Support NeoGAF

[SegaShack]

Invincible has its moment. I really like "Break of Dawn" "Butterflies" and "Dont Walk Away"

Even the commercialized "You Rock My World" was great despite being somewhat of a rehash of his older tunes.

I completely agree. Invincible has some amazing tracks. The ones you mentioned along with "Whatever Happens" are all awesome songs that I love. It's just to me all the previous albums are the best albums ever made and Invincible just has some great tracks, and some mediocre tracks. It has nothing to do with his talent diminishing though, like I said the Ultimate Collection songs that were made in 2004 are amazing and the unreleased Invincible songs that have leaked have all been great.

Ouch, my ears. Was kinda liking it up to the vocals, but when introduced it's jarring and sounds misplaced.

Maybe there'll be a few gem tracks on release, like Invincible. Can't say I'm a big fan of his later work in general though.

Don't judge this based on the shitty Timbaland contemporary version. Wait for the full album to come out since we will get Michael's most completed demos of all the tracks on the bonus disc. No tampering, just how the genius left the songs.

If you want an example of why contemporarizing music is bad, listen to the 2010 song "Hollywood Tonight" versus Michael's 1999 demo that leaked a few weeks ago. The music and production on Michael's demo is brilliant and sonicly interesting, his vocals are better for being not auto-tuned, and the song becomes about someone going to Hollywood with false dreams and being taken advantage of, "Casting Couch" and all. The Estate felt the need to remove this from the album. As Michael says in the original "She's giving hot tricks to men to get in, they're told that she's not clean, she's only fifteen!".

These songs were already produced anyways and don't need a producer and don't need to be reworked to sound like modern music. I am so glad we are getting the demos of each track. I don't need Timbaland's generic movie trailer strings version of Slave To The Rhythm, which is supposed to be a rock track.

Michael's composing and arranging skills, and general ear for melody doesn't compare with any of these modern talents.

 

[Christopher]

Invincible is a dsmn good CD it really needed radio edits on Invincible, Unbreakable, and the thriller 2 song. loved it.

 

[DrZeus]

Interesting.

Spoiler

I really miss this dude.

 

[Buckethead]

I'm down.

Gimme them Michael vocals.

 

[Oozer3993]

New Xperia Z2 commercial with a little more of Slave to the Rhythm.

Supposed tracklist:

01. Love Never Felt So Good
02. Chicago (She Was Loving Me)
03. A Place With No Name
04. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
05. Slave to the Rhythm
06. Blue Gangster
07. Xscape
08. Stop Throwing Your Life Away
====== DELUXE VERSION ONLY ======
09. Hot Fun In The Summertime feat. D'Angelo & Mary J. Blige
10. Love Never Felt So Good **Original Version**
11. She Was Loving Me **Original Version**
12. Chicago **Original Version**
13. A Place With No Name **Original Version**
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are **Original Version**
15. Slave to the Rhythm **Original Version**
16. Blue Gangster **Original Version**
17. Xscape **Original Version**

I cut together a snippet of Slave to the Rhythm based off the two commercials.

Fun fact, one of the songs on this album has been officially released before. Just not by Michael. The song "Love Never Felt So Good" was recorded by Johnny Mathis and included on his album A Special Part of Me, released in 1984.

 

[Reave]

Should be The Neptunes

I'm sure Pharrel would have loved to douse each of these new songs with his horrible falsetto vocals. Thank goodness that didn't happen.

 

[Oozer3993]

Should be The Neptunes

The Neptunes made several songs for him. They were turned down. And Pharrell thinks Michael didn't feel the songs were good enough for him.

Justin Timberlake’s first album — all those songs, with the exception of “Like I Love You,” were songs I made for Michael Jackson. His manager didn’t like them. Somehow I think Michael didn’t like them either, though. Because when I finally met him, he sang all those songs back to me, and said, “Those songs should have been for me.” And he just laughed. He fell out, just like I have all my life — when something is super funny my knees literally give out, and no matter where it is, I’m on the ground. He just fell on the couch, and he was really tall — six-foot-something. Filled up the whole couch. And he fell, rolled on the floor, kicking like a kid, laughing. But he sang those songs to me and he sang them just like Justin. And then he sang “You Don’t Have to Call” to me, and what was so interesting was all of them had Michael bridges. Like on the bridge of “You Don’t Have to Call,” the way I’d written it, I was trying to capture what Michael had already done with Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton, in the late seventies, early eighties. He sang those songs to me. So he kinda knew, but at the time they just weren’t good enough. But they were songs for him.

 

[SCReuter]

Supposed tracklist:

01. Love Never Felt So Good
02. Chicago (She Was Loving Me)
03. A Place With No Name
04. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
05. Slave to the Rhythm
06. Blue Gangster
07. Xscape
08. Stop Throwing Your Life Away
====== DELUXE VERSION ONLY ======
09. Hot Fun In The Summertime feat. D'Angelo & Mary J. Blige
10. Love Never Felt So Good **Original Version**
11. She Was Loving Me **Original Version**
12. Chicago **Original Version**
13. A Place With No Name **Original Version**
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are **Original Version**
15. Slave to the Rhythm **Original Version**
16. Blue Gangster **Original Version**
17. Xscape **Original Version**

Based on the playback party impressions, I'd imagine it's closer to this:

Standard Edition (CD):

01. Love Never Felt So Good
02. Chicago (She Was Lovin' Me)
03. [Song]
04. A Place with No Name
05. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
06. Slave to the Rhythm
07. Blue Gangsta
08. Xscape

Deluxe Edition (CD/DVD):

09. Hot Fun in the Summertime (feat. D'Angelo & Mary J. Blige)
10. Love Never Felt So Good (Original Version)
11. Chicago (She Was Lovin' Me) (Original Version)
12. [Song] (Original Version)
13. A Place with No Name (Original Version)
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are (Original Version)
15. Slave to the Rhythm (Original Version)
16. Blue Gangsta (Original Version)
17. Xscape (Original Version)

01. [Video]
02. [Video]

There was an unknown, mid-tempo love song from the 80s that played directly after She Was Lovin' Me, and the listening session concluded with Xscape, not Throwin' Your Life Away.

 

[ColonelColon]

Someone posted these pictures on an MJ fan forum. These are from Times Square in New York.

 

[SCReuter]

New promotional short by Chris Carboni, Dorian West, and Taili Wu: Michael Jackson XSCAPE (Vimeo)

 

[RaidenZR]

New promotional short by Chris Carboni, Dorian West, and Taili Wu: Michael Jackson XSCAPE (Vimeo)

Is this up anywhere else? The link is down.

 

[Oozer3993]

Is this up anywhere else? The link is down.

This should work.

 

[RaidenZR]

This should work.

Thanks!

 

[JetBlackPanda]

can't wait! that slave to the rhythm cut from the Z2 commercial sounds fucking great.

 

[Christopher]

The cover is fucking AWFUL

 

[Zutroy]

Single has leaked. Check out Tumblr!

 

[ColonelColon]

Single has leaked. Check out Tumblr!

The original demo of Xscape actually leaked more than 10 years ago. There's going to be a new version on this album.

 

[Oozer3993]

Single has leaked. Check out Tumblr!

Nah, that's just the original version from the Invincible sessions. That version leaked over a decade ago. The New Yorker's Vulture blog got duped by it, so now every outlet is posting it. This new album will include a completely re-done version of the song.

 

[Oozer3993]

I hate to double post, but, well, Tupac.

On the second playback of Xscape, after many of the attendees were already retrieving phones and bags from coat check, L.A. Reid unearthed a version of the title track with vocals from Tupac Shakur’s “Changes.” And believe it or not, it was epic. You can only imagine Mike and Makaveli dapping each other in upstairs in Thugz Mansion.

Fun fact: This is not the first time a song from MJ has had a posthumous appearance on it. Michael included a verse from Biggie on the song Unbreakable from his album Invincible. Which came out years after Biggie died.

 

[SegaShack]

I hate to double post, but, well, Tupac.



Fun fact: This is not the first time a song from MJ has had a posthumous appearance on it. Michael included a verse from Biggie on the song Unbreakable from his album Invincible. Which came out years after Biggie died.

Michael actually worked with Biggie before so it isn't as creepy as taking two dead men who never worked together and making a fake duet. I hope this rumor isn't true. Either way I am only listening to Michael's demos. The "contemporarizing" shit bugs the hell out of me. Just imagine if Beatles Anthology instead of being an archive release was about turning unreleased Beatles music into mid 90s alternative rock or R&B.

 

[Rocked]

04. Do You Know Where Your Children Are

 

[Oozer3993]

A song from the album (maybe the first single, maybe not) is set to be premiered during the iHeartRadio Awards which air on May 1st on NBC.

Official tracklist for the standard edition:

1. Love Never Felt So Good
2. Chicago
3. Loving You
4. A Place With No Name
5. Slave To The Rhythm
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
7. Blue Gangsta
8. Xscape

The Deluxe Edition also features the original demo recordings of all 8 songs, two videos (supposedly a music video and a 20 minute Making Of), and a bonus track that is rumored to be "Hot Fun In The Summertime." "Chicago" is not the famous original version of "Smooth Criminal" but instead a completely different song also known as "She Was Lovin' Me."

Rumor is the album will be available for streaming on Sony Music Unlimited starting May 5th. That is also the date for the radio premiere of the first single "Love Never Felt So Good." The song is said to sound a little like "Get Lucky," i.e. disco tinged. Wanna get an idea for what the song might sound like? Then give a listen to Johnny Mathis' disco tinged version of "Love Never Felt So Good" from 20 years ago.

 

[JohnDoe]

New Xperia Z2 commercial with a little more of Slave to the Rhythm.

Supposed tracklist:

01. Love Never Felt So Good
02. Chicago (She Was Loving Me)
03. A Place With No Name
04. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
05. Slave to the Rhythm
06. Blue Gangster
07. Xscape
08. Stop Throwing Your Life Away
====== DELUXE VERSION ONLY ======
09. Hot Fun In The Summertime feat. D'Angelo & Mary J. Blige
10. Love Never Felt So Good **Original Version**
11. She Was Loving Me **Original Version**
12. Chicago **Original Version**
13. A Place With No Name **Original Version**
14. Do You Know Where Your Children Are **Original Version**
15. Slave to the Rhythm **Original Version**
16. Blue Gangster **Original Version**
17. Xscape **Original Version**

I cut together a snippet of Slave to the Rhythm based off the two commercials.

Fun fact, one of the songs on this album has been officially released before. Just not by Michael. The song "Love Never Felt So Good" was recorded by Johnny Mathis and included on his album A Special Part of Me, released in 1984.

YESS!!!

 

[PSGames]

A song from the album (maybe the first single, maybe not) is set to be premiered during the iHeartRadio Awards which air on May 1st on NBC.

Official tracklist for the standard edition:

1. Love Never Felt So Good
2. Chicago
3. Loving You
4. A Place With No Name
5. Slave To The Rhythm
6. Do You Know Where Your Children Are
7. Blue Gangsta
8. Xscape

The Deluxe Edition also features the original demo recordings of all 8 songs, two videos (supposedly a music video and a 20 minute Making Of), and a bonus track that is rumored to be "Hot Fun In The Summertime." "Chicago" is not the famous original version of "Smooth Criminal" but instead a completely different song also known as "She Was Lovin' Me."

Rumor is the album will be available for streaming on Sony Music Unlimited starting May 5th. That is also the date for the radio premiere of the first single "Love Never Felt So Good." The song is said to sound a little like "Get Lucky," i.e. disco tinged. Wanna get an idea for what the song might sound like? Then give a listen to Johnny Mathis' disco tinged version of "Love Never Felt So Good" from 20 years ago.

Wow that John Mathis version is great. I can definitely see this being a big hit.

 

[thefro]

https://twitter.com/michaeljackson/status/461347066766045184

Get ready for the premiere of the first #MJXSCAPE single, “Love Never Felt So Good” on Thursday! More info to follow pic.twitter.com/bTMJ7Sw5T7

So the single drops tomorrow.

 

[SCReuter]

The single version of Love Never Felt So Good was produced by Timbaland and features Justin Timberlake. People are saying it'll release tonight on iTunes along with the original demo version.

MJ & @justintimberlake prod by : Timbaland #loveneverfeltsogood

 

[Oozer3993]

The single version of Love Never Felt So Good was produced by Timbaland and features Justin Timberlake. People are saying it'll release tonight on iTunes along with the original demo version.

I believe Justin isn't on the normal version of the track. I think he's on the bonus version that only appears on the Deluxe Edition. The version of the song on the album proper is just Michael. I don't know which is coming out tonight though. Maybe both. The cover for the version with JT, from his Instagram:

 

[thefro]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1...r-felt-so-good-iheartradio-music-awards_music

Here's the performance from tonight with Usher dancing which is just part of the song. The whole song should be 3+ minutes long since that's how long the demo is.

Timbaland killed it with the production... it's perfect.

 

[CB3]

Sounds really good. Cant wait to hear the whole thing tonight.

 

[CRS]

Love Never Felt So Good ft. Justin Timberlake

 

[Tragicomedy]

5) Do You Know Where Your Children Are

Michael pls.

 

[CB3]

Here's the version without Justin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmMk3pAnAI4

 

[Marvie_3]

Here's the version without Justin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmMk3pAnAI4

Fuckin love it

 

[MikeMyers]

I completely agree. Invincible has some amazing tracks. The ones you mentioned along with "Whatever Happens" are all awesome songs that I love. It's just to me all the previous albums are the best albums ever made and Invincible just has some great tracks, and some mediocre tracks. It has nothing to do with his talent diminishing though, like I said the Ultimate Collection songs that were made in 2004 are amazing and the unreleased Invincible songs that have leaked have all been great

Glad to see we are on the same page when it comes to Invincible. That album needs to learn that sometimes less as more. It's a great album but I find myself skipping songs on it, where as previous Jackson albums I listened to the whole thing straight.

 

[SCReuter]

New 30 second commercial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV9HXry5RIU

And the first part of the "making of" documentary:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDWiTqPOlRM

 

[SegaShack]

Wow the Estate actually did a good job with that demo. This is coming from someone who is 100% against them altering demos and thinks they do a shit job, especially with their current track record.

They are still screwing up a lot with this new release, lets hope for the best. I can't wait until the current Estate is out. Fake duet is so gimmicky, insulting, and cheap.

Michael pls.

The 2010 version of the song (which was a "Michael album" reject has been out for years. It's about child abuse.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Glad to see we are on the same page when it comes to Invincible. That album needs to learn that sometimes less as more. It's a great album but I find myself skipping songs on it, where as previous Jackson albums I listened to the whole thing straight.

Sad... I could listen to the whole thing straight in order. That album is underrated!

 

[Spiritreaver]

Damn that demo, that's a great song. Like really good, already caught myself dancing to it after the second play, lol.

Also I love Invincible as well. I agree, very underrated.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

I really like that song.

 

[Nibel]

Much better than expected

 

[SegaShack]

Sad... I could listen to the whole thing straight in order. That album is underrated!

Privacy and Cry come across as Michael going through the motions with the anti-media song and the Man In the Mirror style song.

Lost Children and You Are My Life are just too sappy for me.

Most of the Jerkins produced stuff has too many machine noises and sounds really dated. Michael's other albums managed to blend plenty of instruments and synthesizers and create a layered but natural organic sound.

This is coming from someone who's favorite musician is Jackson and thinks that 95% of his music is genius. Michael's talent never decline though. Those Invincible outtakes and the stuff on The Ultimate Collection was brilliant.

 

[SCReuter]

Chicago, the second track on the album, is now available for listening on Sony Music Unlimited.

Here's a link: https://music.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/subscription

Type "Michael Jackson" or "Michael Jackson Chicago" in the top right corner. It should be one of the first three tracks that appear in the results. If you don't have an account, you can still hear a 30 second snippet or sign up for a free 30 day trial to get the full song.

Edit: Chicago was produced by Timbaland and J-Roc, I believe.

 

[Twilight Gap]

Break of Dawn is amazing at a faster tempo. I'll see if I can upload the version I transposed.

 

[RaidenZR]

Love Never Felt So Good ft. Justin Timberlake

The track is down but I was listening to it cached all weekend. I think that it's is really good and MUCH better than what I was expecting. I'm very interested in hearing how the rest of the album sounds now. "Michael" was such a disappointing mess of rushed, cash-in slop that I'm really hoping this is the complete opposite.

 

[Twilight Gap]

Whoops meant to post this in the other thread.

 

[fse]

I like Chicago, though dunno why they changed the name from She Was Lovin Me.

 

[Naked Snake]

Loving Love Never Felt So Good!

 

[Oozer3993]

I am lovin' Chicago. Timbo nailed the beat.

A new song will be debuted on Sony Music Unlimited every day this week. Here's the schedule:

5/5: Chicago
5/6: Lovin' You
5/7: A Place With No Name
5/8: Slave to the Rhythm
5/9: Do You Know Where Your Children Are

I like Chicago, though dunno why they changed the name from She Was Lovin Me.

To troll all of us who have been craving "Chicago 1945" for years.

Break of Dawn is amazing at a faster tempo. I'll see if I can upload the version I transposed.

Ditto for Privacy. It sounds too slow on the album, but speed it up a little and it sounds much better.

 

[Ran rp]

I am lovin' Chicago. Timbo nailed the beat.

A new song will be debuted on Sony Music Unlimited every day this week. Here's the schedule:

5/5: Chicago
5/6: Lovin' You
5/7: A Place With No Name
5/8: Slave to the Rhythm
5/9: Do You Know Where Your Children Are



To troll all of us who have been craving "Chicago 1945" for years.



Ditto for Privacy. It sounds too slow on the album, but speed it up a little and it sounds much better.

Hopefully we'll get a Michael only version of Slave to the Rhythm too.

 

[Himynameischris]

I have MU so I can't wait I heard Chicago during lunch and they nailed his sound, shame he had to go