Some have argued Jackson is not the singer on “Breaking News.” I am convinced Jackson’s voice is on the track (apparently heavily augmented by posthumous studio trickery). The sound might be constructed around a punched up vocal never meant for release by Jackson. But this is not a clip job. Jackson’s signature is clear from the lyric: the narcissism and self-pity.
“Breaking News” sounds exactly like an unreleased track from Jackson’s 2001 flop “Invincible.” The only difference is that Sony has sonically spruced up the song for a 2010 sound. Those fans who are shocked by how bland “Breaking News” sounds should go listen to Invincible or the extra disc on History. Outside all the controversies about his life, “Breaking News” is the reason Jackson stopped having blockbuster hits. This is the sort of song he was recording, over and over, after everyone stopped listening.
That does not mean “Breaking News” won’t be a hit. Michael Jackson’s career success since dying has been extraordinary. In life, Jackson knocked around Vegas searching for a headliner deal that never quite materialized. In death, he has a Cirque show coming to Mandalay Bay. But I doubt “Breaking News” will be part of that show.”Breaking News” is not classic Michael Jackson just sadly typical of the recording artist he became during his final isolated years.
You can hear the new Michael Jackson single “Breaking News” here, and form your own opinion.
Richard,
As I’m sure you know I’m a huge MJ fan, so I just wanted to comment on a few things regarding this post.
First off, I agree, the song is exactly the type of song that people other than “die-hard” fans don’t want to hear. No one wants to hear any celebrity complain about their life in the spotlight, especially when they work so hard to stay in it. Michael managed two pretty cool records in this area, “Leave Me Alone” and “Tabloid Junkie”, but they don’t hold up as great “songs.” “Breaking News” is not a good song, nor a good record. It’s actually pretty horrible all around. For that reason, it won’t be a hit. Curiosity or not, the public wont keep a song on the air that sucks. However, I also don’t believe that Michael Jackson is singing on that track, despite what Sony and others have said. I know Michael’s voice better than I know the back of my own hand, and the lead vocal on “Breaking News” does not belong to Michael Jackson. He may be there somewhere in the mix, but the lead vocal is not his. He never pronounced his name the way he does in that song, nor would he ever sing his own name in a song! Listen to the acapella version on YouTube, then listen to the acapella of a song like “Why You Wanna Trip On Me.”, a very similar song.
It’s obvious to me that more than 50% of the vocals on “Breaking News” were done by a very good vocal impersonator.
Also, it should be known that Invincible, while not a great album, was hardly a Flop. When it was released in 2001, it debuted at Number 1 in over 11 worldwide territories. In it’s first week, in the USA alone, it sold over 300,000 copies, and to this day, has sold over 13 million copies. A flop compared to Thriller? Maybe. But a flop? Hardly.
Lastly, you cite the second disc of the HIStory Album as a “bonus disc.” Not true. HIStory was a thought-thru 30 song album, with the first disc being 15 greatest hits, and disc 2 being 15 new songs. A bonus disc is 5 or 6 songs, not 15. That second disc of HIStory gave the world the first song to ever debut at #1 on the Billboard chart, “You Are Not Alone.” and it also gave us moments of true music genius with “Earth Song” “They Dont Care About Us” and “Scream.”
Ok, nerd moment over. Just clarifying.
“They Don’t Care About Us” is a great song. Honestly, maybe this is cliche, but what MJ needed for a return to recording was Quincy Jones. Jones always brought out the best in him and by the end Jones probably would have been the only one with the authority to make Jackson shine again.
I love nerd moments. Thanks! Yrs.,Richard