Louis Johnson jams and performs Billie Jean (Michael Jackson) [live]

[TheFunkyfeelings]

now that intro was something else...

[funkypeople1000]

He is da D U D E!

[wusundowma]

I read somewhere that Michael wrote this bass line, but Louis just said they wrote it together.

[dreamersfind]

He is playing with a couple of Conservatorium teachers.

[naumerbraga]

the king bass



[gofastest]

Good recording, thanks. I hate it got cut on "I Want You Back".

[dexfx69]

wow, i didn't know GOD played bass!

[vracan]

MJ probably sang the basic bass concept to Louis, but it's still Louis choosing the actual notes(since Michael did not play any instruments besides his voice). Just like eddie van halen doing the solo for beat it, MJ may have shown him a basic concept of what he wanted, but in no way did he tell eddie the actual notes to play.

Don't get me wrong, I still think MJ WAS a musical genius!

[TheYates100]

@vracan Listen to MJ's demo before he even brought it into the studio, also listen to MJ beatbox it, pretty self explanatory what notes to play...

[vracan]

@TheYates100

ok I'll play along...where exactly can I find this "demo" or " beatbox"???

[TheYates100]

@vracan Type in Billie Jean demo and Michael Jackson beatboxing, you'll be surprised how good MJ is at beatboxing

[nbnybeats4u]

damn incredible

[kocur1945]

fouiyhaduofgyadoufga

[MrCoby303]

Louis is a Legend yall recongnize that!!!

[toragonzo]

この場所にいたかったなー

[wh0m33]

It would help if the singer learned the words to the song. Oh, who's that chick on the right, (Louis's left)? She looks pretty hot!!!!!!!!

[The187proof]

"This is some serious funky shit.. excuse my french" ahahaha one of the greatest quotes ever

[j955]

Per Hall & Oates, Michael 'apologized' for borrowing the groove from I Can't Go For That (No Can Do). It sounds like Louis changed it ever so slightly. It's OK for people to compare musicians as we compare our favorite athletes. I think Victor Wooten is king of the hill now. He can do so many things well....and FAST!! I read long ago where Jaco said in order to be a good bass player, the first thing you need to do is learn how to play everything on the radio. Basslines and everything else!

[TheGodParticle]

i enjoyed that.

[bandapraist]

o cara é fudido de bom em nossa

[nickyjlyons]

I wanna hear him play "i want you back"!!! Where can I find i??

[wardearth]

F#$@ing cool. Looks like he's playing with a bunch of music students or something. But maybe its just his band.

[Silentrev]

@wardearth He's playing with music students and their teachers too. Good call.

[notton155]

Tjonge jonge meneer donder duim mocht nog wel eventjes doorgaan hier op You Tube!!!

[jessejdubb3rd]

this boy is so bad he uses his whole hand not just his thumb

[emperorof420]

I want him to slap me!!!!

[megavega4]

OK..  I HOPE he meant to say that he RECORDED and not WROTE this song with MJ. The credits list MJ as a the sole composer. He was given credit on "Get On The Floor" from the Off The Wall album, so clearly MJ has no problem listen co writers when appropriate.

[echtervorarlberger]

"This is some crazy funky shit!" damn good opening line to one damn good groove.

[ifeoye]

the beat in the beginning is fire

[dearestkela]

shiiiiiiiiiiiit! this brotha's got me feeling the soul!

[prettybassdoll]

I love it. One of my favorite bass players.

[MetalKidDanny]

This world sucks, it's sad that good things don't get much attention.

[TejanoStlye]

why doesnt the keyboard player....well play the keyboards?

[jooosha]

Fuck me, this guy blows my mind.

[bbBassYo]

Is louis johnson in enschede geweest..... waarom wist ik dat niet :|:|:|:|:|:|

[scrotly]

That opening jam gives me goosebumps every time. What a talent!

[takhdtogo]

Crazy Old Man if I could only play a half of what you can do, it would be ok!!

[kuifmans2001]

Super hoor, Benjamin

[PyroMantix]

Long live Louis Johnson, epic bassist!

[EfarmosmenosStokos]

o.0

Whoa

[jacksonkingofpop211]

gotta love the funky 80's

[ThePublicEnemyNo1]

Ain't nothing else right in this music but the bass...go Mr. Johnson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[42BASSMAN]

The father slap for me..

[bogusmail]

i just remembered. this was the guy who played on several of Michael Jackson's songs. Wow! he still got it. One of the godfathers of slap bass. The other is Larry Graham. It's great to see him still doin' it!

[kuifmans2001]

Next song is I Want You Back by the Jackson 5 (or Jacksons)

[funkyyassy]

全く腕が衰えてませんね。

カッコイイ！！

[john76g]

The singing of the keyboard player is much better than playng :0)

[salvatorepooja]

damn echt goed!!

[bassdada]

is it craig ross on guitar?

[Silentrev]

I don't think so. But, honestly, I really don't know.

[afrosensuous]

@bassdada...whoever it is ain't playing none of the Billie Jean parts right or at all.

[daveimby]

@afrosensuous

I recorded with this guy in Holland around the same time this video was shot.

F.Y.I.

He is the bass player on the Billie Jean recording ...If you want to know the right part ...

he's the only one to ask...

He's also playing on the whole Off The Wall album.

[afrosensuous]

@daveimby...Oh, trust me, I'm quite aware of Louios Johnson. I have original albums of Brothers Johnson, Aretha Franklin, Chaka and early Quincy Jones. I was referring to the guitar players, not Louis. Louis is a genius and will never get the props he deserves, just like James Jamerson, Larry Graham, Nathan Phillips, and countless others. Thunder Thumbs is a sick bass player.

[daveimby]

@afrosensuous ... oh ok then :)

I misunderstood. But I think those are students, and it's just a jam, non prepared I suppose :)

[afrosensuous]

@daveimby....It was good to check out, though. That was a cool moment to be able to say you played with Louis. 

[daveimby]

@afrosensuous yeah. Shame I didn't get the chance to play a live gig with him. But we spend a day in studio recording together. As in 'live together', not in seperate parts. And it was an amazing experience, incredible what an atmosphere the guy brings into a recording room ... it really affects all the other musicians in the room. His enthusiasm, his positivity, ... He makes everybody play better so the final result on the track is better than ever. Great experience :)

[ifeoye]

who cares? His bass is got it covered.

[afrosensuous]

@ifeoye...Just jiving, that's all. It's always a pleasure to see top notch players in the industry get down with other folks.

[BIGeSTRING]

die toetsenman met dat petje op is dat Rogier niet? hij lijkt er verdacht veel op. of vergis ik me??

[Silentrev]

Het is Roger Happel, ja. Als je die bedoelt. En een van de twee zangeressen is Marlayne, die heeft meegedaan aan het Eurovisie-Songfestival namens Nederland. Tof dat je het ziet, want het is niet bepaald High Def. ;)

[vracan]

How many bass players do you know that created bass lines like he did, that were so recognizable and crucial to the hits they were recorded in?!

I bow to Louis Johnson!

[TheXxZaRaxX]

@vracan Michael created the bass line not Louis Johnson but he is a great bass player!!

[vracan]

@TheXxZaRaxX

How do you know that? I've never heard of Michael playing bass!

[TheXxZaRaxX]

@vracan I saw an interview with Michael and he said the whole thinking process that he came up with the bass line in the car, and then later he decided it would be the bass line ;)

[vracan]

@TheXxZaRaxX

WoW!. If that's true then Michael was even a bigger genius than I thought!

That's what I call multi-dimensional talent!!!

[TheChemicalBassist]

@vracan Yeah, it's true. I saw that interview with Mike when he said that. He also said that after the song was produced he would try to embody the beat in his dance moves. That's why his dancing was just so good, he wanted to become part of the beat. Pretty deep stuff.

[TheYates100]

@vracan MJ beatboxes his beats, go have a look!

[vracan]

@TheYates100

I was'nt talking about beats, I was talking about bass lines!

[TheYates100]

@vracan MJ still came up with the bass line through beatboxing, it all came from his mind anyway. Check it out.

[BayAreaSFGG]

@TheYates100 MJ did not really came up with it himself. He actually borrowed or based it on a Hall & Oates song. He said that himself. Just like the bassline for Thriller is based on a Rick James song and the synth horns sound on Thriller is based on the synthhorns from the Prince song 1999. Doesnt matter though, Billie Jean and Thriller are 2 of the best songs ever!

[TheYates100]

@BayAreaSFGG Ye fair enough, but the other arrangements around Billie Jean smashes Hall & Oates song. I personally wouldn't say Thriller is one of the best songs ever, take away the music video and its an average song.

[freedrugsLACentral]

@TheYates100 Yes I agree Billie Jean is one of the greatest songs ever created. Thriller is a good song to but it is overrated the other tracks on he album were far superior.

[TheYates100]

@freedrugsLACentral Exactly, songs like TDRCAU, Earth Song, Will You Be There, Speechless, Stranger In Moscow get overlooked so much when Thriller is shoved down our throats.

[freedrugsLACentral]

@TheYates100 Yes I know the media always shove the song Thriller down everyones throat about Michael He had much better songs then that. They never talk about anything pre Thriller and post thriller

[BayAreaSFGG]

@TheYates100 Those are exactly the songs i dont like. Stranger in.. is a good song though. I thought all those humanity/wordly songs were kinda corny. I like the more funky MJ of Off the Wall and Thriller. But this just shows how diverse he was. He got something for everybody.

[TheYates100]

@BayAreaSFGG Will You Be There and Speechless are not humanity/worldly songs and tbh MJ had balls for doing those songs, not many people would risk their careers for trying to spread an honest and pretty noteworthy message.

[BayAreaSFGG]

@freedrugsLACentral True BJ is a better song than the H&O track. I like the sound of Thriller, the lyrics are kinda lame, but the beat and melodies i really digg. Enough other good tracks (all of em) on Thriller, thats true.

[freedrugsLACentral]

@BayAreaSFGG If you listen to Billie jean and the hall and oates song you can hear a distinct difference between the sounds of the base line. So i wouldn't say Michael borrowed the sound The hall and oates guy said he copied the groove from his song from another record. I wonder what song he was talking about.

[BayAreaSFGG]

@freedrugsLACentral Theyre not totally the same, but u can hear the similarities. And MJ even admitted he took some of that bassline (the track is Cant Go For That). If u listen closely you could also say the guitar riff in the end of BJ got some of the guitar riff in the beginning of Cant Go For That.

[TheYates100]

@vracan Also Louis Johnson took no part in the creative process of Billie Jean. For proof listen to MJ's demo before he showed it to Quincy.

[matewka]

@vracan Wasn't that MJ who created this bass line? Punch me if I'm wrong ;)

[Yetinski]

1980 Triumph by saying Jaco Pastorius sucks you obviously don't get out much. Louis Johnson is the king of slap but Jaco is considered one of the best bass players of all time and this is not just my opinion but that of those who are considered great players themselves. Also I didn't realize there was a competition on who's the best, as it seems some people can't accept that there are many many great players in this world. Grow up and just appreciate all the wonderful unique talent out there.

[jacksonkingofpop211]

I like the Billie Jean bassline. Very similar to Like A Virgin but much cooler. Oh yeah Billie Jean was first haha. Billie Jean -1983 , Like a Virign - 1984.

[onebasshit]

larry graham

then came bootsy (with james brown's band)

stanley clarke...jaco around about that time also

louis johnson and marcus miller started making noise about the same time

[zipting2000]

Where does Abraham Laboriel fits in??

[onebasshit]

abe is definitely an elite player...i think he gets overlooked because he is not "flashy"...but very solid

[Obelisk2290]

man you can smell the funk

[PF149]

yes u can!@Obelisk2290!..Louis is one of thee 'premier bassists' in the industry! I would love to see him play with Parliament/Funkadelic; Bootys' Rubberband-NOW THAT WOULD BE A 'GRAND FUNK CONCERT'!!!

[Obelisk2290]

the funk would over power me specialy with bootsy, anthony jackson, mark king and all the ones that make it stink i remember whent louis told me about coming up with the bassline

[Audioforge]

FUNK ME!!

[Gptti]

Amazing!

Your basslines got history!

Slap this bass, louis brother johnson!

Hugs from Brazil!

[Jazzman606]

The Best is Anthony Jackson

[Mark4prez1]

When we look up FUNK BASS in the dictionary... we need to see Louis Johnson's picture!! . He's the best!!! Much love to Larry Graham who is the Grandfather of the Funk bass and all the others who keep funk alive! Louis took it to a whole new level. Thanks you for this post.!! AWESOME !!!!!

[beninjamin]

wow erg cool! bedankt voor de upload

heb je meer van hem?

[Silentrev]

Nee, dit is helaas het enige. Ik had niet zoveel zin om de hele tijd de camera omhoog te houden.

Ik moest natuurlijk wel genieten. ;)

[beninjamin]

ohja begrijpelijk hehe toppie hoor!

[1980Triumph]

Best BASS PLAYER IN THE WORLD, better than Jaco, Graham, Victor and anyone else

[PF149]

correction------->>>>>'Jaco Pastorious' '-re-arranged' how the entire world looks and listens' to the electric bass!@1980Triumph! He brought the bass outta the background, and into the forefront!He re-invented the ENTIRE GAME!

[Obelisk2290]

he shure changed the way people perceived bass Jaco was in the band of me best frieds father he was great

[POBox1999]

James Jammerson

[1980Triumph]

no he didn't and further more he couldn't even really play. he hooked the bass up to some crappy synth machines and made some crappy noises. there was nothing musical about what jaco did. he played was musical. he played scales and couldn't even hold them for long. Jaco is totally overrated, he couldn't hold a candle to louis, listen to Jaco on wax versus Louis, no comparison

[jacksonkingofpop211]

what a retarded idiot.

Comparing a legend to a bass player come on.

hand versus moonwalk?

bass skills vs amazing spin ? anything you can suggest vs MJ's moves I can name all MJ moves vs bass moves. You probably don't even know what the new move of MJ is?

And just in case you say he's dead. I already know faggot.

[1980Triumph]

dude, Jaco is a bass player, not Jacko you dumb fuck. I was comparing Louis Johnson to Jaco Pastroius or whatever his name is.

You better know what your talking about next time before I smack the shit out of you

[Bassist700]

Are you a retarded idiot?

[jacksonkingofpop211]

@Bassist700 sorry i didn't know i thought the jaco you were talking about was Michael Jackson. relax. I'm sorry.

[SonnyParadise]

@1980Triumph

Criticism reveals more about the critic than that which is being criticized!

[1980Triumph]

listen up loser, Jaco sucks, simple as is, he isn't that good a bass player, actually your listening to the best in this video, now fuck off before i kick you ass

[ironfingers]

Your comments are pathetic. Grow up.

[1980Triumph]

shut your mouth loser, my comments are pathetic because I think Louis is better than Jaco.......go suck a !@#$%

[DuncanDonuts3]

Wowee.. As soon as you hear Louis Johnson it's like WOW. Nobody plays slap bass like Louis. Louis basically invented the style, AFAIK.

Amazing.

[PF149]

correction.....--------->>>>LA­RRY GRAHAM' invented the 'slap' 'thump' style!@DuncanDounuts3!

[ITucker29]

So good to hear that funk again!! Sounds like louis got his chops back!!! Awesome video!! Thanks for putting this one on the map!!

[Silentrev]

You're welcome! :)