i think you guys need to realize that THIS IS IT NEVER came to FULL Fruition in that of the whole concept.

Preview to four new tracks from the new J5 Comp, I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters.

http://www.ilovethatsong....n5/amazon/

Great stuff. Still can't wait to hear Buttercup.

suga10 said:

Hard to tell based off of what we've seen. The bottom line is that there's no way he can NOT do songs like Beat It, Billie Jean, Thriller, Black or White, etc. Some songs, like They Don't Care About Us, Heal The World, etc. could be switched up.

I am pleased with the instrumentation I hear in the songs, and his dancers looked better than they did on the HIStory tour... way more in sync with each other.

As for the actual show, who knows if it would be a return to form or HIStory tour part 2, but I don't think we've seen enough to properly judge either way.

bboy87 said:

I very much agree with you.

you can watch new clips here @ MTV
http://www.mtv.com/movies...tory.jhtml

Just because Usher used choreographers that were influenced by MJ doesn't mean they copy his "They don't care about us" mostly hand movement dance steps. That's the routine they showed on Oprah which is mostly hand movement.

Usher's "CAUGHT UP" video i don't see THIS IS IT dance steps at all.I guess you can say the hat if your a international fan unfamilair with african american dress back in the days.But MJ aint the only one who sports a suit and hat. Maybe you can call out the moonwalk slide but MJ didn't invent it. Boogaloo Shrimp was busting that move out at Bannning High School in 1981 in Wilmington CA. Before he showed it on the 1984 movie Breakin.


http://www.youtube.com/wa...EJ2dhYY0HY


If say Michael Jackson was a Magic Johnson which is awesome cause Magic is the greatest PG to ever play the game and most exciting running the fast break but he was on the floor with average athletisism. Usher is like Michael Jordan taking it to a whole different level with the 45 inch vertical and doing things athletically that MJ never could do.
[Edited 10/22/09 2:13am]
[Edited 10/22/09 2:14am]

Usher 2004

http://www.youtube.com/wa...sDCIaIGbFs

You may see a similarity here and there but it's like comparing a basketball player with a 28 inch vertical to one with a 45 inch vertical with similair moves. One was great back in the days and the other is young with much more athletic abiity.

Usher works out more than MJ ever did so athletically he is able to do more
[Edited 10/22/09 2:26am]

WetDream said:

I defend MJ on this one. In the USA majority of ppl don't even know about History from 1997 because MJ didn't tour here. So majority of the ppl in the USA watching this movie will look at it as brand new dance steps. And the gaunt appearance, i don't think that will be a issue unless your obsessed with observing the appearance of a music artist.MJ has not looked like MJ since 1984 Victory Tour press conference before the tour even started.


Ppl in the USA are used to his changes. As long as the singing and dancing is TIGHT the movie will get high reviews.

BabyBeMine said:

Well, but you can expect that HIS US-FANS, who will mainly watch the movie, WILL know the steps from the HIStory tour.

With basketball, you have stats and numbers. With dancing, it's subjective. MJ was graced with two things: being able to dance, and also a dancer's body. Someone can try and try to get his moves down pat and still won't look as good as MJ did because they just don't have the form.

Usher is really a great dancer, but I really wouldn't put him up against MJ at his best. To me, MJ got better as the years went on. During the HIStory tour.. I mean, those Billie Jean segments were insane.

Even in 2002 when he did Dangerous on American Bandstand he looked in pretty good form. So far of the little clips from This Is It, he's not doing any true all-out dancing, but during the little military-like rehearsal and his short little freestyle at the beginning of The Way You Make Me Feel, he looked like he still had the rhythm in him.

To me, as much as I like Usher as a dancer, he's not stood out from the pack, really. He can dance like James Brown and MJ a bit, but to me, both of them did it better, and they did it first. I would probably even put Prince above Usher. I can't really explain it, the other three just seem more organic as dancers.

*Also, when I saw the "Yeah" video, I thought "Rock With You 2k".
[Edited 10/22/09 4:39am]

this is such a pretty picture

peeps don't remember he was rocking the one glove before billie jean




[Edited 10/22/09 5:03am]

See what alot of people don't realize about mikes dancing is that he incorporated a sense of magic/ illusion to his dancing. alot of dancers who try to immulate him miss that.

I personally think ( from the many clips I've seen on youtube) that michael enhanced james browns moves or anybody elses moves because he attached such mysterious aura to it.

these other dances (usher/ chris brown) miss this element and therefore come off looking mechanical and slightly awkward.

plus I'm just convinced that its just way mikes body was build that gave him the ability to do what he did. The secret to Mikes dancing is that its the movement BETWEEN the movement that makes him who he is as a dancer.



end.
[Edited 10/22/09 5:54am]

I think he copied his masters and outperformed them later.
Fred Astaire, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr. and Jeffrey Daniel

graecophilos said:

He said it himself during the Brett Ratner interview - study the greats and become greater.

BabyBeMine said:

Everyone who knows about breakdancing/bboying knows Michael didn't invent the moonwalk/backslide But Boogaloo Shrimp didn't either

So you're saying Michael is Magic Johnson and Usher is Jordan.....riiight

Usher is one of those performers who is taught the steps and do them the way they were taught. Michael is a performer who not only learns the steps but improvs and adds his own style and feel to them
[Edited 10/22/09 7:49am]

According to gossip Web site TMZ.com, a caravan of vehicles taking Michael Jackson's children to karate class was involved in a car accident. Initially, it was thought the Jackson kids were in the car that was hit by a paparazzo, but TMZ later quoted law enforcement sources saying a paparazzo struck the back of a Jackson security vehicle, not the car containing the Jackson kids, before fleeing the scene. Joe Jackson, the late pop star's father, told TMZ that he spoke with Katherine Jackson -- Michael Jackson's mother -- and that the kids are fine.

Michael knew this would happen, that is why he protected them.

Tim Leiweke claims the city attorney wanted the Staples Center owner to pay $6 million for services L.A. provided during the pop singer's memorial.


Attorney Accused of Using Bully Tactics To Recoup Jackson Memorial Costs
October 22, 2009


Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich tried to pressure the owner of Staples Center to pay $6 million for city services provided during the Michael Jackson memorial, saying he would "go after you guys" if the money was not paid, the company's top executive alleged Wednesday.

"I wouldn't say it was extortion. I would say it's a bully tactic. That's the way I would put it. He's trying to bully us. And he's done it on three different occasions," AEG President and Chief Executive Tim Leiweke told The Times' editorial board Wednesday.

His accusations escalate a growing public feud between the brash new city attorney and one of L.A.'s most influential corporations.

On the one side is the company that owns two of the city's most prominent entertainment venues, Staples Center and the L.A. Live entertainment complex. On the other is a city attorney who took office in July and has quickly developed a reputation for aggressive and sometimes unorthodox actions. Trutanich recently threatened to throw City Councilwoman Jan Perry in jail and file criminal charges against the city's top building-and-safety official if they violated his directives regarding AEG.

Earlier in his tenure, when the city Planning Commission ignored Trutanich's request to delay a decision on approving new signs for the Los Angeles Convention Center, the city attorney sent a blistering letter to its members warning that he would "not hesitate to act in the future if it appears that you are aiding and abetting unlawful conduct despite my contrary advice."

A spokesman for Trutanich dismissed Leiweke's comments as misguided and adamantly denied that his boss made any attempt to strong-arm AEG over the Jackson memorial.

"The city attorney has never said anything bad about AEG. He said they are good citizens," said John Franklin, Trutanich's communications director. "He just wants them to pay the bill versus the taxpayers. He had nothing against AEG."

Trutanich said he's enforcing the law and looking out for the interests of Los Angeles taxpayers.

But Leiweke said he sees political motives. Leiweke is a major ally of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and both backed Trutanich's opponent in the bitter race for city attorney earlier this year.

Since taking office, Trutanich has blocked sign permits for the company's new downtown movie theater and attempted to delay the city's plans to lease billboard space to AEG at the Convention Center.

Leiweke alleges that Trutanich ordered investigations into AEG's old fire permits and even the cracks in the sidewalks at Staples Center and L.A. Live, both owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group.

Councilman Dennis Zine, who served as an advisor to Trutanich during his transition, said the controversy shows Trutanich's willingness to challenge one of L.A. most prolific influence-peddlers.

AEG and its executives have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to local politicians and their political projects, including $100,000 to Proposition S -- the mayor's 2008 telephone tax measure -- and $100,000 to the Mayor's Committee for Government Excellence and Accountability, state and city election records show.

"AEG has been very connected with the politics in the city of Los Angeles. Trutanich is breaking, shall we say, that sweetheart relationship that existed," Zine said.

Last April, Leiweke hosted a campaign fundraiser at Staples Center for Trutanich's opponent, Jack Weiss.

"I can only guess . . . that part of this is that we were on the wrong side of that election," Leiweke said.

Trutanich's spokesman dismissed that, saying "the Jack Weiss issue is absurd."

Leiweke contends the feud began in earnest after Trutanich appeared before the City Council in July and announced there were "criminal aspects" to his investigation into how much the Jackson memorial cost the city.

Concerned that AEG was being accused of wrongdoing, Leiweke called and asked for a one-on-one meeting with Trutanich at the Starbucks at L.A. Live. Trutanich showed up with staff members, including two security officers, and it went downhill from there, Leiweke said.

"I said 'Nuch, I thought we were just going to have a quiet get-to-know-each-other,' " Leiweke said. "He kept his glasses on the whole time and just simply said, let me make sure you understand this straight. I am going back to the original City Charter and I am going to enforce it. And in this particular case, I believe you have done something wrong here, and you don't know what you don't know."


Trutanich requested that AEG reimburse the city for its costs, Leiweke said.

"And I said, what's your idea of settlement? And he said, $6 million. And I said, where did you get that number from? He said, that's the number," Leiweke said, recalling the meeting.

"He made it very clear, either you settle or I am going to go after you guys. I said, 'Fine. I'm sorry this didn't work out.' "

Trutanich's spokesman said that the city attorney had discussed AEG reimbursing the city for $2.3 million for the Jackson memorial -- the estimated cost at the time -- not $6 million.

According to City Hall's top financial analyst, the memorial cost the city an estimated $1.3 million for police overtime, installing portable toilets, redirecting traffic and providing other city services. Leiweke said he had offered to help defray a portion of the $1.3 million.

Zine argued the memorial cost the city millions more, including the salaries of all the police officers and other city employees deployed for the event, not just overtime. AEG and the Jackson estate arranged the memorial and "stand to make millions" in a movie gleaned from video of Jackson's rehearsals for his comeback tour, Zine said.

Now, the conflict between AEG and Trutanich is centering on the upcoming Jackson documentary, "This Is It." The film will premiere Tuesday at the grand opening of AEG's new theater at L.A. Live, but Trutanich has blocked the company from erecting on the building wall signs advertising the movie.

Two weeks ago, the city attorney warned the city's interim general manager of building and safety, Raymond Chan, that he could face criminal prosecution if he issued permits for six signs at the theater.

Perry said Trutanich also vowed to throw her in jail if she tried to intervene.

"You can't go around threatening people, trying to intimidate people and interfering with them when they're trying to do their job," Perry said, who on Friday had called for a council hearing on the controversy.

Trutanich last week denied making any threat, saying only that he has been aggressively upholding the strict ban on signage that the council approved in August. The ban prohibits new digital signs, supergraphics and billboards facing freeways.

"I'm serious about enforcing this ordinance. I'm as serious as a heart attack," Trutanich said Friday.

AEG representatives said the city approved plans for the signs in 2006 and had already granted the structural and electrical permits for the six signs, with only the artwork permits still pending. The ban does not cover projects already approved and underway, including AEG's theater at L.A. Live.

Leiweke said that if permits for the signs are not issued in a timely fashion, it could represent "hundreds of millions of dollars in damages" for the company.

http://www.latimes.com/ne...7337.story

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Demo)- this is the full version of the second demo, which we heard a snippet of a couple of months ago and it's in great quality. Some of the lyrics are different as Michael seems to be coming up with lyrics as he went along. He sounds like he was having ALOT of fun recording this:blush:

She's Out Of My Life (Demo)- GREAT demo. Inside of the piano and strings, it's just Michael and a guitar. Gives the song a bit of a spanish flavor

Planet Earth- this is one that I really wasn't interested in but hearing it, you can hear the sincerity and passion in his voice. It takes you to another place

Beat It (Demo)- This is where you hear and experience the true genius of Michael Joesph Jackson. This demo has him building the vocal harmony and melodies. No instruments, just Michael coming with the percussion and vocals....AWESOME

Michael Jackson’s Will: Deemed Valid

It looks like the forgery concerns surrounding the late Michael Jackson’s will have been put to rest, as his signature has been deemed authentic.

Back in 2002 the King of Pop was in New York City attending a protest when his will was said to have been signed in Los Angeles. But it was merely a case of mixed up location.

The witness to the signing mistakenly put “Los Angeles” on the document rather than “New York City,” an honest mistake that does not invalidate the document.

Jackson’s will left 40% of his estate to his mother Katherine Jackson, 40% to his children, and 20% to various charitable organizations.

Per tmz, katherine has dumped Lidell...Thank Jehovah!!! That man is noting but an opportunistic self-serving money grabber.

graecophilos said:

Well since this was the rehersals rather than the final concerts I can't say much. However, I am not impress with the list of songs. There is hardly anything from OTW, nothing from the Triumph/destiny eras and the snippets of the Jackson 5 were probably the same ABC/I want You back/I be there.

Now if the concerts had gone ahead he may have changed the music around. But wouldn't it have been nice to hear him sing "Let Me show You the Way to Go" or "Time waits for No One" from the Triumph and other wonderful gems that he rarely did live?

It would have been nice to change the Jackson 5 medley from the usual ABC etc to Wannabe Where you are/Maybe Tomorrow/Looking through the windows etc. It was like MJ as a solo act hardly performed anything that wasn't a big hit or had some big time video attached to it, which is ashame because some of his best stuff were not even released as singles.

sosgemini said:

Katherine is adding a new set of attorneys in what amounts to a prelude to a new legal assault against the administrators of Michael's estate. There's no pleasing her. She won't be completely satisfied until John Branca is ousted.