In the twilight of his career, Michael Jackson was almost as well known for the projects he never completed as he was for the ones that came to fruition. From the mid-1990s on, fans were frequently tantalized with the promise of movies, theme parks, tours and song collaborations with the day's hottest music stars that came and went without ever being realized.
As the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death approaches, MTV News is taking a look at the many plans the King of Pop dreamed up before his premature end, some of which are finally becoming reality.
Despite more than a decade out of the pop-culture spotlight, Jackson also clearly never stopped having his finger on the pulse of what was going on in music. Lady Gaga recently revealed that Jackson had tapped her to open for his 50-show This Is It stand at the O2 arena in London. "I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour," she said. "We were going to open for him at the O2. ... And we were working on making it happen. And I suppose there was some talk about the openers doing some duets with Michael onstage."
In fact, one of the choreographers of This Is It said in an interview that not only did Jackson want to have Gaga open for him, he was very interested in recording a song with her before his death. Travis Payne said that after giving Jackson a short list of possible collaborators for his next musical project (including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Usher and Justin Timberlake), the pop icon suggested Payne check out the then budding superstar Gaga.
"He goes, 'Lady Gaga.' I go, 'Really?' He goes, 'Yeah.' He's the one who really got me to get into her," Payne recalled. "He literally told me, 'You gotta get into her. She's good.' So, I started listening to her music more and going on YouTube and looking at her performances, and I was like, 'He's right.' "
Jackson was also clearly looking to take his place among the musical icons he most admired and whose sales records he was determined to break during the course of his career. Just like the Beatles and Elvis Presley, Jackson will be immortalized by Cirque du Soleil with a permanent show in Las Vegas and a touring version in 2011, thanks to an agreement with Jackson's estate. This brings to fruition a long-held dream for Jackson, who was a big fan of the Canadian troupe's productions and had discussed mounting a show based on his music several years before his death.
Jackson always dreamed big, and toward the end of his life, he spent quite a bit of time in Vegas cooking up another abandoned pie-in-the-sky project. In October 2005, just a few months removed from his acquittal on child molestation charges, Jackson began work with fashion designer André Van Pier on costume and set designs for a Las Vegas residency. Their concepts included plans for a 50-foot tall MJ robot that would roam the Nevada desert as an ad for the singer's show and an enticement to visit a robot-themed hotel. Like so many of Jackson's fantasias, it was not to be.
That was also the case with a movie the pop star had planned to co-direct about an orphan shuttled between foster homes, titled "They Cage the Animals at Night." Even as he was gearing up for the This Is It run, Jackson was trying to get financing together for the indie film, based on the 1985 book about foster kid Jennings Michael Burch. Jackson told friend and filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller that he related to the book because he often felt like an orphan as a child due to his hectic life as a young pop star, and he had actually been thinking about adapting the book since around 2003, when he invited Burch to his home to be interviewed on camera.
For years before his death, Jackson had been recording tracks for what was slated to be his comeback from 2001's disappointing Invincible album. He'd logged studio time with Akon and Will.I.Am and spoken to T-Pain, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, Chris Brown, DJ Whoo Kid, Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo and 50 Cent about collaborations. Most of those tracks were never recorded or have not seen the light of day, but over the past year, a few songs and snippets have leaked online, including a 90-second taste of a duet with rocker Lenny Kravitz called "Another Day." The unfinished demo of the song with the grinding R&B beat and soaring strings — on which Kravitz later said he played all the instruments and sang — is similar to a tune Kravitz used on his 2004 album Baptism, but it's unknown if he recorded the song with Jackson first.
One of the more exciting posthumous items (it's unknown if Jackson was involved in its development at the time of his death) is a yet-untitled MJ video game from Ubisoft due by the end of the year. The game, based on Jackson's legendary music and performances, will allow players to groove along to mega-hits like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" while learning some of the singer's signature dance moves.
Among the other projects that have emerged in the past year: a movie about the singer's final days from biographer Ian Halperin, the "We Are the World" remake featuring Jackson's original vocals among those of a host of contemporary singers, a "This Is It" video directed by Spike Lee, his attempt to quash the beef between 50 Cent and Game and the super-secret video production known as the "Dome Project" that appeared to be connected with the massive stage set and 3-D films being made for the This Is It shows. And this month, plans were announced to build a Jackson Family Museum and arts center in his hometown of Gary, Indiana.
As the one-year anniversary of Jackson's death approaches, MTV News is taking a look at the many plans the King of Pop dreamed up before his premature end, some of which are finally becoming reality.
Despite more than a decade out of the pop-culture spotlight, Jackson also clearly never stopped having his finger on the pulse of what was going on in music. Lady Gaga recently revealed that Jackson had tapped her to open for his 50-show This Is It stand at the O2 arena in London. "I was actually asked to open for Michael on his tour," she said. "We were going to open for him at the O2. ... And we were working on making it happen. And I suppose there was some talk about the openers doing some duets with Michael onstage."
In fact, one of the choreographers of This Is It said in an interview that not only did Jackson want to have Gaga open for him, he was very interested in recording a song with her before his death. Travis Payne said that after giving Jackson a short list of possible collaborators for his next musical project (including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Usher and Justin Timberlake), the pop icon suggested Payne check out the then budding superstar Gaga.
"He goes, 'Lady Gaga.' I go, 'Really?' He goes, 'Yeah.' He's the one who really got me to get into her," Payne recalled. "He literally told me, 'You gotta get into her. She's good.' So, I started listening to her music more and going on YouTube and looking at her performances, and I was like, 'He's right.' "
Jackson was also clearly looking to take his place among the musical icons he most admired and whose sales records he was determined to break during the course of his career. Just like the Beatles and Elvis Presley, Jackson will be immortalized by Cirque du Soleil with a permanent show in Las Vegas and a touring version in 2011, thanks to an agreement with Jackson's estate. This brings to fruition a long-held dream for Jackson, who was a big fan of the Canadian troupe's productions and had discussed mounting a show based on his music several years before his death.
Jackson always dreamed big, and toward the end of his life, he spent quite a bit of time in Vegas cooking up another abandoned pie-in-the-sky project. In October 2005, just a few months removed from his acquittal on child molestation charges, Jackson began work with fashion designer André Van Pier on costume and set designs for a Las Vegas residency. Their concepts included plans for a 50-foot tall MJ robot that would roam the Nevada desert as an ad for the singer's show and an enticement to visit a robot-themed hotel. Like so many of Jackson's fantasias, it was not to be.
That was also the case with a movie the pop star had planned to co-direct about an orphan shuttled between foster homes, titled "They Cage the Animals at Night." Even as he was gearing up for the This Is It run, Jackson was trying to get financing together for the indie film, based on the 1985 book about foster kid Jennings Michael Burch. Jackson told friend and filmmaker Bryan Michael Stoller that he related to the book because he often felt like an orphan as a child due to his hectic life as a young pop star, and he had actually been thinking about adapting the book since around 2003, when he invited Burch to his home to be interviewed on camera.
For years before his death, Jackson had been recording tracks for what was slated to be his comeback from 2001's disappointing Invincible album. He'd logged studio time with Akon and Will.I.Am and spoken to T-Pain, Kanye West, Swizz Beatz, Irv Gotti, Chris Brown, DJ Whoo Kid, Sean Garrett, Ne-Yo and 50 Cent about collaborations. Most of those tracks were never recorded or have not seen the light of day, but over the past year, a few songs and snippets have leaked online, including a 90-second taste of a duet with rocker Lenny Kravitz called "Another Day." The unfinished demo of the song with the grinding R&B beat and soaring strings — on which Kravitz later said he played all the instruments and sang — is similar to a tune Kravitz used on his 2004 album Baptism, but it's unknown if he recorded the song with Jackson first.
One of the more exciting posthumous items (it's unknown if Jackson was involved in its development at the time of his death) is a yet-untitled MJ video game from Ubisoft due by the end of the year. The game, based on Jackson's legendary music and performances, will allow players to groove along to mega-hits like "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" while learning some of the singer's signature dance moves.
Among the other projects that have emerged in the past year: a movie about the singer's final days from biographer Ian Halperin, the "We Are the World" remake featuring Jackson's original vocals among those of a host of contemporary singers, a "This Is It" video directed by Spike Lee, his attempt to quash the beef between 50 Cent and Game and the super-secret video production known as the "Dome Project" that appeared to be connected with the massive stage set and 3-D films being made for the This Is It shows. And this month, plans were announced to build a Jackson Family Museum and arts center in his hometown of Gary, Indiana.
You'll probably never get this letter
Michael, I wrote you a hundred times before
Knowing how I feel, I'll write a hundred more"
"Dear Michael, everytime your records on
Michael, I close my eyes and sing along
Dreaming you're singing to me"
And then she wrote
"Michael, I love you
I've held tears back long as I can
I'm sealing my feelings in this envelope
Cause I wanna be more than just your number one fan
I'm gonna answer your letter
I'll start beginning with the ABCs of loving you
Your letter really touched my heart
I've been dreaming of meeting the picture
That you sent along, signed with all your love
(Michael, Michael)
(I want you)
(She wrote)
I'm gonna write you back
Ooh, I promise you that
Girl, I think I love you
Hurry, hurry Mr Postman
Take my letter
Tell her her I love her
Hurry, hurry Mr Postman
Take my letter
Tell her I love her
Michael Jackson: Joe Jackson blames his wife for the death of the singer
He asked him to hospitalize him
Michael Jackson cannot rest in peace. The parents of the singer, Joe and Katherine Jackson are faced by the death of his son. According to Joe Jackson his wife is the culprit of the death of the ' King of the Pop '.
The father of Michael Jackson revealed to a British diary that asked for several times his wife who was hospitalizing his son in a clinic of rehabilitation in order that it overcomes his addictions. ' If you had listened to me, Michael would be alive ', said Joe Jackson to the mother of the singer.
The portal TMZ informed that the attorneys of Katherine Jackson answered to the accusations and indicated that the whole world wise that she always was a good mother and grandmother.
He asked him to hospitalize him
Michael Jackson cannot rest in peace. The parents of the singer, Joe and Katherine Jackson are faced by the death of his son. According to Joe Jackson his wife is the culprit of the death of the ' King of the Pop '.
The father of Michael Jackson revealed to a British diary that asked for several times his wife who was hospitalizing his son in a clinic of rehabilitation in order that it overcomes his addictions. ' If you had listened to me, Michael would be alive ', said Joe Jackson to the mother of the singer.
The portal TMZ informed that the attorneys of Katherine Jackson answered to the accusations and indicated that the whole world wise that she always was a good mother and grandmother.
Randy has been on Twitter attack, calling the auction at Planet Hollywood in Vegas "distasteful."
Darren Julien from Julien's Auctions claims it's pure coincidence the auction falls on June 25 -- "We have the same summer auction [of pop star memorabilia] at the same time every year."
Julien says the auction date can't be moved. So there.
Sources tell TMZ Janet Jackson was so "blown away" by the positive reaction to her appearance on the "American Idol" finale that she's "seriously entertaining" a concert tour ... that could begin before the end of the year.
Janet was amazing on Wednesday's "Idol" -- performing "Again," "Nothing," and "Nasty." We're told as of today a concert tour is now on the front burner.
Miss Jackson -- who has only toured once since 2002 (and a bulk of that tour was canceled) agreed yesterday to appear at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 2.
Janet was amazing on Wednesday's "Idol" -- performing "Again," "Nothing," and "Nasty." We're told as of today a concert tour is now on the front burner.
Miss Jackson -- who has only toured once since 2002 (and a bulk of that tour was canceled) agreed yesterday to appear at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on July 2.
Originally posted May 15th 2010 10:14 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Dr. Conrad Murray may have saved a life this morning ... 30,000 feet above the ground.
Sources tell TMZ Murray was on a US Air flight from Houston to Phoenix when a flight attendant came over the loudspeaker and asked if there was a doctor on board.
Turns out a passenger fainted and could not be revived. We're told Murray jumped out of his seat, evaluated the female passenger (who was in her 20s and traveling with a baby), and quickly noticed she had a "very weak pulse."
Somehow -- don't ask us -- Murray inserted an IV and was able to stabilize the passenger until the plane made an emergency landing in Albuquerque.
The passenger was taken for further treatment. Her condition is not known.
Read more: link
TMZ has learned Dr. Conrad Murray may have saved a life this morning ... 30,000 feet above the ground.
Sources tell TMZ Murray was on a US Air flight from Houston to Phoenix when a flight attendant came over the loudspeaker and asked if there was a doctor on board.
Turns out a passenger fainted and could not be revived. We're told Murray jumped out of his seat, evaluated the female passenger (who was in her 20s and traveling with a baby), and quickly noticed she had a "very weak pulse."
Somehow -- don't ask us -- Murray inserted an IV and was able to stabilize the passenger until the plane made an emergency landing in Albuquerque.
The passenger was taken for further treatment. Her condition is not known.
Read more: link
Dr. Conrad Murray has fans ... with whipped cream on top.
Murray -- who's due in court next month in the Michael Jackson manslaughter case -- was corralled by a fan Wednesday at a Houston Starbucks.
She gave us the pic but asked us to blur her face.
It's all about taking precautions.
More Dr. Conrad Murray
Dr. Murray May Ask to Delay Preliminary Hearing
Joe Jackson: Don't Attack Conrad's Supporters
Conrad Murray Supporters Plan Demonstration
Conrad Murray -- I Will Never Cop a Plea
Read more: link
Originally posted May 13th 2010 5:30 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for fans to bring more flowers to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged fans to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
Fans have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
Lisa Marie Presley's desperate plea for fans to bring more flowers to Michael Jackson's tomb must have fallen on deaf ears -- because as of today the entrance to the tomb was pretty bare.
Michael Jackson's ex-wife complained about too much "empty space" around the singer's tomb on her MySpace page yesterday -- and urged fans to fill the void with lots of sunflowers ... but obviously that didn't happen.
Fans have since fired back, claiming they've been faithfully doing their part flowers-wise since MJ died last year.
Read more: link
"Ben"
Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You've got a friend in me
(You've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there
(Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
(Anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go
(You've got a place to go)
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
Ben, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you my friend will see
You've got a friend in me
(You've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there
(Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
(Anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something you should know
You've got a place to go
(You've got a place to go)
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(A friend)
Like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
(Originally posted May 6th 2010 12:23 AM PDT by TMZ Staff)
Dr. Arnold Klein's office manager -- who claims he was Michael Jackson's lover -- is facing such intense death threats that he's moving from place to place ... hiding out from angry MJ fans.
A source close to Dr. Klein and Jason Pfeiffer tells TMZ incensed Jackson fans have walked right up to Pfeiffer's home and knocked on his door -- and they've also tracked him down at his friends' houses.
Since Jason went public last week with allegations of an affair with Michael, we're told violent and homophobic threats have poured into Dr. Klein's office by phone, fax, and email. According to the source one voicemail said, "I'm gonna put a bullet in your heads."
Klein and Pfeiffer have hired bodyguards, and reported the threats to the FBI. We're told Pfeiffer is currently at a private location with friends.
Read more: link
Dr. Arnold Klein's office manager -- who claims he was Michael Jackson's lover -- is facing such intense death threats that he's moving from place to place ... hiding out from angry MJ fans.
A source close to Dr. Klein and Jason Pfeiffer tells TMZ incensed Jackson fans have walked right up to Pfeiffer's home and knocked on his door -- and they've also tracked him down at his friends' houses.
Since Jason went public last week with allegations of an affair with Michael, we're told violent and homophobic threats have poured into Dr. Klein's office by phone, fax, and email. According to the source one voicemail said, "I'm gonna put a bullet in your heads."
Klein and Pfeiffer have hired bodyguards, and reported the threats to the FBI. We're told Pfeiffer is currently at a private location with friends.
Read more: link
Like a comet
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
The loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of a moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
!THESE LYRICS ARE COMPLETELY CORRECT!
Blazing 'cross the evening sky
Gone too soon
Like a rainbow
Fading in the twinkling of an eye
Gone too soon
Shiny and sparkly
And splendidly bright
Here one day
Gone one night
The loss of sunlight
On a cloudy afternoon
Gone too soon
Like a castle
Built upon a sandy beach
Gone too soon
Like a perfect flower
That is just beyond your reach
Gone too soon
Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight
Here one day
Gone one night
Like a sunset
Dying with the rising of a moon
Gone too soon
Gone too soon
!THESE LYRICS ARE COMPLETELY CORRECT!