It's been a long time since news about Michael Jackson focused on his music. But with the recent announcement of his forthcoming string of shows at London's O2 Arena, hopefully all that will change.
It's been a full 12 years since the self-styled King of Pop went on tour, but not the last time he performed onstage. In 2006 I was lucky enough to be a guest at the World Music Awards in London when MJ took to the stage for a highly anticipated performance. Unfortunately, what was billed as the singer's comeback performance was actually MJ singing just a few lines of "We Are the World." It was quite an anticlimax, leaving many fans with mixed feelings. Yes, people were thrilled to see MJ back onstage, but singing just a few lines — with no dancing whatsoever — just didn't cut it.
So last week, when MJ held a press conference in London announcing that he would be making a full-on return to the stage this summer — for what is now 50 dates, stretching from July into next February — ticket-sale hotlines were gridlocked with requests within minutes. The O2 arena is no small venue — only the biggest, most in-demand acts in the world play there.
Michael Jackson still fits that bill, and obviously his drawing power can't be underestimated: Organizers told the BBC that the shows are the fastest-selling in history.
The "This Is It" shows — an odd name, since Jackson hasn't clarified whether these are his last shows or just his last shows in London — are nonetheless history in the making. In his press conference MJ promised fans that he would be performing the songs that his fans want to hear — so what are the best Michael Jackson songs? Let us know…
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