As you all know, the soundtrack of the Michael biopic came out for pre-order just a few days ago. However, the reception of this compilation album has already received a lot of negativity from the core fan base of Michael Jackson.
When the album tracklist and cover first began appearing on movie-focused websites, the initial fan reaction was essentially: “For sure, this is not real.” But shortly after, fans, including MJVibe, discovered that the album had in fact been added to the official online store of Michael Jackson. While we can pass on the usual spelling mistakes found on the tracklist, the reaction from fans wasn’t as enthusiastic as we were expecting.
First, the 13-track count is a disappointment for the majority of the fan base, who were hoping for at least some unreleased material or perhaps some of the remixes we heard in the various teasers and trailers for the movie, many of which received very positive reactions online.
Then there is the flow of the soundtrack itself, which feels a bit off. Of course, going from the The Jackson 5 era to the Bad era makes sense chronologically. But switching from studio recordings to live tracks and then back to studio recordings is rather unusual. From a listener’s point of view, it doesn’t make for the most enjoyable experience.
Now, regarding the songs themselves, well, this is essentially just a compilation album, not a soundtrack. While fans complain that the selection is minimal and could have been broader or more creative, we should remind ourselves that this album is simply a companion to the movie. It should probably be seen as a discovery album for people who will go to see the film and perhaps discover Michael Jackson’s music for the first time.
Now to the cover artwork. Frankly, it is what it is. I don’t have any real hatred toward it. Personally, I’m just glad they didn’t use the first visual with the four “Michaels” on the brown background. However, fans tend to be more demanding and were clearly hoping for a cover that felt more Michaelesque.
Some fans have suggested that this might only be a first companion album, with another soundtrack coming later. Unfortunately, I doubt that very much. That’s not typically how the movie business works, and it wouldn’t make much business sense to release two different soundtrack albums for the same film. Sorry guys, this is very likely the soundtrack of the movie.
A fan emailed the representatives of the Michael Jackson Estate and received the answer you’ve all been looking for.
That being said, let’s put aside the album’s content and visuals for a moment and look at the promotion around it.
First, the fact that the album appeared on the official store ahead of an announcement is not unusual in itself. The website initially featured the CD, cassette, and black LP versions. Fans immediately began pre-ordering those formats until the official announcement email was finally sent out.
In that email, fans noticed graphics showing a red vinyl edition. Clicking the link redirected them to a newly refreshed Michael Jackson Official Store, where the exclusive red vinyl and six new t-shirts had suddenly appeared.
From an organizational, branding, and promotional standpoint, this rollout felt messy. Ideally, the store should have been refreshed first, and then the new products should have gone live.
Looking closer at the email many of you received, you may have noticed something else: a crystal-clear vinyl appears in the promotional graphics. Yet this version is not available in the official store, because it is actually an Amazon exclusive. So why include it in the main promotional graphic without clearly informing fans that it would only be available on Amazon?
Then we move to the social media promotion. Sony and the Estate released a motion graphic presenting the tracklist and the different album formats available. The video then ends with six of Michael Jackson’s studio albums on vinyl, accompanied by the message: “Own All of the Michael Jackson Studio Albums Now.”
This confused many fans. Some believed it meant that all six studio albums would soon be available on vinyl, with the most anticipated being a reissue of the HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I album.
However, the graphic itself shows two vinyl discs, even though we know the album is actually a three-LP release. The wording “Now” might encourage fans to visit the official website to purchase them, but once there, there is no HIStory vinyl available.
In reality, this was most likely meant to encourage the general public to purchase the studio albums that are already available in various formats. After reviewing multiple Sony Music release schedules and databases, there is currently no indication that a HIStory vinyl reissue is planned.
Sorry guys, that appears to have been a design misconception, something we’ve unfortunately seen before with Estate promotions.
Some of you may think that I am always trying to find issues with releases from the Estate, but frankly, I’m not. However, when we remember the incredible promotional machine that surrounded Michael Jackson during his lifetime, it’s hard not to notice the missteps. After previous projects like Thriller 40, my eyes are naturally drawn to the details. Those details are the difference between mediocrity and perfection.
As for this soundtrack, personally I don’t mind it. I think it works perfectly well as a companion album for people who will discover Michael Jackson through the movie.
But here at MJVibe, we also report on the general sentiment within the fan community, and the amount of criticism surrounding this album, from the tracklist to the cover, simply cannot be ignored.
To be continued and I would love to be proven wrong with the HIStory album on Vinyl
Sebastian for MJVibe
