Michael Jackson

Needle Time: Thomas Dolby
The 80s legend behind Hyperactive! and She Blinded Me With Science spoke of how he was drawn to music, away from his family of professors, how he was asked to collaborate with Michael Jackson (but Jacko only liked the "drums" on Hyperactive!) and was part of David Bowie's backing band at Live Aid, a fraught experience but unforgettable. After his career wound down in the 90s, he turned to computers and helped create a program which Nokia used for its ringtones on mobile phones. Dolby now spends time as a professor at a university in Baltimore, and he's recently written his book.

The BET Life of Janet Jackson
From her early successful days with the Rhythm Nation and Control LPs, into a protracted decline. She denied the 2004 Superbowl "wardrobe malfunction" was a planned stunt, but claimed to regret that it happened. She likes strawberries, and led tributes when her brother Michael died. She got a career tribute in 2015 that focussed on her routines as a dancer, perhaps because her songs ain't all that, really. She started her own label, too.

It's the anniversary week of his death, and he's alive in the news again:

Musical coming to Broadway in 2020

On the Wall exhibition at National Portrait Gallery

and sad family news:

Father Joe dead at 89

A new documentary, Leaving Neverland, is coming to the Sundance festival later this month, but his family aren't best pleased:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46821969

The synopsis for the documentary reads: "Through gut-wrenching interviews with the now-adult men and their families, Leaving Neverland crafts a portrait of sustained exploitation and deception, documenting the power of celebrity that allowed a revered figure to infiltrate the lives of starstruck children and their parents."
The two-part film is directed by Dan Reed, who is also behind documentaries including The Valley, Terror in Mumbai and The Paedophile Hunter.

I tried watching Leaving Neverland but gave up pretty quickly  

Much furore, though, radio stations suddenly banning his music, and his daughter Paris refusing to join the cat chorus.

The 10th anniversary of his death passed last week, with some new/old shows:

Killing Michael Jackson
The investigating police tell how they traced things to Dr Conrad Murray, and were confident they could get a conviction for 2nd degree murder. But after high profile acquittals, they found Murray was done for manslaughter instead, and was free again after 2 out of a 4 year sentence.

13 Moments That Destroyed Michael Jackson
Like the Whitney doc I watched a while back, a retelling of the life story with it being pretty clear that performing from the age of 5 is asking for long-term trouble. Kym Mazelle was apparently also a native of Gary, Indiana. Most of the THs were journalists or psychologists of one sort or another.

Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror
Somewhat similar, but part-biopic, so various actors were lumbered with playing Michael and his family at various stages. This might have been the one where friend and former child actor Mark Lester claimed to have helped Michael out as a sperm donor with one of his 3 children. The THs here were more people who worked with him, from record companies or in choreography, or the notorious 1984 Pepsi ad mishap that also cast a bad shadow on his life.

There's also a move being made by some French groups to sue the two Leaving Neverland accusers for defamation/dishonesty/etc.

Glastonbury 2019: Janet Jackson
She did quite an uptempo set on the Saturday, although she didn't specifically mention her brother. Sad to suppose he would have had a go himself if he'd had the chance (also Luther Vandross too, recalled when she did Best Things In Life are Free). Keeping it up meant the omission of big hits like Let's Wait A While, Together Again and Whoops Now, among others.

The Real Michael Jackson
Dreary serial documentary maker Jacques Peretti rehashes the familiar story, with the slight context that he already made 3 docs on the guy, both before and after his death, but the Leaving Neverland story has given a new oomph to the saga, especially since Jackson's supporters want to cover over the traces against him. Peretti finds the evidence that Jackson was in fact a paedophile to be pretty definite.

The Neverland ranch has been sold for a mere $22 million:

Sold for $22 million

In other news, James Safechuck, one of the accusers from the Finding Neverland doc, has been rebuffed in court:

2014 case thrown out

The other accuser also had their case rebuffed.

Meanwhile, one of his daughters, Paris, has given some interview in which she talks about growing up in the care of the Jackson family, and where she stands in relation to them now.

Moonwalker
His 1988 vanity project movie, best remembered for the "Leave Me Alone" and "Smooth Criminal" bits, both of which were big hits partly thanks to these promo clips. Notably "Speed Demon" doesn't match the other two. There's a ropey claymation-based opening skit with Michael being chased around a studio lot, and an even ropier later section where he fights drug-pushing Mr Big Joe Pesci, which violence and inappropriateness puts paid to any idea this is a family or even kids film. It's a mess, really.

Somewhat happier news with reports that one of his nephews will be playing Michael in an upcoming biopic.

Cashed Out - Michael Jackson
Once you see more than one episode and realise many of the same contributors turn up over and over, it lacks something. Anyway, Michael was savvy in getting the rights to the Beatles songs (after Paul McCartney inadvertently suggested it), and his executors made good use of his assets to turn his enormous debt into a profit. His spending in his lifetime exceeded his income, especially once the scandals started.

Michael Jackson - A Faking It! Special
From 2019 or so, and again a regular team turning their attention to a specific target. Many took his interview defences apart and whilst they accepted his legal exoneration, pointed out the holes in his story.

Some good news, with an item of his selling at auction:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67388618

An iconic leather jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the 1980s has been bought for £250,000 ($306,000).

The black-and-white garment, worn by the late singer in a Pepsi advert, had been expected to sell for between £200,000 and £400,000 at the auction.

Different corporate news this week, as Sony paid $600 million for a half-stake in his back catalogue:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68261217