Chapter 25 was about the decision to release Childhood.
DB begins the chapter recalling the period of May 1995 as a successful stage of the History marketing. DB quotes Lamont Boles relating his troubles in promoting the Scream single in black radio, he highlights how the video came across as 'rock sexy' and that was an uncomfortable portrayal for a brother and sister. LB describes how he pressured the radio people into playing MJ by threatening to pull support for other acts.
During this period a decision was made to have the theme song from Free Willy 2, Childhood, released with Scream to boost the sales during the movie promotion. Some people at the label viewed Childhood as an 'added complication' as its tone undid the image being pursued to restore MJs credibility through the single Scream. While others, such as DG, saw this as a strategy to boost album sales. The ad campaign for the movie was used to leverage the Childhood video, which would incorporate footage from the movie and be half funded through the film company. DB and SS contacted Nick Brandt to direct the video.
DB went to the location of the shoot for Childhood at Angeles National Forest. As the scream/childhood single was due to be released, he picked up some single releases to share with MJ. On Tuesday 30th May DB arrived at the location with the single releases that he purchased for 99 cents. He found MJ in a RV with Jim Morrey (co manager) and Bob Jones. DB reflects that BJ ensured good coverage for black media and remarks his fallout and 'bitter revenge' with MJ. DB speaks highly of BJ as a hard worker who 'didn’t have a lot of patience for many of the people around Michael and minced no words', he notes BJ died in 2008 and would have had many MJ stories.
DB recalls how MJ was 'thrilled' at the sight of his single releases, and showed interest in where DB purchased them. DB also had Scream merchandising buttons with the phrase 'stop f***** with me' which was considered a good marketing idea by the label, MJ laughed at these buttons and refused to take them. DB wondered if MJ had been 'coerced' into singing those lyrics as he noticed the buttons remained untouched by MJ. He asked DB to go over the strategy to have the Scream single enter at number 1, DB mentions MJs fixation on this.
DB ends the chapter marking that they were 3 weeks from the album release date, and all the marketing aspects were completed and he goes in to detail about them. DB remembers MJ being happy with the support from the label at the time as DB left the forest location that day.
My commentary:
DB comments on Bob Jones stood out. Although DB mentions the fall out, he mostly represents BJ well. And the comment of BJ having many untold MJ stories was indicative of positive stories. Interestingly, DB doesn't mention BJs book where he did reveal MJ stories. DB also doesn't elaborate on BJs 'bitter revenge', I can only assume its in reference to this book.
The Childhood video information also stood out, as I don't recall that video showing any film footage. I wonder if plans were changed or whether DB was getting mixed up with WYBT video. Considering DB was on set for the Childhood video shoot, it was a shame there was no additional information regarding the actual shoot.
Reading about DBs thoughtful idea of buying single releases for MJ conveys DB as someone who was considerate of MJ outside of his job role. He depicted MJs charming youthful enthusiasm in how he captured MJs excited response in seeing his single releases with price stickers on them. Reading stories about MJ being overly excited over mundane occurrences always catches me off guard, and reminds me how MJs upbringing/perspective was so different to the rest of us that sometimes it's hard to grasp MJs joy over simple things. I was a bit confused over DBs concern that MJ wasn't touching the buttons, it came across as an odd marketing choice for a MJ single anyway.
There's definitely a sense of the calm before the storm in this chapter, the label and MJ are portrayed as satisfied with the progress so far.
That's all folks!
Will post more tomorrow.
