http://www.cnngo.com/toky...-ai-277446

The Jacksons to reform for Michael Jackson tribute show with A.I.

By Robert Michael Poole 29 November, 2010

The Jacksons and A.I. (right). It is believed the show will then tour the globe after the Tokyo dates

The Jacksons – brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine -- will perform on stage next October for a Michael Jackson tribute concert series that starts with two shows in Tokyo.

The announcement of the shows was made via a produced video during a special 10^th anniversary performance of Japanese R&B star A.I.

A.I. will emcee the shows and sing with the brothers, her management told CNNGo. She will also be recording new tracks with The Jacksons in early 2011.

日本語の記事を読むためには、ここをクリックしてください。

The project came about after an exchange of letters between A.I. and Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine, following a documentary A.I. had made on Michael earlier in 2010 in which she met his family to discuss the legacy of the late performer.

“I was so excited meeting them and I tried to be calm, but once I got into it, they are so nice that they make you feel right,” A.I. told CNNGo ahead of her Monday Tokyo show at the prestigious Budokan.

“I’d been listening to their songs since I was little but once you start talking with them they make you feel like a friend.“

In her letter to A.I., exclusively revealed to CNNGo, Katherine says “Japan was one of Michael’s favorite places in the world. He loved visiting your beautiful country and always felt much love from his millions of fans.”

“By means of having Michael’s brothers headlining the Tokyo Tribute it would provide Michael Jackson’s followers with a true and complete perspective of Michael’s artistic career and life as a brother.”

The Jacksons, originally the Jackson 5, were one of the biggest music acts in the world in the 1970s and also helped launch the solo careers of Jermaine and Michael.

Following Michael’s death in June 2009, the remaining four brothers recorded vocals for the single, “This is it.” Rumors and speculation of a reunion and tribute show soon followed.

The Michael Jackson tribute shows have tentatively been scheduled for 14^th and 15th of October 2011, and will feature a number of special guest performers filling Michael’s shoes in The Jacksons. Full details have yet to be released.

It is believed the show will then tour around the world with different guests in each city, though with A.I. likely at the helm for each.

A.I. with Jackie and Tito Jackson in Los Angeles.

Making new music

A.I.’s initial contact with the Jacksons had been for a Japanese TV documentary she hosted for Music On! TV, in which she interviewed each member of the family but was surprised to find them so welcoming and modest.

Katherine and Tito watched the show and wrote her a letter of thanks.

“I felt like I didn’t do anything, they had done it for me,” says A.I. “But she thanked me for making a nice show and I knew I had to write something back. I wanted to say ‘thank you, I love you, thank you.’ I was just happy to meet them and let the people know what Michael was like as a person and what is it like inside the family.

“After I did that I listened to more of the Jackson 5 from back in the day. I thought that would be great to sing and dance with the people who were around Michael, especially his family,” she says.

Following the emotional letter exchange, discussions to record songs together soon began with two tracks already on the cards.

“We haven’t talked about the kind of song yet, whether it will be for Michael, or about us but we think it will be nice to have one of the producers that Michael used to work with. We met with Teddy Riley, he’s been making music for a long time, but he also makes current music.”

Despite the aura around the Jackson family, A.I. is keen to let the audience know how the Jackson family really are and get across their true personalities in the shows.

“Every time I see them on TV shows they seem serious but they are actually so cute and I want to tell people that even though they are the Jacksons, everyone’s human and everyone’s got a heart. I think the show in October will be good for people to enjoy music from back in the day and discover the new songs.”

Watch clips from A.I.'s latest album

Celebrating 10 years in Japan

A.I. was the first female artist to sing to Def Jam in Japan in 2003 and has gone on to enormous success, selling 3.5 million downloads of her 2005 hit “Story” and playing to 100,000 fans on her 2008 tour, that also took in El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles.

Talking about her 10^th anniversary show at the Budokan, A.I., 29, says she is honored to welcome the guests who will join her.

A.I. has established herself as Japan's leading R&B singer.

Her latest album “The Last A.I.” features guest performances from Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, K’Naan, Judith Hill and J-Pop superstar Namie Amuro. Though the final guest list for the live show is under wraps, A.I. offered some insight.

“Chaka Khan will be coming and I can’t believe I’ll be on the same stage as her.”

“She’s like a god to me so at first I didn't want to do a song together, then people started suggesting that if I like her so much I should do a song. So I thought, let’s just ask.”

A.I. recorded a duet with Khan titled “One More Try,” and then shot a video in Los Angeles, where Khan impressed her even further. “She was even singing in the video! Lots of people lip-sync for that, that’s how you do it, but she’s singing it for real. I got chills every time the video rolled.”

A.I. also recorded a track with singer Judith Hill, who first came to world attention in the film "This Is It."

“When [Judith Hill & I] were making ‘For My Sister,’ we weren’t tight yet, but within the four days that we recorded we were in the studio from noon until three in the morning. Even though she came from Los Angeles she kept going. In that time we got to know each other well and she came back to sing at my shows or we hang out in Los Angeles. So it became like that song,” says A.I.

Having harbored ambitions to one day win a Grammy and return to Los Angeles -- the city where she was born and then returned to study, aged 15 -- the humble singer believes there is some sort of destiny in the collaborations about to come.

“I feel like all of this happened because I liked Michael. He never knew me but maybe he felt me and thought ‘somebody really loved me.’ I feel like it all happened for a reason.”

A.I. has just launched her English facebook page, here

Read more: The Jacksons to reform fo... CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/toky...z174NdtHuY

sag10 said:

Unholyalliance said:

The USA isn't the only country that exists in the world. Nor is it the center of the world.

What? When did this happen?

Tuesday. Didn't you hear?

Very true and i agree the USA isnt the only country where MJ could be popular.

But i think MJ would have liked to be popular here again because he did live here. I think being popular here again he would feel now iv'e made it all the way back.

With all the journalists that have now reviewed the album, and the release date in some countries being only a week away, and that TV advert saying "out now"...... surely a leak within the next 48 hours is inevitable? I'm surprised it hasn't shown up on torrent sites already!

Longer clip of Slave To The Rhythm has leaked!!!! 3 minutes! and still not the complete song lol

http://twiturm.com/s7fjq

dag said:

bboy87 said:

I agree

He changed after that. He didn't really seem the same....

Who wouldn´t? I am not sure, I´d survive such humiliation myself.

IA. I mean...think about it, almost the entire world is out on the hunt for him and the media was scrutinizing him left and right. Not only that, but he was accused of what could be considered to be one of the heinous crimes known to man, right now. People who sang your praises at one point are calling you washed up, not relevant, pedo, and etc. You're getting questioned and searched by the police. Not only that, but you are constantly under public scrutiny and everyone is trashing the validity of your work... Suits are coming in as everyone is trying to get a piece of that pie. The carpet has been pulled from under your feet and you've fallen flat on your ass. It hurts.

The last 10+ years seemed pretty rough for him. I'm surprised, myself, that he didn't jump out of a window at some point. This is why I also get a little annoyed when people really underestimate him and call him weak. He wasn't. He found the inner strength and motivation to keep going on. That's really admirable, even if it came at a unfortunate cost. After all that, and then not to even mention the trial, there was no way that he was going to be the same Michael Jackson that we all grew up with. Times changed. We changed. Even he changed.

download link for the new Slave To The Rhythm leak...

http://cl.ly/3Utj

Swa said:

PYTDee said:

Now this is cool!

About time! Promotion! Yay!

Actually liked that til i remembered just about a third of it is fake.

I suppose it'll be on in Blighty when the X-Factor final is on.

Militant said:

Guys....do you remember when we first tried to buy "Do You Know/12 O' Clock" from that girl, Tak, in Thailand, and when we asked her where to send the money, she sent us the PayPal of a random guy in Germany, who, when I emailed him, claimed to have no knowledge of what I was talking about?

Well, I remembered that I had also seen Tak advertising unreleased Ke$ha songs on another board.

Now, look at this article that just appeared on Perez Hilton's site!

http://perezhilton.com/20...it-from-it

How dare they mess with GaGa! They've got a lot of nerve and we hope they're disciplined accordingly!

A 17-year-old high school student and a 23-year old unemployed man in Germany are currently under investigation for stealing unreleased songs from Lady GaGa, Ke$ha, Justin Timberlake, and Kelly Clarkson.

The pair of hackers have been allegedly selling the songs online, which has forced the advanced release of several singles by the artists.

Apparently, the hackers used a "Trojan Horse" to hack into the singers' computers, which had been active for a year before their discovery!

The hackers made $13,240 through sales of the songs, AND one of the hackers allegedly used a "sexually compromising" photo of one artist as blackmail.

Here's what the hacker said in response:

“I’m a fan and I just wanted to have cool music. I’m no blackmailer.”

Looks like the investigation should be done by January, and the accused may get up to five years in prison or massive fines if convicted.

We have ZERO sympathy for them if they're guilty, and we will be seriously unhappy if we find out they tried to blackmail our wifey, GaGa!

How do U think these hackers should be punished if convicted?

Looks like it might be the same people!

Militant said:

download link for the new Slave To The Rhythm leak...

http://cl.ly/3Utj

My Anti-virus doesn't like that.

'Site is unsafe. 2 computer threats'

Marrk said:

Militant said:

download link for the new Slave To The Rhythm leak...

http://cl.ly/3Utj

My Anti-virus doesn't like that.

'Site is unsafe. 2 computer threats'

Disable it. I guarantee you it's safe.

Militant said:

Marrk said:

My Anti-virus doesn't like that.

'Site is unsafe. 2 computer threats'

Disable it. I guarantee you it's safe.

Damn, i want that song NOW!

NaughtyKitty said:

http://www.cnngo.com/toky...-ai-277446

The Jacksons to reform for Michael Jackson tribute show with A.I.

Brothers to reunite on stage in Tokyo in October; Two new Jacksons songs planned for next year

By Robert Michael Poole 29 November, 2010

Select ratingPoorOkayGoodGreatAwesome

The Jacksons and A.I. (right). It is believed the show will then tour the globe after the Tokyo dates

The Jacksons – brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine -- will perform on stage next October for a Michael Jackson tribute concert series that starts with two shows in Tokyo.

The announcement of the shows was made via a produced video during a special 10^th anniversary performance of Japanese R&B star A.I.

A.I. will emcee the shows and sing with the brothers, her management told CNNGo. She will also be recording new tracks with The Jacksons in early 2011.

日本語の記事を読むためには、ここをクリックしてください。

The project came about after an exchange of letters between A.I. and Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine, following a documentary A.I. had made on Michael earlier in 2010 in which she met his family to discuss the legacy of the late performer.

“I was so excited meeting them and I tried to be calm, but once I got into it, they are so nice that they make you feel right,” A.I. told CNNGo ahead of her Monday Tokyo show at the prestigious Budokan.

“I’d been listening to their songs since I was little but once you start talking with them they make you feel like a friend.“

In her letter to A.I., exclusively revealed to CNNGo, Katherine says “Japan was one of Michael’s favorite places in the world. He loved visiting your beautiful country and always felt much love from his millions of fans.”

“By means of having Michael’s brothers headlining the Tokyo Tribute it would provide Michael Jackson’s followers with a true and complete perspective of Michael’s artistic career and life as a brother.”

The Jacksons, originally the Jackson 5, were one of the biggest music acts in the world in the 1970s and also helped launch the solo careers of Jermaine and Michael.

Following Michael’s death in June 2009, the remaining four brothers recorded vocals for the single, “This is it.” Rumors and speculation of a reunion and tribute show soon followed.

The Michael Jackson tribute shows have tentatively been scheduled for 14^th and 15th of October 2011, and will feature a number of special guest performers filling Michael’s shoes in The Jacksons. Full details have yet to be released.

It is believed the show will then tour around the world with different guests in each city, though with A.I. likely at the helm for each.

A.I. with Jackie and Tito Jackson in Los Angeles.

Making new music

A.I.’s initial contact with the Jacksons had been for a Japanese TV documentary she hosted for Music On! TV, in which she interviewed each member of the family but was surprised to find them so welcoming and modest.

Katherine and Tito watched the show and wrote her a letter of thanks.

“I felt like I didn’t do anything, they had done it for me,” says A.I. “But she thanked me for making a nice show and I knew I had to write something back. I wanted to say ‘thank you, I love you, thank you.’ I was just happy to meet them and let the people know what Michael was like as a person and what is it like inside the family.

“After I did that I listened to more of the Jackson 5 from back in the day. I thought that would be great to sing and dance with the people who were around Michael, especially his family,” she says.

Following the emotional letter exchange, discussions to record songs together soon began with two tracks already on the cards.

“We haven’t talked about the kind of song yet, whether it will be for Michael, or about us but we think it will be nice to have one of the producers that Michael used to work with. We met with Teddy Riley, he’s been making music for a long time, but he also makes current music.”

Despite the aura around the Jackson family, A.I. is keen to let the audience know how the Jackson family really are and get across their true personalities in the shows.

“Every time I see them on TV shows they seem serious but they are actually so cute and I want to tell people that even though they are the Jacksons, everyone’s human and everyone’s got a heart. I think the show in October will be good for people to enjoy music from back in the day and discover the new songs.”

Watch clips from A.I.'s latest album

Celebrating 10 years in Japan

A.I. was the first female artist to sing to Def Jam in Japan in 2003 and has gone on to enormous success, selling 3.5 million downloads of her 2005 hit “Story” and playing to 100,000 fans on her 2008 tour, that also took in El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles.

Talking about her 10^th anniversary show at the Budokan, A.I., 29, says she is honored to welcome the guests who will join her.

A.I. has established herself as Japan's leading R&B singer.

Her latest album “The Last A.I.” features guest performances from Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men, K’Naan, Judith Hill and J-Pop superstar Namie Amuro. Though the final guest list for the live show is under wraps, A.I. offered some insight.

“Chaka Khan will be coming and I can’t believe I’ll be on the same stage as her.”

“She’s like a god to me so at first I didn't want to do a song together, then people started suggesting that if I like her so much I should do a song. So I thought, let’s just ask.”

A.I. recorded a duet with Khan titled “One More Try,” and then shot a video in Los Angeles, where Khan impressed her even further. “She was even singing in the video! Lots of people lip-sync for that, that’s how you do it, but she’s singing it for real. I got chills every time the video rolled.”

A.I. also recorded a track with singer Judith Hill, who first came to world attention in the film "This Is It."

“When [Judith Hill & I] were making ‘For My Sister,’ we weren’t tight yet, but within the four days that we recorded we were in the studio from noon until three in the morning. Even though she came from Los Angeles she kept going. In that time we got to know each other well and she came back to sing at my shows or we hang out in Los Angeles. So it became like that song,” says A.I.

Having harbored ambitions to one day win a Grammy and return to Los Angeles -- the city where she was born and then returned to study, aged 15 -- the humble singer believes there is some sort of destiny in the collaborations about to come.

“I feel like all of this happened because I liked Michael. He never knew me but maybe he felt me and thought ‘somebody really loved me.’ I feel like it all happened for a reason.”

A.I. has just launched her English facebook page, here

Read more: The Jacksons to reform fo... CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/toky...z174NdtHuY

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...

Reunite for a tenth anniversary of a singer only known in Japan??? That's... nevermind, I don't wanna know...

Militant said:

Looks like it might be the same people!

Aww...this means no more unreleased tracks coming our way?

Unholyalliance said:

Militant said:

Looks like it might be the same people!

Aww...this means no more unreleased tracks coming our way?

Until it's time to make another posthumous album probably.

Well if this doesn't prove how desperate the Jackson brothers are for work, I don't know what will!

How embarrassing!!

Using a Japanese female pop star to replace MJ!

Fuck that shit!

Thank goodness Randy has a good frame of mind to stay far away from this mess (just like he stayed away from that awful A&E reality show).

I really like Jackie and Tito......it sucks that they're going along with what is obviously another one of California Raisin's ill conceived cash in ideas.

[Edited 12/3/10 11:48am]

I just watched Ellen dance to "Hollywood Tonight" on her show about 5 minutes ago. Anyone watched..

Swa said:

Michael Jackson's brothers to reunite with new singer

The Jacksons to perform for the first time since their brother's death, with Japanese-American R&B star AI taking his place

Michael Jackson's brothers are to reunite for their first performances since the singer's death, with a Japanese-American pop star filling in for the late King of Pop. Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine will appear together in Tokyo on 14-15 October 2011, headlining two tribute concerts with R&B star AI. If successful, the shows could be spun into a world tour.

"I thought [it] would be great to sing and dance with the people who were around Michael, especially his family," AI explained to CNNgo. The 29-year-old is a huge star in Japan: her latest album features cameos by Snoop Dogg, Boyz II Men and K'Naan. However, AI is not just set to perform with the Jacksons at the tribute show – she is also scheduled to record new songs with them in early 2011. "We haven't talked about the kind of song yet, whether it will be for Michael or about us," AI said, "but we think it will be nice to have one of the producers that Michael used to work with."

This isn't the first time the Jacksons have planned a tribute concert. Shortly after Michael's death, an event was proposed for late August 2009 – around what would have been the singer's 51st birthday. The show, suggested for the O2 arena, never materialised. "We didn't want to rush [it]," sources said at the time. Shortly afterwards, Jermaine Jackson announced a massive concert in Vienna, with scheduled performances by Akon, Mary J Blige and Natalie Cole. This was cancelled less than a month later. Instead, Jermaine claimed, the Jacksons were planning a concert at Wembley stadium in June 2010. This also failed to materialise.

Given this unreliable precedent, it is perhaps unsurprising that further details of the Tokyo concerts have yet to emerge. No venue has been announced, nor has a promoter come forward. The Japanese channel Music On TV is speculated – but not confirmed – to be involved.

Michael's mother is reportedly supporting the concerts, citing her son's fondness for Japan. "[It] was one of Michael's favourite places in the world," Katherine Jackson wrote in a letter. "He loved visiting [this] beautiful country and always felt much love from his millions of fans. By means of having Michael's brothers headlining the Tokyo tribute it would provide his followers with a true and complete perspective of Michael's artistic career and life as a brother."

Although only two dates have been announced, CNNgo reports that the tribute shows featuring AI will tour around the world with special guests. "I feel like all of this happened because I liked Michael," AI said. "He never knew me but maybe he felt me and thought 'somebody really loved me'. I feel like it all happened for a reason."

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk...rs-reunite

An outrage...ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! WHAT IS THE JACKSON FIVE WITHOUT MICHAEL JACKSON? I don't care how good this new singer is...it just won't be the same. Nobody can replace Michael....NOBODY!

*throws vase at wall*

Michael Album preview

http://www.hmvdigital.com...on/michael

xlad said:

Invincible early track list: June 14, 2001: Album Tracklist Revealed !!! The following has been taken from Planet Jackson: After the premiere of Michael Jackson's new album to Sony Music last Tuesday, several leaks occured and rumors started to appear in the media all over the world. Although Michael Jackson wished to keep details on his album secret a few more weeks, it has now become impossible to stop the leak of information. In order to prevent baseless rumors from spreading, Planet Jackson will now release the official information on Michael Jackson's new album. The title of the album is: INVINCIBLE Tracklisting: - Invincible - Unbreakable - Heartbreaker - Break Of Dawn - Heaven Can Wait - Rock My World - Butterflies - 2000 Watts - Speechless - Cry - Shout - The Lost Children - Don't Walk Away - Privacy - Threatens As previously stated, Michael Jackson is still undecided about four songs from this selection which might be replaced. Stay tuned for more news on the new album. [source: Planet Jackson] June 15, 2001: 15 Invincible Tracks The following has been reported by MTV [06.14.2001 8:10 PM EDT] 15 Invincible Tracks Though Michael Jackson has kept the world waiting for his new album, executives at his record label got a sneak peek of the nearly finished work this week. Invincible is the tentative title for the record, sources said, though an Epic Records spokesperson could not confirm any details about the project. The label did say that the record is planned for release in time for consideration for the next Grammy Awards. That means it would have to be out by September 25. Jackson recently made his collaborators sign confidentiality agreements about the album, but some details have surfaced. Until a few weeks ago, Jackson was putting the finishing touches on the album with producer Teddy Riley at Miami's Hit Factory, according to sources at the studio, who said Jackson had been there for three months. The first single is a collaboration with Method Man, those sources said. Riley and Rodney Jerkins produced the bulk of the album, the studio sources said. Other producers who have been connected with the project include R. Kelly, Swizz Beatz, former Jodeci member DeVante DeGrate, David Foster, Kevin "Shek'spere" Briggs and the Neptunes, though it is not known if their work will appear on the finished LP. At least 50 tracks were recorded and 15 were previewed for the label this week, sources said. Some of the songs previewed included "Unbreakable," "Speechless," "The Lost Children" and "Privacy," though the track listing remains indefinite.

that one could've worked

thesexofit said:

Bboy87 and Swa, I think your both maybe right on the "invincible" thing.

Bboy87, I remember that email LOL. Nearly 10 years ago. Time flies huh? Yeah maybe Sony did give up on it and then Michael took it to the streets. But it makes more sense Sony put the plug on "invincible" after the whole rally thing, otherwise it swings back to the conspiracy that Swa reminded me of (and that I forgot)...

.. The massively complicated issue with Jackson's master recordings and release from Sony plus the Beatles catalogue Sony wanted Michael to sign over (allegedly- though remember Sony already owned half of it by then and "collected" even more artists to the catalogue, making both MJ and Sony even more money.). You could write a book just on this part of his story LOL.

I think "Invincible" did about 5 million worldwide by end of 2001 and Sony even gave a statement saying so, and Sony wanted to pull the plug on it just a month later? True "cry" did bomb in europe but still... Christ knows what went down. Mike could of spoken up about it like George Michael and Prince. But what did he do, he talked about absurd racism claims LOL that were just out of nowhere. Oh Mike.

No! Sony pulled the plug and then Michael took it to the streets! The first time he spoke out against Sony was in late June in London at the Killer Thriller fan party.... earlier that day was the first demo on the bus! About 2 Weeks later the second demo happened in New York and the press conference with Rev. Sharpton in Harlem. Invincible was long by the time that happened! There were months of nothing going on. Cry was the last physical single and that was released in December '01! In early '02 there was only a half assed attempt to get Heaven can wait on the radio in the US, but that was it!

Marrk said:

Militant said:

download link for the new Slave To The Rhythm leak...

http://cl.ly/3Utj

My Anti-virus doesn't like that.

'Site is unsafe. 2 computer threats'

Won't even download with me. And I'm worried this might get the thread closed.

thesexofit said:

Wonder why Michael never planned to tour for "invincible"?

Well, considering that he got a new baby delivered in early '02 (must have ordered it mid '01) and already got 2 small children it's kinda obvious why he didn't tour and never had planned to tour!

Unholyalliance said:

Militant said:

Looks like it might be the same people!

Aww...this means no more unreleased tracks coming our way?

Nah. Some fans already bought everything those guys had and most of it has leaked.

Plus, they aren't the only source for unreleased songs.

PYTDee said:

Michael Album preview

http://www.hmvdigital.com...on/michael

Listening to the previews

I wish they had included at least 3 more tracks on there, it feels too short

OMG, the clips of "Hollywood Tonight", "Best Of Joy" and "Behind The Mask" on HMV sound HOTTTTTTTTTTT!!!

amit1234 said:

Well if this doesn't prove how desperate the Jackson brothers are for work, I don't know what will!

How embarrassing!!

Using a Japanese female pop star to replace MJ!

Fuck that shit!

Thank goodness Randy has a good frame of mind to stay far away from this mess (just like he stayed away from that awful A&E reality show).

I really like Jackie and Tito......it sucks that they're going along with what is obviously another one of California Raisin's ill conceived cash in ideas.

[Edited 12/3/10 11:48am]

Don't worry. By the time the month comes along, the Jacksons would've left before they set foot on the stage.

Swa said:

Of course for Sony being told MJ wouldn't be renewing his contract would have been bitter to them, and I assume they would have done enough to recoup their costs and then not invested any more in it.

I think it was a grave mistake letting them know in advance that he's leaving them... he should either let them in the dark about it or tell them that he will stay depending on the performance of the album! With telling them that he will leave, no matter what, he didn't really give them any choice.

Militant said:

OMG, the clips of "Hollywood Tonight", "Best Of Joy" and "Behind The Mask" on HMV sound HOTTTTTTTTTTT!!!

I need Best of Joy in my life right now