This it is

Released October 26, 2009

Recorded 1978–2009

Genre Pop, R&B, new jack swing, funk, soul

Length 92:25

Label Epic
Producer Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, David Foster, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley, Mervyn Warren, John McClain, Dave Way.


Michael Jackson's This Is It (or simply This Is It) is a two-disc compilation album by American pop and R&B singer Michael Jackson. Released under Sony Music's label Epic Records on October 26, 2009, This Is It features mostly previously released music, and six previously unreleased recordings by Jackson. This Is It was released to coincide with the theatrical release of Michael Jackson's This Is It, a concert film documenting Jackson's rehearsals for his "This Is It" concert series. This Is It is the sixth posthumous album to be released by Sony and Motown/Universal since Jackson's death in June, the previous five albums being: The Collection, Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection, Michael Jackson: The Stripped Mixes, The Definitive Collection and The Remix Suite.

This Is It received mixed reviews; some critics praising the album's tracks, while other critics criticized the release of the album, with some having felt that the album was a "cash-in attempt". This Is It was made available as both a compact disc and an album and EP digital download. The album debuted at number one in eleven countries, including the United States Billboard 200, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Italy and France. Aside from the albums charting at number eleven in Finland, the album peaked within the Top 10 in other nations. This Is It's sales has been certified Gold, Platinum, and 2x Platinum in multiple countries with an estimated sale of 3 million units worldwide. The album was the twelfth best selling album of 2009 in the United States.

This Is It was a planned series of fifty concerts by Michael Jackson to be held at The O2 arena in London. They were scheduled to begin in July 2009 and continue through March 2010. Less than three weeks before the first concert date, and with all concerts sold out, Jackson died after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest.

Jackson officially announced the concerts at a press conference held inside The O2 arena. AEG Live, the concert promoters, released a promotional video that took up an entire commercial break, setting a record for ITV. The shows were to be Jackson's first major series of concerts since the HIStory World Tour finished in 1997, and had been cited as one of the year's most important musical events. Over one million people would have attended in total. Randy Phillips, president and chief executive of AEG Live, stated that the first 10 dates alone would have earned the singer approximately £50 million. Originally only 10 concerts were announced, however public demand resulted in a 50 date sold out residency. Ticket sales broke several records and AEG Live stated that Jackson could have sold more dates. Jackson's album sales increased following the announcement.

In preparation for the concert series, the pop singer had been collaborating with numerous high profile figures, such as fashion designer Christian Audigier, choreographer Kenny Ortega and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno. Prior to Jackson's death, Allgood Entertainment had planned to sue the musician for $40 million, claiming that he had breached an exclusivity agreement with them by agreeing to the This Is It concerts.

In light of Jackson's passing, AEG Live offered either full refunds to all ticket holders or a special souvenir ticket designed by the entertainer. The cancelled 50 shows, its record breaking ticket sales,[1][2][3] and its potential for a worldwide tour,[4][5] deemed Jacksons shows "the greatest concerts that never happened."[6][7] Columbia Pictures acquired the footage of the show rehearsals and made a concert film entitled Michael Jackson's This Is It. The Jackson estate will get 90% of the profit made while the remaining 10% goes to AEG Live. Columbia Pictures guaranteed at least $60 million for the rights. To coincide with the release of the concert footage, an accompanying album was also released.

1 ,"I Just Can not Stop Loving You" is a popular ballad by singer Michael Jackson featuring a duet with Siedah Garrett. Written and composed by Jackson, it was originally intended to be a duet between Jackson and his woman of choice: either Barbra Streisand or Whitney Houston. Even Aretha Franklin and Agnetha Fältskog (formerly of ABBA) were offered the song, but all four had other obligations.

However, songwriter and Quincy Jones protege Garrett, who wrote Jackson's song "Man in the Mirror", volunteered to sing with Jackson thus giving Garrett her first hit since Dennis Edwards' 1984 hit, "Don't Look Any Further". Garrett is quoted in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson that she was unaware she would be singing the song - although she had received a tape of it - until the day of the recording session, when Jones told her to step up to the microphone and sing it with Jackson.

The song became the first of five consecutive number-one Billboard Hot 100 singles from Jackson's Bad album. It also reached number one on the Billboard R&B and adult contemporary charts. It was Jackson's second number-one song on the AC chart (his first, coincidentally, had also been a duet: 1982's "The Girl Is Mine" with Paul McCartney).[1] It was released without an accompanying music video.

Originally, the album version featured a spoken intro by Jackson backed with a longer version of the opening music. This intro was mixed out on future releases of the album.

Released July 20, 1987
Format CD single
Recorded 1987
Genre Pop/R&B
Length 4:11
Label Epic Records
Writer(s) Michael Jackson
Producer Michael Jackson and Quincy


2. "Beat It" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Michael Jackson and co-produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). Eddie Van Halen was drafted to add the song's distinctive overdriven guitar solo. Following the successful chart performances of the Thriller singles "The Girl Is Mine" and "Billie Jean", "Beat It" was released on February 14, 1983 as the album's third single. The song was promoted with a short film that featured Jackson bringing two gangs together through the power of dance.

A commercial success, "Beat It" was awarded two Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards and was inducted into the Music Video Producers Hall of Fame. "Beat It" (along with the song's music video) propelled Thriller into becoming the best-selling album of all time. The single was certified platinum in 1989. Rolling Stone magazine placed "Beat It" in the 337th spot on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time[2] and on the list of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.[3]

In the decades since its release, "Beat It" has been covered, parodied, and sampled by numerous artists including Fergie, Weird Al Yankovic, and Fall Out Boy. The song was also featured in the National Highway Safety Commission's anti-drunk driving campaign.


Released February 14, 1983 (1983-02-14)
Recorded 1982
Genre Hard rock
Length 4:18
Label Epic Records
Writer(s) Michael Jackson
Producer Michael Jackson
Quincy Jones
Certification Platinum (RIAA)
Gold (RIANZ)[1]




3. "Earth Song" is the third single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. It is a ballad that incorporates elements of blues, gospel and opera. Jackson had a long-standing history of releasing socially conscious material such as "We Are the World", "Man in the Mirror" and "Heal the World". However, "Earth Song" was the first that overtly dealt with the environment and animal welfare. The song was written and composed by Jackson; the task of production was split between Jackson, David Foster and Bill Bottrell.

Reviews were generally favorable, but some charged that the song sounded pompous, even if unintentional. "Earth Song" was accompanied by a lavish music video shot on four geographical regions. It centered around the destruction and rebirth of Earth and went on to receive a Grammy nomination in 1997. The song was a top five hit in most European countries. In the UK, it remains Jackson's best-selling single. "Earth Song" was not released as a single in the United States.

When Jackson performed the song at the 1996 BRIT Awards, Jarvis Cocker attempted to interrupt the show and stormed the stage, offended with the imagery presented. Jackson went on to receive recognition from various animal and environmental organizations.



Released November 27, 1995
Format CD single
Recorded 1995
Genre Blues, gospel, Power ballad
Length 6:46 (Album Version)
5:02 (Radio Edit)
Label Epic Records
Writer(s) Michael Jackson,
Producer Michael Jackson
David Foster
Bill Bottrell