Two More Michael Jackson Songs Leak Online
Two unreleased Michael Jackson songs have leaked online, apparently from the batch that Radar Online reported last month were being offered for sale by an unidentified person to online outlets. Neither of the songs — “Blue Gangsta” and “All I Need” — are included in the tracklist for the forthcoming Michael LP, which is scheduled for a December 14 release. Although neither song has been verified as authentic by the singer’s estate, they certainly sound like MJ.
Assuming it’s actually him, “Blue Gangsta” is the funkiest MJ track to be released in years, with a slow, grinding, piano-driven rhythm and a fierce lead vocal from Jackson. The song is fully produced and sounds finished, with a soaring string arrangement, James Bond-ish stabs from a horn section and multi-tracked backing vocals from someone who sounds more like an MJ devotee (like Ne-Yo or Trey Songz) than Jackson himself. A truncated version of the song featuring an unidentified rapper and shouts apparently from DJ Scoob Doo is also circulating online.
Check Out All of Rolling Stone‘s coverage in “Michael Jackson Remembered.”
“All I Need” is a gentle, piano-driven ballad similar to “Much Too Soon,” the most recent song officially released from Michael (and also in the batch that was being offered for sale). The track features a mellow horn solo and choir-like backing vocals, and according to Roger Friedman at Showbiz 411, the song was recorded with producer Eddie Cascio and the embellishments were added by legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach; they certainly sound like his work.
Along with “Much Too Soon,” two other songs have been previewed from Michael: “Breaking News” and the Akon collaboration “Hold My Hand”.
In other Jackson news, Japanese singer A.I. announced that she will emcee two MJ tribute shows in Tokyo next year that will reunite the four surviving members of the Jackson 5 — Tito, Jackie, Jermaine and Marlon. The four appeared in a video announcing the shows, which will take place on October 14 and 15, according to Billboard.biz. The concert came about after A.I. visited the Jackson family while working on an MJ documentary earlier this year.
Hear Two More Posthumous Michael Jackson Songs [Vulture.com via OhNoThey Didnt.com]