'Idol' finals to kick off with Michael Jackson week

The LA Times has confirmed that the first week of "American Idol's" final rounds will be devoted to the songbook of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.  The controversial performer has been in the news lately, announcing a series of concerts that he has labeled the last of his career.

The Jacko songbook will be taken on by Idol's newly minted Top 13, the last of whom were named last night in the Wild Card show.

No word yet on which contestant has claimed "Beat It" and who will try to top David Cook's star-making turn on "Billie Jean" last year.  However, we can only pray the group number will not look like this.

- Richard Rushfield

(Photo courtesy EPA)

Comments

[Jon]

It looks like I'll be watching American Idol for the first time ever!

[Applesauce]

How much do you want to bet that Lambert is going to do the fall out boy version of beat it

[Jay Jackson]

Who needs this has-been. There's plenty of new, good talent without bringing this nut-case back into the picture.

[RD]

Who needs this has-been(?)

With the biggest selling LP of all time (Thriller), the guy can't be ignored even if he is a wack-a-doodle.

[Tracy]

I bet Adam does Alien Ant Farm's version of "Smooth Criminal."

[Comeback Kid]

Don't be hatin' on MJ.

The man's a musical genius and one of the best live performers of our lifetime, not to mention one of the top recording artists EVER. If you don't like him for his personal life, that's one thing. But to dismiss his music is nothing short of ignorant.

[Warren]

Regardless of Mike's personal problems he still has a very rich history of songs under belt. I'm sure Mike will be on the show when his music is played so he can promote his up coming concerts. I hope some of the contestants will do some songs from his younger days with the Jackson Five. I recently found a song on UTube from the ABC album called "I don't know why I love you." The song was written by Stevie Wonder. For a 10 year old he sure had a lot of soul in him.

[Voice of Reason]

Actually David Cook's "take" on Billie Jean was a cover of another band's cover version of "Billie Jean". So David Cook essentially did a cover of a cover.

[George]

Is he going to be coaching the contestants throughout the week like other artists whose songs are featured? Now that would be some interesting television!

[doug]

David Cook performed the Chris Cornell version of Billie Jean and did give him proper credit.

[xmanmalcolm]

Look, for all of you people that keep bashing Michael for what ever reason; here's food for thought. Michael Jackson will forever rank up there with Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Ghundi, etc. People that have changed the course of history. The man is a living legend. No matter what we think. He might be a little weird in certain ways, but he has never fallen short of giving the world all of himself and simply amazing and great entertainment. His life is a living legacy. Which is more than most of us can say for ourselves. I for one, am grateful that I've had an opportunity to be a part of an era which will always be remembered as the Michael Jackson Era. Love him or hate him, he has sacrificed far to much for any man, woman, or child to even began to complain about him or what they think about him. Those same people complaining about him or making negative statements about him were probably the same individuals that wore mj jackets and sported the glove back in the 80's. So please, have some respect, because when you think about it, he has made this entire world just a little bit better to endure and deal with because his music and style took us all to a different place. I think that we owe Michael and his entire family some thanks and gratitude for the hard work and sacrifices that they gave to show us a better world. Long live the king of pop?

[anna0511]

Amen! Couldn't have said it better myself. Forget about his personal life for a moment and take a look at some of his performances, listen to his voice - no artist had ever given so much of himself. Michael Jackson has made unmatched personal sacrifices for us and in return he doesn't even get the benefit of the doubt.

Judge him not on his appearance or the mistakes he has made but on his music and what he have given to the world of music. He has a human being who has endured far too much scrutiny.

[Green J Phrog]

Forget about personal life? Like a certain German Leader during WW2? Wack a doodles (by their actions) are NOT great people. Remember Napolian was the ,maddest of them all

[Kathleen]

As long as Jackson isn't there himself, it should be good. Yes, he is to be credited for his contribution to pop music history. However, you cannot ignore the fact that this man is deeply disturbed mentally and emotionally and it DOES make a difference.

[Jay]

Truly one of the most successful entertainers of all time, dispite being ridiculed and maligned by the press, he was never found guilty of any thing but being what so many famous celebrities were, unique and unusual.

Michael Jackson deserves a tribute by American Idol and hopefully some of the "kids" competing will actually learn something from his amazing talent.

[DStrope]

he should be in jail not on a program with young boys

[Ghostmech]

xmanmalcolm......shouldn't Obama (the messiah) be on your list of greatest people? After all, he is changing the whole US into a socialist utopia, right?

[whatever]

It's the Jackson songbook, like they did the Lennon-McCartney songbook last year. I agree the music is part of music history, so I say go for it. I wouldn't want to see Michael Jackson on AI though and have no doubt that Michael Jackson would never do AI anyway, so let's just enjoy the music.

Comment on Cook's Billie Jean. Yes, he based his cover on Chris Cornell's version and said so from the beginning, but sorry folks, Cook OWNS that version. There is no one, not ever the great Chris Cornell that can sing it like Cook. I hope AI8 contestants leave that one alone. If they don't, they will be cutting their own throats.

[Maybe I Won't]

MJ is a singer and was an engaging performer. He didn't write his most famous songs. He didn't play the instruments, produce nor engineer them. If my dog went into the studio with the likes of Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Van Halen etc. etc., He too could be a pop superstar. The only thing Michael Jackson did to change history is usher in the era when the producer and the guys with the computers and sequencers manufacture pop crap music like they churn out candy bars with colorful wrappers.

And yes, If you or I went before a judge and had to admit to giving an 11 year old wine while we slept in the same bed, we'd be in jail on the receiving end of, well, you know...

That may have to be a week I'll have to skip.

[Abbey]

Looks like I'll be tuning in this year.

[Preston]

Oh, I can't wait to watch this week! Michael Jackson is one of my favorite male singers and all of them need to find some of his best songs to match with his voice! His songs do get me dancing and uplifted at the same time! Very timely to do this almost a week after Michael announced his last set of concerts in London!

[Jason]

Jay Jackson, Maybe, DStrope, Kathleen, and RD do yourselves a favor and nail your mouthes shut cus there you are judging a man you don't even know and some making false claims. Richard Rushfield his name is JACKSON not "jacko" come on dude be professional not a stupid tabloid reporter.

[Carrington]

Jason, I couldn't have said it better regarding the author's butchering of Micheal Jackson's name. I absolutely hate when they refer to him as jacko and find it racist and insulting.

[Judith Coyle]

First off, Jackson was cleared on ALL counts levelled against him and he never admitted giving wine to any minor. Check your facts.
Second, when the UK show, X Factor, did a week of MJ songs it went down a storm here and his album, King of Pop, shot up the charts.