ALIEN ANTFARM WITH THE MICHAEL JACKSON SALUTE | SMOOTH CRIMINAL | THIS SH*T WAS PERFECT!
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#alienantfarm #michaeljackson #smoothcriminal
This came out in 2001.. And from what I've read, MJ loved it. Especially the video.
I was gunna say, I'm pretty sure this is old enough for MJ to have seen and cosigned and whatnot haha, dope ass cover either way!
Yeah I had just turned 20 it came out in 2001 aaf in a interview I saw not sure if it's online said MJ liked it because it was paying homage
Word? Never knew.
This came out in 2001. It was a hit.
Yeah the interview where MJ talked about it was great. He didn't like the kid wearing the mask and when they changed it he said it was better with it in. Put it back lol
This song originally was released by them in 2001 and yes they did permission from the king of pop. As a huge MJ fan myself this is one of my favorite song covers.
Steve needs to see this
Honestly I think this version is better than MJ's OG version. MJ was one of the most influential artists of all time but his personal life was a lil whack for me to be a fan of him as a person...great artist tho.
@@Mr.AimToMisbehave You say great artist and then disrespect him by saying this version is better.
@@20eyesmisfit saying he was great is not the same as saying he was perfect lol
#MJFam
Watching Stevie start with crossed arms, not thrilled with a band messing with MJ's music.
Then seeing him transition to loving it and getting fully into it... Made my heart feel good man!
This
exactly
Bro, his change in body language is gold!
His reaction at the end where he was hitting them adlibs with them was the best part, this is by far the best reaction to this song imo!
Quite literally the best reaction video I've ever seen, this is what they're about 100.
The bassist, Tim Peugh, straight hitting those high notes. This was a total homage to MJ. AAF apparently just made it for them but MJ heard it and okayed it.
That bassist from the music video was Tye Zamora. Tim Peugh is the new one who replaced him.
This has always struck me as one of the best covers of all time. A ton of fun and respect. The bass player deserves more props though, he got swag.
Agreed!!! 🔥
He has his own band now and he’s also the bass tech for Slightly Stoopid. His band is called Mêk if you wanna look it up
Hands down best cover of all time.
@@alexbordelon14 I would go with Chris Cornell cover of Billy Jean
You've been hit by ... You've been struck by a smooth criminal cover
Michael said this was the best cover of his songs he loved it. He initially was offended by the kid dancing in the video with the mask over hus face so it was edited out for MTV but later MJ said to add him back cuz his dancing was so fly.
But oh how relevant the mask is today, MJ's a trend setter, even after death 😁
Imagine Micheal wanting a kid added.... who would have thought.. lol
I think they actually reshot it with the kid not wearing the mask. But after seeing both versions MJ decided he liked the version with the mask better.
I didn't even realize the mask now since it's normalize lol
@@angel89carrillo lol. It was the opposite for me. I was in my 20s when this came out, so it took me a second to realize why he had the mask on. I'd forgotten about that part.
watching you go from skeptical to straight up vibing was cool as hell.
This is arguably one of the most iconic covers of arguably the most iconic pop star.
This song came out in 2001, 8 years before MJ's passing.
i was wtf!!!! 🤣🤣🤣
No it didn’t. It came out in 99
@@Dit1284 No, this version was released on their debut album "Anthology" (2001). The 1st version of this cover was released on their 1st album "Greatest Hits." Which was 99.
Please tell me this song is not 22 years old! Please tell me I'm not that old!
@@v.j.3029 Hate to break it to you, but this came out when I was a teenager and I'm reminded daily that I'm getting closer to 40... We're all getting old...
Actually, Steve, Michael Jackson was still alive when Alien Ant Farm recorded their version of "Smooth Criminal" and they'd played it for him and Michael Jackson reportedly loved their cover and fully endorsed it
He went by the the UA-cam video was released lol 😊
Is it me, or does it seem like these folks taking a time trip and responding have been living under a rock.. where you been homie 😢😮😅
MJ absolutely loved this version and video it was a tribute to him...after his passing his family had them perform this at the concert in his memory.
Ironically this was a great tribute to MJ! They managed to do their own thing while keeping the essence of what made MJ the undisputed King of Pop. Love it!
MJ loved this cover!! It was def co-signed
You don’t need permission to make and release a cover song but have to do a certain type of license that you have to pay a certain amount to publisher and artist per song sold, You can’t deviate substantially from the original and give proper credit to them for the song. AAF wanted MJ’s approval as a sign of respect and to homage to him and his music.
I love the stages Stevie goes through here, at first you see his look of judging almost angry, then realisation that this isn't bad which progresses into okay this is good and finally full appreciation for how fkn awesome this was as a cover and a tribute.
Yeah he was unsure at first but they won him over!🤣 Imagine MJ hearing this for the first time
The bassist is my favorite thing about this. He adds that extra touch with those beautifully delivered background vocals and adlibs that MJ was known for
The bassist if the sauce. I love how animated he is with what he does in the video
@@eh...whatever9261I was in high school when this came out and I had a friend that was exactly like the bassist in terms of energy. People often compared him to Jack Black too. But yeah, the bassist is the sauce.
This is one of my favorite genuine reaction videos. He was having none of it at the start (white guys with HEAVY electric guitars doing MICHAEL???) but by the end he's jamming and groovin' his ass off.
One of the best reactions to one of the best covers ever. Made my day.
And amazing pec isolations!
I love this reaction! My wife grew up with the bass player, I’m gonna show him this!
Man has skills.
I like his falcetto "Oh no"s...lol
ive always said, every great part of this cover, the bass player is almost always the one behind it, the energy the backing vocals, that movement
Crazy how the kid dancing in the mask feels super current but then remembering this dropped in 2001.
Predictive programming. Go and re-watch a lot of your favorite tv series. Watch how many times it is repeated in pop culture. This was planned.
Theres also a version with the same kid not wearing the mask. MJ used to wear a mask, supposedly to hide his identity in public. I think there was some kind of controversy about the mask so they redid that kid's parts without the mask. I have only seen the unmasked version once, on a channel called IMF if I recall correctly
@@DissTrackTed I refer to the last couple episodes of Eastbound and down, Contagion as a follow up to ur point.
Don't know how true it is but the rumour when this video was released was that the kid dancing in the yellow t-shirt is actually a young Justin Timberlake. No idea if that's true though
@@dalehepworth1647 It was a rumor. Timberlake used to claim the king of Michael Jackson's version of pop. The successor. Ne-Yo was part of that argument. The rest is rumor cause Timberlake had a relationship with Michael.
So much energy put into this, i don't think anybody else could of done this track justice as much as AAF did.
Right! It was done with mad humor and mad respect. I'm not too big of a MJ fan when it comes to the man, but I've loved his music since I was a kid in the 80s.
My husband opened for AAF a few years back and they are still performing this version of the song to this day! ☺️ Both versions still going strong
The album ANThology which this song is off of is an absolute must listen. Still jam to it regularly.
It is pretty good.
Teleportation back to high school for sure
Excellent singer.
As an old metal/rock chick... WE love MJ. I was so happy to see other REAL LOVERS of music that pay homage to THE greatest King of Music!! ❤ I miss MJ & will ALWAYS approve anyone honoring him! 🥰 😍♥️
I heard this song at 6 years old and ever since then I've been hooked to rock music 23 years later. This song started it all off.
4 months on and this is still one of the best music reactions ever. I can't get over how you go from skeptical to fan.
Definitely ONE of the greatest cover songs I've heard. Disturbed's sounds of silence is another one and you already did Johnny Cash - Hurt
Killswitch engage! Holy diver is almost perfect!!!
Haley Reinhart’s cover of Creep is even better than the original
Seether, careless whisper is possibly the best cover i have heard
@@HOOONIER ooooh HEEEELL yeah
@@salmonero6472 watch it miss don't do my boy Thom like that
The guitarists, vocals everything was on point with that song. Brings back some good memories for sure! lol
Yeah it's too bad that their first hit was a cover song.
The bass player is awesome! Even live, stealing the show for sure!
Seeing your serious face with the thought of flop on this cover was fantastic. i just watched your face until your cheeks loosened up and that smile started to shine. This really is an amazing cover and i'm glad everyone enjoys it so much, even MJ
This is what love for another's creation looks like. This is how you make it your own and still put every bit of respect and love for the original into it.
fun fact: the kid dancing is doing it in front of MJ’s childhood home 💜 MJ saw the video before it was released and the only thing they were worried about was if he would think the face mask was too much, but he was cool with everything.
I’m curious. Why would the mask be a problem?
@@piercingcrescendo7481 back in the day, his kids wore masks in public to help shelter their identity from the insane amount of paparazzi that followed him
This, Thriller, Dirty Diana, Billy Jean, Bad, Man In The Mirror, Beat It, Black Or White, the moonwalk, the glove, the jacket, his dancing, his choreography, the brilliance of his musical compositions and musical arrangements, his angelic voice, his magical way of performing, his groundbreaking, world shaking videos on MTV…my 80’s childhood right there. Many, many people’s childhood. These youngins just don’t know how Michael Jackson used to rule the effing world. And still to this day, his music is beloved, iconic, his performance capabilities the measuring stick of which all male pop/r&b, dancer singing performers are held against (sorry Timberlake, you will never be as great as Michael Jackson). And none have ever measured up, even all these many, many decades later. His legacy will never die, and has outlasted even his own life. All hail the king of pop, long may he rule 👑 even if it’s just in our ♥️
They referenced, BillyJean, Dirty Diana, Thriller, Black or White, Smooth Criminal (of course). Plus, Bubbles the monkey, the shiny glove (chair), the way his pants were always above his shoes, and his long-time friendship with Elizabeth Taylor (the tattoo at the end). Perfect. And MJ approved EVERYTHING. He loved this cover, the video, and everything about it.
lol I LOVE how you went in super skeptical and then realized that this is one of the ALL TIME greatest covers in music history
love the reaction...how you were skeptical and then just rocked with it and noticed all the homage...let us give a little recognition to the drummer wearing "the" glove.
And the pants holding up to see the socks....😂😂😂👌🏾
This came out pre-youtube, at least as we know it, 2009 must have just been when it was added. Pretty sure it was early 2000s.. fun cover for sure but AAF were unfairly considered a 1 hit wonder because of this cover. I personally quite liked alot of their stuff though
Definitely - Anthology was packed with some good ones! I think the only play I remember them getting on MTV was this song and Movies.
@@freezingCode can't say they were my favourite band but I remember listening to loads of their songs! You're right though, this song was played nonstop on music channels 🤣
2001 to be exact.
This song and wish were some of my faves
Alien Ant Farm - Movies. It still slaps!
I am so obsessed with Michael Jackson, and Alien Ant Farm. My second favorite song of all time is by Alien Ant Farm, it’s called movies, I love this so much
Watching Stevie go from unamused at the mere thought to loving it was great and all, but the way he broke a smile and get excited EVERY time that little kid in the yellow shirt would NAIL those dances was tremendous.
Dude. Don't underestimate this nugget. 2 Cellos also does a cover for smooth criminal that will make you appreciate music in so many forms
This!!!!!
Agree
truth! Also David Garret
Omg yess😍 I would love to see 2cellos on the Chanel
Old legends that never get old and stoping shaking my head hearing....
I love this reaction definitely the best one 🤣 3:43 you hit that "Oow" perfect 👌 and I could see you were digging it to the end.
Loved the reaction brotha, looked nervous a first but you gave them a chance and they killed it, much respect to MJ The King Of Pop
I just love the way you started out not too sure, but once it got going you opened up and really started to feel it. Serious props to you man! No closed mind. Great reaction. I remember loving this song when it first came out. I've always been a fan of MJ myself and really liked this cover.
Well, he doesn't look woke if we're judging by appearance.
AAF released this in 2001. Idk why you’re seeing 2009- maybe just when this specific video was posted. Anyway, not only did they clear it, Mike was a huge fan of the song & video with all the Easter eggs. He loved it.
2009 us when alot of stuff was added to UA-cam
@@forevermarked5826 makes sense
2001 so 20yrs now, dang...but ya deft a music video that was a love letter to MJ's career. Fans love this even if they dont like rock cause of the video.
To see your face from the beginning, to the end put a smile on my face to know it was genuine. Glad they lived up to MJ in your eyes too 🤘
The bassist of AAF was friends with a member of MJ's backing band and had him pass on a demo they'd recorded for fun and MJ LOVED it. He gave every Easter Egg in the video his blessing. And there are A LOT of them...
I believe it was the bassists' players uncle that was actually the contact from what I've read. Not 100% about it though. Just like to put the information out there about the greats.
Chris Cornell (RIP) -- Billie Jean is a beautiful listen. One of the best voices you'll hear. His Prince - Nothing Compares to U is also phenomenal 🙏
One of the greatest ever.
Those songs were already dark and Chris made it more dark and broken.
Love his reaction!! So skeptical at first but by the first hook he’s ROCKING out!!! Classic jam by AAF😊
One year later and still get goosebumps watching Stevie react to this!!!
That's the thing, MJ's music....really could lend itself to 'hard rock' super easily. Like, "Dirty Diana" is legit a rock song that even has a bad-ass guitar solo in it. I think thats why this cover works so dang well..its just the logical next-step.
If you haven't heard it already, but another Rock band called Shaman's Harvest put out a Dirty Diana cover back in 2015 and it's honestly one of the best covers I've ever heard.
@@Sylence01 Just checked out that cover and yeah....holy shit, its soooo good! Thank you for exposing me to that!
I downloaded that sooooo fast lol.
@NashaWriter ..agreed! :) If I remember correctly, the guitar in Dirty Diana, MJ brought in the (at the time) guitarist from Billy Idol's band
We gotta get Stevie to react to that kid that does the MJ dance at his school talent show!
I love how you went from hesitent to "oh fuck yes!" Probably what most of us felt when we first heard this.
Man seeing your judgements slide and fly off as the song played was a joy.
YOU BETTER, YOU BETTA HIT THAT SHIT
One of the best MJ covers imo.
This is currently my 3 year old sons favorite song. It’s on repeat.
Yes Michael Jackson gave his blessing.
MJ really loved their cover to his song.
Michael talks about this in a interview. Just type in Michael Jackson Alien Ant Farm Interview on UA-cam.
And yes that’s bubbles.
Much love
Shine & shine on forever King
We love you MJ
This is probably the BEST reaction video for this song that I have seen!!
Stevie you’d also really like “These Days” by AAF, the back story for the making of that video is crazy AF!
Great choice! I’m also a very big fan of Movies, can’t get enough of it tbh
@@Sayin42 yeah Movies is a good song, I just think he’d rock with how they filmed These Days 🤣
He’ll love these day because of the video, a lot of big hip hop artist!
@@RikaShae oh yeah for sure! Movies is more for myself not a request for Stevie to do - I have great memories with my kids rocking out to that in the car but yes I do love, love ‘These days’ too in a different way. These Days is a perfect song choice of AAF for Stevie to dive further into
MJ told them to go all out for the video! The bass guitarist for AAF was friends with MJ's drummer and got him to get MJ to ok making the song.
Bruh on the real, if I’m in a shitty mood your reaction to this always puts a smile on my face. I think it’s a combination of the song, the video nostalgia & ur reaction on top of it sets it all off. DAP DAP…DAP DAP WOOOO
This takes me back. Bought this album when it came out. One of the best covers ever made. RIP MJ his impact on music will live on forever.
Same, I picked up the album during the summer break between my 10th and 11th grade years, right after hearing this cover. I grew up loving MJ's music as a kid of the 80s and early 90s, but eventually became more of a rock and metal fan, so hearing AAF blend MJ and the modern rock of the time had me sold on it.
Fuck yeah love seeing Stevie rocking out
Yep I remember this song from when I was a kid, very memorable cover.
My depression is gonna take a backseat on this one. I love your positive energy.
Watching your body language change from the start to the MJ lean is so fucking great Bro! These guys killed it fr, loved the reaction 🤘
I actually heard this version before I heard the MJ original so I'm nostalgic for this one
Remember blasting this in the car when I was driving home at weekends from the base I was stationed at 20 years ago, lol.
Good lord I love watching Stevie start a video off visibly not with it. Then that smile slowly creeps in as his shoulders move and then inevitably the head begins to bob......... then BOOM..... hes hooked....
Man, I’m a hardcore rnb rap fan. But even a bigger MJ fan. This cover is THE BEST MJ cover ever!! I remember this coming out when I was 11 lol
So many homages to MJ through the video too....
2:25 the MJ lean
3:17 Thriller wolf and leather jacket
3:43 crotch grab
5:38 MJ's sequinned glove and his monkey bubbles
5:55 Billie Jean sidewalk lighting up
6:18 Dance scene with the black panther
6:25 Thriller dance
6:30 Sidewalk steam vent (take your pic of any MJ vid)
6:37 Billie Jean eyes and sidewalk lights
7:45 Billie Jean touching stuff and lighting it up
8:13 showing the MJ white socks
8:26 Possibly an Elizabeth Taylor Tattoo who MJ loved
8:29 Thriller eyes.
Any I missed???????
The split screen parts are from the "don't stop till you get enough" video.
Mj flag on house
3:12
Black or White
Drummer wearing one glove
This was and still is a GREAT cover. The little things they did to pay respect and everything was on point.
Your transition from, “HELL NO!”, to “FUCK YEA!” is outstanding!
Latoya said Michael sanctioned this and loved every second of it.. she said they watched it together before it was released and she said Michael was jumping up & down his chair clapping and whooping... so we can safely say he had no issues authorising this at all lol.. much love from the UK Stevie. Love the channel
Without a doubt the best cover of any song of all time. As a huge MJ I was skeptical like you but AAF absolutely smashed this, perfect.
Chris Cornell does an amazing cover of Billy Jean. I would do it for singing Sunday though.
Cornell's version brings chills to me all the time. The original, the way it was produced and sounds, so many people I spoke with never realized the subject matter MJ was hitting on. I've seen people freak when they hear Cornell's version and come to understand the depth of the lyrics
I did not know Chris Cornell covered billy jean, I’m finding it and listening right now
@@tain2002 yes and he also did a cover of Nothing compares 2 U
Goodbye sadness. Hello Stevie Knight.
I have always and forever will love MJ...and this song. It doesn't surprise me MJ approved, because they really did him proud. Definitely on the best covers list, because while they made it theirs they still stayed true to the song! That's the mark of a great cover, and it's rare.
Followed their music for a bit before we met them at a Warped Tour show in San Diego and they were some of the nicest dudes around, had us come up on stage while they performed. They put on an amazing show, so much energy and the bass player is a trip to watch!! They for sure did the King justice!
Alien ant farm is my favourite punk rock band, I honestly like this version better than Michael Jacksons one, its probably because it has more rock to it
Yeah it usually works that way, it’s great that bands do covers so no matter what genre of music we can all enjoy the classics , like KoRn covering Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall” is one I point to,”.
Better than the original??! … lol Ight let’s not get too crazy 😂 but yeah man this is my favorite cover. I’m shocked stevie never heard this before ?? Niggas in my hood was fuckin with this record. I mean we were like 14 years old but everyone was singing this shit in the lunch room 😂
AAF smooth criminal was the song we would blast when stunting in our cars. High energy, great song, lyrics fit, and when you pull off something wicked it was just the perfect background theme.
I love the way you were really unsure at the start but were totally sucked in by it at the end. Good reaction
I’m not a rocker, but this is one of my “go to’s” when I’m hitting the gym and need that push!🤘🏼
I’m usually the guy who gets throughly pissed when people redo my 80s music but this cover is AMAZING! The video shows so much love for MJ in the video Easter eggs
This song came out in the late 90's or early 00's. Long before MJ died. As others have said, MJ gave his full support of this cover.
One of the most epic covers ever
I'm glad your channels doing so well, Stevie. You deserve it, dude! I appreciate the effort and grind you put into releasing all this content for us
01. He saw. He liked.
I was fortunate enough to see AAF in concert (Warped Tour, San Antonio - Sunken Gardens, ‘02-04’) and it was one of the best live performances ever. Two things I remember very clearly is 1) that the bass player was making crazy faces/facial expressions the entire time they were performing, and had the entire crowd watching him exclusively. Well, the lead singer noticed it, and started performing on the opposite side of the stage because of it, to try to steer the crowd’s attention back to him and the vocals. The only thing, is that since the entire crowd was focused on the bass player, they had stopped enjoying the show completely. He had them entranced. So my sister and I decided to snap them out of it by starting a mosh pit and getting everyone back into the performance as a whole. 2) The lead singer saw this, and came down to the crowd, and sang their hit song, “The Movies” while jumping up and down WITH US the rest of the show. He was basically showing his excitement and hype with us, that we were able to “save the show and the crowd’s attention”. He was directly in front of us, looking right at us, in the middle of the crowd, while singing, like he was singing directly to us from then on. It was EPIC.
steve watching your body language tells the best story from closed off to into it
😂 Yooooo seeing Stevie do this reaction makes me so happy bruh! LOL! HEELL YEEEEE!!
Had the same made my day
This did not come out in 2001 because I remember exactly how old I was and what grade I was in. This song may have topped the charts in ‘01 but came out in 1999 on the radio. Per a snippet of their Wikipedia:
In 1999, Alien Ant Farm released their debut album, titled Greatest Hits that featured a first version of "Smooth Criminal". It went on to win Best Independent Album in the L.A. Music Awards that year.
You didn't even quote Wikipedia right.... anyways. Thera are 2 vrersions of this song. The 1st recording belongs on their 1st album "greatest Hits' Which dropped in 99. This version was released in 01 on "Anthology" which is their debut album.
a Debut album is usually referred to an artists first major album. IE dropped on a major label. Doesn't mean the debut album is their actual first album though.
Yeah, released January 2001. The video was uploaded to YT in 2009. I love MJ and I'm pretty sure he loved this homage. And I said, I love MJ. The G.O.A T. is stil with us. They could not get him
I love the fact that you can respect parodies sometimes are honesty paying homage. Peace, good vibes and good tunes my brother.
When stevie has a good time doing this, we all have a good time 😂😂
Heard this before I was aware who MJ was, and it's why covers are great, they introduce you to incredible talent.
Yeah, this came out in 2001 (I was in high school). It was huge on the radio and fans of all genres played it out. It was on TRL for a little bit.
LOL!! You warmed up real quick to this, Stevie! Once it really got moving so did you!
Should do a MJ week hell a month as much music as the King of Pop has!
Hope Stevie wil do some. But umg ect it's like doing a Eminem reaction. He doesn't get paid. But is forced to take on the Haters as a bonus.
Mike actually loved their version and upped the rock in his concerts.
This was released in 2001 and all of his concerts Dangerous…history….bad and all of his other tours were before 2001 and he was doing rock already.
i can’t think of many covers as good as this
to be able to pull this off took balls
I just discovered a clip of an interview here on UA-cam with MJ and he was saying that he LOVED this version and fully backed it.