Album / Neue Songs - Info Thema / Pressestimmen

J.acko's back..

...WITH NEW ALBUM FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE.. LET'S HOPE IT'S A REAL THRILLER
By Clemmie Moodie; Sarah Tetteh

Sixteen months after removing his fedora for the final time, Michael Jackson is back... back from the dead.

The late superstar, who died last year aged 50, is releasing a new album with never-before-heard material - and it promises to be his biggest record ever.
I've had an exclusive preview, including the first single - and if doesn't go to No.1, I'll eat MY fedora.

Says my musical mole: "Michael spent his life penning songs and writing down choruses as he dreamt them up. Even in the bath, he'd jot down ideas.

"These songs are deeply personal and around five would have been played during his This Is It gigs, had they gone ahead.

The first single, Breaking News, was written in 2007 and has been digitally enhanced into something magical. Given his untimely death, the lyrics are especially poignant. The record also includes a song completed just days before Michael died which offers a real insight into his mind-set at the time."
The album - called Michael - will be released on December 13 and with fans only able to download it from 5pm yesterday, I can reveal pre-orders have already broken all records. Not bad for a dead guy. For an exclusive teaser of the new single, visit our website at Celebrity News - 3am: Gossip Gone Toxic

http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs…5-22696320/?asid=2596e818

UPDATE ON NEW MICHAEL JACKSON ALBUM "MICHAEL"

MICHAEL Jackson is set to take over the music world once again!

Article by MJ Tribute Australia | 7/12/2010
Damien Shields

As we all know, Sony Music and the Michael Jackson Estate recently announced that the new album, "MICHAEL", will be released in mid-December. They also announced that a brand new song from 2007 entitled "BREAKING NEWS" will be released as a gift to fans in promotion of the album. The full song will stream free of charge on michaeljackson.com for 7 days starting at 12am on Monday 8th November.

This is just the tip of the iceburg in relation to the new album "MICHAEL", which is being touted by those who have heard it to become one of the biggest, if not THE biggest selling album of recent times.

Later in November, as a follow-up to the free release of "Breaking News" on michaeljackson.com, Sony Music plan to launch Michael Jackson's first posthumous single to iTunes, radio and the charts worldwide. The song will be a track Michael Jackson recorded in 2008 with singer Akon, called "HOLD MY HAND".

"Hold My Hand" has in fact already been heard by the public after the full track was leaked back on July 1, 2008. But luckily for MJ fans, Akon has revealled that the version set to be released as a single and feature on the "MICHAEL" album is actually a newly updated version with MORE Michael Jackson vocals than previously heard, and a new production. According to Sony Music the release will be acoompanied by a new short film (music video) and promotional campaign.

"Hold My Hand" will be the first of what Sony promise to be a string of MULTIPLE new singles released by Michael Jackson over the course of promotion for the "MICHAEL" album.

The majority of the tracks on "MICHAEL" will be new songs - recorded by MJ from 2007-2009 - a period when he was heavily involved with producers such as will.i.am, RedOne and Eddie Casio. A couple of tunes from earlier sessions will also make the cut, and have been beautifully re-produced to fit nicely amongst the new material. All the newly recorded material has also been re-worked by producers, mainly Teddy Riley (one of MJ's most prominent producers during Michael's life) in order to ensure the whole album flows from start to finish.

A song called "MUCH TOO SOON" was confirmed by Sony as one of the tracks that will definitely be included on the album. The tune features a contribution from iconic Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and was re-produced in 2010. Michael's vocals are said to be from the mid-80's while Tommy recorded his part in a London studio just a couple of months ago.

Producer Mark Ronson has also worked on a track for the album. He produced a song called "LOVELY WAY" which was originally recorded many years ago. Again, production has brought the song forward in time to 2010. According to Ronson, "I was given a vocal track to work with but I never actually met Michael. It's in the vein of Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and John Lennon's 'Imagine'.

It is believed that either one or BOTH tracks Michael completed with will.i.am in 2007 will be included. The two song titles are "IM DREAMIN'" and "THE FUTURE". Nothing has been officially confirmed, although in a recent interview MJ Estate executor John Branca claimed there would indeed be will.i.am productions on the record.

Still no updates on the track "ANOTHER DAY" which was produced by Lenny Kravitz back in 2000. In January of this year Lenny shared news that the song was intended to be the lead single from MJ's new album. On August 30th Kravitz confirmed by Twitter that he was working on a new mix of the song for the estate, but since then the flow of information has dried up. The song "A PLACE WITH NO NAME", recorded by MJ in 1998 was also rumoured to be included many months ago, but nothing further has developed there either.

Rodney Jerkins (Producer of Michael's last studio album INVINCIBLE, including 2001 hit song YOU ROCK MY WORLD) has recently confirmed personally via Twitter that he was NOT involved with the production of "MICHAEL", but hinted that he may have been working on a different MJ project. Jerkins has frequently spoke of the fact that he and Jackson recorded MANY great songs that never got released - most of which he claims are BETTER than the ones that did get released on studio albums. Two examples are "WE'VE HAD ENOUGH" and "ESCAPE".

From what I can conclude, the only problem with the "MICHAEL" album seems to be that there is too much AMAZING material to fit on just one album, and therefor some incredible tracks will miss out. Jackson fans will be pleased to know the album has been previewed by a number of people in the music industry, and the response couldn't have been any better!

Harvey Levin, owner of celebrity news website TMZ recently spoke extensively regarding the album's potential after speaking to people who've previewed the album in full. According to those who've heard it, this album is not just "good" but "unbelievably good". Music execs and critics lucky enough to have heard the tracks say this album is better than anyone could have anticipated. So good in fact that some say the album will sell "off the charts" with Harvey Levin even daring to say sales could reach modern day "Thriller terriory"! One music critic said he will "eat his fedora" if the music doesn't go to #1 around the world.

More information to come.

In other news, there are now only 2 weeks remaining until MJ fans worldwide get to see the short film for "ONE MORE CHANCE" for the FIRST TIME! The video, set to feature on the November 22nd global release of 3-DVD set "VISION", was filmed back in 2003 and has never been released, until now!

UPDATE ON NEW MICHAEL JACKSON ALBUM

to damien

New Michael Jackson record to be released
7th November, 2010

A new album by Michael Jackson is to be released next month, including never-before-heard songs by the self-styled King of Pop before his death last year, his record company said.

“Michael” has been produced by the late star’s estate in collaboration with Epic Records, which will put a teaser clip on his website this weekend, followed by one of the singles, “Breaking News,” from Monday.

The cover artwork for the record, to be released December 14, shows images of the eccentric singer at various stages of his career, dominated by one of him being crowned by cherubs with a biblical-looking star in the background.

“The creative process never stopped for the King of Pop who was always planning for his next album,” Epic said in a statement on the Jackson website.

“Unbeknownst to many fans around the world, (he) was writing and recording songs continuously everywhere from a friend?s home in New Jersey to studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with a small group of handpicked collaborators.”

And it said: “Now, through the unique stories that will be told about the songs that comprise ‘Michael,’ fans will get mind-blowing insight into how this artist worked.”

The record will also give his fans “a chance to hear the songs he most recently created along with tracks that Michael had a desire to bring to fruition,” it added.

The record company gave no further details about the songs on the album. A film, “This is It,” was released last year with footage of rehearsals by Jackson for a series of London concerts he was preparing for before he died in June at age 50. The new album’s cover artwork was created by painter Kadir Nelson in 2009, it noted.

“In the oil painting, Kadir—who is known for story telling through his art—takes us on a journey through some key moments and important people in Michael Jackson?s life,” it said.

(new sabah times)

Michael Jackson Producers Rejected Burt Bacharach Arrangement for New Song
November 9th, 2010 at 1:17 AM UTC

In our continuing series on the making of Michael Jackson‘s forthcoming “Michael” album:

Producers of the album–including co-executor John McClain–sent Burt Bacharach a song Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio called “All I Need.”

The legendary writer-producer went into the studio and added strings, etc. to the track. But it didn’t sound right, sources tell me, and was ultimately rejected. “All I Need,” in some form, may wind up on another album of unreleased Jackson songs. But it won’t be on “Michael.”

Also not on “Michael” is the Paul Anka song, “Love Never Felt So Good.” I guess the Jackson estate paid out enough money to Anka in the last year for writing “This Is It.”

The “Michael” album is not quite finalized, I’m told, but will have to be by Friday. Right now there are three “Cascio” tracks including “Breaking News.” Fans are complaining about “Breaking News” on the Jackson website because it doesn’t sound right to them. Folks, it really is Michael singing on that song. The finished version on the album may sound more like him. Part of the problem may have been in the uploading to the website.

“Breaking News” only streams through Sunday. On Monday, the first actual single is released–with Akon–called “Hold My Hand.”

I’ve heard a lot of the tracks, and I can tell you–they are by Michael. Michael’s nephew, Taryll Jackson, knows that, too. Despite his campaign to discredit the album, Taryll was around when the tracks were being put together. More will come out about this soon.

Conspiracy theories are fun, but buying into them is just going to cheat true Michael Jackson fans out of a great experience. “Michael” is shaping up to be a very solid project.

Michael Jackson Producers Rejected Burt Bacharach Arrangement for New Song | Showbiz411

hier nochmal, damit es nicht im thread untergeht, zwischen hunderten posts

Interview von vorgestern mit Teddy Riley.

Part zu MJs neus Album und einiges mehr ab 1:33 bis 1:50

klärt vieles auf:

Gyant Unplugged Part 2, Recorded on 11/7/2010 BeeHiveFMcom on USTREAM. Radio

WICHTIG!

Official Message From The Estate Of Michael Jackson To The Fans

Dear Fans

As the Michael album was being put together, it was decided to bring Teddy Riley on board to work on several songs, including “Breaking News,” a song Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio and James Porte in late 2007 while living at the Cascio family home with his children. Riley produced and submitted “Breaking News” to Sony for inclusion on the album. At that time, no one ever mentioned that the vocals we heard on the Cascio songs, which were basically in demo format, might not be Michael. It was known, however, that the background vocals were a combination of Michael and James Porte.

After the tracks were submitted to Sony, three of these Cascio songs were selected to be on the album, and “Breaking News” was one of the three. The day after the submission and selection of the album tracks, for the very first time, the authenticity of Michael’s vocals on the Cascio tracks was questioned.

Because of these questions, I was immediately asked by co-Executors John Branca and John McClain to conduct an investigation regarding the authenticity of the lead vocals on the Cascio tracks.

Six of Michael’s former producers and engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years - Bruce Swedien, Matt Forger, Stewart Brawley, Michael Prince, Dr. Freeze and Teddy Riley - were all invited to a listening session to hear the raw vocals of the Cascio tracks in question. All of these persons listened to the a cappella versions of the vocals on the Cascio tracks being considered for inclusion on the album, so they could give an opinion as to whether or not the lead vocals were sung by Michael. They all confirmed that the vocal was definitely Michael.

Michael’s musical director and piano player on many of his records over a 20-year period, Greg Phillinganes, played on a Cascio track being produced for the album, and said the voice was definitely Michael’s. Dorian Holley, who was Michael’s vocal director for his solo tours for 20 plus years (including the O2 Concert Tour) and is seen in the This Is It film, listened to the Cascio tracks and told me the lead vocal was Michael Jackson.

These are all engineers, producers and musicians who worked on tours and/or in the studio with Michael when he was recording Bad, Thriller, Off The Wall, Dangerous, Invincible, HIStory and Blood On The Dance Floor, and they all reconfirmed their belief that the lead vocals were Michael’s voice on the Cascio tracks.

The Estate then retained one of the best-known forensic musicologists in the nation to listen to the vocals without any instrumental accompaniment (“a cappella”), and to compare them with a cappella vocals from previous Michael songs. This expert performed waveform analysis, an objective scientific test used to determine audio authenticity, on the Cascio tracks, as well as previously released tracks with Michael’s voice, and reported that ALL of the lead vocals analyzed (which included Cascio tracks) were the voice of Michael Jackson.

Sony Music conducted their own investigation by hiring yet a second well-respected forensic musicologist who also compared the a cappella lead vocals from Cascio tracks against previously released vocals of Michael's, and found that Michael’s voice was the on all sets of the raw vocals. The Cascio tracks were also played for two very prominent persons in the music industry who played crucial roles in Michael’s career. Both of these individuals believed that the lead vocals were Michael’s.

Just to be absolutely certain, I also contacted Jason Malachi, a young singer who some persons had wrongfully alleged was a “soundalike” singer that was hired to sing on the Cascio tracks, and I confirmed that he had no involvement with this project whatsoever.

Sony decided that, given the overwhelming objective evidence resulting from the exhaustive investigations outlined above, they wanted to release a record that included three of the Cascio-Porte tracks - because they believed, without reservation, that the lead vocal on all of those tracks were sung by Michael Jackson.

Although there still seem to be concerns being expressed in some quarters about the authenticity of the lead vocals, notwithstanding the opinion of those who worked with Michael, and two independent forensic analysts, ultimately, Michael’s fans will be the judges of these songs, as they always are. We take all fan comments very seriously, and as I’d stated above, there is nothing more important to the Estate than Michael’s music, his legacy and his fans.

Michael’s fans are extraordinary in their quest for accuracy and their passions to raise their voices in a search for truth! We join with them in our care and concern for Michael. We are continuing to follow up with those who have worked in the studio or on tours with Michael, and if any new information comes to light, we will keep you and the fans advised.

Thanks,

Howard

Howard Weitzman, Esq.
Attorney for the Estate Of Michael Jackson
Santa Monica, CA

Billboard: Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' Single, 'Michael' Album Tracklist Announced

by Jillian Mapes, N.Y. | November 12, 2010 12:05 EST

ollowing the premiere of a controversial new Michael Jackson song, "Breaking News," earlier this week, it was announced today (Nov. 12) that the lead single from the late King of Pop's upcoming "Michael" album will be "Hold My Hand," a duet with Akon. The song is slated to debut as a stream on michaeljackson.com this coming Monday (Nov. 15), at 12:01 a.m. EST.

Written by Akon, "Hold My Hand" was recorded by the Senegalese singer/rapper and Jackson in Las Vegas in 2007. An unfinished version of the song leaked in 2008, but Akon completed the final production of the track after Jackson's death.

"The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago," Akon said in a statement. "We were devastated about it. But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all-time idols."

According to the release, it was Jackson himself who wanted "Hold My Hand" to be the first single on his next project, as expressed in a handwritten letter that is now is the hands of his estate.

Akon's contribution to "Michael" is not the album's only collaboration. The tracklist reveals that Lenny Kravitz is featured on the song "(I Can't Make It) Another Day," while 50 Cent makes an appearance on "Monster." Jackson served as a co-producer on the album's ten tracks.

The tracks on "Michael" were co-produced by Jackson and culled mostly from material recorded in three years leading up the singer's untimely death in 2009. The first album of original material from Michael Jackson in nine years, "Michael" will be released Dec. 14 on Epic.

Here is the album's tracklist:

"Hold My Hand" (Featuring Akon)
"Hollywood Tonight"
"Keep Your Head Up"
"(I Like) The Way You Love Me"
"Monster" (Featuring 50 Cent)
"Best of Joy"
"Breaking News"
"(I Can't Make It) Another Day" (Featuring Lenny Kravitz)
"Behind the Mask"
"Much Too Soon"

Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' Single, 'Michael' Album Tracklist Announced | Billboard.com

Michael Jackson: “Secret” Work Tapes Will Prove It’s His Voice on Tracks (“Hold My Hand” Now Available)

As Michael Jackson‘s new single, “Hold My Hand,” goes “live” tonight (Hold My Hand – Michael Jackson) , I can tell you a bit more about his new album.

There had been some concern that no outtakes existed of the tracks Jackson recorded with Eddie Cascio. Michael’s nephews have gone into overdrive trying to discredit the tracks. They’ve claimed it’s not their uncle’s voice on the recordings.

But now sources tell me that there were “work tapes” made during the Cascio sessions. These aren’t outtakes of the songs, but tapes running in the studio while Michael discussed what was going on with Eddie Cascio and other members of the Cascio family. Jackson’s own kids even make cameo appearances on the tapes. At some point, the work tapes will be released, although it’s unclear by whom. The main thing is, there’s plenty of evidence of Michael Jackson working with Eddie Cascio.

Still, it’s nice to know that the tapes prove once and for all what was going on in the Cascios’ home studio in the summer of 2007. It’s truly, without a doubt, Michael Jackson on the recordings.

There are three Cascio tracks on the new album. “Breaking News,” of course, has already been heard. Last Friday, “Keep Your Head Up” was leaked to the internet. Some people heard it, but Sony’s legal team moved quickly to have it removed. It’s a great record. The third Cascio track, “Monster,” with 50 Cent, remains a mystery, although I’ve heard good things about it.

Michael Jackson: Now Available) | Showbiz411

Michael Jackson’s New Album: It’s Out, and It’s Really Pretty Good

Michael Jackson‘s new album, “Michael,” is out. I have my copy. And guess what? An electronics store in mid town Manhattan actually put a pile of them on sale today by accident. They were a week too soon– or “Much Too Soon” to quote a title from the new album. Anyway, after I told them, they put it away. My copy didn’t come from the store. (I was buying a camera.)

The best thing about the finished album: “Breaking News” is great. It’s all Michael singing all the way through it. Sony screwed up the mix on the Michael Jackson website last month, which sent his fans into shock. But the real mix is clearly Michael’s vocals from beginning to end. It’s a very good track.

The other tracks made with Eddie Cascio, first conceived by his brother Frank Cascio with co-writer James Porte, are excellent. Both “Keep Your Head Up” and “Monster,” the latter featuring 50 Cent, are destined for singles. Again, they are clearly all Michael. “Monster” is destined to be a Monster hit.

The other standouts are the Lenny Kravitz recording, “Another Day,” and “I Like the Way You Love Me.” The latter is a different version from the one known to fans, and on the video in this column. It’s been totally re-conceived. And it has a nice snippet of Michael talking on work tape. This also is so ready for radio play–it will be a welcome addition to the airwaves.

The sleeper track: a little funk number called “Behind the Mask.”

Considering all his complaining, I was surprised to find Michael’s nephew, Taryll Jackson, featured on a track. On the album’s liner notes, the album is dedicated to “Michael’s children, Katherine Jackson, and the entire Jackson family.”

*********************

Michael Jacksons Really Pretty Good | Showbiz411

*jetzt wisen wir auch, warum das album doch noch vor der zeit leakte...

MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael

With Michael Jackson’s untimely passing last year, the international world grieved together as we lost the biggest entertainment star of the last 40 years. His unmatched track record for incredibly innovative albums, iconic videos and sold out world tours set the stage for fans to now take in a new music project by the notoriously known perfectionist. The ten-song set Micheal, MJ’s official posthumous album, teeters on the line of awesome (“Behind The Mask”) and less than amazing (“Breaking News”). Luckily the scale tips toward awesome more times than not.

“Hold My Hand” featuring Akon is a collaboration rumored to have been recorded back in 2007. The tone and delivery sounds like MJ, but rumors are swirling that throughout the album, MJ’s vocals have been overdubbed, switched and/or recorded by someone else all together. With that in mind, it’s hard to distinguish the real MJ from the so-called fakes. But the way songs like “Keep Your Head Up”, speaks about surviving tough times, “(I Like) The Way You Love Me” instructs the producer and listener to groove to love notes and “Best Of Joy” lifts the veil off MJ’s rugged vocals and let’s his light timbre float, you have to believe that this is the best of his last work.

The Lenny Kravitz featured “(I Can’t Make It) Another Day” takes MJ to that familiar super star lane that mixes Lenny’s smooth vocal textures and guitar stabs and melds Mike’s abrasive declarations into a pop-rock love song hit. On “Monster” the track waits too long before it gets some life and switches too much to catch a groove. 50 Cent (who stays on topic) puts in a solid guest spot but even that can’t save the song. MJ’s attack on the bloated media vamps with “Breaking News” seems recycled and uninspired, especially when his classic hit “Just Leave Me Alone” captures the anger and definitive “fuck you feel” toward the tabloids so perfectly.

Ultimately Michael can stand as a sturdy compliment to MJ’s catalogue, yet we all know that he would have had some stark changes to tweak, especially on the polishing of all the tracks. It’s just plain sad that the last song on this album explains it all, Michael Jackson was taken away from us, “Much Too Soon."

(vibe.com)

Michael Jackson’s New Album Finishes at Number 3, So-So

Michael Jackson‘s “Michael” album enters the charts at number 3 this week, right behind Taylor Swift and Susan Boyle.

“Michael” sold 224,000 copies, about 25,000 less than the two women.

On the other hand, “Michael” was the highest debut album of the week according to hitsdailydouble.com. It outsold new CDs by R. Kelly and P Diddy by more than 100,000 copies.

However, Jackson’s last album, “Invincible,” sold 363,000 copies in its first week, back on October 30, 2001.

Given the modest amount of money that went into marketing “Michael” and the huge sums wasted on P Diddy, you could say “Michael” is even a bigger hit.

What it lacks, though, is a break out hit. And the album still has not overcome the stigma of Jackson’s vocals possibly not being his–and they are.

Sony sort of screwed this up from the beginning. The version of “Breaking News” that was put on the website for streaming in November didn’t sound like Michael Jackson. It was in fact the wrong mix. This led the rabid Jackson fans to scream that they were being fooled.

It’s too bad: “Breaking News” is a great single. On the album, it’s clearly Michael Jackson singing all the way through the lead. Jackson fans are denying themselves a real treat if they think otherwise.

The real first single, “Hold My Hand,” with Akon, has not been a crowd pleaser.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but I do think Sony rushed the release. They had no marketing campaign, no focus, and a lot of negativity to overcome. If they’d waited til spring, some more thought could have gone into how to launch this CD.

“Michael” has plenty of potential singles. “Monster,” “Keep Your Head Up,” and “Another Day” are all great. But Sony’s going to have to implement some out of the box thinking to make them happen.

Michael Jacksons New Album Finishes at Number 3, So-So Showing | Showbiz411

Michael Jackson "Michael" - Die musikalische Überraschung des Jahres 2010

Die Nachricht, dass Sony Music ein posthumes Album von Michael Jackson herausbringt, hat viele Erwartungen und Befürchtungen geweckt. Nun ist Michael endlich erschienen: Es handelt sich um ein echtes Michael Jackson Album mit zehn wunderbaren Songs des Meisters.

In den Jahren vor seinem Tod arbeitete Michael Jackson an seinem, wie wir heute wissen, letzten Album. Ein Team von Musikern und Produzenten, darunter R&B-Star Akon, Ghetto-Rapper 50 Cent, Michaels Produzent Teddy Riley, der Quincy Jones beerbte und von Michael "The Finisher" genannt wurde, Eddie Cascio und Theron “Neff-U” Feemster, führten das weiter, was Jackson bis zu seinem Tod hinterließ: Nicht zu Ende produzierte Songs, Gesangsspuren und persönliche Notizen, die detailliert seine Vorstellungen vom Album skizzieren. Dieses Album hat es verdient, seriös besprochen zu werden, denn es finden sich zahlreiche musikalische Kleinode auf der Scheibe. Michael Jacksons einzigartige Qualitäten sind in großer Vielfalt vorhanden: Der besondere Dance-Groove, sein spannungsgeladener "Thrill", der unnachahmliche Gesang, das geniale Kompositionstalent und seine inspirierende Botschaft, dass Musik Freude bereiten soll und sogar dazu beitragen kann, die Welt zu verbessern.

Das Album beginnt mit dem Song Hold my Hand. Es ist ein Duett mit dem R&B-Star Akon. Ein schnörkelloses Lied, das mit seiner einfachen, eingängigen Melodie und der sich wiederholenden Botschaft dem Hörer klar macht: Das Naheliegende und scheinbar Einfache ist nicht einfach oder banal, es fällt meist so schwer - Sei es nun das Herstellen von zwischenmenschlicher Nähe oder das Schreiben eines schönen, inspirierenden Songs. Hollywood Tonight verbindet einen etwas schnelleren, tanzbaren Groove mit einem Songtext, der Kritik am schnellen Ruhm und seinen Gefahren übt. Ein Thema, das Jackson ein Leben lang begleitet hat. Der aparte Einstieg in den Song erfolgt mit einer kurzen Sequenz Kirchengesang und einem beatboxenden MJ. Keep Your Head Up ist ein ruhiger, eindringlicher Song, der mit viel Gefühl aufs Herz zielt und uns mit "himmlischen" Klängen ermutigen möchte: "Yes, we can - Kopf hoch!" So einen Song zu komponieren ohne in den Kitsch abzudriften, will gelernt sein. Er transportiert Love, Spirits und Happiness und befindet sich auch musikalisch in der Nähe eines Gospels. Der vierte Song (I Like) The Way You Love Me weckt mit seinem Doo Wop-Sound Erinnerungen an MJ's Motown-Zeit. Den Songtexten im Textbuch des Albums sind jeweils Kommentare von Personen vorangestellt, die an dem Song mitwirkten. Hier zu diesem vierten Track spricht (vermutlich) Theron "Neff-U" Feemster: "Michael machte mir klar, wie wichtig es ist, der Welt ein Geschenk zu machen. Ihnen Lieder zu geben, die für immer bleiben. Dieser Song wurde schon 2004 in einer früheren Version, die noch nicht so ausgereift war, veröffentlicht. Er kramte ihn wieder aus und perfektionierte ihn solange, bis es ihn zum Lächeln und Tanzen brachte. Es war, als würde man einer Blume beim Wachsen und Blühen zusehen." Das sagt alles über diesen Song - Ein schönes Liebeslied!

Diese ersten vier Lieder sind recht unspektakulär, aber dann kommt der Knaller! Monster ist ein Song, der mit seinem MJ-Thrill und der erzeugten Spannung an die Klassiker Thriller, Jam oder Scream heranreicht. Der Songtext thematisiert wieder die Gefahren des schnellen Ruhms und der unbarmherzigen Medienwelt: "Paparazzi got you scared like a monster". Übrigens: Auch in den aktuellen Rezensionen des Albums Michael benehmen sich die angeblich so seriösen Kritiker wie sensationsgierige Paparazzi, die kein Klischee auslassen und bedenklich nah am Klatsch-Sumpf stochern. Der Refrain des Songs wird im Kontrast zum schrillen Anfang von einer ruhigeren, traurigeren Stimmung bestimmt. Am Schluß rappt 50 Cent (ehemaliger Drogendealer, in Schießereien von vielen Kugeln durchlöchert). Der Rap von 50 Cent funktioniert ähnlich gut wie dazumal mit dem Rapper Heavy D im Song Jam auf dem Album Dangerous (1991). Direkt darauf folgt der schönste Song des Albums: Best of Joy. Er gehört zu den letzten Songs, an denen Jackson arbeitete. Er plante, während der Londoner Proben zur Tournee This is it! weiter daran zu arbeiten. Der Song wird von einer unbeschwerten Heiterkeit, Freude und Schönheit getragen, die staunen lassen angesichts des nahen Todes und der in der Dokumentation zu This is it! sichtbaren körperlichen und seelischen Verfassung des Stars. Hier wird deutlich, dass trotz aller Pressemeldungen, die Michael Jackson musikalisch schon abgeschrieben hatten, die Genialität des Künstlers bis zu seinem Lebensende vorhanden und am Schaffen war. Im vorangestellten Kommentar des Songs spricht (vermutlich) Theron "Neff-U" Feemster: "Best of Joy ist ein zeitloses Stück, in dem Michael seine persönlichen Gefühle mit jedem von uns teilen möchte. Michael Jackson's Joy ist forever..."

Das Album Michael ist ein sehr persönliches Werk geworden. Im Textbuch finden sich Abbildungen von persönlichen Notizen. MJ schrieb hier ganz intime Details zur Enstehung seiner Musik nieder. Das Coverbild des Albums ist ein Ausschnitt eines Ölgemäldes des afroamerikanischen Künstlers Kadir Nelson, das Michael Jackson selbst in Auftrag gab. Zu sehen sind wichtige Stationen in der Karriere von MJ, sowie Personen, die ihm nahe standen. In der Mitte des Gemäldes inszeniert sich Jackson als gekrönter King of Pop. Seine rechte Hand geht zum Herzen und unterstreicht die persönliche Note des Albums Michael. In der Anordnung von unzähligen Bildmotiven erinnert das Gemälde an das surrealistische Cover des Albums Dangerous, geschaffen vom Künstler Mark Ryden.

Im nächsten Track, Breaking News, reflektiert Jackson wieder sein Ausgeliefertsein in der Medienwelt. Die Stimmen von Reportern erklingen: "Here we go again. The Paparazzis won't leave him alone." Percussion-Instrumente tönen, arabisch anmutende Tonfolgen und 80er Synthie-Läufe erklingen. Es handelt sich um eine raffinierte Komposition, die reizvoll ist. Alle Songs auf dem Album werden übrigens besser, je öfter sie man hört. Viele Rezensenten haben sich diese Mühe leider nicht gemacht. Dann der achte Song: (I can't Make it) Another Day. Eine Komposition von Lenny Kravitz - gesungen im Duett mit Jackson. Das Schlagzeug wird von Dave Grohl (Foofighters, Nirvana) eingespielt. Ein Liebeslied der rockigeren Marke. Ein echter Ohrwurm. Lenny Kravitz sagt im Interview: "Es war ein einzigartiges und begeisterndes Erlebnis, mit Michael Jackson zu musizieren." Dieser Song "leakte" genauso wie Hold my Hand frühzeitig ins Internet. Der Vergleich der geleakten Versionen mit den Albumversionen zeigen übrigens, dass die Songs auf Michael authentisch und keine Fakes sind. Behind The Mask ist ein brillantes Stück, das auf der Komposition des Yellow Magic Orchestra (Elektronische Kultband vergleichbar mit Kraftwerk) beruht. Ein brillantes Stück. Im Intro hört man die Geräuschkulisse eines Livekonzertes. Aufmerksame MJ-Fans wissen, dass es sich um den Beginn des legendären Konzerts in Bukarest (1992) handelt: Michael Jackson wird scheinbar aus dem Boden geschleudert und steht regungslos mit einer Sonnenbrille wie eine Statue auf der Bühne. Das allein lässt das Publikum minutenlang toben. Dann nimmt er in Zeitlupentempo seine schwarze Brille ab und zeigt sein Gesicht...

Den Abschluß des Albums bildet ein Song aus den 80er Jahren, er sollte ursprünglich auf dem Album Thriller (1982) veröffentlicht werden. Michael singt ein Liebeslied, nur von einer Gitarre und Streichern begleitet, sozusagen unplugged. Nach dem schrecklichen und schockierenden Tod des 50jährigen Michael Jackson schwingt in diesem Lied Much to Soon eine thematische Parallele zu seinem Lied Gone to Soon (1991) mit. Nicht nur für die Fans, die diesen Ausnahme-Musiker und -Tänzer liebten, war sein Tod im letzten Jahr ein schmerzlicher Verlust, auch Menschen, die ihn nicht mochten, spürten, dass die Musikwelt einen erheblichen Verlust erlitten hat, denn dieser Mensch war fast sein ganzes Leben lang im Musikgeschäft sehr erfolgreich und ein Genie. Wie wir jetzt nach dem Erscheinen dieses posthumen Albums wissen, war er ein musikalisches Genie bis zu seinem letzten Atemzug.

Diese CD ist definitiv die größte musikalische Überraschung des Jahres 2010.

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