Michael Jackson gave his approval for alien ant farm to do this video. From what I remember he loved how they included so much of him in it. They definitely did an incredible job.
Michael Jackson was a music genius and he enjoyed seeing people embrace his music by other generations, he shocked the world with his first solo album and was apart of history ever since, I was a total medal head and still enjoyed some Jackson on MTV back when they was mostly all music videos
This was clearly an homage as much as a cover; they included so many of the highlights of MJs videos and dances! They really killed the song and the video is pretty awesome, so much MJ and yet, so AAF.
My favorite thing about this song is actually how good the bass player does those Michael Jackson inspired adlibs! He hit that "HOO" and "Ohh nooo" so flawlessly. I honestly prefer this cover over the original because it just hits way more for me. So well done
This song is why I ever gave Michael a serious listen. Never was into pop, hate it in general, but finding out this was a cover demanded I check out his music.
I get you, and like you, I like both songs. What I bring to the table is two comparables, Eleanor Rigby, covered by Godhead, and Hazy Shade of Winter, covered by The Bangles. All three pairings are great, yet very different.
aaf did the most respectful remake ive ever seen and had permission from michael for it to be released. he was so humbled by them paying homage to him so much.
This is one of my favorite covers. Alien Ant Farm was a wild band. They crashed the BET Awards one year with a rooftop performance. My favorite original song by AAF is Movies. It's a fun music video too. I still blast that song when we go to see a movie and my girl hates it.
Ya'll should check out the video for "These Days" The bend rented out a roof top space across from the Kodak Theatre in LA before the 2003 BET Awards. All of the artists and celebrities had to listen to them as they were "walking the red carpet."
This is one of the best covers I've heard of any song. Such a great hard rock take on MJ. One of the Easter Eggs that people don't typically catch is the tattoo of actress Elizabeth Taylor on the back of the man at the end with the monster eyes. Liz was a hugely famous actress in her time and was a very close friend of Michael's in the 1980s.
One of the few covers that is arguably as good as, if not better, than the original. And MJ LOVED this cover, he approved and was totally into it. Phenomenal song.
The lean was done with bolts in the floor and slots on the shoes for the bolts to slide into to brace them. There's like 25 different references to MJ videos and pop culture events in this video. True homage.
MJ did the bolts that come up from the stage but I think Alien Ant Farm used harnesses.....look at the bass players shirt and their heels are off the floor.....mJ's feet stayed flat on the floor
I got to see AAF live in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2020 when they were on tour with Saliva. This song kills live! Mid-show a storm blew in and the wind was whipping. The sound crew was telling them to get off stage for safety, and they were like, "Fuck that, we don't quit!" Then a support beam for the stage overhead cover came loose, and they were like, "Uhhh, ok. Stay here! We'll be back as soon as this blows over!" LOL! And they did... after a 20 minute rain delay they kicked our asses even harder.
It's bands like that and the Foo Fighters where they'll continue as much as they can through storms and broken legs because of how much they appreciate their fans. Bands like those you can tell love doing what they do.
This video came out when I was in the U.S. NAVY. My buddies and I jammed to this song all the time aboard ship. You should check out the AAF song THE MOVIES music video. It is awesome too.
Next from Alien Ant Farm, you should checkout the song "Movies". It brings up some classic movies that were big hits. Also the actor Pat Morita who plays Mr. Miyagi in the original Karate Kid is in the video as the Mr. Miyagi character.
Micheal loved it!! They wanted him to see it and get his approval, and they got it!!🎶 Micheal even had some input on the references to his videos and music🎵🎶
Not many groups/singers could do justice to a cover of an MJ song. But these guys nailed it! And the little man in the yellow tee shirt dancing on the sidewalk had some moves, eh? Loved the reaction guys... As usual. 🎶😎💖🙏🏼
That guy at the end with the Thriller eyes is Flea, the bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers. You should watch MJ's Billie Jean video - you'll see some of the same SFX they used in this video, like the areas on the ground that light up when they step on them, as well as the cut away bit you can see at 4:44.
You guys should check out their music video for the song These Days. They crash the BET rewards and get shut down by the cops while filming. And everyone was vibing too.
This whole video is basically a love song to Michael Jackson. There are so many references, it would be almost impossible to list them all here. From the hospital mask to the Pepsi commercial to the glove to Bubbles to Thriller.... there are lots. My favorite is the tattoo of Elizabeth Taylor on the biker's back at the end.
This song helped my hi-hat and snare skills come to some next level shit when I started playing 20 years ago. This song is up there for top remakes for sure. 🤘🤘
The lighted sidewalk is from the billie Jean video plus a few other MJ hints. The high water pants when he was pulling the legs up and when he fixed his hair a few times. Like when mj does his hair stuff and the wind tunnel smoke is usually in MJ concerts
Love Love Love the bite of this cover of Michael Jackson's hit. Next Michael Jackson cover: SWV's 90's hit "Right Here", which is based on his song "Human Nature", which was actually written by a member of the great group TOTO 🔥.
I’m usually the guy that’s completely pissed of when groups do remakes but AAF kicked ass! There are so many Easter eggs of MJ videos throughout and it was great tribute to MJ.
For the lean forward Micheal Jackson had like a horseshoe hook on the bottom of his shoe and he would lock it to nails placed on the stage allowing him to lean forward
I always loved this song by MJ. When AAF came out with this version i loved the thrash guitar riff. I must have played this riff for a week straight with my amp crankin. My wife hated me.
Should check out their video of them "crashing" the BET awards, or them playing "These Days" on a rooftop and getting Nelly and a bunch of other people hyped at the event. The love of the video is great.
Michael created a whole special set of shoes an stage rigging to get that extreme lean, he was super smart not just in music...there would be a sort of sturdy small peg of sorts that would come up out of the stage floors and the heels of the shoes would have a groove in the to slide over the pegs and flawlessly and seamlessly anchor him (or anyone that wears some of the shoes with the grooving in them and the peg set up...im over simplifying it for sure but, it was so fricken stellar and just one thing that showed his genius and his ability to execute on his ideas which is the hard part
I know the bass player, super cool and down to earth guy! Such a great band, unfortunately he left the group but he had his personal reasons for doing so. This entire album is an absolute masterpiece! They’re a treat!
That's awesome that you know Tye Zamora, he is an incredible bassist and talented dude. I would love for him to rejoin AAF and rejuvenate their sound. They sound burned out when they perform these days.
MJ actually gave the approval of the video. The band even mentioned that he had final say on some the things that could be shown in the final cut of video.
this has to be the greatest cover of an mj song ever. covering mj is hella dangerous and almost certain to end in failure coz the man was so good.... but aaf smashed the crap out of it. If i remember right MJ massively approved and loved this version and video
IMO one of the greatest covers and the video pays such excellent tribute to MJ. Sadly this cover overshadowed AAF, they were a skilled band and have their own good music.Their video for 'Movies' was really cool too, and the 'These Days' when they crashed the BET Awards
The "Lean" Micheal dose is because of the special shoes that were made for it. The soles have a slot in them that locks into a peg on the stage. When this happens you can lean forward or to the side and pull your body back up because you shoes are locked onto the floor.
The lean is real. MJ did it live in concerts. MJ and dance crew wore shoes that had a slotted heel that fit into pegs on the stage. Once the shoes were locked into the peg, the dancer can lean forward (gotta use core muscles, of course) while still keeping the foot flat. To un-hook, just slide the foot backwards and continue on with the rest of the show. Watch a live version of Smooth Criminal, they basically do all the dance moves from this video.
Damn this brings back memories. My friends and I started the mosh pit to this song at the 2001 Van's Warped Tour in Las Vegas 😆 I was like 13-14 at the time and this song was the shit
*I know there are some great covers done...but this one is maybe my favorite for being the most enjoyable. They did a really good job remaking this one 20 yrs ago.*
MJ loved this rendition,, & the Jackson family invited Alien Ant Farm to perform this at the (public) Memorial Celebration... The subtle homage / Easter eggs, represent how much the band admired him, and paid respect as well, as crushed the song musically & vocally (especially the bass player, with the background falsetto highs) - If its not the most well done ? It would most definitely be in the mix of the best 'cover songs' EVER,,, that i can think of ? The others, that come to mind, for me : Heart - Stairway To Heaven (Led Zep) / Black Crowes - Hard To Handle (Otis Redding) / Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide (Fleetwood Mac) / Johnny Cash - Hurt (Nine Inch Nails) / The Fugees - Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack) / Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) / Van Halen - You Really Got Me (The Kinks) That is a solid grouping right there. . . & A.A.F. , for me , is prolly in that top 3 . . . Did I leave anyone out ?
in addition to all the MJ video references, it's my understanding that little white ranch house they are all around/ on is his actual childhood home... so even the video's location is significant as a tribute to MJ.
Best MJ cover ever made IMO. It is unfortunate it's the best song they made and it's the main thing they're known for.... but it's just SOOOOO good. And they should at least be proud of this.
They weren't clowning; it was an homage to the king. Michael approved the song and video
Michael Jackson gave his approval for alien ant farm to do this video. From what I remember he loved how they included so much of him in it. They definitely did an incredible job.
Facts
Mr Jackson himself attended one of the days they recorded the video
Michael Jackson was a music genius and he enjoyed seeing people embrace his music by other generations, he shocked the world with his first solo album and was apart of history ever since, I was a total medal head and still enjoyed some Jackson on MTV back when they was mostly all music videos
🎯🎯
This was clearly an homage as much as a cover; they included so many of the highlights of MJs videos and dances! They really killed the song and the video is pretty awesome, so much MJ and yet, so AAF.
this was mj's favorite cover that has been done. this song always puts a smile on my face!! much luv!!
MJ loved the cover so much over the years! His family even invited Alien Ant Farm to play this cover at his tribute show after he passed. 🙏
This isn't clowning, this is pure homage.
This cover’s fire! Michael liked it, too.
My favorite thing about this song is actually how good the bass player does those Michael Jackson inspired adlibs! He hit that "HOO" and "Ohh nooo" so flawlessly. I honestly prefer this cover over the original because it just hits way more for me. So well done
Indeed, Tye Zamora needs to rejoin AAF, seriously, he was the perfect fit.
I usually hate remade songs but when a good band can take a song and completely make it their own sound, I love that.
Totally agree. I love cover songs but only when they're done like you described.
I like this version better because I’m more of a rock fan. However, Michael is still a legend.
This song is why I ever gave Michael a serious listen. Never was into pop, hate it in general, but finding out this was a cover demanded I check out his music.
Same but one song I will vibe with from MJ is Dirty Diana.. If you haven't heard it check it out.. Video is pretty good also
@@amarino5179 Dirty Diana is my favorite MJ song.
I get you, and like you, I like both songs. What I bring to the table is two comparables, Eleanor Rigby, covered by Godhead, and Hazy Shade of Winter, covered by The Bangles. All three pairings are great, yet very different.
Most miss the lighted floor section/steps that was in Billy Jean during the guitar solo.
They also miss the tattoo of Michael’s good friend, Elizabeth Taylor, shown at the end of the video.
Killed it,MJ approved and that bass line is spine thumping.
The amount of MJ easter eggs in this video is insane. I seem to find a new reference every time I watch this
There's always one that everyone misses.
aaf did the most respectful remake ive ever seen and had permission from michael for it to be released. he was so humbled by them paying homage to him so much.
If I remember correctly, MJ gave the co-sign on this cover. Great reaction guys!
This is one of my favorite covers. Alien Ant Farm was a wild band. They crashed the BET Awards one year with a rooftop performance. My favorite original song by AAF is Movies. It's a fun music video too. I still blast that song when we go to see a movie and my girl hates it.
I loved the Liz Taylor tattoo and my absolute fave, the exaggerated touch of mailbox.
Ya'll should check out the video for "These Days" The bend rented out a roof top space across from the Kodak Theatre in LA before the 2003 BET Awards. All of the artists and celebrities had to listen to them as they were "walking the red carpet."
Love this cover, I remember when this dropped, always thought it was great, the bass player (Tye Zamora) kills this track
This is one of the best covers I've heard of any song. Such a great hard rock take on MJ. One of the Easter Eggs that people don't typically catch is the tattoo of actress Elizabeth Taylor on the back of the man at the end with the monster eyes. Liz was a hugely famous actress in her time and was a very close friend of Michael's in the 1980s.
FINALLY!!!! This is legit one of the best covers of any song ever
One of the few covers that is arguably as good as, if not better, than the original. And MJ LOVED this cover, he approved and was totally into it. Phenomenal song.
The lean was done with bolts in the floor and slots on the shoes for the bolts to slide into to brace them. There's like 25 different references to MJ videos and pop culture events in this video. True homage.
MJ did the same thing whenever he did the move. He had bolts hidden in whatever stage or set with slots in the shoes!
MJ did the bolts that come up from the stage but I think Alien Ant Farm used harnesses.....look at the bass players shirt and their heels are off the floor.....mJ's feet stayed flat on the floor
I got to see AAF live in Fairbanks, Alaska in 2020 when they were on tour with Saliva. This song kills live!
Mid-show a storm blew in and the wind was whipping. The sound crew was telling them to get off stage for safety, and they were like, "Fuck that, we don't quit!" Then a support beam for the stage overhead cover came loose, and they were like, "Uhhh, ok. Stay here! We'll be back as soon as this blows over!" LOL!
And they did... after a 20 minute rain delay they kicked our asses even harder.
It's bands like that and the Foo Fighters where they'll continue as much as they can through storms and broken legs because of how much they appreciate their fans. Bands like those you can tell love doing what they do.
This video came out when I was in the U.S. NAVY. My buddies and I jammed to this song all the time aboard ship. You should check out the AAF song THE MOVIES music video. It is awesome too.
michael jaskson when he did the lean had a slide in his show that hooked in to a peg on the floor.
Jackson had a clip in his shoes, and a post in the floor for the lean
Next from Alien Ant Farm, you should checkout the song "Movies". It brings up some classic movies that were big hits. Also the actor Pat Morita who plays Mr. Miyagi in the original Karate Kid is in the video as the Mr. Miyagi character.
Micheal loved it!! They wanted him to see it and get his approval, and they got it!!🎶 Micheal even had some input on the references to his videos and music🎵🎶
I remember when this music video came out it was energetic funny and banging! it still holds up
Not many groups/singers could do justice to a cover of an MJ song. But these guys nailed it! And the little man in the yellow tee shirt dancing on the sidewalk had some moves, eh?
Loved the reaction guys... As usual. 🎶😎💖🙏🏼
King Of Pop Approved!! AMAZING COVER
This song is fire, love the job they did 💯
That guy at the end with the Thriller eyes is Flea, the bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers. You should watch MJ's Billie Jean video - you'll see some of the same SFX they used in this video, like the areas on the ground that light up when they step on them, as well as the cut away bit you can see at 4:44.
You guys should check out their music video for the song These Days. They crash the BET rewards and get shut down by the cops while filming. And everyone was vibing too.
MJ had a nail in the floor and custom shoes made to catch the nail head kind of like the back side of a claw hammer!
This whole video is basically a love song to Michael Jackson. There are so many references, it would be almost impossible to list them all here. From the hospital mask to the Pepsi commercial to the glove to Bubbles to Thriller.... there are lots. My favorite is the tattoo of Elizabeth Taylor on the biker's back at the end.
This song helped my hi-hat and snare skills come to some next level shit when I started playing 20 years ago. This song is up there for top remakes for sure. 🤘🤘
The lighted sidewalk is from the billie Jean video plus a few other MJ hints. The high water pants when he was pulling the legs up and when he fixed his hair a few times. Like when mj does his hair stuff and the wind tunnel smoke is usually in MJ concerts
Gives me goosebumps to this day, hats of to A.A.F it encompasses the King or Pop perfectly
Micheal loved AAF…he was a big fan…AAF still tour at small venue!! They where a big deal on MTV music rotation…the VJ DAYS
EVERYBODY loves this..... an outstanding tribute. lol
This hits pretty hard.MJ approved.
🎯🎯
I think Michael had his shoes bolted to the floor that move, yeah. i would assume they did something similar
Good to see your Misse's finally beginning to come out of her shell and speak up a little. 😆
Love Love Love the bite of this cover of Michael Jackson's hit. Next Michael Jackson cover: SWV's 90's hit "Right Here", which is based on his song "Human Nature", which was actually written by a member of the great group TOTO 🔥.
I’m usually the guy that’s completely pissed of when groups do remakes but AAF kicked ass! There are so many Easter eggs of MJ videos throughout and it was great tribute to MJ.
They completely nailed that in my humble opinion the best cover ever.
For the lean forward Micheal Jackson had like a horseshoe hook on the bottom of his shoe and he would lock it to nails placed on the stage allowing him to lean forward
I always loved this song by MJ. When AAF came out with this version i loved the thrash guitar riff. I must have played this riff for a week straight with my amp crankin. My wife hated me.
Should check out their video of them "crashing" the BET awards, or them playing "These Days" on a rooftop and getting Nelly and a bunch of other people hyped at the event. The love of the video is great.
Love this tune. Quite an homage to Michael.
Michael created a whole special set of shoes an stage rigging to get that extreme lean, he was super smart not just in music...there would be a sort of sturdy small peg of sorts that would come up out of the stage floors and the heels of the shoes would have a groove in the to slide over the pegs and flawlessly and seamlessly anchor him (or anyone that wears some of the shoes with the grooving in them and the peg set up...im over simplifying it for sure but, it was so fricken stellar and just one thing that showed his genius and his ability to execute on his ideas which is the hard part
A beautiful tribute to the King of Pop.
Great to see reactors catch all the MJ tributes. Great reaction👍😎🙏🙏🇺🇸
If you liked this, check out The Bates doing Billy Jean. The video is an homage to Psycho, and is a great rock version of the song.
Probably one of my favorite cover songs of all time. Didn't get too far from original but added their own flavor. Owww.
The lean is done with a T shaped pin in the stage, and a T shaped slot in the heel of the shoes.
That kid millie rocking at the end lmao
A true tribute to the king of pop.
A.A.F. Brought It. Best Cover Ever !!! 😁❤🤘
I prefer this version. MJ loved it to
Alien ant farm is a very under rated band
I know the bass player, super cool and down to earth guy! Such a great band, unfortunately he left the group but he had his personal reasons for doing so. This entire album is an absolute masterpiece! They’re a treat!
That's awesome that you know Tye Zamora, he is an incredible bassist and talented dude. I would love for him to rejoin AAF and rejuvenate their sound. They sound burned out when they perform these days.
Michael himself gave them permission and absolutely loved this video!
MJ actually gave the approval of the video. The band even mentioned that he had final say on some the things that could be shown in the final cut of video.
this has to be the greatest cover of an mj song ever. covering mj is hella dangerous and almost certain to end in failure coz the man was so good.... but aaf smashed the crap out of it. If i remember right MJ massively approved and loved this version and video
Do the Incubus cover of Big Puns “Still Not a Playa” if you liked this song.
This song is on the soundtrack to the MTV/WWE Reality Show, “Tough Enough”
I still hear this version on the radio...20 years later
Almost every scene in this video is a tribute to different parts of Michael's career and legacy one way or another.
The kid with the mask was dancing in front of the Jackson house they grew up in.
I sooooo love this one!
IMO one of the greatest covers and the video pays such excellent tribute to MJ. Sadly this cover overshadowed AAF, they were a skilled band and have their own good music.Their video for 'Movies' was really cool too, and the 'These Days' when they crashed the BET Awards
The "Lean" Micheal dose is because of the special shoes that were made for it. The soles have a slot in them that locks into a peg on the stage. When this happens you can lean forward or to the side and pull your body back up because you shoes are locked onto the floor.
Thanks for giving the fans what they want !
MJ loved this version of the song. He was a big rock fan. Alien Ant Farm actually played at MJ's memorial service.
MJ was not a big rock fan and used whatever he had to in music to relate to as many people as possible.
Check out Paris Texas heavy metal
The lean is real. MJ did it live in concerts. MJ and dance crew wore shoes that had a slotted heel that fit into pegs on the stage. Once the shoes were locked into the peg, the dancer can lean forward (gotta use core muscles, of course) while still keeping the foot flat. To un-hook, just slide the foot backwards and continue on with the rest of the show. Watch a live version of Smooth Criminal, they basically do all the dance moves from this video.
It's real but not naturally possible without assistance, which is what I think she was getting at
These guys were friends with M.J. and they played his funeral/memorial service.
One of my all time favorite covers! Loved your reaction!
The lighting of the sidewalk was from Billie Jean
My favorite cover of anybody ever. Full stop.
I've watched so many reactions to this over the years and you guys are the only ones who caught the glove chair and the thriller girl.
Micheal loved this. It got his 100% approval
Remember when this first came out!!! Dope homage right there. Chec out Polo Gz Smooth Criminal!
A cover to judge all covers against!
Honestly think this is one of the best covers of all time. Top 25
This video was shot about two miles from my house in Riverside
Song sticks in my head for about 3 days every time I hear it.
Damn this brings back memories. My friends and I started the mosh pit to this song at the 2001 Van's Warped Tour in Las Vegas 😆 I was like 13-14 at the time and this song was the shit
I was there I was 16 at the time. Thomas & Mack.To bad Vegas has lost the it, it once had.
*I know there are some great covers done...but this one is maybe my favorite for being the most enjoyable. They did a really good job remaking this one 20 yrs ago.*
They kicked this song’s F’n Ass!!!!
I like how they incorporated some of Michelle's greatest moves and other songs
The bassist is my spirit guide
Now you guys need to hear 'Dynamite Hack - Boyz In The Hood'. That version is just funny as hell.
MJ loved this rendition,, & the Jackson family invited Alien Ant Farm to perform this at the (public) Memorial Celebration... The subtle homage / Easter eggs, represent how much the band admired him, and paid respect as well, as crushed the song musically & vocally (especially the bass player, with the background falsetto highs) - If its not the most well done ? It would most definitely be in the mix of the best 'cover songs' EVER,,, that i can think of ? The others, that come to mind, for me : Heart - Stairway To Heaven (Led Zep) / Black Crowes - Hard To Handle (Otis Redding) / Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide (Fleetwood Mac) / Johnny Cash - Hurt (Nine Inch Nails) / The Fugees - Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack) / Jimi Hendrix - All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan) / Van Halen - You Really Got Me (The Kinks) That is a solid grouping right there. . . & A.A.F. , for me , is prolly in that top 3 . . . Did I leave anyone out ?
Led Zeppelin - When the Levee Breaks (Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie)
Yngwie Malmsteen - Gates of Babylon (Dio), Demon's Eye (Scorpions) and In the Dead of Night (UK)
in addition to all the MJ video references, it's my understanding that little white ranch house they are all around/ on is his actual childhood home... so even the video's location is significant as a tribute to MJ.
This came out 2001.....did you notice the kid who was dancing....wearing...a surgical mask?....They knew that far back
Check out MJ "Billie Jean" video. The light up sidewalk was from that.
Reverse Mohawk is so badass
Best MJ cover ever made IMO. It is unfortunate it's the best song they made and it's the main thing they're known for.... but it's just SOOOOO good. And they should at least be proud of this.