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August 29th marked what would’ve been King of Pop Michael Jackson‘s 54th birthday. As fans and fellow performers alike flooded social networks with praise for the fallen icon, Billboard teamed with cola kings Pepsi to honor the pop potentate.
Assembling a host of Urban acts for ‘Summer Beats’, Ne-Yo, Melanie Fiona, and more saw their name fill a bill that saw them pay tribute to Jackson by performing some of the biggest hits from his famed ‘Thriller’ follow-up ‘Bad’.
With latter, which is set to see a 25th anniversary reissue on September 18th, look below to hear the singers take on ‘Smooth Criminal’, ‘Dirty Diana’, and more:
Melanie Fiona – Dirty Diana
Ne-Yo – Smooth Criminal
Ne-Yo – The Way You Make Me Feel
The singers also used the platform to yield live versions of their own hits. See them below:
Ne-Yo – ‘Closer’
Melanie Fiona – ‘4 A.M.’
Ne-Yo – ‘Burning Up’
Melanie Fiona – ‘Wrong Side of A Love Song’
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RIP & happy birthday MJ.
Happy 54th Birthday King of Pop,your music will live on forever
I always thought Melanie Fiona is just too underrated despite the obvious talent.she did good considering how MJs songs are too difficult to pull off….I stopped caring for Ne-Yo,sorry!
Sorry, I think they need to let go. MJ gone! Just let his memoey rest with him. Every 5 minutes there’s an anniversary/tribute for something related to MJ, which means a random concert and an irrelevant album. MJ’s never even met these people. They need to stop begging!
Hmmm…Performing songs from ‘Bad’…What album are they gearing up to re-release for the umteenth time again…?
RIP KING MJ
Melanie – Dirty Diana!!!! Great!
RIP the one and only King of Pop no King of music……there will never be another like you. 🙂 Your music lives ’till the end of time. Many will try to emulate yo, but none can succeed, because only you know how to be you. Love live the king and it is sad that you are not with us……lessors take note, he still slays from heaven….