It’s been three weeks since the announcement of the upcoming ‘XSCAPE’ album – to be released by The Estate of Michael Jackson via Epic Records on May 13. In their joint statement, published on michaeljackson.com, an “unprecedented global campaign” to promote the project spanning multiple marketing platforms was promised.
However, despite the album being released worldwide in just three weeks (even less than three weeks in some countries), fans of the King of Pop haven’t heard a peep from The Estate or Epic Records since their announcement. So, here is a little update on what fans might be able to expect in the coming weeks.
During the last week of April the ‘XSCAPE’ album’s presence will be felt across prominent social media websites including Facebook, Google and YouTube. Banner advertisements on these sites are scheduled to run for approximately one month, until the end of May.
The album’s lead single, “Love Never Felt So Good”, will hit radio in the first week of May. The track is currently expected to make its worldwide debut on May 5, along with the digital release of the track. Fan sites have also quoted Sony as stating that the music video for the track will premier the same day, while I’ve been told that the music video will be part of the Deluxe Edition’s bonus content and will be released the same day as the album. So who knows regarding the video? I guess time will tell! One thing is for sure, though; there will be a video.
From the beginning of May, until ‘XSCAPE’ is released on the 13th, fans should expect to see a steady increase in written reviews by major online and print publications, radio involvement, and the introduction of the “Making of Xscape” documentary featuring interviews with the producers who worked on the project. The documentary will supposedly be teased piece by piece, in individual chapters, before being officially released in full as part of the ‘XSCAPE’ Deluxe Edition’s bonus material.
The highly-anticipated (yet practically already deciphered – see below) ‘XSCAPE’ track list will be officially unveiled between now and the first week of May. As always, previews of each track will be made available to fans via iTunes prior to the release of the album. I’ve also been told that fans may not necessarily have the entire track list masterminded yet, with mystery regarding the bonus track remaining unconfirmed.
Earlier this month it became popular belief that the ‘XSCAPE’ album’s Deluxe Edition bonus track would be Jackson’s cover of the Sly Stone song “Hot Fun In The Summertime” – featuring guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, D’Angelo, Questlove and others. Rumors regarding this track, which was produced by D’Angelo and executive produced by John McClain, started swirling when the track’s guitarist, Jesse Johnson, spoke about it on his Facebook. However I’m hearing that there were other tracks considered as the bonus track and that Johnson MAY have spoken too soon. There’s been no indication as to what the bonus track might be, if not “Hot Fun”, which adds to the mystery The Estate and Epic Records were hoping to create for fans in the lead up to the album’s release.
New information is also now available regarding which producers worked on what tracks, following newly published review by USA Today.
“Love Never Felt So Good” (originally co-written by Jackson with Paul Anka and Kathy Wakefield in 1980) has been carefully re-produced by John McClain and Giorgio Tuinfort. McClain, who serves as co-executor of The Estate of Michael Jackson, has already produced three tracks for posthumous Jackson compilations; “Much Too Soon”, “Behind The Mask” and “This Is It”. McClain also co-wrote “You Are My Life” – which features on Jackson’s 2001 ‘Invincible’ album. Tuinfort, a specialist pianist (who fittingly goes by the nickname “Piano Man”), co-wrote and co-produced Jackson’s “Hold My Hand” duet with Akon.
Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley, can be credited with production on four tracks on the ‘XSCAPE’ album; “Chicago (She Was Lovin Me)”, “Do You Know Where Your Children Are”, “Lovin’ You” and “Slave To The Rhythm” – the latter of which was co-produced by Jerome “J-Roc” Harmon. “The Michael Jackson album is great. It’s great. I can’t lie. And not because I did it. It’s great,” said Timbaland in a video recently uploaded to hangwith.com, adding: “I think I did a great job on it from what I was given. The beats are jammin’.”
As previously reported, Rodney Jerkins got the call to come back in to the studio and revisit the title track, “Xscape” which he and his “Darkchild” team (Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels and Jay Harvey Mason) co-wrote with Jackson during the 1998-2001 ‘Invincible’ sessions.
The only two tracks from the album that have not yet been attributed to producers are those originally written by Elliot Straite (aka Dr. Freeze) in 1998; “A Place With No Name” and “Blue Gangster”. The statement released three weeks ago by The Estate of Michael Jackson and Epic Records cites that Norwegian production and songwriting duo Stargate (Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Storleer Eriksen) had also produced tracks for the ‘XSCAPE’ album, so we can probably surmise that they have revamped these two tracks.
UPDATE: It has been revealed that Timbaland produced “Blue Gangsta” and Stargate “A Place With No Name”.
‘XSCAPE’ Standard Edition track list, including surmised list of writers and producers, below:
- “Love Never Felt So Good” (Written: Jackson, Anka, Wakefield / Produced: McClain, Tuinfort)
- “Chicago (She Was Lovin Me)” (Written: Rooney / Produced: Mosley)
- “Lovin’ You” (Written: Jackson / Produced: Mosley)
- “A Place With No Name” (Written: Straite, Bunnell / Produced: Hermansen, Eriksen)
- “Slave To The Rhythm” (Written: Reid, Edmonds / Produced: Mosley, Harmon)
- “Do You Know Where Your Children Are” (Written: Jackson / Produced: Mosley)
- “Blue Gangster” (Written: Straite / Produced: Mosley)
- “Xscape” (Written: R. Jerkins, F. Jerkins III, Daniels, Mason, Jackson / Produced: R. Jerkins)
Four versions of ‘XSCAPE’ will be available:
- Standard version (CD)
- Deluxe Jewel Case O-Card version (CD + DVD)
- Deluxe Softpack version (CD, DVD + Poster)
- Vinyl version (LP)
Discuss below…
Wow Great article Damien…Just 2 questions does the song “Love never Felt so good” has confirmed by someone to be the 1st single? And what are the possible songs as the bonus Track except “Hot Fun”?
Regarding “Love Never Felt So Good” you can read more here: http://www.damienshields.com/love-never-felt-so-good-set-to-be-the-first-single-released-from-the-new-michael-jackson-album/
Also, fans from the L.A. listening session have posted online that they were told by Epic Records that “Love Never Felt So Good” will be the single.
Regarding the bonus track; who knows? It could be anything! Let’s wait and see…
If Hot Fun Fail to be as Bonus track my guess is to be I’m still the king if you think about it I’m still the king is one of the songs failed to make Michael Album like STTR,She was lovin’me,Blue Gangsta and DYNWTCA!
Another brilliant article. Looking forward to hearing the Dr. Freeze tracks. They scream hit material!.
Curious about “Love Never Felt So Good” in terms of vocals.
LA Reid has stated he only chose songs with full vocals (full verses, chorus, backing tracks, etc.)
However, the demo of LNFSG appears to be only a single take and we even hear MJ mumbling a few words. I wonder if the Estate has access to a better vocal? Do we know if the leaked demo is the one used by the Estate for the final master?
Doubt it. They released the song This Is It even though it was missing a bunch of lyrics and full of mumbled nonsense. They’ve probably just got whoever’s looking after that track to massively over-produce it and try to bury the vocal under a load of noise. That’s probably one of Timbaland’s tracks; his speciality is tuneless noise.
HA!
New version was subtly co-produced by McClain and Tuinfort, as per the article. Timbaland did four tracks, also detailed in the article. The vocals are at the forefront of the mixes. The idea was to showcase Michael’s voice above all else.
Heard it. Not overproduced. And, yeah, Michael’s voice is front and center…same on all tracks. Pretty far from tuneless noise, actually.
LNFSG definitely flies in the face of what LA Reid says he was aiming for. Vocally and lyrically complete tracks that Michael spent time on. LNFSG was written, demoed and passed on for other people to record. It was never a “Michael Jackson” song. The vocals will be from 1983 as we know them from the demo, including the “alright, that’s it” spoken part at the end.
they probably use an MJ impersonator to sing over the mumbling part. J/K. LNFSG sounds average at best. Their choice baffles me.
No fan who was around in 2002 will buy this album or even give a rat’s anus what’s on it. This is posthumous slavery. The man is being put to work from beyond the grave, his name, image and music being used to flog mobile phones by a company he despised and never wanted to work with again. It’s sick.
Hahaha.. what a moron you are. I’m a fan, I was there in the ’90 when all the shit happened to him, I was there on the HIStory Tour supporting him and I was there in 2002/2003 buying Invincible and supporting him again. And again in 2014 I’m buying this album and supporting this project 100%.
True fans support the artist, not the record label. True fans don’t care if its Sony, Motown, Universal, Warner or whoever it is who distribute the music. True fans care about the music. They don’t fall for false propaganda and conspiracy theories by some crazy extremists like yourself.
In my opinion there’s no such thing as a “true fan”. There are people who take an interest with varying tastes, dedication, loyalty, motives and agendas – and opinions on what right and wrong is in all of those areas. Different people are simply in it for different reasons. Anyone who likes Michael Jackson or his music can probably pass as a “fan”. I prefer to not be labelled as a “fan”. I know where I stand personally and I don’t need a label for it. I love Michael.
Damien,I’m following you on twitter,still wonder why you wouldn’t buy this album?I know money is not the case,and I know you love Michael deeply,have you ever bought an album before MJ past?
I own every item of physical music released by Michael Jackson during his life. I also bought tickets to see ‘This Is It’ in the cinema (ten times over) in 2009. Since then I have not purchased a single item, and don’t intend to – especially after what happened in 2010.
@WhatADisgrace, speak for yourself, I am a longtime MJ fan since 1988. I will definitely buy this album, because MJ was an artist who could touch people with his voice. And I am also a Timbaland fan. This project excites me and I can’t wait to play this disc (deluxe version with the original recordings) on my stereo setup.
I WILL buy ‘Xscape’.
@WhatADisgrace, you don’t listen to music very well I take it I will support MJ and Timbo
@WhatADisgrace…wow….u must be one of those people that listens to all his music through speakers…
“tuneless noise”??
those who cant do, critique…
@WhatADisgrace … you do realize that MJ’s kids benefit from these projects. How else do you think they can continue to go on living the life they have? Sure the estate and Sony make their share, it is business after all. I for one will support this album because I love to hear all of the unreleased material. If you don’t agree with it then simply don’t buy it and don’t listen to it.
sadly, MJ’s 3 children and his mother do not receive any benefits from profits of these projects. They receive monthly living allowances, but have yet to receive their share of Estate earnings, which is massive because of the Cirque shows and the TII propaganda machine before that. Nor do Charities, also mentioned in the apparent Will currently receive any money/donations. And I fear it will be a VERY LONG LONG time before they do with the 750BILLION dollar tax bill the Estate have created.
The affairs have been handled very poorly by the Executors of the Estate, who are being paid handsomely, and have received an increase in their personal takings in the last few years.
Do not worry about MJ’s kids and mother, they are a billion times richer than you. Even if no posthumous product is released, they will still have more than enough from Sony/ATV revenue.
If Michael didn’t want any of his unreleased material to ever see the light of day after he passed away, he would have had this put in his will. Michael wasn’t a dummy, and he knew his legacy that’s still unreleased in that music vault of his, will support his kids long after he’s gone.
And once again, if MJ despised Sony so much, why did he release music AFTER the whole Invincible fiasco? Answer that one sherlock. It wasn’t Sony MJ was pissed at..it was Tommy Motolla. Motolla got fired/removed/asked to leave, new blood was put in place, and things got patched up between Sony and MJ. So enough of this MJ hated Sony…Sony’s using MJ bullshit.
Michael was actively seeking an Estate Planner at the time of his death. Knowing that, I think it’s safe to say he died without the will/estate plan he wanted. The Sony issue isn’t as straight forward as people think either. Michael was by no means pleased to be working with Sony in 2008 on the Thriller 25 project.
There has never been such a divide between the fan community as there is now, since MJ is no longer.
I did not support the first posthumous release because there were 3 songs that were not Michael (overall) singing. The anger over that, and all of the controversy it caused, set the tone for how each release after would feel initially. It also made it easy to STRONGLY dislike those running the estate, and to talk ill of Sony (even though many of those who worked there when MJ had issues with them, were long gone). Regardless of who is running the estate, and what company releases music, the truth is I desire to hear and have as much new MJ music. I am a fan of the music. When MJ passed, after months and after This Is It hits the movies, it was an instant thought of when the unreleased leaked somgs would be released. I KNEW it had to happen… and granted, the MICHAEL album was a disaster all over.
Fast forward to now, I feel that the Estate has learned from the MICHAEL trainwreck.
They respected and used an up to fate image of MJ, which speak volumes to the kind of fan I am. The general outlook is felt to be that Thriller is the peak of his best music, and with the MICHAEL album, they used the main picture to mimic that. I had issues with that + my favorite MJ album is Invincible, and I related more to his later personal music.
It is SO OLD to hear some try to say what a REAL FAN is.
I’ve been a MJ fan all of my life. I didn’t support the first posthumous album because it was done all wrong and not handled with the best care. XSCAPE is a total different ball game and feels like the first real release posthumously. I am supporting it 100%.
I live everything about it: from the cover artwork, to the songs, the theme, the urban sound, and of course, we also get the original demos.
Whatever went on behind the scenes in MJ’s life im any area, from finances, to relationships, to public image… it NEVER obscures my love for the music, and that has not changed. I know one thing, MJ would not want his fanbase to become so divided and nor would he want anything connected to his name to fail.
The first posthumous album had music-faults… but this time around (no pun) we are being presented a heck of an offering. I will do my part.
I agree with JVL mostly except in the case of the album cover. it looks like he’s wearing a sparkly straight jacket or something, and Michaels lips never looked like that. I also feel somehow, that the Estate is leaning towards promoting the fictional tabloid charachter version of MJ a bit more than they should to try put him more in a lady gaga type category, idk why i feel that, just a gut reaction to the cover. I feel like the general public might also be a bit scared away with that pic.
The first time I saw the album cover, I was on FB and it just sprang up in the notifications and I was left stunned. I had to stare at it for 10 seconds to register in the awesomeness of what I just saw. The album cover is so trippy and very IN. Well that’s my opinion! I love the stardust on it and Michael’s powerful gaze. I have a feeling the original picture is his BOTF look, I just hope someday we will know the exact source of that picture.
JVL, well stated. I too want to support the upcoming release. I do not usually buy music, but as a result of the demo’s, xscape will make a fine addition to my old CD collection.
The thing I’m wondering about…is where is the humanitarian Man In The Mirrror/Heal The World/Earth Song type gospel/ballad track? ever since BAD, heck ever since Victory actually, theres always been at least on on each album. I know there HAVE to be a few unreleased ones. For MJ I’m pretty sure those kind of songs were the whole reason for putting out albums. the man made music for one reason- to heal the world. the songs that weren’t about healing the world were for attracting attention to the songs about healing the world. heck, What More Can I Give would be great. I have heard theres a version he recorded solo. that would have been perfect.
I’d say that “Do You Know Where Your Children Are” falls into that category. Michael being the voice for the voiceless, bringing attention to an important issue with a powerful anthem. In my opinion it’s his best unreleased track.
I agree with your opinion, I LOVE that song. but I meant one of those world uniting anthems. with DYKWYCA I can allready hear the general public reacting- “how dare MICHAEL JACKSON ask us if we know where our children are” (read that in a nancy grace voice lol) some people might take offense. so it may be a dividing song rather than a uniting one. but yeah it is humanitarian, but not a gospel or ballad type.
I’m also hoping they didn’t mess around with Do You Know Where Your Children Are too much both lyrically and musically I like it the way it is. I’m hoping they kept the beat mostly the same and didn’t mess with the guitar parts too much. but if they did, I guess at least the demo is on the other disk..
This very thought came to mind. I also think that “What More Can I Give” would have been a perfect 9th song to fit onto XSCAPE. They could have done a new veraion and of course we would have got the version MJ showed at the awards show in 2003. Is it crazy that I wish that it was the bonus track on the deluxe version? (Instead of the rumored “Hot Fun” cover).
nope not crazy at all.
Because of the “Michael” project?It seems like you’ve been irritated by those fake songs….I purchased that album because I didn’t realized it was jason malachi “debut album”;Nevertheless,I’m going to buy xscape because I want Michael to top the charts one more time
It was unfortunate what happened with the “Michael” album. I feel it was done in a hurry and without much thought/efforts put into it. I still lament the fact that some really good songs like “Hollywood Tonight” couldn’t manage to be a huge hit because of so much controversy. The album cover will always be my favorite of all the covers ever made. I gave “Hollywood Tonight” to one of my friends who performed it for our college fest and people loved it and all of them listened the song for the first time. Now everybody can clearly see how the estate have learned from their mistakes, and personally I think they are doing a fantastic job with this album. For the sake of MJ’s legacy, I want this album to go number one as well. 🙂
Yep,I love Hollywood tonight,too.Although I’ve heard most of the track on Xscape,but I hope the production will help to appeal to more listeners in new generation
Damien – I follow you as well and I can respect that you have decided not to purchase since 2009. On a seperate note – I think it shows how much u do love Michael tho even tho you aren’t buying the album – you still do cool articles such as these and stay connected to all MJ does. So i think that’s cool and want to say keep up the good work and keep the info coming!
Fortunately, there is a big world of new and longstanding music consumers who aren’t particularly interested in the pro-anti Estate, pro-anti Sony, pro-anti Will debates. They are interested in hearing the music and deciding for themselves. Critics and marketers certainly have their place in the business and have their important jobs to do. But eventually, the result will rest on the personal experience between each listener and the music. Michael Jackson IMO had a gift of connection both over the airwaves and in a big crowd. That’s what I look for.
As always, thank you for the article! We are already entering the last week of April and I hope to see banner ads regarding Xscape springing up in the next few days. Social networking websites and especially Google displays ads according to the user’s choices by taking in the information of their browsing habits. As I browse about Xscape nearly everyday I am being shown the advertisement from Amazon for the album on Facebook. So I hope by ads you mean they will be visible to everybody. That will be great for the promotion. Also can you also provide any information as to how Sony is planning to promote this album? I have read on the MJ website and in your blog that a lot of hype will be created. Also Sony is the official partner of the Fifa world cup this year. Will they use that as an opportunity to promote Xscape? by airing Xperia Z2 ad which has STTR in it maybe? Will that ad be even featured on TV?
I am glad that the estate is approaching the album promotion very carefully this time. I am only focusing on the positives because I want Michael Jackson to be alive in everybody’s consciousness. Because lets face it, media still doesn’t leave him alone. And from the first listener reviews this is an album which will remind the world why MJ was you know.. “MJ” and I want that to succeed. Michael Jackson should be established back in people’s heads as why he is still the King and there is no better way to do that than his music.