Album Comparisons??

Justin Bieber's Album 'Believe' Compared to Michael Jackson's Music: Should It Be?

Justin Bieber's album "Believe" has people talking, including naysayers that think he isn't Michael Jackson now, and he might not be up to par with him later either

The New York Times has reported that "Mr. Bieber doesn't have Mr. Timberlake's backbone" and "Mr. Bieber doesn't quite have the gravity that Mr. Jackson did" but writer Jon Caramanica says the young pop star appears to be trying to measure up anyway. And he cites Bieber's "Maria," as one example, essentially mirroring Jackson's "Billie Jean" song to deal with the issue of scheming girls.

And that's where the Times' writer is right, as it is highly likely that many male pop singers have had to deal with females making accusations of impropriety against them. And it's only logical that they would give voice to it in a song, as that is their method of expression, right?

Justin Bieber, however, doesn't appear to be trying to sing or act like Michael Jackson in any other way. He isn't reclusive, and he appears far from shy. The two pop idols are worthy of their own space in the limelight of society. And that includes letting the music of both stand on its own, without being measured against the others.

Justin Bieber is no Michael Jackson, and Jackson was no Bieber. And fans of both men can celebrate that fact, as they likely appreciate the music of both. And it does nothing for either singer or their fans to compare the two.

To help him fulfill those aspirations, he enlisted several edgy hitmakers, including Posner, Diplo and Zedd - along with pop stalwarts like Max Martin - and settled into the recording studio for four tracks with the man who produced Jackson's last No. 1 hit, "Rock My World," Rodney Jerkins.

The first thing Jerkins did was show his new wunderkind never-released footage of Jackson in action in the studio. "I wanted him to see Michael's passion in the studio - we all know he had that passion onstage in front of 60,000 people, but he also had it alone in the booth. I've been fortunate enough to work with a few greats that had that passion, so I know what it is when I see it. And Justin has what it takes, absolutely."

"No one in the history of the world has ever grown up with the pressure that he has, being a solo artist that young, that famous, in a world with technology that exposes us 24-7," Braun says, noting that unlike Jackson, who had his brothers behind him, or Justin Timberlake, who could rely on the support of his fellow 'N Syncers, Bieber went it alone - in an unprecedented era of Twitter, Facebook and camera phones. "He was literally going through puberty in front of the entire world, with everyone expecting something from him and a lot people waiting for him to screw up. He's a fighter. I'm proud of him - how's he's stayed true to himself and taken control of the entire situation.

Just as Michael has fought to stand his ground...So is Bieber!!!