Xscape General Discussion

[Tygger]

Always There, I may understand what you meant by “lazy” but, correct me if I am wrong. I believe it is a classic, good, business decision as the purpose of this cd is to generate monies.

Estate/Sony most likely has people who lurk in these types of forums. They see fans excited by the leaks and already know if they are acceptable to fans or not. Take the more completed and/or completed leaks that are well accepted and you have a cd that will more than likely have acceptable songs on it. If fans already like it, then, others may very well like it too. It is as if the those who heard the leak were in a focus group without knowing. I believe they know many fans have already heard some of these songs and may be disappointed as you have expressed. They are extending an olive branch with the demo versions.

Agreed many have heard these leaked songs however, it is not the state they will be released in the “contemporized” version and it may actually not be the state they will be released in the “demo” version either.

A good leak deserves an official outing and judging from postings about those leaks, the leaks are very good. Better still, the cd is at a price the majority of fans and general public can afford.

 

[Snow White luvs Peter Pan]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

People are entitled to their own opinion but why are some of them spoiling the happiness others have with their sky-rocking expectations?

 

[Snow White luvs Peter Pan]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I hope the two videos will include some studio footage or just some unseen footage for a change. The videos for Michael were practically of no value and forgotten immediately. Let's face it, if there is no Michael in it, nobody will watch it twice.

If the Estate decides to make videos, (i.e. Hold My Hand, Hollywood Tonight) they should go for animated versions like cartoon, 2D, 3D ones to have Michael somehow. I bet it'd be cool if it's done right.

 

[SmoothMJ]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I'm very hyped about the album and I love the cover aswell, yet with the current ' confirmed' songs, we can be looking at only 1/2 ' new' MJ songs. That, no matter how good, has me dissapointed. Yet I'm looking forward to the release.

Only real bad thing they can do is to put LNFSG on it.

As I said before, they are all 'new' to me, and millions like me. :yes:

BUZZING!!

 

[Albion]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I hope that this is a massive success and the Estate will look at re-releasing Michael in the same format of remixes and demos. They can lose the three C. songs and include TII instead.

 

[Cprep20]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

2 videos
Original Demo of Slave to the Rhythm
Original Demo Do You Know Where Your Children Are
Chicago (Still Rumored)
She Was Loving Me (Still Rumored) is enough for me. Lol I'm grateful none the less.

 

[CherubimII]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7_iLMq8REo :vishenka_34:

 

[SmoothMJ]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

This is just amusing. While all of you people go crazy with criticism of BAD 25, which had no problems aside from nitpicking, I'm suddenly judged for being irritated with this excuse for an album. Four leaked and four I leaked was totally fair. This is just an embarrassment to Michael's name.

*shrugs* you can waste money on songs we already have if you want to. I'll hold out until the next release.

If you don't mind me saying, but what a very selfish attitude!

Millions of people like me, who don't steal MJ's songs, should not be allowed to hear them on an official album? Just because a handful of fans decided to illegally stream poor quality versions some years ago??

 

[HIStory]

Always There, I may understand what you meant by “lazy” but, correct me if I am wrong. I believe it is a classic, good, business decision as the purpose of this cd is to generate monies.

Estate/Sony most likely has people who lurk in these types of forums. They see fans excited by the leaks and already know if they are acceptable to fans or not. Take the more completed and/or completed leaks that are well accepted and you have a cd that will more than likely have acceptable songs on it. If fans already like it, then, others may very well like it too. It is as if the those who heard the leak were in a focus group without knowing. I believe they know many fans have already heard some of these songs and may be disappointed as you have expressed. They are extending an olive branch with the demo versions.

Agreed many have heard these leaked songs however, it is not the state they will be released in the “contemporized” version and it may actually not be the state they will be released in the “demo” version either.

A good leak deserves an official outing and judging from postings about those leaks, the leaks are very good. Better still, the cd is at a price the majority of fans and general public can afford.

Exacty. To be honest hard core fans alone cannot make an album successful any more, so the Estate needs to target the general public as well. Hence the new remixes and maybe they tried to be safe by putting songs on it mainly which were well received by fans when leaked.

I still don't understand this "I'm only going to buy the two new songs" attitude. None of us bought the leaks, we esentially "stole it" when they were leaked, so if you want to be fair and supportive to MJ now you should buy them at last. At least I do not pirate off my very favourite artists, but support them.

 

[Aykut85]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I'm a little bit dissapointed with the tracklist. Just hoped that we don't get LNFSG. But it seems we will.
Also it's a little bit short and we only will get two never heard songs.
I don't know how many songs the Estate has to released for more albums in future, but I wished the tracklist had been similar like this.

1. Xscape
2. Men in black
3. Slave to the rhythm
4. Fall again
5. A place with no name
6. Chicago 1945
7. Blue Gangsta
8. She was lovin me
9. Can't get your weight off of me
10. Do you know where your children are
11. What more can I give

4 never heard tracks. 2 Balladas (I think she was lovin me isn't uptempo) and 1 anthem song. A similar list like this would have been great

 

[SmoothMJ]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Exacty. To be honest hard core fans alone cannot make an album successful any more, so the Estate needs to target the general public as well. Hence the new remixes and maybe they tried to be safe by putting songs on it mainly which were well received by fans when leaked.

I still don't understand this "I'm only going to buy the two new songs" attitude. None of us bought the leaks, we esentially "stole it" when they were leaked, so if you want to be fair and supportive to MJ now you should buy them at last. At least I do not pirate off my very favourite artists, but support them.

Agree 100%!

 

[h0opman31]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

A Place With No Name has not leaked in full. We have a tiny snippet. So that is new to me. I never listened to the Tricky Stewart abortion of Slave To The Rhythm nor have we heard the original version so that is new to me. We have never heard the original version of DYKWYCA... new. Chicago... new. She was Loving Me... new. That's 5 out of 8 and the others are also very welcomed by me.

A Place With No Name leaked in full few months ago lol.

 

[Calisto]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I can't stop staring at the album art. I'm so hyped for this.

 

[APOM]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Just pre-ordered the Deluxe edition. 17 songs. 2 videos. Bring it on!

 

[pain-is-thunder]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I wish this was the album cover.

Yeah, it's not that I 'hate' the cover we have, it's an interesting concept and certainly a conversation starter (side note -- I like the gold version so much better, it feels more finished) but I love the idea of using that street art style, (I personally just prefer the artistic, kinda urban feel) - which seems to fit more with all the "Best You've Never Heard" promo stuff?? I can't really reconcile how those two styles go together right now - clean/futuristic and urban/street art is certainly an interesting combo! Will be interesting to see how the visuals for the album pan out at any rate.. Maybe it will all make more sense when we have the finished music to go with it.

Something tells me that they've done somethin quite amazing with LNFSG..

Hope so. The only thing that bothers me about its inclusion at this point is that I can't really see how it fits in at all with the style of the other tracks that are rumoured, considering it's of such a different era? So I'm super excited to see how they might have reinterpreted that one to fit, since it sounds like they are trying to go for a more cohesive album.

BTW -- don't you think this could be another reason why there are only 8 tracks? Maybe I'm clutching at straws here, but -- they have a limited selection to choose from, and if they are trying to pick out songs that sound as if they belong together, it has to be pretty difficult when what they are choosing from could range from such different time periods. So, only 8 tracks (though potentially disappointing for us) might work to the album's advantage in terms of not sounding like the all over the place mess that 'Michael' was? Sometimes less is more, right?

Just a thought...

 

[DanGerouS-]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

to be honest, "Michael" had less songs. hold my hand was 70% akon, 3 fake songs, re-release of one song. so actually 5 pure new songs.

 

[rsggamer123]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

how likely/unlikely is it we will get a track listing today?

 

[APOM]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Hard to say. The pre-orders are up now and they don't include the actual track titles, so I'm leaning towards unlikely right now and expect more details to be released in a week or so.

Then again, some of the people who attended the listening party yesterday have been sharing their thoughts on some (if not most) of the tracks on Twitter, pretty much confirming a lot of the songs that were rumored to be included, so Sony / the estate might think "oh what the heck" and just release it (the tracklist).

 

[0o0jackie0o0]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I think some of us need to realise that the world doesnt revolve around us as individuals. The estate is not catering to YOUR PERSONAL PREFERENCE. They are doing they're best to accomodate a large fanbase, a fanbase made up of people who all love one man but have different preferences as to HOW they like him best.

Michael is gone and we no longer have the luxury of having his vision. We need to accept that and appreciate how lucky we are to have access to the work he left behind.

As for the whole leaks debacle, I think you guys got it covered haha

Lets enjoy people!!

 

[blujein]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I am genuinely excited about this release. The album announcement and artwork, the short wait until release, and the interpretations/reviews received so far have all accomplished the one thing Michael always strived for...conversation and interest.

 

[MattyJam]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

I'm pleased with the tracklist, but the inclusion of Love Never Felt So Good will stand out like a sore thumb. I wish Paul Wanka would get bent...

In terms of the tracklist including already leaked material, anybody who expected anything different has been in denial. The estate are going to stretch out his unreleased music for as long as possible. We just have to accept that and enjoy any new music we get along the way.

I for one am pleased about songs like Xscape, DYKWYCA etc finally getting a proper, long overdue release.

 

[Condor9333]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

from wikipedia:

Track listing[edit]

The standard edition of the album contains 8 tracks of "contemporized" songs while the deluxe edition contains an extra CD with the songs in their original form.[1] The iTunes deluxe edition contains two videos.[5]
1."Xscape"
2."Slave to the Rhythm"
3."Blue Gangsta"
4."A Place With No Name"
5."Love Never Felt So Good"
6."Do You Know Where Your Children Are"
7."She Was Lovin' Me"
8."Chicago"
9."May Be We Can Do It" (Bonus Track)
10."Stop The War" (Bonus Track)

 

[rickd]

UK journalists where treated to an exclusive preview of Michael Jackson’s new album Xscape last night. The album is a collection of unheard songs from the vaults of The Estate Of Michael Jackson.

However, the first reactions following the preview appeared to be mixed.

Speaking on Sky News this morning verdicts ranged from “sounds choppy” “sounds like bits of different songs glued together” “over produced”.

Bernadette McNulty from The Telegraph was on hand “Xscape at least sounds more like a labour of love and with only eight songs, a judiciously edited and cohesive album rather than an endless memory-stick jumble of offcuts. The balance often feels quite subtle and even-handed between the original song and the new styles of orchestration and production. The lyrics, perhaps the critical thing in the magic of the final Jackson mix, often so strange and mantra-like, sounded on these songs forgettable generic, bar one that asked, Michael Gove-like, if you knew where your children were at midnight if they weren’t at home.”

 

[HIStory]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Yes, I didn't have to listen to the leaks. But almost everyone here has. And we get albums for new music and I'm not getting my money's worth. I'll torrent it.

Let me remind you that you never paid for those leaked songs! You stole them. (Just like I did, but I'm now going to pay their price.) So your criticism and you mentioning your money is totally unfair. And if you do not care why do you even torrent it? If you don't care just do not listen to it. But you saying you will torrent it is hypocritical, because that means you still want to have it you are only not willing to pay for it. Sometimes it feels to me people just make up excuses to themselves about why they are entitled to steal music rather than buy it.

 

[innuendo141]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

If DYKWYCA is included, then we get the original "untouched" demo, is that right?

Weren't the guitars found in the version that we all have added in 2010? If that's the case then hopefully we will end up with 3 versions of the song.

To those giving out that we are getting songs that already leaked- its our own fault we have heard them before. Simple as. Don't buy the album if you don't want. We illegally downloaded all those songs and listened to them. That's the bottom line.

 

[APOM]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

So the main reason for people giving Love Never Felt So Good all this hate is Paul Anka's involvement and him profiting from its inclusion on Xscape? Does this go back to him threatening legal action over the This Is It song at the time and subsequently receiving 50% of its profits? I don't get it -- he did produce these songs with Michael back in the day. And even though they ended up not making it to an official release (like so many other songs he worked on), shouldn't credit be given where it's due? Sure, it was a very business-oriented way to go about it from Anka's side, and if he'd wanted to be nice he could have just given the estate the songs, but he obviously felt he had a right to be compensated for his work and, well, he wasn't technically in the wrong about that.

Either way, I liked This Is It and I love Love Never Felt So Good. It's soulful and groovy with great piano arrangements, and his vocals sound amazing. And I am also excited to hear the new production on it.

 

[HIStory]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

from wikipedia:

Track listing[edit]

The standard edition of the album contains 8 tracks of "contemporized" songs while the deluxe edition contains an extra CD with the songs in their original form.[1] The iTunes deluxe edition contains two videos.[5]
1."Xscape"
2."Slave to the Rhythm"
3."Blue Gangsta"
4."A Place With No Name"
5."Love Never Felt So Good"
6."Do You Know Where Your Children Are"
7."She Was Lovin' Me"
8."Chicago"
9."May Be We Can Do It" (Bonus Track)
10."Stop The War" (Bonus Track)

So Track 9 and 10 are videos?

Putting aside the fact that most of the tracks are not unknown to us, I think it looks to be a great track list:

Escape
Slave To The Rhythm
Blue Gangsta
A Place With No Name
Do You Know Where Your Children Are
Chicago
Love Never Felt So Good
She Was Loving Me (?)

We haven't heard Chicago, but Timbaland feels it's a killer track that should be the lead single, so it's probably a good song. And She Was Loving Me is also something we do not know.

LNFSG is the only song of these which fans feel is weaker, but maybe the new mix will make it great too. (Actually I always loved Michael's singing on it. Dated song or not. But I do not feel it should be the lead single though. The lead single should be something dancy.)

All other songs got mainly positive opinions from fans, so it looks to be a good album IMO. Well, OK, we do not know how the remixes sound, but the songs themselves are good songs.

 

[morinen]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Who produced DYKWYCA that leaked in 2010?

 

[SheilaMJFan4Ever]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

Let me remind you that you never paid for those leaked songs! You stole them. (Just like I did, but I'm now going to pay their price.) So your criticism and you mentioning your money is totally unfair. And if you do not care why do you even torrent it? If you don't care just do not listen to it. But you saying you will torrent it is hypocritical, because that means you still want to have it you are only not willing to pay for it. Sometimes it feels to me people just make up excuses to themselves about why they are entitled to steal music rather than buy it.

:clapping: THANK YOU!!! People shouldn't be stealing songs anyway, especially from an artist they claim to be a fan of. I've never heard these songs before, so they're all be new to me and I prefer it that way.

I didn't steal Mike's music when he was alive and I'm not going to start now that he's no longer with us. That's f'd up imho.

 

[APOM]

Re: News and discussion about new MJ album : Xscape, May 13, 2014.

That tracklist doesn't add up, numbers-wise. The pre-order on iTunes lists 17 songs and 2 videos. So that would be:

- 8 original recordings
- 8 "contemporized" versions of those recordings
- 1 bonus track
- 2 videos

From the wording on Wikipedia it seems Maybe We Can Do It and Stop The War would be the 2 videos so, if that is the case, they are missing the 17th track. However, I would think that at least one of the videos would be the full Slave To The Rhythm commercial, and it also doesn't really make sense to release two brand new, unreleased tracks *only* in video format. So yeah... Not taking this list too seriously just yet.

Edit: Heh. I see it's been removed from the wikipedia page now.