This Is It - Mini Review

Wow! Halloween looked like it was going to be a bit of a wash out, till Mrs. K suggested that we go and see "This Is It" to mark the day and to give us something special to do on this most special of nights

We took Little Ted, who rather sweetly said he would like to go because he'd "never been to a concert." I wasn't quite sure what we'd be seeing though, a stunning record of Michael's last performances, a taster of what the concert would have been like, or a bit of a disappointment, like the accompanying CD that I lambasted on these very pages?

In short, the film was brilliant. Mike did not look sick, he did not look like a drug addict, he did not look "odd" and he did not look 50! He looked great! His movements were tight, his voice note and pitch perfect and clearly the vision for the whole show was as much his as it was long time collaborator Kenny Ortega.

What was great was seeing Mike's normality, his personality, his humbleness and his interaction with others. When for years, we have had the most negative press, showing Mike in his masks, on crutches, in wheel chairs etc, it's just great to see him as an iconic entertainer, somehow fused with a normal, likable guy.

The film has captured the very essence of Michael's magic, showing everyone just why he was so celebrated before the negative conspiracy to bring him down began. My favourite parts of the movie were the film sequences, which had been done to enhance (and no doubt pad out) the show.

The film sequence for Smooth Criminal was amazing, with Mike somehow sequenced into a Humphrey Bogart movie, interacting with him and culminating in Mike firing off a Tommy Gun!

The movie for Thriller (cleverly fused with a snippet of 'Ghosts') and intended to be a 3D sequence for the concert, looked amazing. But it must have been either a late part of the concert that Mike didn't get the chance to interact with, or Mike wasn't well when they were doing it. Either way, he didn't seem to be that into it. The film for Earth Song was amazing too, but I'll let you see that for yourselves.

The one part of the film that I didn't get into, was seeing mike doing a Jackson 5 medley. It was interesting to note that Mike didn't do one song from the 'Invincible' album, his only CD release this millennium. Why do 40 year old songs with backing singers standing in for his brothers, when he could have brought us (for the first time) the chance to see his 'newest' material live?

Still, that was a very small gripe, in a film that I would have to give 10/10 as an overall score. Having had to watch recycled material and old videos over and over, to see Michael in this fresh, new, contemporary context was sheer bliss. I can't recommend this film highly enough. Do yourself a favour and go and see it. If you're in any way a fan of Michael or even just a fan of excellent musicianship, you can't fail to enjoy it.

Two Arrivals In The Post

I got my Twinkies! And whilst they might not have been '£1.60 a piece' good, they were absolutely delicious. The first one I ate without a drink, whilst feeling a little nauseous (due to the cocktail of 40 or so tablets I take each day). As I'm sure you can imagine, that one wasn't that great!

The next one, however, I ate whilst feeling fine and accompanied with a nice decaf Latte'. Now that was GOOD with a capital 'G'! Creamy, spongey, Twinki-licious! My little son, Ted, is also a big fan, although to qualify that, he is actually a fan of anything containing sugar, so no surprise there!

The second item I got through the post was the "This Is It" CD, the latest release from my favourite late artist, Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson. So what do we have? A fancy pants package containing the same recycled tunes that I harped on about earlier on the site. Nothing 'new' at all. I was always going to buy it, I'm a completist after all. But you can register me "underwhelmed" by Mike's latest release. So all in all, the Twinkies were the better of the two purchases.

Hostess 1 Jackson 0 ;)

This Is It - A Big Fat Rip off

As I was surfing yesterday, (not literally you understand) I came across the chance to pre-order the "This Is It" CD, not just the single, but the album CD accompanying the movie. This is the tracklisting:

Disc 01
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Jam
They Don’t Care About Us
Human Nature
Smooth Criminal
The Way You Make Me Feel
Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
Thriller
Beat It
Black Or White
Earth Song
Billie Jean
Man In The Mirror
This Is It
This Is It (Orchestra Version)

Disc 02
She’s Out Of My Life (Demo)
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Demo)
Beat It (Demo)
Planet Earth (Poem)

What a pile of shite! We're not talking about new versions of these tracks, but the same thing that you would have if you had all of Mike's studio albums (I do) or the many compilation albums such as "Michael Jackson's Number Ones", "The Essential Michael Jackson", "HIStory Pt.1", "The Ultimate Collection" or "King Of Pop" (I do). Eg. Nothing new at all except a few demos and the "This Is It" track that was conceived nearly a quarter of a century ago.

This means that apart from "Invincible" (2001), the single "One More Chance" (2003) and the Akon collaboration I flagged up a couple of days ago, fans have been denied anything truly new from Mike this millennium. To have to go back eight years to find "fresh" MJ tunes is increasingly frustrating. I made my own compilations this summer and the track list went like this:

"Hold My Hand" MJ/Akon (Unreleased 2008)

"Wanna Be Startin Something" MJ/Akon ('Thriller 25' 2008)

"Blood On The Dancefloor" (Refugee Camp Remix - CD Single 1997)

"2 Bad" (Refugee Camp Remix - Blood On The Dancefloor Album 1997)

"Invincible" (Invincible CD Album 2001)

"2000 Watts" (Invincible CD Album 2001)

"This Time Around" feat: Notorious B.I.G (HIStory CD Album 1995)

"Unbreakable" feat: Notorious B.I.G. (Invincible CD Album 2001)

"Heartbreaker" (Invincible CD Album 2001)

"The Girl Is Mine 2008" feat: Will.I.Am ('Thriller 25' 2008)

"Who Is It?" IHS Mix (The Ultimate Collection 2004)

"P.Y.T 2008" feat: Will.I.Am ('Thriller 25' 2008)

"Billy Jean" - Dirty Funker Remix (2009 Internet)

"Billy Jean - Dirty Funker Dub (2009 Internet)

Now this represented to me something that would provide MJ fans with the freshest and most contemporary sounding material, rather than just a re-hash of all the "greatest hits" that have been recycled by Michael's people for the last 15 years. The track listing of 'This Is It' would make a great set list for a live concert. During the up-coming movie, I understand we'll get to see

Mike singing these tracks 'live' at the Staples Centre in LA. Why not just put a CD out of those recordings? Instead we get the studio versions that (quote) "inspired" the concert set list. In other words, the same stuff that any devoted Mike fan will already own...

The one positive thing I took from Mike's death (apart from a re-assessment of his status in the public perception) was the chance for long suffering fans to finally hear some "new material". Looks like I'm going to be waiting a while...

MJ - "This Is It" - 'New' Song

It made the national news in the UK tonight, that there is to be a new new release from Michael Jackson, just four months after Michael's death. This was such an opportunity to smash the charts wide apart, and to re-instate Michael to his rightful place as the facilitator of the modern r'n'b scene (Timberlake, Usher, Neyo, Akon etc.) and certainly confirm that the title "King Of Pop" was well deserved.

We've read that there are "hundreds" of new, unheard tunes out there, so what do those with access to his material do? They release a rejected track from the "Dangerous" (20 years old)sessions that just happens to have the same title as his final concerts.

Now whilst I'm thrilled to see any new material from Mike, I'd like it to be new material. I've been listening to the frankly stupendous 2008 collaboration between Akon and Mike "Hold My Hand" all summer. It's very cool, and most importantly, very contemporary. I've burned dozens of copies of it for friends and colleagues who were craving something fresh from Mike after his tragic demise.

So I'll post the new "This Is It" tune at the top of the post, and then some stuff that I feel would have been better underneath. See what you think.

As to whether or not I'll buy "This Is It", of course I will! Are you daft? I'd buy recordings of Mike sleeping! Ha ha!

THIS IS IT!

October 28th is the official release date. Hopefully I'll have added some new stuff to the blog before then. Just thought I'd dip a toe in the water...

Sway Tribute To MJ

Sway is one of the best UK MCs around. Signed by Akon, his lyrics are often quick witted and self depreciatory - making me think of Eminem at times. This was a quickly penned tribute to the King Of Pop, which featured in Radio One's farewell to the man last Saturday.

Refund News

I received an email from Viagogo (the company we purchased MJ tickets from)and this is what it said:

"Dear Simon,

At this time of mourning for Michael Jackson, we are together in our sadness at the loss of one of the greatest entertainers ever. As announced on June 30th by AEG Live, Michael Jackson's concert promoters, a full refund is available to you for the ticket(s) you purchased through viagogo for Michael Jackson's 'This Is It' concerts which were to take place at The O2 Arena in London. This refund will include all ticket service charges and shipping fees.

Also as announced, you have the option to be sent the actual tickets you would have received to attend the show. If you choose to be sent your ticket, you will receive a refund of your original transaction less the original face value price of that ticket (and the transaction fee and relevant shipping charge for that face value only). Please note that the original face value of the ticket and any deductions will be clearly shown before you select this option.

The tickets printed with the special lenticular or 3D process, were inspired and designed by Michael Jackson for the fans attending his shows. (See above)

The special offer to receive your actual tickets will remain valid to 23:59 BST, August 14, 2009.

In order to request a refund or to be sent your ticket, please click here and follow the instructions.

Thank you for using viagogo!"

Well, whilst the tickets look good, and will undoubtedly make a great souvenir, I don't have the finances to go for this option, so I've asked for a full cash refund. I'm thinking of using the ticket money to book a couple of flights to New York for a long weekend or week... Or maybe to visit family in Toronto? I'm not sure what I'll do, but this tragedy needs to have a happy ending, so rest assured the money will be blown on something excellent to cheer me and Mrs. K up!




As a souvenir of the concert that never was, I've purchased a T-Shirt which I will wear proudly until it drops to pieces. Right, it's time I kicked myself up the arse and stopped moping around.
Expect a new gaming post this weekend!!!

The Final Rehearsal - They Don't Really Care About Us

Michael looks like he is as tight and fresh as ever, as he practises for the O2 performance. Ah, what could have been...

Coming To Terms With the Loss Of A Legend

This past week has hit me hard. I mean HARD. Apart from the death of Michael Jackson, which has hit me like the loss of a close family member, it's been a week of personally difficult issues. My neighbour's front window had a soft-ball size hole shot into it, after fifteen or so gang members rode slowly up my street with murderous intent, looking for her son. I was back in hospital for a small operation, reminding me of how different my life is compared to this time last year. Add to those issues a few small confrontations with one of my sons, and you could say that this week has not been great.

But the thing that has upset me the most, is the death of MJ. As the media goes into overdrive, raking over every angle of his death, re-opening the questions of Michael's sexuality, desired racial identity, relationships with Jordie Chandler and Gavin Arvizo, biological parenthood of his children, financial insecurity etc, there is also a healthy level of praise and adulation that has long been absent from the TV and newspapers. Finally, it seems his position as the most important entertainer of the modern age is about to be secured, as well as a final recognition of the barriers he smashed down in terms of race and injustice.


From the plethora of tributes and expressions of grief from the rich and famous, two have stuck in my mind. The first is from the Reverend Al Sharpton:
"Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama...no controversy will erase the historic impact"

The second is from Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees:

"It’s so sad that we can’t praise people while they’re here in the world. When they’re gone it’s too late. The people who were down on him last year are praying to the altar of Michael Jackson today."

He went on to say that if a fraction of the praise and admiration that was being heaped on Jackson in his death, had been given to him in recent years, he might still be with us today.
Michael's life and contribution to modern culture are now being dissected into infinity. It would be futile for me to try and evaluate this phenomenon, as so many commenters are doing, and will continue to do so for years to come, for it would only be lost in an ocean of words about the man.




Instead, I'll simply recount the story of my own, (very late,) emergence as a full blown and fanatical Michael Jackson devotee.



I remember the Jackson 5 from the time I was about six or seven. I liked them well enough, particularly enjoying their cartoon show, but they were no more significant to me than any other band.

By the time Michael graduated into a global superstar after the release of Thriller, I was completely indifferent to his music. The year I remember that as being, was 1983. At the time I had just graduated from punk and was beginning to enjoy an exploration of all things psychedelic. My musical tastes were very much rooted in the sixties - The Doors, Love, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Who, Small Faces and Sly Stone. The contemporary black artists I admired and listened to existed in the worlds of reggae and hip hop... The Wailers, Black Uhuru, Steel Pulse and Aswad... Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Afrikka Bambatta and so on. To me Michael Jackson felt like commercial pap directed at teen girls. His music couldn't have been less significant to me. I was always mildly amused and slightly intrigued by tabloid reports of his eccentricities, however.



Fast forward 10 years and I'm 24, working hard as a teacher, married with a two year old son. We have a load of Disney videos which we put on for him when we're busy, or occasionally, if time allows, sit down and watch with him. I loved that, sitting watching cartoons and cuddling my little son. Somehow, in amongst that pile of Disney films is Michael Jackson's Moonwalker. I don't know who bought it, but it begins to be the one we both select to watch most often. I totally dig it's spacey, fantasy, futuristic feel, despite the cheesey overtones! It becomes a useful movie to show in school for 'reward time'; every kid, no matter how good their ability to speak English, seems to love it, and it's guaranteed to keep thirty rowdy eleven year olds completely absorbed and engaged for an hour and twenty minutes... BONUS!



About this time, the first allegations of child abuse emerged from Jordie Chandler, or to be more correct, from his aspiring movie producer father. I didn't believe the allegations, they smacked of extortion way back then. But I felt Michael had made a bad choice in paying the family off, rather than vindicating himself and proving his innocence.

Then in 1995, came Earth Song. Little Joe, my son, now four, saw the video on the chart show and asked if he could have the CD. I duly obliged, and we listened to it and sang it together. It also had a dance mix on it and a 'megamix' of all of his solo hits, promoting the HIStory CD. It was cool. It was the first time I'd bought a Michael Jackson song.

I liked the video too, but I wasn't so keen on his stage performance at the Brits. I felt it was cheesey and that Mike was being a bit too 'messianic'. Jarvis Cocker from the band Pulp thought so too. He ran on stage and waggled his arse. It was quite funny, but I also thought it was a bit mean to the fragile Michael.


Cocker's subsequent treatment at the hands of police and security however, was way out of line.

And then I suppose I just forgot about him. I spent the latter half of the nineties off my head at a gazillion raves, festivals and parties. Acid house and dance music dominated my conciousness. The new millemium saw me chilling out and getting used to middle age after my last flourish of youth. Staying in and listening to music or watching TV with Mrs. K became my ideal evening.
Michael was still way off my radar musically though.

In 2003, the family had gone shopping at the Trafford Centre, the local mall. Joe (12) and his younger brother Martin (9) had been allowed to go and have a look round on their own, and returned excitedly saying there was a MJ impersonator dancing and doing the moonwalk outside the HMV store. It was to promote a new CD of all his number one hits and the boys asked me if we could buy a copy. I told them "sure", and sent them off with the money. We listened to it on the way home. I was intrigued by how much I'd never heard and how good this 'new' stuff sounded to me.

Virtually the next day, Michael's haunting mugshot was all over the papers.

(- Now as a quick aside, his changing face had never bothered me that much. I'd always thought it was his, to do with what he wanted . I didn't consider his skin lightening or nose reduction to be a betrayal of his race any more than I considered his increasingly androgynous look to be a betrayal of his gender -)

But that face looked ghastly to me that day, not at all good. The Bashir documentary had aired and Michael's flawed decision to put his (I believe 100% innocent) sleep-over arrangements with Gavin Arvizo into the public domain had backfired on him spectacularly. Bashir had entrapped Michael with the deception of false trust and friendship. He seized the opportunity to exploit Michael's naivety and innocence, and portrayed him as a predatory paedophile. It was disgusting to watch Bashir turn from obsequious and gushing, to judgemental and damning. Michael was like a lamb to the slaughter - he simply could not believe there was anything wrong with what he was doing.

No one in his family circle or collection of advisers or friends had been strong enough to tell Michael to stop. He had become so disconnected with the real world, that he didn't see he was voluntarily climbing upon a cross of his own making. The media and public were now clamoring to hammer in the nails. Incidentally Martin Bashir has said since Mike's death:

"Certainly when I made the documentary there was a small part of that which contained a controversy concerning his relationship with other young people, but the truth is that he was never convicted of any crime.

"I never saw any wrongdoing myself and whilst his lifestyle may have been a bit unorthodox, I don't believe he was a criminal."

I just didn't buy it. I could see that he was ignorant, naive, ill advised, perhaps even arrogant in the belief he could do as he pleased. But I emphatically believed in his innocence. It seemed very odd that this was happening when Michael was having his first commercial success in years, with a number one album and top five single. He was being charged by a man, Santa Barbara DA, Thomas Sneddon, a man who it seemed had harboured a grudge against Jackson for 10 years, since the settlement of the Jordie Chandler case. The accusing family themselves were known grifters. Again it looked like Michael was taking the fall because of his naivety and generosity.



I began to listen to his music more intently and carefully. The more I listened the more I liked. I bought every CD available by the Jackson 5, the Jacksons and Michael as a solo artist. I loved everything, but for me the albums that I loved the most were his later ones, Dangerous, Blood On The Dance Floor, HIStory and Invincible. I bought and watched every DVD and video I could. I became convinced of his genius as an entertainer. His music and performance eclipsed and out-shone every other music I had liked up until that point. As I watched his later videos again and again, a strange thing happened... I got used to his face. Even his later looks didn't freak me out. I'd go as far to say he still looked good in the videos for "You Are Not Alone" or "Blood On the Dance Floor"... Controversial I know!



As my passion for his music grew, Jackson's whole life was put on trial in a Santa Barbara courtroom. I watched the Sky dramatisations of the day's events in court, avidly every day. I looked at the fans outside the courtroom. At one point I would have seen them as fanatical nut jobs, now I identified with them strongly. When friends and visitors found out I liked Michael, they reacted with either bemusement, pity or disdain. To be a public supporter of Michael at this time was not a popular position! I read around the case, found out what I could from the Internet. I was encouraged to see messages of support from artists such as P. Diddy, LL Cool J, Missy Elliot and James Brown. I read these in the Voice, the biggest black publication in Britain. The only good press for Mike, was in the black press.

Then came the verdict. Not guilty on all charges. As each verdict was delivered, one of the fans released a dove. I was ecstatic. I was overjoyed. Michael's life, including the most intimate details of his physical privacy had been aired in public. His home had been violated by searches of his most intimate possessions. He looked gaunt and frail, not exultant and victorious. The trial had clearly had a devastating effect on a man who had still been able to dance like a twenty year old, just a couple of years earlier.

But surely he would regain his strength? Surely he would put the record straight and explain himself in a frank interview with someone like Oprah? Surely he would 'rise again'? Well it didn't look like it. Mike flitted from place to place, country to country, with nowhere seeming like home.
When photographed his trademark 'quirky' outfits no longer looked mysterious, they just looked weird. Fans waited anxiously for new material which never came. Michael had become a ghost of himself.

Until last year that is. Thriller 25th anniversary edition had new collaborations from Kanye West , Will.I.Am and Akon. Ebony magazine printed some photos of him looking... beautiful... for once. And then the O2 Concerts! I did two posts about them, which are here and here. I was going to go and see him! One of my ultimate ambitions in life was going to be realised!!! I knew the show would be an extravaganza with Mike contributing a small amount, but if I had seen him perform just one song, I would have died a happy man. But it was never to be.

Now he's gone and I feel like there is a huge hole in my life. You shouldn't be able to feel as sad as this about someone you never met. But that is what being a true Michael Jackson fan entails!
For the last four years on the kitchen noticeboard in my house, has been the front cover of the Manchester Evening News dated 14.06.05. It has a close up of Jackson's face with a one word headline "INNOCENT". You'll notice it says innocent and not 'not guilty'. In my hall for every visitor to my house to see, is a small portrait of Mike which I got for £1 at a thrift store. I'm proud to have been an "out and proud" supporter and fan of Michael, before the 'all too late' hysteria now he has been taken from us. I'm doing things to cope. I've transferred all my CDs to my PC, so I can make compilations and burn Cds for people. I've written my thoughts down for posterity. I'm wondering about whether I'll go to any tribute show that will be put on in the wake of the O2 gigs. I do know I'll be keeping Mike in my heart for the rest of my life and doing my best to ensure his legend is cemented into the consciousness of all those I come into contact with!

Michael Jackson Rest In Peace

What can I say? I'm absolutely devastated. I hope he is at peace and that he will be remembered for the right reasons. Good night Michael sleep well.

Going To See MJ!

Well, that's the plan anyway! as you may or may not know, Michael Jackson has been booked to perform a series of concerts in London this year, and early into next. They sold out in minutes and thousands of fans were left disappointed and cheated of perhaps their last chance to see the man perform.

I was one of those disappointed... I expressed my dismay on these very pages, a feeling that I know only Junlee could appreciate. Still, the internet is a wonderful thing, and somehow, through a secure and official vendour, I now have two tickets to see MJ on Saturday January the 10th 2010! Sure they are about as far from the stage as they could be, but I saw Eminem under the same circumstances and that was awsome!

Now, for a start, this has cost me £300 which I really don't have right now. There'll also be the cost of travelling to and staying in London. Then there is the sketchy business as to whether Mr. jackson will be 'well enough' to perform one concert, let alone the 50 or so he has committed to performing. Seeing him shuffling round Las Vegas bookshops in a surgeon's mask doesn,t exactly fill one with confidence...

Still, for now, I'm on cloud nine. I know most of you wouldn't watch Michael Jackson if he was performing for free in the local park, but for me it's fulfilling a huge personal ambition. So hopefully, you'll be thrilled for me!

Chamone!

Michael Jackson Live

Incredibly, much to the surprise of his fans, when it looked like he was going to disappear forever, Michael Jackson is playing some live concerts, here in the UK. Tickets "go on sale" tomorrow (13.03.09), although all tickets for each of the 10 shows at the O2 Arena in London, are sold out due to "pre-sales".

I'm gutted! I would love to see MJ perform, but the chances of me getting a ticket for under £300 (if I am able to get one at all,) are very remote. He has announced another 10 dates, but they will be equally difficult to get hold of! It's so frustrating to be so geographically near to the venue of his first live appearances in years, and yet have little chance of fulfilling my ambition to see it!

New Michael Jackson Game!

"Do you remember the time?" So said Michael Jackson to supermodel Iman and transvestite loving Eddie Murphy, in a pyramid, whilst Magic Johnson looked on in panic...

Well I say, do you remember the time when Michael Jackson games looked like the Master System/Megadrive/Genesis classic featured above...

However, it seems as though even if Mike can't be bothered giving me and Junlee a new CD, he's given us a new danc game that you can play via the magic of the Internet...

"Michael Jackson is proud to launch, in conjunction with the new international release King Of Pop, a brand new flash-based game that allows users to control Michael Jackson's dance moves as they aim to keep up with the steps during his tracks in a dance-mat style routine. Hand-and-eye co-ordination is the key to the game as arrows directs users to try and build up the biggest combo they can and see the King of Pop break out the trademark moves he made a worldwide phenomenon.

Prizes will be awarded for the highest hourly and daily scores, exclusive ringtones for hourly winners, and limited edition iPod Nanos for the daily winners. The overall top 5 scorers from each social network will then move on to a secret extra level. This level will pit the players against each other as they aim to be the lucky recipient of two round the world plane tickets (for players aged 18 and over), or a Sony Bravia 32" TV and a Playstation 3 (for players aged under 18)."

Click here to give it a whirl! If you can't be bothered (and quite frankly it's well worth at least one play, if only to check out the cheese factor...) then you can watch the video below! Enjoy!

MJ and Sonic 3???

I'd love to post this video, but it's forbidden to embed it... So I'll just give you the URL...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbVM-l2Oku4

As I can't post it I'll just present you with this...

Stranger in Moscow
Uploaded by Michael-JACKSON-5

They Don't Really Care About Us...

I (along with Junlee) love the damaged, former superstar, that is Michael Jackson. I thought I owned and had seen everything he had ever produced... I just 'Youtubed' one of my favourite MJ tracks and found this! I've never seen this, but considering that Mike obviously equated his (not necessarily) unfounded police investigations into his questionable lifestyle, with the plight of the disproportionate amount of black males incarcerated in the US is further proof of his self delusion... Discuss!

Just in case Mike is a regular reader of FK's Wiikly sermons, I've got a message for him... Mike, I love you, get yo' shit together rapid!!!

Scream