Michael Jackson's forthcoming studio album

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Future
 This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future album.
The content may change as the album release approaches and more information becomes available.
Album
TBA
Studio album by Michael Jackson
Released 26th august 2008 (believe in it and this will happen...)
Recorded 2003 - Present
Genre TBA
Length TBA
Label TBA
Producer Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson chronology
Thriller 25
(2008)		 TBA
(TBA)

Michael Jackson is set to release a new (studio) album.

Jackson revealed the details to Ebony magazine, and went on to explain that he still plans to continue making music and will not retire anytime soon.

In production since March of 2006 with Jackson having written songs since 2003. The new album has been recorded in Westmeath, Ireland and Las Vegas by Jackson and executive producers, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins[1], Teddy Riley[2], Ron "Neff-U" Feemster[2], among many others.

will.i.am has described the upcoming album as an Off the Wall for today's generation.[3] Some of the work in progress includes up-tempo, dance-floor ready tunes and 'great melodies'.[2] Insiders on the project are describing the tracks as 'perfect pop songs'.[4]

On the 22nd of September 2007, Jackson checked in to the Clinton Recording Studio in New York City to work on more tracks with will.i.am.[5] Jackson has also been sighted at the Palms Hotel Recording Studio.

Contents

[edit] Recording

Jackson commenced work on the album in May of 2006 in Bahrain. In the autumn of 2006 he moved to Grouse Lodge recording studio in Ireland where will.i.am[6] met up with him.

When first starting this project, Jackson said in April of 2006: "I am very excited about my new venture and I am enjoying being back in the studio making music".[7]

will.i.am told journalists at the Cannes MidemNet conference in January of 2007: "Michael Jackson is working day and night on this great, great record. I heard and see him in the studio and he is creating a masterpiece. A lot of people in the industry are involved or want to be involved. From producers to marketing people. Before the year is over Michael Jackson is back on top of the charts".[8]

In October of 2006 Access Hollywood travelled to Grouse Lodge, which they described as a classic old Irish estate ouside Dublin; a stone manor built with a state of the art recording studio - to conduct an informal interview with Jackson and will.i.am. When presenter Billy Bush questioned the entertainer if this was him deciding to get back in to making music, he insisted that he had never stopped. When they discussed the music, Jackson explained that he likes to take sounds and put them under "the microscope" to (somewhat) manipulate their character. He also indicated that this music was something completely new that no one has ever done before. Jackson seemed intrigued with Bush's suggestion - that the new production be a sequel to his 1982 magnum opus - Thriller.[8]

In January of 2008, Jackson relocated to "The Studio" at The Palms in Las Vegas so that meeting up with collaborators would be less strenuous.[9] Since then, despite taking many trips to Japan and London, it is believed he has recorded over 100 songs for the project. In making his last album Invincible, more than 100 songs were recorded, with 20-30 short listed.[10] will.i.am recently stated in a Times Online interview "Having 12 songs on a record? That day is done" and expressed an interest in compiling over a hundred songs for *his* next studio album Songs About Girls.[11] [Ultimately, only around 15 appeared.]

[edit] Possible Collaborations

In the last four months of 2006, Jackson worked at the Grouse Lodge recording studio in Ireland. During that time, he worked with will.i.am, Rodney Jerkins (who worked with Jackson on Invincible), Neff-U (who has worked with Ne-Yo, Eminem and 50 Cent) and Charles "Big Chuck" Stanton.[12] Big Chuck is the uncle of Neff-U and has been quoted as saying the following about Jackson's upcoming album:

"[Michael is] ready to take over the world. He's got some hot records. Will.I.Am did one, Teddy Riley [did one]. We're giving Michael a lot of edgy street records. He's putting melodies to some hard party records."[12]

[edit] will.i.am

Jackson has enlisted Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am for a backup on one of his tracks for the album. They appeared together in an Access Hollywood interview conducted in October of 2006.[13] At that time, they had not yet completed any music, but were still experimenting with different sounds and styles. However, a Rolling Stone magazine article published in February of 2007, stated the pair had drafted eight new songs and physically tracked one, titled "I'm Dreamin'".

will.i.am told Billboard magazine that he is involved in more than just the musical aspect of Jackson's new album. He is also discussing with the artist how new technologies might be utilized to his advantage (as suggested by Access Hollywood's Billy Bush), particularly social networking websites and downloading outlets.[14]

In an August 2007 interview with Times Online, will.i.am was quoted as saying, "[Jackson's] voice is still incredible. It’s not about crazy beats that are going be here today and gone tomorrow, but melodies that will stay for a lifetime."[15]

On the 13th of August 2007, will.i.am told reporters at a Black Eyed Peas press conference in South Korea that another track he recorded with Jackson is titled "The Future".[16]

August 23rd 2007: will.i.am revealed on the Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM, that he's only recorded two songs with Jackson, both of a "feel good" nature - unrelated to the singer's life. He also stated they're to work on two further tracks in November.[17]

[edit] Ne-Yo

R&B singer Ne-Yo is currently working on Jackson's album, and says he's well aware of the pitfalls that may come with the job.

"I'm not trying to top Thriller. Anybody trying to top something that's already been done is fighting a losing battle". "It was a different industry back then, a different way of thinking and people were easier to impress. Everything in music has been done now, so Michael needs to find his place again".[18]

For unknown reasons.. Michael has asked Ne-Yo to keep quiet about the new album. Ne-Yo confirmed this to a SOHH reporter.[19]


NeYo recently spoke about his craft and career in a phone interview from a tour stop last week in Philadelphia. He also mentioned working with Michael on the new album.

On what he can share about the project:

NeYo~ "Uh, nothing that would get me in trouble. He was very adamant about nobody knowing what's going on. No explanations, not even song titles. But we are working together and it's coming along nicely. He's being very selective."

On what it was like to get the call from the King of Pop:

NeYo~ I don't really do the starstruck thing, but when I met him and stood in front of the man, I was shaking like a leaf."[20]

[edit] Akon & RedOne

It has been confirmed that MJ has been working with R&B star Akon.[20] Akon stated of Jackson:

He's a genius. Just to be in the same room [with him], I felt everything I wanted to accomplish in life has been achieved. That aura ... that's how incredible that aura is. We [are] about to shake the world up, man. You know how you be with somebody and you can't even explain [the feeling]? I used to sit and think, 'How does somebody sell so many records and dominate a whole business genre, to a point [where] nobody can't be a part of that without associating with you?' The way he thinks ... some artists think regional, some think national, I was thinking international. He thinks planets. It's on another level."

According to the New York Post tabloid, Michael Jackson has hired RedOne to mastermind the new album, with the duet working together at the Palms recording studio in Las Vegas, April 23, 2008.[21]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jacko looks for a jackpot in Vegas with 50-ft. robot. NY Daily News. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  2. ^ a b c Michael Jackson Takes on World, Wins. E! News. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  3. ^ Details Emerge About Michael's New Album. MJJ Forum. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
  4. ^ Ne-Yo Takes Over the Radio. Dose.ca. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  5. ^ Will.i.am On Working With Michael Jackson: “We’re Taking It Day By Day.”. findtotty.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-26.
  6. ^ Billy's Blog: Michael Jackson Exclusive. Access Hollywood. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  7. ^ Michael Jackson Sails With Two Seas. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  8. ^ a b will.i.am talks about new MJ album. MJ Upbeat. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  9. ^ In a World Exclusive Interview, Michael Jackson Talks About His New Life in Vegas and His Comeback. Vegas Popular. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  10. ^ Steve Harvey Radio Interview (2001). MJJ Forum. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  11. ^ Peas in our time. Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  12. ^ a b For The Record. MTV. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  13. ^ Billy's Blog: Michael Jackson Exclusive. Access Hollywood. Retrieved on 2007-08-11.
  14. ^ will.i.am Working On Jackson Comeback Album. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-24.
  15. ^ Peas in our time. Times Online. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  16. ^ 블랙아이드피스 "김치처럼 톡 쏘는 공연될 것" (Korean). Yahoo! Korea. Retrieved on 2007-08-14.
  17. ^ 102.7 KIIS-FM - L.A.'s #1 Hit Music Station!. KIIS FM. Retrieved on 2007-08-26.
  18. ^ Ne-Yo: I'm Not Trying To Top Thriller. Star Pulse. Retrieved on 2007-08-10.
  19. ^ Ne-Yo: Discusses Thriller 25 and New Album. SOHH. Retrieved on 2008-03-30.
  20. ^ a b Ne-Yo: Mentions his work with Michael in a phone interview. ne-yofan.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-14.
  21. ^ Wacko Jacko Back In Studio - New York Post
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