Michael - The Official New Album - Out December 14th - General Discussion Thread

[Hicci]

I know this isn't topic related, but quite a lot of the time on this thread I see the letters 'IMO'. What does it mean?

 

[PCR]

I know this isn't topic related, but quite a lot of the time on this thread I see the letters 'IMO'. What does it mean?

In My Opinion

 

[cppounders]

I know this isn't topic related, but quite a lot of the time on this thread I see the letters 'IMO'. What does it mean?

"In My Opinion," a phrase a lot of people around here should use more often, rather than spout things they believe as fact.

 

[if.it.aint.broke.break.it]

I know this isn't topic related, but quite a lot of the time on this thread I see the letters 'IMO'. What does it mean?

In my opinion. IMHO is in my honest opinion.

 

[Hicci]

In My Opinion

"In My Opinion," a phrase a lot of people around here should use more often, rather than spout things they believe as fact.

In my opinion. IMHO is in my honest opinion.

Thanks guys
I'll be using it now that I know what it means.

 

[Garden]

The official estate MJOnlineTeam just posted this on Twitter 18 minutes ago!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-vo..._b_781364.html

Since Michael Jackson's untimely death in June of 2009, speculation has run rampant about the music he left behind. How much is there? How finished are the songs? What is the quality of the material? And how and when will it be released?

Over the course of writing and researching my forthcoming book, Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson (Sterling 2011), I was fortunate enough to take an in-depth look at Jackson's entire catalog--including the work he was engaged in during his final years. My sources worked closely with the King of Pop throughout his life and have been trustworthy and reliable throughout the five-year process of the book. In the controversy that tends to surround all things Michael Jackson, it can be difficult to ascertain truth from fiction. But I feel confident with what I have learned about the material poised to appear on his first posthumous album, Michael.

A notorious perfectionist, Jackson always over-recorded. There are at least one hundred songs over the course of his solo career that did not make it onto his major albums. Some of those have already appeared on special editions and collections; others have leaked online in various forms; and many others have never been heard.

At midnight on November 8th, MichaelJackson.com streamed the first official song from the archives (excluding the early-Eighties demo, "This Is It," which was included as part of the companion album to the film of the same name). Even before its release, however, controversy surrounded "Breaking News" and the other so-called "Cascio tracks." The conversation has only intensified since then.

Predictably, little of that conversation has been about the content of the new track: the exceptionally ominous strings in the intro, its "Off the Wall"-esque chorus, or its signature Jackson indictment of a media that feeds on "breaking news" (read: scandals) with obsessive compulsion ("No matter what/ You just want to read it again"). Nor has much attention been given to the work of talented producer and longtime-Jackson friend, Teddy Riley, who gives the song a fresh but faithful sheen.

The irony, of course, is this is how Jackson's music has been received for decades, the substance overlooked in favor of sensationalism and distracting controversy. Yet part of it would no doubt bring a knowing smile to the man who once claimed he wanted to make his whole life "the greatest show on earth." Long before Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson was engaging artistically with both the monstrosity and allure of fame.

In "Breaking News," Jackson not only delivers his message, but anticipates the way it will be received. In one verse, he lashes out at those anxious to "write his obituary." In the chorus, he asks his listening audience, as he did throughout his career, who they project him to be: Is he the "boogieman" (a constructed monstrous figure) we're thinking of?

Certainly, by 2007 (the year in which "Breaking News" was recorded), he had learned how vicious and entrapping a lifetime in the spotlight could be. The previous two years he had been living as a vagabond, traveling from the Middle Eastern-island of Bahrain to the countryside of Ireland to a private chateau in Las Vegas. In the fall of 2007, he showed up with his children at the doorstep of his longtime friends, the Cascios, in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Jackson had been close to the Cascio family for nearly twenty years. During that time, they never once betrayed him for tabloid money (in spite of many offers), but showed him loyalty and allowed him a sense of normalcy he couldn't often enjoy. In the program at Jackson's funeral they are referred to as "the First Family of Love."

Jackson stayed with the Cascios for nearly four months and, along with Frank Cascio, Eddie (Angel) Cascio, and singer James Porte (aka Bobby Ewing), engaged in some of his most sustained recording since before his 2005 trial. Three songs created during these sessions--"Breaking News," "Keep Your Head Up" and "Monster"--are expected to appear on Jackson's new album, all of which Jackson co-wrote. During his time in New Jersey, Jackson also recorded vocals for Thriller 25, which was released in 2008.

Beyond the Cascios, several people close to Jackson were familiar with his work in New Jersey. He mentioned to these people that he was "excited" about the work he and the Cascios had generated. According to Jackson's longtime friend and manager, Frank Dileo, Jackson planned to have recording equipment brought to London during his 02 concert series so he could finalize some of his latest music.

The first of the Cascio tracks to be heard--"Breaking News"--obviously isn't a perfect realization of Jackson's abilities. Receiving the most critical attention are Jackson's vocals, the veracity of which even some family and fans are questioning. There are understandable reasons for this. This certainly isn't a "typical" Jackson recording: there weren't extensive warm ups with longtime vocal coach Seth Riggs, no layering and polishing by Jackson himself, no Bruce Swedien and world-class studio technology to capture the original vocal. This was a guide demo, supplemented by the supporting vocals of James Porte (for which he is credited), and produced nearly four years later by Teddy Riley.

Riley, who first began working with Jackson in the early Nineties, found it emotionally difficult to complete the unfinished work of his late friend. To tap into his inspiration, Riley had photographer Harrison Funk surround him with pictures of the singer. "That was the only thing to keep me sane, and not go crazy while I'm working," said Riley. "Because, you know, it would come out on the music if you hear me banging on the keyboards with tears coming out of my eyes."

Riley said his fundamental motivation was to extend the legacy of a friend. He approached the tracks, therefore, not attempting to overly embellish, but simply to fill in the best he could. His guiding thought was: "What would Michael want?" He even brought sounds Jackson had him record from previous sessions. The final product, of course, is an approximation. But for Riley it was a labor of love.

It wasn't until Riley submitted his work, and three of the songs were accepted by Sony for the album, that the controversy began. Certain individuals--some with noble intentions, some less so--began expressing concerns about the authenticity of the vocals. These concerns were taken seriously by Jackson's Estate. Attorney Howard Weitzman was asked by estate co-executors John Branca and John McClain to conduct a thorough investigation of the authenticity of the Cascio tracks. The Estate, after all, had a lot to lose if the tracks were fraudulent. Since Jackson's death, by all accounts, it had done a masterful job of preserving and enhancing the artist's legacy, including the release of the highest-grossing concert documentary film of all time (This Is It), a new music video collection (Michael Jackson's Vision), a Jackson-themed video game (Michael Jackson: The Experience), a groundbreaking show with Cirque du Soliel ("Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour"), and the biggest recording contract in popular music history.

Perhaps just as important, the Estate had passed on numerous deals, selecting only a handful of projects it felt were worthy of Jackson's name. Risking the substantial credibility it had established amongst both fans and critics for a handful of questionable tracks would have been reckless at best (for Sony as well, who had invested over $200 million dollars on the singer's posthumous projects).

In spite of Jackson's close relationship with the Cascios, therefore, the Estate certainly didn't accept them on blind faith. The Estate invited four of Jackson's primary engineers over the past thirty years, three producers who had worked with Jackson (including Teddy Riley), and spoke to one of the musicians that had worked with Michael over the years and who had also contributed to one of the Cascio tracks. Each of them listened to the a cappella version of the vocals on the Cascio tracks without any musical accompaniment so that they could give an opinion as to whether or not the lead vocals on the Cascio tracks were sung by Jackson. To a person they all confirmed that the vocal was definitely Michael Jackson. These engineers, producers and musicians are all people Jackson trusted and whose names would be very familiar to Jackson's fans.

In addition, at the request of John Branca and John McClain, Howard Weitzman retained one of the best known forensic musicologists in the nation to listen to the a cappella vocals and compare them with a cappella vocals from previously known Jackson songs. This expert performed waveform analysis, an objective scientific procedure, and found that all of the vocals were the voice of Michael Jackson.

Sony Music conducted its own investigation by hiring a second well-respected forensic musicologist who also compared the raw vocals from the Cascio tracks against known vocals of Jackson's and found that it was Jackson's voice on both sets of the compared vocals.
The Cascio tracks were also played for two of the most significant people in the music industry who played crucial roles in Jackson's career. Both of these individuals believe that the vocals are those of Michael Jackson.

It was also specifically verified that the vocals did not belong to well-known Jackson impersonator, Jason Malachi.

The results of this exhaustive investigation confirmed Sony's belief that the songs submitted by the Estate all contained authentic Michael Jackson vocals. The decision was therefore made to include three of the Cascio tracks on Michael. Other tracks will likely be included on future albums of unreleased material.

While these are not perfectly realized tracks--as no posthumous material can be--there is certainly much to appreciate. The Cascio tracks represent, after all, some of the last work Jackson ever wrote and recorded. It wasn't ready to be released, but then, Jackson wasn't ready to die.

"Breaking News," "Monster," "Hold My Hand" and the rest of the tracks that comprise Michael are, similar to the This Is It documentary, fragments of an unfinished vision. They aren't all the polished, perfectionist-Michael Jackson people are accustomed to hearing, but they are him, and what some of his closest friends and collaborators felt his fans deserved to hear.

Thank you...

 

[deano]

So if this is posted on an official estate website it means they back up the content? Well it's completely contradictory and this is where i got the info about Bobby Ewing singing on the track from so i don't see why anyone would see this as any consolation.

"Bobby Ewing!?" "Bobby Ewing!!??"

You'll be telling us that 'J.R. Ewing' was doing the bloody vocals next!

 

[Go Flying]

I can't remember the last time I was quite so angry...
The sheer arrogance and impertinence of people TAKING (and that's the nicest way to put it) MJ's unfinished work and then deciding to further 'work' on it to make it 'releaseable'

What utter fucking nonsense.

It seems that the days of integrity and honesty are long gone. Where does it end?

Is Teddy Riley going to finsh Mozart's unfinished symphony? of course not - it would not be countenanced!

What the **** is the world coming to? Next thing we'll have all sorts of puffed up farts deciding to 'finish' Van Gogh's preliminary sketches or some other great master's discarded work.

Who the **** are sony, or the estate, or the family, or anyone else for that matter, to pontificate and then decide how to IMPOSE their 'artistic' (and I use that word in the loosest possible sense) claptrap, onto MJ's recordings. There is a great and cynical deception at work with this record.

Either let these tracks be released as they were created or, if not 'releaseable' now, wait to release them in the fullness of time where they will be better understood and accepted.

 

[xscape guy 2003]

Smooth , Gaz can you update us on what is the status of this project now is the release still same and any news if cascio tracks have been cancelled? Smooth you did say your guy had said they where , please let us all know.

Terry

 

[CherubimII]

You have not even heard the new music.
Pause for a little while, and think about the kind of messages you are posting here. :better:

 

[angel2]

Deano .... LOL :lol:

Drew ... we disagree I see on BN ... but mates we can always stay I hope!

Oh & my take on IMHO .... In My HUMBLE Opinion

 

[PCR]

I can't remember the last time I was quite so angry...
The sheer arrogance and impertinence of people TAKING (and that's the nicest way to put it) MJ's unfinished work and then deciding to further 'work' on it to make it 'releaseable'

What utter fucking nonsense.

It seems that the days of integrity and honesty are long gone. Where does it end?

Is Teddy Riley going to finsh Mozart's unfinished symphony? of course not - it would not be countenanced!

What the **** is the world coming to? Next thing we'll have all sorts of puffed up farts deciding to 'finish' Van Gogh's preliminary sketches or some other great master's discarded work.

Who the **** are sony, or the estate, or the family, or anyone else for that matter, to pontificate and then decide how to IMPOSE their 'artistic' (and I use that word in the loosest possible sense) claptrap, onto MJ's recordings. There is a great and cynical deception at work with this record.

I don't agree with the use of bad words (either written or implied :cheeky, but I understand your feelings of anger and frustration. I agree with you. This is really gross arrogance, as you say. Your examples are perfect in that sense.

You have not even heard the new music.
Pause for a little while, and think about the kind of messages you are posting here. :better:

And I also agree with this post, in the sense that we have really no single choice but to wait. Nothing else, really

 

[LLCz]

You have not even heard the new music.
Pause for a little while, and think about the kind of messages you are posting here. :better:

You have not heard it either.

 

[SeriousEffect.]

You guys are driving me crazy.

 

[innuendo141]

has anyone else taken the acapella of breaking news and lowered the pitch of his voice? it sounds more like mj to me, but still as everyone else says, not convinced enough. but it does sound a lot more like michael

 

[Hicci]

Are there any reports on what Quincy Jones or John Branca think about Breaking News and the rest of the album?

 

[rob.mail7]

surely the complete lack of any strong comments mean,

1. they have lost the plot at sony, or

2. it's part of a bigger paln to hype the album... it's working

 

[TheDangerousFan]

At first I had my doubts about this new song. However, after listening to it for the hundreth time, and listening to 2,000 Watts and Threatened, I now firmly believe that most of the vocals heard on Breaking News are Michael Jackson's.

This is what Sony hoped to happen.PLEASE STOP DELUSIONING YOURSELF.I love the song's music, and I want to believe it's Michael... BUT THIS IS LIKE SAYING to the black - white.Its not HIM.

 

[CherubimII]

You have not heard it either.

I stand corrected. :agree:

You and I have not even heard the new music.
Pause for a little while, and think about the kind of messages you are posting here. :better:

 

[deano]

This is what Sony hoped to happen.PLEASE STOP DELUSIONING YOURSELF.I love the song's music, and I want to believe it's Michael... BUT THIS IS LIKE SAYING to the black - white.Its not HIM.

Stop trying to bully people and get back to making your "WE HATE SONY" placards.

 

[smooth_criminal05]

Last I heard... there was a meeting yesterday, and talks continue today. Expect a statement from the MJ estate and Sony this week on the subject.

 

[LLCz]

Last I heard... there was a meeting yesterday, and talks continue today. Expect a statement from the MJ estate and Sony this week on the subject.

Thank You

 

[deano]

Last I heard... there was a meeting yesterday, and talks continue today. Expect a statement from the MJ estate and Sony this week on the subject.

But I heard the meeting was today, and talks continue tomorrow, and to expect a statement from the MJ estate and/or Sony this week, next week, or the week after?

What to believe eh?

 

[Hicci]

Look guys, enough is enough. Stop bickering, stop arguing, stop calling other people names. If you have an opinion about whether the track and album is real or fake, fine, but don't insult or try to get everyone else on your side. Nobody at the moment knows the REAL truth, so nobody can have a 100% guarantee that their opinion and thinking is the correct one. We are a Michael Jackson community, not a hate club. We come here to talk about him, praise him, discuss things, but we do not come here to bicker or fight. This is not what Michael would have wanted.

 

[CherubimII]

Before I leave this thread, I will just say this:
I wish for you the joy of hearing Michael Jackson sing again, and I wish for you the peace and understanding his music has always brought us.
Because the only real tragedy would be if we fans loss the
"Magic of Michael Jackson".

 

[aprilshack]

Look guys, enough is enough. Stop bickering, stop arguing, stop calling other people names. If you have an opinion about whether the track and album is real or fake, fine, but don't insult or try to get everyone else on your side. Nobody at the moment knows the REAL truth, so nobody can have a 100% guarantee that their opinion and thinking is the correct one. We are a Michael Jackson community, not a hate club. We come here to talk about him, praise him, discuss things, but we do not come here to bicker or fight. This is not what Michael would have wanted.

Hear! Hear! My thoughts exactly!

 

[georgdr]

I have gone back and forth on this song but I now believe it is Michael and what did it for me was listening to the accapella version.

I think the problem the consipracy theorists have is a motive. We cant blame SOny ans this project is handed to them by the estate so people need to stop bashing Sony as this wasnt there call.

So that brings us to the estate and someone needs to explain why the estate would add "fake" songs to the first album. I think they have handled things brilliantly for Michael so far and I do believe that they had the vocals checked out by technicians to cover themselves. SO I do eblieve it is Michael on Breaking News, I just dont happen to care for the songs that much.

So for someone who believes the vocals are fake, I need to ask you. What is the estates motivation for adding fake songs to an album? Im not arguing, I seriously want to know

 

[HIStory]

I have gone back and forth on this song but I now believe it is Michael and what did it for me was listening to the accapella version.

I think the problem the consipracy theorists have is a motive. We cant blame SOny ans this project is handed to them by the estate so people need to stop bashing Sony as this wasnt there call.

So that brings us to the estate and someone needs to explain why the estate would add "fake" songs to the first album. I think they have handled things brilliantly for Michael so far and I do believe that they had the vocals checked out by technicians to cover themselves. SO I do eblieve it is Michael on Breaking News, I just dont happen to care for the songs that much.

So for someone who believes the vocals are fake, I need to ask you. What is the estates motivation for adding fake songs to an album? Im not arguing, I seriously want to know

Because there may be fewer songs release-ready than originally thought. And the Estate somehow needs to fill the albums.....

 

[MJultimatemusiclegen]

Perhaps, by consensus, they mean;

"Consensus of people that actually know what the hell we are talking about because we actually knew Michael and were there when songs were written/recorded/discussed, unlike a few hundred 'hard-core' MJ fans who never actually knew the guy but like to claim they did because they bought his records and a few tee-shirts"?

Just a thought.

What are you on, no offense. It sounds to me like over time you've gone against your instincts. That is very offensive to fans, and if your gonna be snobby then you shouldn't really be on a 'fan' board. Ever thought in your narrow mind, that these people might have been curropted forced to lie etc. You say we have never met Michael, but you have never met these people you are defending, they haven't said this to your face in a totally private area, so you can't be sure they are telling what they really believe to be the truth. Trust your own instincts, if you truely believe this is Michael then that's great. But if you didn't and got talked against your own beliefs and instincts by these statements then that is really really bad i'm afraid.

The second i heard Much too Soon or DYKWYCA i knew instantly that was the voice of Michael Jackson. When i first heard 2000 watts i was like, wow that's some cool processing on HIS voice when i first heard this i thought, that is some processing on someone elses voice. It's what i and many believe, no one has influenced us in this. Just accept that there will be conflicting opinions on the subject.

 

[georgdr]

Because there may be fewer songs release-ready than originally thought. And the Estate somehow needs to fill the albums.....

Im sorry I just dont believe thats true. I think the estate would just add some out takes from Invincible to round out the album before they would use "fake" songs. They have shown they are way to concerned about MJ's image and credibility since he died to release fake songs.

So I do believe its him and until I see a reason why the estate would flush there credibility down the toilet, I will continue to believe its hime