Michael Jackson's 'This Is It': A glossy, finger-snap-enhanced ballad, but where's the groove?

The last Michael Jackson album was released in 2001. Yet with the singer's passing this summer, it's a safe bet that one will not have to go years before hearing a bounty of as-yet-unheard Jackson songs again. The music industry is more than adept at exploring an artist's unreleased back catalog, and the first of what promises to be an onslaught of posthumous releases from the star hit the Web late Sunday/early Monday.

Few details were released on "This Is It," but the song bears the same name as what would have been Jackson's comeback concerts at London's 02 Arena this year. It will now serve as the title track to the concert film and accompanying album. The film arrives for a limited two-week run on Oct. 28, and the album will be released in North America on Oct. 27. 

There's been little information as to what exactly lies in the Jackson vaults, although it's been reported and speculated that enough material for multiple albums exists. Though officially released as a single, and carrying backing vocals from Jackson's brothers, "This Is It," at least, sounds like a demo. Jackson's initial count-off feels raw and distant, but this isn't an intimate peek at the singer in the studio.

An orchestra sweeps in and brushes the song into the safe and comfortable territory of many of the slower songs on 2001's "Invincible." Yet though Jackson's voice sounds crisp, the lushness of the "Invincible" ballads is lost. It saves "This Is It" from some of the latter's schmaltz, but doesn't help its repetitiveness. Elastic, slow-dance guitar notes fill the spaces between the finger-snaps, but if the song sways, it never quite hits a groove.

"I'm the light of the world, this is real," Jackson sings to a generic lover, and the backing "oohs" ensure the sentiment goes down easy. But it's a trifle, and while it's one that certainly won't embarrass Jackson's legacy or break the hearts of fans eager to hear Jackson's voice again, it does bring the fallen pop icon a little back down to earth. 

-- Todd Martens

Related: Robert Hilburn on Michael Jackson: the wounds, the broken heart

Comments

[Abdelmoumen]

i love this song, its very sweet .

[Marianne Kramer]

Whatever the fuss,whatever the negative points of view,
whenever it was ever written and by whom it was written at all,etc.etc.etc. I do not really mind about that,as I hear wonderful Michael here again,and it is Brandnew to my ears,
and it gets right to my heart,like he always does,and it fits the This Is It title he picked out himself for his Tour to give once more;as it does now the footage to show soon in the worldwide cinemas,so it somehow all comes together,and yes,I like it,I love it really,eventhough it makes me so aware of the way I miss him terribly,to not longer be physically around here,with every note that pierces through my ears right into my heart. Like he stated himself time and time again; at the beginning and in the end,it is all about Love; L.O.V.E, and that is really all that matters! And that is what will remain eternally. My LOVE to You Michael foreverlasting. Now This Is It,your Love
you left behind so richly with us,and our Love that will keep on answering to yours as it did in life also in death!
Dead has no final word,LOVE has,since it conquered even that!

[Liz]

Jheezz...Poor MJ
He's dead and the media are STILL harrassing him.
R.I.P. King x

[Iza]

"the fallen pop icon a little back down to Earth"... wow somebody there must be really frustrated by the fact you really HAVE TO praise Michael and his music since he's been dead, instead of savoring the latest gossip of him. Well The song isn't really what I've expected, and I am a huge fan, but it is obviously not the worst song in the world. It's only that Sony wanted MONEY so they'd do anything to get it. Release footage that Michael would rather die than releasing, release old songs that Michael probably even forgot about etc... And the desperate fans, who really didn't hear anything new from Michael since 2001 eat all this garbage. I'm one of them, we are the most pitiful, we've always been, and we feel we deserve something for all the waiting, but I'm sure there are better things Michael left for us than this song.