one of my favrits!!!

  • Man no matter what... That guy could dance!

  • OMG! I love it!!!! :)

  • Don't talk about him

  • Loser

  • what??? Michael Jackson is black????

  • @amcreb I bet your one of those people who lives solely to hate. And when your life is coming to an end that's all you'll remember "accomplishing" and what people well remember of you most. But you know what, quite while your still ahead, life's too short to just spend your time hating people you don't know. Don't be one of those people who hide behind their computers like coward's saying things they probably don't understand. Find where your negativity comes from and change. Find Peace.

  • I didn't know Micheal Jackson could dance...

  • I bet if he wasn't with company, he'd be able to go to town.

  • MJ had exceptional talent, and was a first-rate entertainer. It's a shame that his life went the way of so many others of the famous and talented. It may be that he was mentally ill, or that, in his own eyes, he was never good enough. God rest his soul.

  • fuck u mj u queer child molester

  • @lethalswaggTrage when you die i hope people call you a fucking faggot who couldnt amount to anything

  • @lethalswaggTrage really disgusting..

  • @lethalswaggTrage He didn't hurt children, he genuinely cared about them. They just took what was innocent and made it into something twisted.The Media hated that the most well known and popular person was a black and they encouraged basically the stoning of Michael Jackson. It's crazy how jealousy, greed and hate can turn into a monster. You know nothing, the only thoughts you have is what the media feeds you. And this world we live in likes to kill good people. That was MJ, a good person.

  • You on the other hand don't sound like a good person, who are you to judge? What have you done for this world that was soo great(MJ donated so much and unite people of all walks of life with his music and dance) that you could talk about a person you didn't even know. Maybe your just a waste of air, I have no doubt that YOUR a coward that hides behind his computer spurring hate and that's all you'll be until you change. Peace hater.

  • Im sure mj made fred proud

  • Fred Astaire was one of Michael's biggest admirers.

  • I heard that Fred Astaire thought that Michael Jackson was the greatest dancer of his time, but in this video, he doesn't compare favorably at all with Astaire's version.

  • “Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century”.

    and

    “I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”

  • Fred Astaire once commended Michael jackson!!!Saying he was the greatest dancer!

  • I come over here to see MJ perform this song i figure out there is a who better fight..well i say who gives a shit its puttin on the ritz damnit!

  • they can't take that away from me-3

  • All this arguing on this video - man don't you people ever give up! The point is Michael Jackson could crack any dance style - simple! Whether he is not as good as Fred does not even matter, MJ was unique from 5 years old he did the most outrageous James Brown moves ever and only excelled in what he was doing. So stop the crap arguing and comparing. MJ was a Genius simple!

  • wow

  • BRAVOOO!!!

  • @kostyacsh. The only thing that Michael had training in was tap dance. He was taught by only the best, Fred Astaire. Which is one reason why he did this song. Which is very well done.

  • Does MJ have a different voice when he's not in the public's eye and it sounds

    like a deep voice?

  • @jpsmart59

    yea he has two voices a deep one and a high one. he sing one song with his deep voice: "2000 watts" there you can here his deep voice.

  • mj killed thiss!! wow his voice is incredible hes amazing

  • Not as good as Taco or Fred's version but he was no doubt a great singer and dancer.

  • I miss MJ thumbs up if you agree

  • Astair was not the original singer the original was taco

  • @Pazza705 Hardly. "Puttin' on the Ritz" was written and published in 1929 by Irving Berlin and introduced by Harry Richman in the musical film Puttin' on the Ritz in 1930, it was eventually made well known by Astair in the 1946 movie Blue Skies, Taco's version was done in 1983. That's 37 years after Astair's movie.

  • Oh and I forgot to mention that MJ never had a formal training in ballet or dancing. This is all his natural talent! And that's why Fred Astaire himself called him the greatest natural dancer!

  • Astaire fans come here to comment how this is not as good as Fred's version?So what?! This is a 17-year-old kid, who probably only rehearsed this for one week! What if Astaire had to do one of MJ's trademark dances with only one week to rehearse? I bet he wouldn't get anywhere near Michael either. MJ didn't yet find his own style yet here, but it shows what an incredible natural talent he is. And dancing was just one of his skills. He sang, wrote most of his songs and made choreography too...

  • @Kostyasch I agree! I love Astaire and this is just MJ doing a tribute. I love it! People need to chillax.

  • @Kostyasch I couldn't agree more! This man could move, and dance his ass off like no other, period! Even Fred Astaire himself was once quoted as saying that MJ was "the greatest dancer of all time." It has been proven and confirmed. On top of all this MJ is the only musician to be inducted into the Dance Hall of fame! Nuff said!

  • I wouldnt be surprised if MJ sang the original version

  • “Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century”. - Fred Astaire

    “I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”- Fred Astaire (shortly before his death)

  • @gupta889 true, it was 2 years after this vid fred died.. I totally agree with you

  • @gupta889

    Lol ,Jacko learned every fuckin move ,step and choreo from the greatest dancer ever! Paula frikkin Abdul!

  • @gupta889 The boy reference is demeaning and has no place in todays world. I do understand that Fred was a product of his time period. He was born in 1899 here in Omaha,NE and for the record one of the greats but hell no to the word boy. Hell no!

  • @lordcron I understand your point, but I don't think he said it in a demeaning way, compared to Fred, Michael was pretty young and so he called him a boy. And I have never heard that there was any controversy when Fred said it back in the 1980s. Nowadays we have to be careful about what we say otherwise even innocent comments can be misconstrued.

  • @lordcron Uhm not everyone has a rascist mind like you, BOY! Fred Astaire meant nothing other than the fact that MJ was a boy! Fred Astaire was what?! In his freakin' 80's when he died!!! So OFC A 17 year old would be a freakin boy to him! God I get sick of people who are quick to call the race card when really they are the rascists, black or white.

  • What a fantastic voice!!!

  • i love this so much, i put on my ipod

  • Désolé mais je ne m'exprimerais pas en anglais car celui ci n'est pas vraiment au point lol Par contre, j'arrive à comprendre vos commentaires mais la chose que je ne comprends pas, c'est votre attitude injuste et sévère envers Michael Jackson. Cette vidéo est sans doute l'une des meilleures au monde ! Regardez la façon dont il bouge ! J'ai limite eu l'impression de voir Dieu danser... A cette époque, il n'a encore tout à fait atteint la paroxysme de son talent mais on s'y approche doucement....

  • They Can't Take That Away From Me was a nice song to lead to Puttin On The Ritz

  • I love Michael but he's not a good fit to this song. His voice is way too high

  • @pkp077

    His voice is not too high. the key the song was played in is the problem...Michael's voice got lower as he got older...and his dancing...well it went through the roof...which is why Fred considered MJ his heir...

  • 1:21 is were Puttin on the Ritz start

  • Sorry. Just not the same as Fred or Taco.

  • @hermiebnice

    It was not meant to be....MJ was a teenager here..Fred was an adult...and very practiced in this sort of thing...so the comparison is invalid. Also the Jacksons variety show had to be done very quickly each week...and Michael didn't like doing that sort of things....'too rushed' he said...

  • idgaf what anybody says Michael Jackson is THAT guy! Enough said! raw talent!

  • Dont be rediculous, once they were up and running someone must have thought itd be a good idea to teach this guy tap. It takes nothing away from his talent.

  • This is like a freaky version of the Lawrence Welk Show

  • This is not puttin on the ritz.

  • Woah, Michael's still black.

  • Sorry, but the girl who dance with s2 Michael s2 it's Rebbie and not LaToya!!! 

  • thanks @nuhadahmed. ive watched this many times before. MJ can dance whatever he wants. he has no limit

  • he tap danced too??? damnnn that is talent

  • I used too take Tap dancing. The girl has a wierd voice

  • @Mrdepointer The girl is Latoya Jackson, Michael's sister.

  • @rocknroll773 No, it's Rebbie JACKSON his older sister !

  • @AfroBabyK Oh, okay.  Thanks.

  • @AfroBabyK Oh no je me suis tromper sorry I see carefuly it's Latoya ,désolé !

    Sorry but I'm french so i speak quite the english you know .

  • @AfroBabyK no, it's LaToya, Michael's other older sister...

  • Whats with the white wig?????

  • @Mrdepointer The white wig is because they are imitating a certain period in time.

  • Umm..... isn't michael only 17 in this, so why are you guys comparing him to Elvis and Astaire? Michael was an amateur dancer here and he perfomed it without any dance training.

  • Man, that was awesome!!! Michael Jackson ROCKS AT ALL KINDS OF MUSIC!!!!!!

  • swaggin it -_-

  • my ears :(

  • @nwoalexjones You must be gay (I am a 13yr old girl)

  • I had no idea he could tap dance!

  • Why did Taco bother being racist when he could have had actual black people in his video?

    MJ's chops are good, but the arrangement and routine are not so great. I think he has more flair in dancing this than Astaire, but Astaire has more charisma in context of this song...his voice fits the style better.

  • This is talent!

  • Is this available in audio format on an album or compilation?

  • Fred Astaire may be the original and gold standard, but seeing a young performer do this good of an imitation is very impressive.

  • super duper

  • I like Taco's version better

  • @Mrdepointer Who asked you which version you liked better? Why tell us? Tell somebody that cares.

  • @rocknroll773 Well talk to somebody that cares.

  • @Mrdepointer Well, because you are a13 y.o. young teenager, I will not be talking to you anymore.

  • A master tributing a master.

  • is there nothing this man could not do?

  • Lol at latoyas voice.

  • my god his voice is gorgeous

  • Ii Cant Believe Peopl Are Hatinq On Mj!!!!!!

  • Who is this guy!!!??? Where is Taco!!!!!

  • GOOOOOOOOOOO MJ!!!!!!!!!! R.I.P. <3

  • i personally think taco did the best

  • When the First Hello Was Said i Thought It Was the Girl..

  • I love the little "Hello :3" in the beginning of the video.

  • I wonder, what is that nigga with a blonde wig?

  • He is perfect and so beautiful and he sounds like an angel. God must have been so happy having made him...

  • Not nearly as good as Fred Astaires.

  • Comment removed

  • @AleezaChocolat Michael Jackson was dancing his entire life. Or did you see any of the Jackson 5?

  • This is great. What a talented man!

  • The one time Michael ISN'T the one wearing the white glove. :)

  • Why is everybody saying Micheal Jackson is so great for doing this? It's not like he made it up, or as if he preformed it the best.

  • Michael is the greatest ...

  • Michael Jackson can dance so WELL!!!

  • His voice is just angelic..nobody like this wonderful man.

    He will be remembered in my heart forever..and not just for his entertainment..

  • MICHAEL JACKSON IS SO SPECIAL, SO VERY UNIQUE. THE BEST ENTERTAINER OF THE PLANET. PURE GENIUS!!!

  • michael jacksons talent as a performer is really not even describable. there is nothing that it can really even be compared to. his instincts are just completely unparalleled. every time i see a video i hadn't seen before it never fails to drop my jaw. listen to his singing in this! this kid was outrageously incredible.

  • Wow ... Michael Jacksons hair looks great! :)

  • two women.

  • Best entertainer of ALL TIME?? Nope sorry. Astaire & Rogers, now that was a team!