Catching Up With Michael Jackson
“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” Tickets Sell Out World Wide
The King of Pop Michael Jackson has spent 2009 shattering countless records. Earlier this year his ‘This Is It’ set of live shows set the record for the fastest ticket sales in history and now the concert movie billed as “Michael Jackson’s This Is It” has broken international ticket sales records according to Reuters and The Associated Press. Thousands of tickets for hundreds of advance screenings set to take place on October 27th in North America have already sold out a month before the film’s October 28th release.
“Michael Jackson’s This Is It” chronicles the King of Pop’s rehearsals for the sold-out shows that were set to begin in July at London’s 02 Arena. On Sunday all 3,000 tickets for an advance viewing in Los Angeles sold out within two hours. In Japan over $1 million in tickets were sold, on the first day they were available. In London over 30,000 tickets were sold on the first day. Record breaking sales were also reported in Sweden, Belgium, New Zealand and Holland.
Kenny Ortega, Jackson’s long time choreographer and director for ‘This Is It’ called the film “a gift to Michael's fans.” He added, “As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special. It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius' world. This film shows a consummate performer working with and guiding singers, dancers, band members, choreographers, special effects creators and countless other creative members of the team as we all assemble this historic concert."
“This Is It” will launch with more than 25 premieres around the world, 15 of which will occur simultaneously. Sony paid $60 million for more than 100 hours of rehearsal footage, from which the film is derived.
New Michael Jackson Single & Album to be Released
On October 12th Sony Music Entertainment will release the first brand new Michael Jackson single since 2003’s ‘One More Chance’, titled ‘This Is It’. Co-producer John McClain said this of the new tune, “This song only defines, once again, what the world already knows - that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts.”
On October 27th Sony Music Entertainment's Columbia/Epic Label Group will release a double-disc album also titled, “This Is It”. According to Michael Jackson's official website, “Disc one will feature the original album masters of some of Michael's biggest hits arranged in the same sequence as they appear in the film.
The disc ends with two versions of the never-released "This Is It." This song is featured in the film's closing sequence and includes backing vocals by Michael's brothers, the Jacksons.
Disc two offers previously unreleased versions of some of the artist's classic tracks. This disc also features a touching spoken word poem from Michael Jackson entitled "Planet Earth" that has never been heard before.”
The album will also include a 36-page photo booklet that includes exclusive photos from the "This Is It" rehearsals.
Examiner / Thanks Joy C & All The Fans!