Michael

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Posthumous album captures MJ's spirit; fine for tweens.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is the first posthumously-released album since Michael Jackson's death, including unfinished, unpolished tracks that were supposedly not ready for release. There's a recurring theme about Hollywood and the fame monster, but overall the content is fine for fans young and old, with clean lyrics.

  • Some negative messages about fame, celebrity, and Hollywood. "Hold My Hand" teaches that anything is possible if we work together.
  • Even in the last tumultous years of his life, MJ was still trying to change the world through music and leave an inspiring anthem. "Keep Your Head Up" says never give up and "Hold My Hand" shows the power of working together.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not really an issue except in song "Hollywood Tonight," with the lyrics: "She's giving hot tricks to men just to get in, when she was taught that it's not clean because she's only 15."  

What's the story?

MICHAEL contains 10 tracks that Michael Jackson supposedly was working on but never completely finished before his death. Although there is some controversy surrounding the validity of every song, some of the tracks like "(I Like) The Way You Love Me," "Behind the Mask," and "Hold My Hand" are classic MJ, with lyrics about love and friendship, giving fans a little more of the lasting legacy that is the King of Pop. Akon, 50 Cent, and Lenny Kravitz are featured on the album as well. The digital booklet contains lyrics, backstory, and handwritten notes by Jackson.


Is it any good?

 

If you and your kids are Michael Jackson fans, you will enjoy this album. The spirit of his music is captured, with songs like "Hollywood Tonight," "Monster," (with 50 Cent) and "Breaking News" touching on the reality of fame, celebrity, and life under a microscope. It makes the listener empathetic to MJ's last days and all the more sorry that such a talent was gone too soon. "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" and "Much Too Soon" elicit images of the old Michael the way he should be remembered.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about releasing an album after an artist's death. Do you think this is appropriate? Why or why not? Do you think this album would sell as well if Michael Jackson were still living?

  • There's some controversy that some of the tracks feature an imposter only mimicking MJ's vocals. What do you think about his controversy? Do you think it's a publicity stunt? Do you hear any inconsistencies in the vocals on the album?


This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Teen, 14 years old
January 19, 2011
 
This is the best

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Kid, 13 years old
March 9, 2011
 
camron@yahoo*
hi

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Teen, 17 years old
January 23, 2011
 
Fine album
I'm not that big of a Michael Jackson fan, but this album is pretty good, about as good as the rest of the stuff he made. It's trying a little too hard to make you cry though honestly. This album is pretty obviously meant to be sad. Also, does anyone else think the album cover is a little too much? I mean, no offense or anything but it's not like he was God. He's just a good dancer.

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Kid, 13 years old
May 16, 2011
 
rip mj
all of his songs are great and really inspiring. but songs like in the closet and money should be 10 up!

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Adult
February 19, 2011
 
Michael Jackson is not God. Yet, he was a good natured man who wanted to capture something that he never experienced in his past. Michael at the age of 24, was very lonely, he never experienced true friendship and still lived at home. Michael gave 350 million dollars to 40 different charities and saved a eastern european boys life in the 90s by finding him a liver. There is no evidence to suggest that he was anything bad. I don't care for this album since Michael was not alive to give it his blessing. This album sounds overproduced and Sony is foolish to even try to make this album a success. They could have done that when he was alive, yet they didn't support him and stopped all production on the "Invincible" Album before it was finished. Overall, Hollywood Tonight, Another Day, and the karen Carpenter written song "Much Too Soon" are magnificent! The others seem to have been cobbled up to make complete songs.

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Kid, 13 years old
February 7, 2011
 
I Love MJ so much that I'm a huge fan of him

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Teen, 14 years old
March 12, 2011
 

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Teen, 14 years old
April 2, 2011
 
RIP MJ
This is a wonderful CD by a wonderful man who inspired many. May he rest in the eternal peace that he definitely deserves.

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Teen, 16 years old
February 4, 2011
 

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This review was written by Jessica Dawson
Artist:Michael Jackson
Release date:December 14, 2010
Label:Epic
Genre:Pop
Parental advisory:No

This review was written by Jessica Dawson
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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