But do they really? Are we going to have people trying to remix his songs to sound like 2020 when that comes around? 2030 too? That is so tacky to me. It feels like to me that people just want to forever live under the illusion that Michael is relevant in today and tomorrows pop scene. Michael died in 2009. Why should he have to continue to compete on the charts with the Miley Cyrus' of the world? That's completely unfair. We can't let go of Michael being number 1 so we want him to keep cranking out hits years and years after his death at any cost. I'm not against putting out a remix here and there every few years for some radio play and to bring some attention, but when it becomes the main strategy for preserving Michael's legacy and presenting him as an artist to the world then I think we have a big problem.
Of course I see why everyone wants Michael to posthumously have that moment in the sun again. One more #1 smash hit. He certainly deserves it. If the estate didn't royaly screw up the first couple of posthumous releases maybe that moment would have come and we wouldn't be still hanging to that dream 5 years later. Maybe this time. Then maybe we can move on.
I have to say I agree with you.
When Vince was released in 2001 I was 21 years old. I had been waiting for a new MJ single for years and MJ had been subject to the usual unfairly negative media coverage since his last single and I was hoping for a hit. I watched the YRMW video and was left slightly disappointed. The video was grand in scale, but MJ seemed to have lost his spark (IMO!). The song was a bit of a grower but it wasn't getting played on radio - UK radio hadn't been kind to MJ for years - and then I heard the single was doing well and was a possible #1. things looked good, but Kylie released a mega hit (Can't Get You Out Of My Head) - one of those landmark singles that takes over and dominates everything for weeks - and it pipped YRMW at the winning post. I felt robbed. The next single was 'Cry' which had NO CHANCE of being a hit and was widely mocked for it's "make that change" sample at the end. The single choice made no sense at all, but it became clear when we heard about the troubles with Sony and I knew we would have to wait for the next album. Then two years later the Number Ones album was going to be released with a new single and a new music video, not to mention a new TV special celebrating MJ's music going to be shown on prime time, plus the Martin Bashir interview. Of course the Bashir show raised the child abuse issues all over again and MJ was arrested. The TV special was cancelled (it has NEVER aired even after 10 years!) and the single - One More Chance - failed to make a significant impact on the charts, partly because of the allegations I'm sure, partly because it wasn't supported by a music video (it was cancelled) and partly because the song just wasn't hit material. It wasn't what I expected.
I guess what I'm saying is I've been left wanting more. After the incident with YRMW and Kylie I was wishing for another hit, and it feels as though Mj's career died there. Killed by unfair accusations and a trial that ruined his life. Just when MJ was about to get it together again he died at the hands of his doctor, and sure TII was a massive hit and MJ's music sold millions of copies but what should have been a posthumous number one single in the UK (Man In the Mirror) was beaten to number one in successive weeks by a mega hit by Cascada who pretty much became a one hit wonder in the UK. It's ridiculous. It felt like MJ was robbed again.
Yes, it felt as though the last 10 years of MJ's life was a conspiracy to prevent him from climbing to the top of the heap. He was pulled down by vultures and hyenas for the last ten years and I'm sure that must have been awful.
Even now when good things are planned somebody comes out of the woodwork to ruin the party. Wade's recent news piece is a perfect example, timed to perfection to piss on the Sony announcement.
I have been a huge advocate for the MJ Estate to release hit material, for MJ to have one more hit.
we know that he worked with producers like Will.i.am and Red One in the years before he died, so when he died I expected that something from those sessions would be released on the posthumous album because they would obviously be the most relevant to the music scene in 2009. I considered they might have the most hit potential with the smallest amount of work, but they didn't materialise and we ended up with 'This Is It' single. The radio stations in the UK were expecting something big, even youth radio dedicated time and promotion to the premiere, but when it was released it was a massive disappointment to everybody and they'll never give a new MJ single that opportunity again. It was a massive mistake! Then it was followed by the 'Michael' project - 'Hold My Hand' is a solid song, though not the strongest MJ single, but it could have been #1 if released instead of TII. By the time it was released in 2010 the chance was gone as I said. radio did not dedicate time or promotion for it. I don't think I ever heard it on the radio. Then there were the other singles, sure they're ok - HT and MTB are better singles than HMH in my opinion but they were never going to get enough attention as the 3rd and 4th posthumous songs. while the MJ Estate handled the film, video game and TII album well, they sure messed up the singles and I'm sure they prevented Mj getting a posthumous #1 song.
I'm sure if MJ had a posthumous #1 single after he died then there wouldn't be so much expectation now, nearly 5 years after his death. Getting a smash hit would be like getting closure for many people.
I know that it's not reasonable for MJ to be remixed every couple of years with hits coming in the next decade or the one after that. But I just want 1 more hit album and 1 more hit single. Sure, 'Michael' hit reasonably high chart positions around the world when it was released but it sank without trace, so not really a hit at all. It had no longevity. MJ was all about success, and I'm sure that after all that happened he would have wanted to have #1 singles, and I hope it can happen but the more years that pass the less likely it is. Is it too much to ask for one more moment in the sunshine? I hope not.
If another #1 single comes, I would be happy for the MJ Estate to never release another single again.
