On March 5, Michael Jackson announced that he was going to perform in a 10-show concert tour called 'This Is It.' While preparing for the shows, Jackson tragically suffered cardiac arrest and died in California on June 25.
Michael Jackson's This Is It is a two-disk compilation album that includes the King of Pop's greatest hits from his early to later years in the music industry. The album was released on Oct. 26 and has become a tribute album to a pop legend that will never be forgotten.
The album starts off with 'Wanna be Startin' Something,' the fourth single on the best-selling album of all time, Thriller. Just a few tracks in is 'Smooth Criminal,' an all-time Jackson favorite from his 1987 album, Bad.
'Smooth Criminal' almost got cut while in production. However, instead of dropping it, they released it as the seventh single. It was in the video of this song that Jackson patented the infamous Moonwalk, in which he effortlessly glides across the floor as if he's redefining gravity.
The ninth track of This Is It is Jackson's most widely recognized song, 'Thriller.' Many fans and critics alike regard this song as having the greatest music video of all-time. The infamous video shows Jackson and cast members dancing as zombies in the streets of Los Angeles.
Jackson's 'Black or White' was considered to be the highest selling rock song of the 1990's. The song topped the singles chart in 18 countries outside the United States. The rest of the tribute album contains smash hits from 'Billie Jean' to the 'Man in the Mirror.'
From top to bottom, This Is It is an excellent commemorative CD that all fans can appreciate. Amidst the controversy that surrounded his life, Jackson was a performer like none had ever seen before, and will forever be known as the king of pop.
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
