"Breaking News" All General Discussion Here [Merged]

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&#8221, 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

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doitandyourdead said:

here is the statement

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It was known, however, that the background vocals were a combination of Michael and James Porte.

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doitandyourdead said:

so thats the only thing that was really KNOWN

not once does someone who was there when michael recorded this come forward n confirm

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BUMPER SNIPPET said:

Somebody's not saying the truth.

Originally Posted by smooth_criminal05
^ It's felt like the twilight zone.

For those who are interested, I spoke with my source on the phone for over 30 minutes tonight regarding this whole mess. This is coming straight from Sony: the vocals are over 50% not MJ's, they did hire an impersonator to run over the majority of MJ's pre-existing vocals and tried to hide it with production.

The remaining Cascio tracks including "Monster" are all in the same boat with some MJ vocals and some imposter vocals. There will be a big meeting tomorrow at Sony where they will discuss the future of this album. More to come...

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It's all complete bollocks. Maybe there is a demo with MJ singing, which the engineers etc listened to and agreed was MJ but that sure as hell isn't what they've given us with this song! I'm getting more and more incredulous at their cheek! __________________

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L.T.D said:

I really have to disagree. There have been some members here who have been really over the top about it being MJ.

Accusations of people just wanting to boycott the album because we hate Sony have been tossed around.

I've seen 'This is 100% MJ' quite a lot. Not as much as i've seen 'this is 100% NOT MJ'.
I'll own up to it, I may have stated my opinion as fact a lot of times over the past few days, I've probably even been arrogant about it. But thats just because I feel so strongly about it.

I havent seen Deano be told off once publicly, he may have been told in PM. But I have not seen him be told to calm it down a mod. Even though he has been putting down the entire community constantly.

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jemini515 said:

Could this turn into one of those wink, nudge situations where executives and insiders know the truth or have their suspicions, but a different statement is given to the public? It happens every day..... I just don't know anymore.

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doitandyourdead said:

ur rite its bollocks...so theyre basically admitting they dont know its mj on lead infact they havent got a fekkin CLUE because they had to contact old jason

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zizousama said:

Some people are using a strange reasoning. I do not believe it's Michael on BN. Of course, I may be mistaken. However, some people say we have to believe it was him because it's an unfinished track and a demo. That's why he doesn't sound like himself. Well, how about the Billie Jean demo then? Why didn't Michael sound like Prince or whomever? The technology back then is far worse than today's. Yet, it's always clearly Michael on all the demos we heard through the years. So, recording reasoning is not proof enough.

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deano said:

I have seen countless remarks such as "this is 100% NOT Michael Jackson singing on Breaking News", which, to any normal person, is just not reasonable to suggest. Michael absolutely IS singing on this track, the only reasonable question can be "How much?".
or me. Michael is a big enough part of the song for me to justify it being part of an album. Plus I like the song. It has a MJ 'feel' to it.

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deano said:

As you have now resorted to moaning about me in public, then I hope you will have the decency of taking me off your 'ignore' list and read my response. If not this is for others;

I can not find a single instance where people have said "Breaking News is 100% Michael Jackson", unless you are confusing that with "Michael Jackson is 100% singing on this song", which intelligent people will understand are two different things.

I have seen countless remarks such as "this is 100% NOT Michael Jackson singing on Breaking News", which, to any normal person, is just not reasonable to suggest. Michael absolutely IS singing on this track, the only reasonable question can be "How much?".

I notice your figures have moved from "100% NOT" to "80% NOT" - so even you have admitted being wrong in the first instance. Other people have joined you in 'moving the goalposts' from 'nothing' to 'some' Michael - as evidence has accumulated to prove them wrong.

I have always known, and stated, that there is some Michael on this track - from day 1. I have always acknowledged, as most reasonable people have, that there are other vocals on the track to aid completion of Michael's idea and concept.

Perhaps, knowing this, my questions have always been;

"So what?
"If Michael wrote the song, created the concept, is the inspiration behind the song, and/or sang some of the lyrics - are we not happy to hear that, even if the song had to be finished?"
"Would you rather hear nothing about what Michael created in the last 10 years - unless it is 100% Michael singing?"

My stance is this;

As long as Michael had a reasonable part in the concept - such as writing the song - or he sang around 50% of the vocals - as in a duet - then I am happy to listen to the song 'objectively', and decide - on my own - if I want to buy the song/album.

With 'BN' I have decided - as a fully grown adult - that all of the evidence (both for and against) point to Michael having written and conceived the song AND providing at least some of the vocals. This is perfectly acceptable for me. Michael is a big enough part of the song for me to justify it being part of an album. Plus I like the song. It has a MJ 'feel' to it.

Would I like every song on every album to be 100% Michael? - written, produced, and sang by him - probably.

Do I want a future where we will never hear a Michael Jackson creation, or Michael Jackson vocals, unless they are 100% his - because some fans demand it - absolutely not!

What I really object to is 'campaigns', supposedly being fought in the name of the fans, by 'fans', to boycott the album. An album that has yet to be released, an album that we don't even know the track list for. I object to people telling me 'facts' like; "This is 100% NOT Michael", and "Michael would NOT want this". The first one of these has blatantly been proved wrong - beyond any 'reasonable' doubt - and the second one implies an arrogance I don't even need to explain.

It seems to me that most people supporting the song/album are happy to do so without the need for 'campaigns'. They seem to have made their minds up based on the evidence before them - rather than 'speculation' - and they are comfortable with that. They discuss and debate without the need to harass and 'bully' - for the most part - and that is their/our prerogative.

Compare this with the 'in your face' "ban the fake album" placards, oversized type face, and suggestive, 'heated' comments of those on the opposite side of the fence. It smacks of bullying to me.

I admit to sometime resorting to 'sarcasm' over the last couple of days, and I apologise for it. Perhaps I took the wrong stance and decided to reply 'in kind' to the bullies. As Michael said himself; "I'm only Human".

As a final point. I will continue to make a personal, rational decision when Michael's 'work' is offered to me, in the form of a single, album, or DVD. I will decide whether the work contains enough of Michael to keep me happy. I do not need people to try and force me to think their way. I just won't happen I'm afraid.

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deano said:

I will continue to post this where ever bull**** tries to prevail!

It's all for you Michael - it's all for L.O.V.E.!

Let the 'haters' hate, but don't let them win!!

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deano;3066600 said:

More ‘supporters’ of “Breaking News” and the album ‘Michael’;

Bruce Swedien,
Matt Forger,
Stewart Brawley,
Michael Prince,
Dr. Freeze
Teddy Riley
Greg Phillinganes
best-known forensic musicologists in the nation
Howard Weitzman, Esq. Attorney for the Estate Of Michael Jackson

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Daniel.San said:

That would be me! I'm the unreasonable one who thinks Michael is not on this track singing, at all.

Sampled "aowwwws" and signature sounds aren't singing for me.

Thats my belief, as an adult.

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Daniel.San said:

Thanks for flying the truth flag brother. Without you we would all be lost in a world of hate and denial, a black abyss where we don't know right from wrong and our ears tell us lies.

Michael IS on this track, albeit at his most unrecognizable point of his 4 decades of show business life. His pronunciation, and feeling behind the words sung were all different due to the fact the track is a raw demo. Don't forget the forced and extended vibrato, a result of the poor demo recording.

You're doing it for "L.O.V.E."

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deano;3066600 said:

But then, the ‘trustworthy’ La Toya has her doubts

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Laura_Jo said:

It's a shame MJ couldn't sing in 2007.

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