I hate to go against the flow, but I don't see anything wrong about it. All original writers of the song are credited. I have no problems neither with samples nor with covers. Some covers and samples surpass the originals, this one clearly don't. I neither like nor dislike Justin, he is just not my cap of tea. But I give him credit for always respecting Michael and calling Michael his biggest influence.
As to the article in question, this is Roger Friedman. And no, I am not going to agreed with dear old Rogers only because he says that I want to hear. He sounded in his article like he uncovered something that was hidden. It wasn't, it is on the surface.
I agree. I mean seriously, who gives a sh!t? I don't understand this animosity towards this kid at all. The criticism always puzzles me. He is neither the first nor the last one to sample a song (lots of artists have sampled stuff MJ has sung, e.g. remember Mariah's I'll be there?). All the right people have been credited. Even if he wanted to be the new Michael Jackson, what's wrong with that? Millions of people love and admire MJ and want to be like him. Why does JB always get bashed for it? We all know that there will only be one Michael Jackson but should we bash everyone who's aspiring to be like the greatest? Some people should perhaps just ignore this kid if he upsets them so much. I don't know... it just doesn't seem right to bash him, he has had nothing but kind words for Michael and seems to be a sweet guy. Furthermore:
Plus I have a kind of sympathy towards every child star because of Michael's life. This is when the tough period will slowly start for Justin. He's growing up. His fan base is growing up as well. He will have to find his own voice soon and get a transition from teen star to adult star and try to keep his fans. It will be interesting to see how he will deal with that challenge that every child star has to face sooner or later. And most failed to make that transition. Michael was a rare exception. But he had huge talents, that I don't see in Justin but we will see.
That how I see it, too. I wish him well, I would not want him to end up like most child stars.
Madonna said that she wanted to be the female MJ, who can blame her? When you are in this business you want to be like the best or perhaps better. JB doesn't strike me as someone who wants to be an impersonator, he is just influenced by Michael, he is his own person with his own style, I don't see him walking around every day trying to look like Michael. I also don't see what the big fuss is about his stupid scarf. Who cares? It's just a bloody scarf.
Also, I don't see his success fading yet like some people like to claim. How is it fading? I don't see any signs for it (not that I care). In a way his career and this whole situation reminds me of the time when Justin Timberlake took off with his solo career. He had to deal with the same rubbish. Lots of people hated him, called him stupid, gay and all kinds of other names, and by the way he was also called a Michael Jackson copycat. I never had a problem with JT either, it just that (and please JT fans feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) in the beginning he said that he was influenced by MJ and later when MJ was uncool (2005 onwards) he said Fred Astaire and Michael was totally omitted. I hope JB will not do that.
And Friedmann should stop pretending to have uncovered some kind of dirty secret. Sampling and borrowing aren't illegal, it has been done forever. And yes, all the right people were credited. What's his problem with all these people?
for being so ARROGANT .. 
