Milking Michael Jackson

It's been about a year and a half since The King of Pop died, but the mark that he left on music and peoples lives will always live on and continue to grow. He released 10 solo studio albums and was featured in 7 movies. Now, 9 years after his death, a new album simply titled "Michael" will be released.

Personally, I don't consider myself to be a Michael Jackson fan....let me clarify that. When Michael Jackson was on tour, I would never pay the amount it would cost to see him in concert. I don't have a Thriller poster. I've never bought any of his albums. I haven't even downloaded any of his songs. A fan would undoubtedly do some of these things. In my opinion, that is what separates me from a fan. You can't deny his talent, I will say that, and yes he has some absolutely classic songs that even I know word for word and enjoy listening to. I just feel that calling myself a fan would be an overstatement. Although, I would click "Like" on Facebook...

With that being said, I find it sad that people who are close to such a talent continue to release music in his name. There's even a new video game coming out on the Wii where you can virtually pull off a moon walk!

The new album, simply titled "Michael" features 10 songs and will be released December 14th in all stores and digital music outlets. It seems there is a lot more money to make by milking off his fame and death. I find it sad to "honor" musicians and actors by putting out work that they hadn't finished.

His "new" songs sound kind of funny. Why? They're over produced. Teddy Riley, who has produced and co-written numerous songs and also an album for MJ told Reuters:

"We had to do what we had to do to make... his voice work with the actual music." Riley admitted that Jackson "would never consider it being a final vocal. But because he's not with us he cannot give us new vocals. What we did was utilize the Melodyne (technology) to get him in key. With the Melodyne we actually move the stuff up which is the reason why some of the vibrato sounds a little off or processed, over-processed. We truly apologize for that happening, but you are still hearing the true Michael Jackson."

You didn't have to do anything, Teddy. You could have simply felt blessed enough to have the music that was already created and finished, and moved on. But why do that when you can make a new album and rake in some dough? According to Billboard, a record deal was signed with Sony Music in June 2010 that extends through 2017. At the time of the contract signing, The Jackson estate had generated $1 Billion in revenue in just a little over a year after his death. Take a listen to the now completed song for yourself...even though his own producer says Micheal Jackson "would never consider it being a final vocal" .

Michael Jackson featuring Akon "Hold My Hand"

What do you think about releasing uncompleted works by artissts/musicians? Are you going to buy the new album?