Michael Jackson's 'This Is It': Consensus is 'it's not bad'
By Steve Jones, USA TODAY
Initial reaction to Michael Jackson's new single has been fairly positive, but no one is declaring the song a classic.
This Is It, which began streaming early Monday at michaeljackson.com, is the first new music by the pop icon to be released since his death June 25 at age 50.
It's the title track of an upcoming documentary that chronicles his last days of preparation for a series of London comeback concerts that were to have started in July. The film, which opens Oct. 28 for a two-week run, is accompanied by a double-disc album with original masters and alternate versions of Jackson's biggest hits.
The sunny, orchestra-backed single is punctuated by finger snaps and background vocals by his brothers. It will be heard in the movie's closing sequences. Those familiar with Jackson's music say the song probably was recorded during sessions for 1991's Dangerous album. The song is markedly similar to I Never Heard, a 1991 Safire song that Jackson co-wrote with Paul Anka.
"It's a safe, midtempo pop ballad that features what his fans love: his trademark breathy vocals and confident delivery," says AOL music editor Jessica Robertson. "I don't think it will set the world on fire, because it's missing what fans and critics love most about his songs, which is a strong and powerful groove to carry it."
"It's not bad," says Cori Murray, entertainment director at Essence magazine. "Folks who love him are going to love this. Sometimes with songs like this, you know why it was unreleased, but this sounds like something he could have put on an album."
In the Los Angeles Times' Pop & Hiss music blog, Todd Martens was more critical. He called the song "a trifle, and while it's one that certainly won't embarrass Jackson's legacy or break the hearts of fans eager to hear Jackson's voice again, it does bring the fallen pop icon a little back down to earth."
On the other hand, Dan Aquilante of the New York Post described it as "an optimistic, R&B ballad with an upbeat, percolating rhythm that has all the bombast and power of the New Jack Swing period of the early '90s." The style's founder, Teddy Riley, was a principal producer on Dangerous.
This Is It may not be representative of the dozens of unreleased Jackson songs in Sony's vaults, says Vibe.com editor in chief Jermaine Hall. In recent years, the singer had recorded with Akon, Ne-Yo and a variety of contemporary artists.
But the song will be a crowd-pleaser, no matter its vintage, Hall says. "Michael is so beloved by his fans that they are just waiting for anything that comes out from him — and they'll be happy with this record."
The single will return the focus to Jackson's music.
"This reminds you that he was a great artist and great songwriter," Murray says. "You'll want to see the last footage of him being that artist."
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