Introduction / Album Review: Michael Jackson - Michael (2010)

Michael Jackson - Michael (2010)

 

Hold My Hand

The album starts with this excellent song, a duet with Akon,  produced mainly by Michael Jackson and Akon himself. The lyrics ask for peace, love and union all over the world. The instrumental is very smooth and pretty, but at the same time cool and with a fun vibe, connecting perfectly to the lyrics. This was the lead single of the album due to a little note that Michael left saying he actually wanted this song to be the first single of “Michael”. I believe Michael chose ‘Hold My Hand’ because, as I said before, the lyrics ask for worldwide peace and love, ideals that he strongly defended during his life and career.

Hollywood Tonight

This is one of those songs you describe with only two words, Michael Jackson. It has a “beatbox-like” beat, easily associable to his name. This funky instrumental is accompanied by lyrics that tell the story of a girl who desires to be a star.

She dreams of fame
She changed her name
To one that fits the movie screen
She's headed for the big time

The song turned out to be the 2^nd single of “Michael” due to its great vibe and its catchy and repetitious chorus…

Keep Your Head Up

A great, great ballad-like/slow/happy song. The instrumental is attached to these never-give-up, its-going-to-be-fine and be-happy feelings expressed in the lyrics that tries to teach us that we got to move on, be proud of ourselves, never give up on us/our life and rise!... rise after we fall, not stay on the dirt, because at the end of the day, all we need is love.

(I Like) The Way You Love Me

Also a song with the feel-good beat type that starts with the one and only MJ on the phone with the (other) producer of “(I Like) The Way You Love Me”, telling him he just had a great idea for a song and sings for the producer what he had just came up with… As soon as he starts showing how the drums would play in the song a very nice and simple piano melody starts playing. The lyrics represent a nice and simple love song with a nice beat, nothing more than that.  It’s not a must listen but you should definitely give it a try.

Monster

This is my 2^nd favorite song in the album!  A dark-forest sound and a big scream is a great way to start a song with a name like this, don’t you think? I found this song kind of addictive due of its awesome ‘hard’ beats. Michael uses ‘monster’ and ‘animal’ to describe paparazzi since, as we all know, during his life he was constantly being “attacked” by the media. I also loved the 50 Cent rap part, I think it is flawless and the words fit perfectly in the beat. Here’s a little taste of it… 

All hail, run tell, the King has risen
2010 Thriller, there's nothing iller, it's killer
There vision, the missin' the pack, this is that,
This the bomb, ring the alarm
MJ number 1, it's goes on and on
It goes on and on
We get to crippin', its running in the early morn'
Keep on dreaming there's nowhere to run
You can drive but you done
I can feel it in the air, here the monster come.

Best Of Joy

To be honest, there’s not much to say about this song. It has a very nice and smooth instrumental with some finger snapping and lovely lyrics. It is a cute little love song in which Michael’s voice fits terrible well due to his characteristic vocal smoothness.

Breaking News

And here it is! My favorite song in this album!

I love how they used samples of media talking about Michael Jackson to start the song and then used a big “BREAKING NEWS!” right before the beat starts. The beat is great! Especially in the chorus, with the back vocals! The lyrics talk about how everyone is “on MJ’s ass”, how everyone blames him for everything and at the same time how everyone wants to copy what he does (Pop Icon alert!).

(I Can’t Make It) Another Day

I dare to say this is the fierce moment of de album. With a touch of funk rock and “rock-like hard” vocals in the chorus, Jackson sings about an unrequited love:

You're the fire that keeps me warm
I can't make it another day
How did I get through this storm?
I can't live another day without your love

Besides the integration of rock components in the song, the back vocals by Lenny Kravitz, turn the song into a must listen!

Behind The Mask

Funky! Funky! Funky! This song was originally recorded for Michael’s album “Thriller” but didn’t make the final cut and it stayed unreleased for almost 25 years! This is definitely one of the highlights of the album. The lyrics talk about a girl who hides a lot of things from Michael, despite their relationship.

Much Too Soon

It’s a very pretty love ballad. Nice acoustic guitar samples in a very smooth instrumental. Once again, Michael’s voice fits perfectly on it! A very nice and pretty song, not a highlight in the album though. 

RATE: 7.5/10 

Click here to buy "Michael" on iTunes!