Sunday, November 7th 2010
News: Michael Jackson
Breaking News From Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson has officially begun his inevitable quest in the footsteps of Elvis and Tupac with the release of Breaking News, a new track off the dead icon’s first posthumous album.
The song opens with a series of overlapping newsreel decrying the pop legend before a strangely self-referencing track unfolds, a rather mild pop jam that falls within the stylistic realm of Jackson but doesn’t exactly sport the fire we once knew.
La Toya may not believe it’s him, and I’m not even sure I do, but here it is:
A sampling of the lyrics:
Everybody watchin the news on Michael Jackson / They want to see that I fall, cause I’m Michael Jackson / You write the words to destroy like it’s a weapon / You turned your back on the love and you can’t get it again
Everybody wanting a piece of Michael Jackson / Reporters stalking the moves of Michael Jackson / Just when you thought he was done, he comes to give it again.
You can hear the MJ trademarks and callouts throughout, but something about this track doesn’t sit right. Or perhaps I’m just a sucker for the controversy over the Michael compilation, which hits stores December 14th via Epic Records under the scrutiny of several people who don’t believe the entirety of the vocal material on the album is Michael, but rather an imitator.
Cmon people. Take off the tin foil hats. It’s MJ. Listen to 2000 Watts then listen to this.
This is very 90s New Jack Swing-y. I like it, but yeah, I can see why people think it may not be him. It’s kind of… vocally different from where Michael was at back in 2001 on Invincible.
It’s him. His voice started to get huskier as he went through the decade– listen to This Is It and then listen to this. He didn’t have the range that he used to when he recorded his previous albums, because as we age, our voices get deeper. Listen to early Elton John and listen to him in recent tracks he’s done, it’s the same concept.
It does sound like him from the pitch to the vibrato. Sorry but no controversy here other than the debate over the tastefulness of releasing it and WTF is up with singing in the third person.
MDRR qui se cache derrière ??!!! c’est pas Michael qui chante !!!!…moi je n’achète pas cet album !!! pas moyens !!!!.je le laisse aux fans de maintenant qui ne savent pas faire la différence entre Michael ou un autre qui chante,lool
I too was struck right away not so much by the vocals, but by the 3rd person perspective, which seems really odd for a MJ lyric.
Listening to the vocal, I’m not sure if it’s him either; there is a guy who does an almost perfect impression……just sayin’.
Either way, you can count on it to sell a gazillion copies….
I think I kinda like it and it sounds like him to me.
It’s either a shitty Michael Jackson song, or a shitty fake Michael Jackson song. Doesn’t make it any less shitty.
yeah I agree with Steve. it’s bad either way and doesn’t inspire much hope for the rest of the album.
On the scale of post-1995 Jackson, this one’s up there with the best.
And it’s definitely him, no question. I’m surprised anyone doubted it, really.
Ditto, Joel!
Michael’s vocals for this song are/were in “demo” mode – Sony et al did what they could w/what they had/have available…w/out Michael’s input, “polish,” etc. No conspiracy here (why would they fake Michael’s vocals? There are tons of unreleased/demo songs of MJ’s they could’ve picked from – why pay or try to “pass off” as real an “impersonator”?)
I like the song a lot (I luv all of Michaels’ “f/u” songs in particular), and as far as both the vocals AND lyrics being MJ’s…listen to the ENTIRE “Invincible” CD (including PRIVACY and, as someone mentioned, 2000 Watts), plus Scream, Ghost, Is It Scary? (and all of Blood on the Dance Floor for that matter), This Time Around, Tabloid Junkie, even Stranger in Moscow (and the Leave Me Alone video), etc–and also listen to him speak over time as well. Sure he was older for this tune, but Michael’s singing and speaking voice has always “ranged” depending on many factors (including age).
Plug in some good-quality earphones, close your eyes, and REALLY LISTEN. Longtime fans who know the nuances of Michael’s voice, moods, etc, will tell you – it’s him. Absolutely no question. I can’t wait for even more! (When it comes to Michael, i can’t EVER get enough!)
I fucking love this song. Aggressive, emotion, Go michael. So true aswell.
I love it! its deffo him alright! i have no doubt about it.
ooooo michael……..i love you……..so much…….
your song is waoooooo i m just speech less……
i love you Michael……you and your song all the things is waooooooooooo
i m just speech less……………………
thank you
all
dont take this bs this is how they get your sony makes you think its him so they can take this jason malachi’s music and sell it as mj its wrong and at one point jason said it was him and then he said its not same as the jackson family they say “thats not michael” and them sony talk to them Oh it is michael bs ! sony are just happy with the $ not the fact they are trying to sell mj songs that aint him under his name