hey, that's not Michael

December 17, 2023 8:47 AM

What are some songs that sound a lot like The Jackson Five? I don't mean a general Motown sound; I'm talking about stuff like Animal Spirits by Vulfpeck (YouTube, bandcamp) where the similarities are numerous and deliberate.
posted by 4th number to Society & Culture (16 answers total)

If you're not looking for current artists, New Edition's first 3 albums should scratch that itch. They were created to be the "New Edition" of the Jackson 5.

As examples, I give you Candy Girl and Cool it Now.
posted by kimberussell at 8:57 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Maurice Starr tried that with New Edition, and then New Edition alum Michael Bivins tried a very similar move with Another Bad Creation (though I think The Sylvers came closer to hitting the J5 vibe).

You might like the compilation Home Schooled: the ABCs of Kids Soul.
posted by box at 9:17 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

Hmmm one could argue The Osmonds copied the Jackson Five in more than one way. I only recently discovered One Bad Apple is not a Jackson 5 song, doh! Sweet and Innocent is also similar.

Momma's Little Baby also sounds similar to the Jackson5.
posted by Calzephyr at 9:30 AM on December 17, 2023 [2 favorites]

If you're already familiar with the Vulfpeck universe, you may already know about Theo Katzman (vocalist etc. on that Animal Spirits track). There's more to discover in his solo catalog, a lot of which has the same funky falsetto harmonies.
posted by emelenjr at 10:01 AM on December 17, 2023

Misdemeanor by Foster Sylvers, and a lot of stuff by The Sylvers, as box said.
posted by Headfullofair at 10:02 AM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sad Sweet Dreamer by Sweet Sensation. Just listen to that MJ-soundalike singer. A UK one-hit wonder, but still a great song.
posted by essexjan at 11:35 AM on December 17, 2023

Just Another Christmas Song, I feel like sounds a lot like Michael.
posted by vunder at 11:47 AM on December 17, 2023

El Debarge of the group Debarge had Michael Jackson's sound, and I think he was a better singer than Michael. The Debarge songs were probably aimed at an older audience than the Jackson Five's though. El Debarge is out on front in All This Love.
posted by fuse theorem at 12:14 PM on December 17, 2023 [1 favorite]

The avalanches because i'm me takes an obscure fifties sample and turns it into a modern Jackson five sound-a-like.
posted by noloveforned at 12:55 PM on December 17, 2023

Not the vocals, but a lot of other aspects of Andy Frasco & the U.N.'s Puff Break struck me that way.
posted by jocelmeow at 2:25 PM on December 17, 2023

Scissors sisters?
posted by travertina at 6:58 PM on December 17, 2023

Move Your Feet has a strong Jackson 5 feel.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:24 PM on December 17, 2023

NCT Dream's Irreplaceable is definitely influenced by The Jackson Five.
posted by soundofsuburbia at 2:59 AM on December 18, 2023

Scritti Politti - Perfect Way, Wood Beez
Both from "Cupid & Psyche 85". (But all this is stuff is more solo MJ than Jackson 5)
posted by Bron at 8:32 AM on December 18, 2023

Came here to mention The Sylvers; "Chaos" is a great example of their "Jackson 5 doing Temptations" groove.
posted by mediareport at 4:24 PM on December 18, 2023 [1 favorite]

Cool it now by New Edition. If you're just making the reference to the Jackson 5 and not Michael specifically, the group Soul 4 Real has a song called Candy Rain. Anything by Menudo, or New Kids on the Block. Even Justin Bieber has a sound influenced by the Jackson 5
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 1:56 AM on December 19, 2023