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Tuesday, October 27, 2009

This Is It - Michael Jackson - A Review


Featured reviewer: farzad

Starring: Michael Jackson (of course!)

Alex Al ... Himself / Electric and Synth Bass
Nick Bass ... Himself / Dancer
Michael Bearden ... Himself / Keyboards
Daniel Celebre ... Himself / Dancer

Mekia Cox ... Herself / Dancer
Misha Gabriel ... Himself / Dancer
Chris Grant ... Himself / Dancer
Judith Hill ... Herself / Vocalist
Dorian Holley ... Himself / Vocal Supervision
Shannon Holtzapffel ... Himself / Dancer
Devin Jamieson ... Himself / Dancer (as Devin Andrew Jamieson)
Bashiri Johnson ... Himself / Percussion
Charles Klapow ... Himself / Dancer
Jonathan Moffett ... Himself / Drums
Tommy Organ ... Himself / Guitar
Orianthi ... Herself - Lead Guitar

Darryl Phinnessee ... Himself / Vocalist
Mo Pleasure ... Himself / Keyboards / Trumpet
Dres Reid ... Himself / Dancer
Ken Stacey ... Himself / Vocalist
Tyne Stecklein ... Herself / Dancer

Timor Steffens ... Himself / Dancer

Synopsis: Michael Jackson's This Is It will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena.

Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson as he has never been seen before.

In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson's This Is It captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show.

Review: farzad

Michael Jackson has made his long-awaited comeback with a new song, This Is It, released four months after his death.

The track began streaming overnight on the King of Pop’s official website before being delivered, amidst tight security, to radio stations this morning.

A mid-paced ballad, the sentimental number has received a mixed reaction, delighting some fans still grieving the star’s sudden death but disappointing others who complained about the “cheesy” lyrics and lack of catchy hooks.

One fan commenting on the pop star’s website, wrote: “This single is great, to be honest it is even better than I thought it was gonna be. Unfortunately I am now more broken hearted because This Is It - there's nothing more to come. Such a great loss. But I’m glad he is finally at peace.”

But a barrage of criticism also flowed on to the website’s message boards.

“Garbage”, wrote one disappointed fan. “There is a reason MJ didn't want it on any of his albums. It's not a good representation of the kind of quality he puts into his songs: Awful production, cluttred background vocals, average vocal performance from MJ, cheesy lyrics, melody that goes nowhere. That about sums it up.”

The Times pop and rock editor, Ed Potton, said the song, originally written for the 1991 album Dangerous, was no match for Jackson’s many iconic hits.

“It's a perfectly pleasant piece of mainstream soul-pop, but it's no classic - hence why it was left off Dangerous.”

“I can understand why they're releasing it now, as it epitomises Jackson's more vulnerable, sentimental side. If I want to get nostalgic, though, I'll still be sticking to Off the Wall and Thriller,” he said.

Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, however, was won over, describing the song, which he played on his show this morning as “very much old school Jacko".

The song takes its name from the hugely-anticipated comeback shows that were supposed to have taken place at London's O2 arena in the summer. It features backing vocals by Jackson's brothers, with whom he became famous in 1969 as the Jackson 5.

Jackson died aged 50 on June 25 at his home in Los Angeles after a heart attack. His death was later ruled a drug-related homicide by the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Fans will be able to buy the song as part of an album from October 26. It can also be heard on the closing credits of a film, This Is It, which has been made using footage of rehearsals for the O2 concerts, due to be released in cinemas on October 28.

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