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Michael Jackson's back. “Thriller," the world's top-selling album, which vaulted Jackson to superstar status 25 years ago, is about to be reissued as “Thriller 25.” The release is being supported with a flood of singles, a 40-episode "ThrillerCast" podcast, the Super Bowl launch of the "Thrillicious" Sobe Life Water ad campaign and the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Jackson at the NRJ Music Awards at Cannes among other events.
The original album was certified 27-times platinum, (Double Diamond
in the United States. In 1984, Jackson received a record-breaking 12
Grammy nominations and went on to win eight, which still stands as the
most Grammy Awards won by an individual in a single year. Seven of the
awards were for “Thriller.”
The Guinness World Records claims Jackson
is among the most highly acclaimed and influential artists in pop
culture. Jackson, of course, has been mired in controversy in recent
years that include allegations of child molestation and often bizarre
behavior. But if a reissue of one of the most successful album of all
time and the huge multi-media campaign surrounding it can’t restart his
career, nothing will.
The album will go on sale Feb. 12 in this country and will be
released simultaneously around the world the same week. Seven bonus
tracks have been added, including new collaborations with Akon, Fergie, will.i.am and a Kanye West remix of "Billie Jean 2008." The Michael
Jackson Thriller 25th anniversary celebration runs throughout 2008 with
a global media and marketing blitz featuring television, radio and
online events around the world and the major re-launch of Jackson’s
official website. You can check it out here.
Super Bowl Media Kickoff
The media campaign kicked off with the premiere of "Thrillicious,"
Pepsi's Sobe Life Water spot starring supermodel Naomi Campbell and a
cast of animated lizards. It featured a series of dance moves to the
tune of Jackson's "Thriller." The first single from "Thriller 25,"
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" featuring Akon, has already been
released to radio and is getting spins on pop, rhythm and urban
stations across the country. The single has been the No. 1 “On Demand”
song online for all Clear Channel Radio station Web sites since its
release Jan. 18, according to the Jackson camp.
On the comeback trail, Jackson was recently honored with a Lifetime
Achievement Award at the prestigious NRJ Music Awards ceremony at a
music industry conference in Cannes, France. Following a video tribute,
Jackson delivered a personal message via satellite to NRJ attendees and
a television audience of more than 7 million viewers. A recent
"Thriller 25" promotion in London featured professional dancers
re-enacting the iconic zombie choreography on the London Underground,
Trafalgar Square and other unusual locations. A competition has been
launched for UK Michael fans to submit their own versions of the
"Thriller" dance to YouTube.
"Thrillercast," a groundbreaking 40-episode podcast event, launches
Feb 12 and will be updated weekly throughout the year. The series
features icons of music, screen and culture including hip-hop legend
Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, superstars Nick Cannon and Chris Brown,
choreographers Shane Sparks and Mia Michaels from the hit show "So You
Think You Can Dance," and dozens of other special guests. Each episode
will explore their personal experiences with “Thriller” and its
influence on them, both personally and professionally. "Thrillercast"
will be available for free through iTunes, Zune, and all major podcast
providers, as well as directly through Jackson's Web site.
Mix of New and Old
“Thriller 25” includes all nine of “Thriller's” original
performances as well as seven bonus tracks, including five new homages
featuring performers in contemporary pop and soul music. "Thriller
25's" first single, "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008," produced by
Jackson and Akon, is an all-new version of "Thriller's" opening cut. It
showcases newly recorded 2008 vocals by Jackson and Akon. Another
track, "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) 2008," by Jackson with will.i.am is
an original, unreleased pre-album demo remixed by Jackson and will.i.am
with newly added vocals and production from will.i.am.
"The Girl Is Mine 2008" is another Jackson/ will.i.am collaboration
based on a demo predating Jackson's duet with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.
This is a previously unreleased track newly produced and mixed by
Jackson and will.i.am, featuring a will.i.am rap. "The Girl Is Mine
2008" is the album's first single and is already charting in Brazil,
Germany, Holland, Ireland, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, the UK
and Japan, where it at No. 5 on the Top 10.
"Billie Jean 2008" features the original tracks of Jackson's
signature hit, newly remixed by Kanye West. "Beat It 2008" is both a
remix and a new track featuring Jackson's vocals and instrumental
tracks from the Thriller original coupled with seductive new vocals by
Fergie with new band tracks and production by Jackson and will.i.am.
”Thriller 25” closes with "For All Time," a nascent classic recorded
by Jackson during the original Thriller sessions in 1982 but never
completed or released until now. Jackson has added new vocals and band
tracks to his original recording. Mick Guzawski mixed and Jackson
produced "For All Time," which “provides a sublime and fitting close to
this new, definitive edition of Thriller, a spokesman says.
As an added bonus for fans, “Thriller 25” includes a DVD featuring
Jackson's groundbreaking music videos from the original album;
("Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean") and the artist's
Emmy-nominated breakout performance of "Billie Jean" from the legendary
"Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" television special (broadcast on
NBC on May 16, 1983).
The Thriller 25 CD/DVD set will be available in three collectible
editions: a standard version with the album's original cover art; a
standard version with a new "Zombie" cover; and a deluxe edition in a
hard-bound casebook format with a 48-page booklet. Both standard
versions contain the CD and bonus DVD in a brilliant box with a rainbow
holographic O-card and a 20- page booklet. Thriller 25 will also be
available as a Platinum MusicPass Album Card, a digital album card that
consumers can use to download “Thriller 25, and special bonus content
in the form of high-quality MP3 files.
Originally released in the United States, Nov 30, 1982, the Epic
Records production was Jackson's sixth solo album and second with
producer Quincy Jones. It rocketed the former Jackson 5 child-star and
lead singer to international superstardom. Jackson introduced the
"robot" and the "moonwalk" and revolutionized mainstream pop. The
original Thriller spent an astounding 80 consecutive weeks in the
American Top 10, 37 of those at No. 1.Thriller also made history as the
first and only record to be America's top- selling album two years
running (1983 and 1984).
Source: http://www.theimproper.com/Template_Article.aspx?IssueId=3&ArticleId=1216
Tagged:Akon, Fergie, will.i.am, Kanye West, Thrillicious, Sobe, Thriller 25, NRJ, Chris Brown
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MJ Rocks back to 'King' Status!! Keep On Michael!!
Back To Rock The World!!
Dont Stop Till You Get Enough!!
Love U More Always
Janesa