Following the fiasco surrounding legitimacy of ‘Breaking News’, a new song from Michael Jackson‘s first posthumous LP ‘Michael’, the King of Pop’s estate have released a statement to his legions of fans.
Find out what they had to say after the jump…
Dear Fans,
As the Michael album was being put together, it was decided to bring Teddy Riley on board to work on several songs, including “Breaking News,” a song Michael recorded with Eddie Cascio and James Porte in late 2007 while living at the Cascio family home with his children. Riley produced and submitted “Breaking News” to Sony for inclusion on the album. At that time, no one ever mentioned that the vocals we heard on the Cascio songs, which were basically in demo format, might not be Michael. It was known, however, that the background vocals were a combination of Michael and James Porte.
After the tracks were submitted to Sony, three of these Cascio songs were selected to be on the album, and “Breaking News” was one of the three. The day after the submission and selection of the album tracks, for the very first time, the authenticity of Michael’s vocals on the Cascio tracks was questioned.
Because of these questions, I was immediately asked by co-Executors John Branca and John McClain to conduct an investigation regarding the authenticity of the lead vocals on the Cascio tracks.
Six of Michael’s former producers and engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years – Bruce Swedien, Matt Forger, Stewart Brawley, Michael Prince, Dr. Freeze and Teddy Riley – were all invited to a listening session to hear the raw vocals of the Cascio tracks in question. All of these persons listened to the a cappella versions of the vocals on the Cascio tracks being considered for inclusion on the album, so they could give an opinion as to whether or not the lead vocals were sung by Michael. They all confirmed that the vocal was definitely Michael.
Michael’s musical director and piano player on many of his records over a 20-year period, Greg Phillinganes, played on a Cascio track being produced for the album, and said the voice was definitely Michael’s. Dorian Holley, who was Michael’s vocal director for his solo tours for 20 plus years (including the O2 Concert Tour) and is seen in the This Is It film, listened to the Cascio tracks and told me the lead vocal was Michael Jackson.
These are all engineers, producers and musicians who worked on tours and/or in the studio with Michael when he was recording Bad, Thriller, Off The Wall, Dangerous, Invincible, HIStory and Blood On The Dance Floor, and they all reconfirmed their belief that the lead vocals were Michael’s voice on the Cascio tracks.
The Estate then retained one of the best-known forensic musicologists in the nation to listen to the vocals without any instrumental accompaniment (“a cappella”), and to compare them with a cappella vocals from previous Michael songs. This expert performed waveform analysis, an objective scientific test used to determine audio authenticity, on the Cascio tracks, as well as previously released tracks with Michael’s voice, and reported that ALL of the lead vocals analyzed (which included Cascio tracks) were the voice of Michael Jackson.
Sony Music conducted their own investigation by hiring yet a second well-respected forensic musicologist who also compared the a cappella lead vocals from Cascio tracks against previously released vocals of Michael’s, and found that Michael’s voice was the on all sets of the raw vocals. The Cascio tracks were also played for two very prominent persons in the music industry who played crucial roles in Michael’s career. Both of these individuals believed that the lead vocals were Michael’s.
Just to be absolutely certain, I also contacted Jason Malachi, a young singer who some persons had wrongfully alleged was a “soundalike” singer that was hired to sing on the Cascio tracks, and I confirmed that he had no involvement with this project whatsoever.
Sony decided that, given the overwhelming objective evidence resulting from the exhaustive investigations outlined above, they wanted to release a record that included three of the Cascio-Porte tracks – because they believed, without reservation, that the lead vocal on all of those tracks were sung by Michael Jackson.
Although there still seem to be concerns being expressed in some quarters about the authenticity of the lead vocals, notwithstanding the opinion of those who worked with Michael, and two independent forensic analysts, ultimately, Michael’s fans will be the judges of these songs, as they always are. We take all fan comments very seriously, and as I’d stated above, there is nothing more important to the Estate than Michael’s music, his legacy and his fans.
Michael’s fans are extraordinary in their quest for accuracy and their passions to raise their voices in a search for truth! We join with them in our care and concern for Michael. We are continuing to follow up with those who have worked in the studio or on tours with Michael, and if any new information comes to light, we will keep you and the fans advised.
Thanks,
Howard
Howard Weitzman, Esq.
Attorney for the Estate Of Michael Jackson
Santa Monica, CA
Granted I can accept that the track did indeed feature Michael’s voice, the fact it was included full stop beggars belief. Clearly, the song is in demo form at best, includes one half-sung lead vocal, and features no background vocals from Michael himself. More than anything, the song is – for the lack of a better word – utter crap. A fact which really calls into question the musical know-how of those deciding what and what makes the album.
In any case, the whole shabang really underscores how unfortunate it is that Mike is no longer with us. For, it would have largely been him deciding what he releases, as opposed to “suits” piecing it together. Particularly piercing given Michael’s renown precision and creative genius.
Still, it doesn’t appear to be a completely crappy affair. The lead single from ‘Michael’ is said to be a re-worked (Michael-heavy) version of the King of Pop’s collaboration with Akon, ‘Hold My Hand’.
R I P Michael…these ppl are just greedy !!!
It’s not mj singing the lead vocals.It’s james porte featuring cut and paste MJ vocals.
michael would be rolling in his grave.They should just drop those tracks and give us mj only vocals.
This is just disgusting! MJ his fans love is dedicated to being a perfectionist. How dare anyone, compile a group of studio sessions that are incomplete (and where the authenticity is in question ) and decide to make a profit, against his better judgement. MJ didn’t release this music for a reason. As a songwriter, I can totally understand this. Sessions that I scrap, do not fully represent what I am capable of or what I would be proud of displaying to the public. I’m sure MJ feels this way, he was a creative genuis. I’m sure he was very particular when it came down to his music. The fact that experts (forensic analysts) along with producers were invited in on listening sessions to prove that the vocals belong to MJ is making me even more suspicious. I heard that these investigations were taking place before the premiere of Breaking News! All of this doesn’t add up with me and I simply refuse to support any of this. I hope all of his fans feel the same, unless there is concrete proof that the rest of the album is all MJ.
^^^^
Indeed..no wonder the ‘fake MJ’ sounds like Christ Brown LOL
*DEAD*
The link to your source isn’t working
I think it’s MJ’s voice in music BN.
Michael ,Brasil loves you forever.
…Anytime you have to defend something to this type of Level it must be true. I don’t care if you assembled the Cast of SVU. You can tell that this is not Micheal Jackson’s voice in the lead of this song.
They ALL are trying to get ich off of his name and it is appauling. I have never felt such disgust…..
I am soooooooo happy that most Family’s of passed stars let them rest in peace I.E: Left-Eye…Big Pun and Aaliyah….
They are really doing Micheal a job….
The man never had peace on earth…Atleast let him have peace in DEATH……
idek why his estate is attempting to even release a new CD. let the man rest in peace. no matter what he releases today, its not gonna compare to Thriller soo why even try. money hungry bastards…
I dont believe that they would stoop THAT low by putting fake vocals on a track, however. its too risky. If it came out to be true, Sony could be sued for MILLIONS. and their credibility would be tarnished forever. I do believe, however that they are exploiting his name in a attempt to make some money. These half ass tracks arent even finished and MJ wouldnt DARE put out anything thats less than perfection. shame on SONY.
I agree with RoyalKev and Dummie’s comments. First it was that nonsense that T-Pain and Robin Thicke produced and now its this scrap garbage the Sony is releasing. There is no producer, engineer or industry exec. that has the Midas touch that MJ possessed. I wish they would leave him and his music alone. We live in a greedy world so…..
Well we all know it ain’t Jason Malachi cus he can only mimick a certain main tone of MJ’s but not his lower register.
But in saying that i think his tone would be useful to record executives because there is no way they are able to create a full MJ album..
Probably family members being used also.
Money TALKS and ain’t no way they gonna admit that MJ’s vocals are not on the tracks..
BE SERIOUS
That is not Michael’s voice.. who are they trying to FOOL?! Who all does “michael’s estate” include?! Somebody got paid off, point blank. This is ridiculous. You don’t need forensics for this!
This is Michael, pls listen to Invicible esp ‘paparazzi’ and the voice is same. Alos, there are many songs, for example ‘what more can I give’ I love you elisabeth etc that can be realeased with videos of Mike.
I AM A MJ STAN AND MICHAEL’S VOICE ON THE SONG WOULD HAVE BEEN WAAY STRONGER AND HARDER THAN THAN BOY’S…U CAN’T FOOL A STAN
LISTEN TO MICHAEL’S LAST ALBUM, HIS VOICE IS TOOO STRONG FOR THAT TO BE HIM ON THAT NEW SONG
JUST ASK JANET SHE KNOW HER BROTHER’S VOICE BETTER THAN ANYONE
Wow all that explaining makes me think this is true…plus when I heard it, it does sound like someone trying to sound like mj…nmy thing is if he didn’t release it don’t release it…I sing too and if someone put out something that I didn’t I would be poed…he didn’t release it for a reason…
some fans are just disgusting. why should we ignore and people who worked with him and beleive you?
it’s Michael without doubt,people who have listen to MJ for long time know that he’s MJ
This isn’t Michael Jackson’s vocal, period! They payd the forensic musicologists to state it’s so very dissapointin sht!
Sony sucks! 🙂
Sad.
Poor Mike now that he is gone everyone will come out of the woodwork to take advantage of his legacy!
Let Michael Jackson rest in peace!
SUITS are not artists they will RUIN art every time!!!
i don’t care… it still doesn’t sound like Micheal- except for the ad libs
ugh I just wished he was still alive! I wouldn’t be surprised if they planned his death from the get-go
Sony is money hungry & greedy. They could care less as long as people are reaching in there pockets to buy this crap………..
They better throw the record he did with Ne-YO on as a single…
Listen Below..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1L3QowSktQ
I’m not completely buying it. Of course they are just saying that to back up their own ass. The family knows their son best, I’ll take their word.