At the Billboard Music Awards last night, the audience experienced a hologram of Michael Jackson performing a track from the new MJ album “Xscape.”
With live dancers, the holographic Michael Jackson displayed the moves we all came to know over the course of his phenomenal career. But some found the idea of “reconstituting” the deceased pop icon a bit creepy.
The fact that this is the night’s most talked about performance says something in itself about the state of award shows today.
New video for the first single “Love Never Felt So Good” from the new Michael Jackson album XSCAPE.
The video cuts focus on Michael Jackson’s famous dance moves. Timberlake wisely avoids recreating the steps, but he drops some of the Jackson style on us.
You can definitely imagine this song being from Jackson’s Off The Wall era. The video context helps the song, in my opinion.
XSCAPE is an album of previously unreleased Michael Jackson songs. The album is produced and curated by Epic Records Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid, who retooled the production to add a fresh, contemporary sound that retains Jackson’s essence and integrity. It’s a process Reid calls “contemporizing.”
The hugely anticipated Michael Jackson-Justin Timberlake duet “Love Never Felt So Good” has arrived on the internet via Justin Timberlake’s Twitter account. The song is from the upcoming MJ posthumous album Xscape.
There is also a MJ solo version of the song. Listen here.
The song was written in 1983 in a session with Paul Anka and Kathy Wakefield. In 1984 Johnny Mathis released a version.
Epic Records is set to release a new album of songs by Michael Jackson utilizing his vocals from past songs but reworked by famous producers to “contemporize” the songs.
Via press release:
Epic Records, in conjunction with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will release XSCAPE, an album of new music by Michael Jackson on May 13th.
XSCAPE is executive produced by Epic Records Chairman and CEO L.A. Reid. After mining by the Estate of Jackson’s archives, Reid was granted unlimited access to the treasures spanning four decades of material on which Jackson had completed his vocals. Reid then teamed up top producers to “contemporize” the songs while retaining Jackson’s essence and integrity, creating the best music you’ve never heard.
The list of producers includes Timbaland, Rodney Jerkins, Stargate and John McClain.
The new album will feature eight brand new recordings. A Deluxe Edition of XSCAPE will include a selection of the recordings in their original form. Both the standard and Deluxe Edition’s are available April 1st for pre-order on iTunes and elsewhere.
John Branca and John McClain, co-executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson said, “Michael was always on the cutting edge and was constantly reaching out to new producers, looking for new sounds. He was always relevant and current. These tracks, in many ways, capture that spirit. We thank L.A. Reid for his vision.”
Last night was the opening of the new Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson ONE at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. And when Cirque named this show “ONE” with capital letters, they meant it. This is ‘The ONE.’
From Cirque du Soliel’s press release:
Michael Jackson ONE is a sonic, tonic fusion of acrobatics, dance and visuals that takes the audience on an immersive journey through the music and spirit of Michael Jackson.
Driven by Michael’s powerful, multi-layered music – heard like never before in a riveting, state-of-the-art surround-sound environment – ONE takes the audience through a series of seamless visual and musical tableaux, at the heart of a world that is in turn majestic, playful, magical and heart-warming.
In Michael Jackson ONE, Michael’s artistry and spirit are expressed through the vibrant energy of the cast of 63 dancers and performers, underscored by aerial performance, driving acrobatics, and vivid choreographies that use the urban/hip hop idiom as a springboard for exploration.
ONE is a heartfelt tribute to the work, innovative spirit, and legacy of Michael Jackson – the King of Pop, the genius, the visionary, the One.
The world premiere attracted celebrities including Justin Bieber, Neil Patrick Harris, Ryan Kwanten, Allison Janney and Alfre Woodard. Also in attendance were Michael Jackson’s brothers Marlon, Tito and Jackie.
From beat one the audience in immersed in the world and music of Michael Jackson. Where Cirque’s first tribute to Jackson, Immortal, was a huge stadium-sized event that left some critics lukewarm – not enough MJ, not enough Cirque – this is all Cirque and all Jackson.
The acts are spectacular and each has it’s own relationship to Michael’s music videos, dance moves and life. “Michael Jackson ONE” gets it right taking the audience on an amazing journey.
This is easily one of the best shows Cirque has created that takes a known entity and brings that to life in the fabulous world that can only be Cirque.
In addition, the opening night gala was a great time on the Mandalay Beach. Food and drink were everywhere, and I met two of my FAVORITE actors, Alfre Woodard (who sat behind me during the show and hugged me during the curtain call as we all danced) and Ryan Kwanten (of True Blood). Michael and I spent a long time with Ryan and his girlfriend Ashley at the party, and both could not have been more down to earth and fun.
Great night.
With Ryan Kwanten of True Blood
With the FAB Alfre Woodard (True Blood, Desperate Housewives, Passion Fish, Miss Evers Boys)
Show Schedule for Michael Jackson ONE:
Starting July 1, performances are Saturday to Wednesday at 7:00pm and 10:00pm. Starting September 3, performances are Saturday to Wednesday at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. There are no performances on Thursdays and Fridays.
Prince Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson’s eldest son, will soon make his debut an “Entertainment Tonight” correspondent.
The 16-year-old chatted with the cast and director of “Oz the Great and Powerful” (James Franco, Zach Braff and Sam Raimi) for a segment that will air today.
Jackson reveals that he hopes to have a career in the entertainment industry.
“I’m looking to become well-rounded as a producer, director, screenwriter and actor.”
From TMZ: Michael Jackson’s Estate is going after Tohme Tohme, MJ’s former manager, claiming he fleeced the singer out of millions of dollars.
TMZ has obtained legal docs filed by the Estate, claiming Tohme got Michael to sign agreements that earned him a fortune for doing nothing.
According to the papers, Estate attorney Howard Weitzman claims Tohme got MJ to agree to pay him $35,000 a month plus expenses as a flat fee — regardless of what work Tohme performed. On top of that, Tohme inked a deal that gave him 15% of any money Michael made.
And there’s more …Tohme introduced Michael to a lender that refinanced Neverland. In return, Tohme got Jackson to pay him $2.4 million — just for the introduction. And Tohme got MJ to promise him 10% of any profits if the Ranch was sold.
Tohme also got MJ to agree to pay him $100,000 a month for the “This Is It” tour.
Estate lawyers are anticipating a lawsuit by Tohme against the estate for the money he claims he’s owed, and the Estate wants to shut him down before a suit is filed.
The Michael Jackson covers keep on comin’ from the kids of McKinley High — and today, they’re taking on the MJ classic “Smooth Criminal.”
In a just-released clip from next week’s “Glee” episode, Santana (Naya Rivera) and Sebastian (newcomer Grant Gustin) have a sing-off set to the 1988 hit.
Love the cellists and the arrangement of the song — plus, anything Santana is in is good in my book.
