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Xscape is the second posthumous album by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. [4] It was released on May 9, 2014, by Epic Records, MJJ Music and Sony Music Entertainment. Xscape is the tenth release by Sony and/or Motown since Jackson's death in 2009. L.A. Reid, chairman of Epic Records, curated and served as executive producer for the ...
May 12, 2024 · Happy 10th Anniversary to Michael Jackson’s second posthumous album Xscape, originally released in the UK May 12, 2014 and in the US May 13, 2014. Posthumous albums are always a dicey venture. Without the artist involved to see through the vision, these albums can be less about the intent of the original creation and more about interpretation.
- I. The Production Process
- II. A Closer Look at Each Song
- III. Critical Reception
- IV. Commercial Reception
- V. Moral Question and Artistic Rights
1. The Release of Unknown Material
There was a considerable amount of work put on this album. Michael Jackson used to record 70 tracks for an album of 10 songs and he was not afraid of getting rid of anything that did not satisfy him. L.A. Reid, Chairman of Epic Records, went through 40 years of archives and recordings that did not make the final cut. He then enlisted the cream of the crop in the world of producers like Stargate (Beyoncé, Rihanna), Rodney Jerkins (Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga), Jerome ‘Jroc’ Harmon (Jamie Foxx,...
2. The Voice
Michael’s voice has changed over time. With the Jackson 5, people fell for the purity of his tones and the richness of his high notes. At puberty, the artist revealed in his autobiography Moonwalk that he was often made fun of and fans did not recognise his voice. Yet it evolved and became fiercer throughout the albums. Off The Wall is the beginning of his experimentations with a disco voice, still soft but trying to gain more weight. In Thriller, the voice is stronger with harsher sounds and...
3. The Music
Leaving the voice on the recordings intact, Timbaland’s team worked on the musical accompaniment that would best fit with The King of Pop’s intentions. Yet Reid insisted on the modernization of the tracks while keeping Michael’s groovy pop/disco touch. Hearing the single Love Never Felt So Good with Justin Timberlake, we can say they have achieved it. Full of energy, listening to the song makes you happy and you want to dance and sing at the top of your voice just like when you listen to Don’...
Love Never Felt So Good was written by Jackson and Canadian singer Paul Anka. It was recorded in 1983 as a demo with Anka which only featured Michael’s vocals, handclaps and a piano. It was also recorded by American entertainer Johnny Mathis in 1984 on his album A Special Part of Me with a much more disco tone to it and different lyrics. In 2006, M...
In general,Xscape received far better critiques compared to the first posthumous album Michaelyet it was not held as a pure triumph. The reviews were generally mixed. It scored 60 out of 100 on Metacritic which was based on 22 critics around the world. Below are some of the most notable critiques: Jackson’s music mixed celebration and terror, as if...
Commercially, the album was a success and made a lot of money. Xscape became Jackson’s tenth UK number-one album with 47.764 first-week sales. Currently, they stand at 135.000 copies and the British Phonographic Industry certified the album gold. It has also debuted number one in Belgium, France, Denmark and Spain. It became number-two on the US Bi...
Although the album is a commercial success and in general excellent quality music, it is important to think about the whole process in itself and this instantly brings up reservations and controversies. How can you work on someone else’s songs without his consent or opinion? Can you exploit his name and with what purpose? Financial? As a tribute? F...
May 15, 2014 · If you’re more anxious than excited to tap play on a posthumous album—let alone a posthumous album from an icon, a childhood hero—your instincts are probably correct. Look no further than ...
Apr 21, 2014 · Luckily, the posthumous Xscape, out May 13, offers some reminders of why Jackson entered our collective consciousness to begin with.The eight tracks here showcase songs, culled from the late ...
Oct 21, 2014 · Michael Jackson’s Xscape is the latest in a long line of posthumous pop releases – but often these are just shoddy cash-in campaigns, writes Greg Kot. British Broadcasting Corporation Watch
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May 17, 2014 · The Three Kinds Of Posthumous Albums : The Record Generally, new releases from deceased musicians fall into one of three categories. Michael Jackson's Xscape matches none of them exactly — but ...
