Michael Jackson was no stranger to controversy. While the man revolutionized the world of pop music through his timeless songs and innovative dance style, he was plagued by an abusive father, a jealous family, and claims of child molestation in his adult life. Since his death in 2009, though, most people have chosen to remember him as a pop legend who reshaped the course of music history.
Yet even in death, the proclaimed “King of Pop” could not escape the harsh glare of the media spotlight. Inquiries into his suspicious death, financial issues, and the mysterious conceptions of his children dominated headlines for many months following his death. And just when it seemed that most of the world had moved on, it was announced that a new Michael Jackson album, titled Michael, would be released in late 2010. Following the release of This is It, a movie compiled of rehearsal footage for the concert that never happened, the album was touted as an introspective look at the mystery behind Michael Jackson. The question can then be raised: Was it ethical to release a posthumous album of Michael Jackson songs?
As always, there are two sides to this story. One side claims that Jackson would have released these songs anyway; that sales of a new album would greatly benefit the children he left behind; and that, most importantly, this is what fans wanted. The contributors to his album defended its release, claiming that many of the songs were nearly ready for circulation. Lastly, let’s not forget how some people—say, Akon—claim that this album only helps to keep Jackson’s legacy alive. It went to the top of the charts soon after its release, and isn’t that exactly what Jackson would have wanted?
Despite these admittedly valid points, it isn’t a stretch to call this album a cash grab by people who didn’t really care about Jackson’s legacy. Jackson had always been a perfectionist with his music, and to release an album posthumously that wasn’t given the final once-over by the man himself not only screams pure greed, but also disrespect. With all the media attention Jackson faced in both life and death, as well as the overall financial success of a concert movie and DVD (other Jackson products that have faced some backlash), it was no surprise that Sony took advantage of their collection of unreleased tracks. And while the album has sold moderately well, it has also faced some poor reviews, reinforcing the fact that Jackson would never have wanted to release these unfinished and unpolished songs.
This is It, the movie (and eventual DVD) of Jackson’s rehearsal footage for the concert that was cancelled following his death, met some criticism as well. Would Michael Jackson, a renowned stickler for perfection, have wanted his fans to see him rehearse? The concert itself was a hard pill for some fans to swallow, as they saw Jackson as being too frail for the concert in general but being forced to go through with performing due to money problems and pressures from Sony and AEG. However, at the very least the film was a heartwarming tribute to the icon; according to many critics, the Michael album only feels rushed and incomplete, something the pop star would have been disinclined to release. Say what you will about Michael Jackson and his dubious lifestyle, the release of Michael is just another case of money running the show.
