Michael Jackson
This Is It
© Epic
January 4 - 10, 2026
Year of Release: 2009
Rating:
Disc One:
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
Jam
They Don't Care About Us
Human Nature
Smooth Criminal
The Way You Make Me Feel
Shake Your Body
(Down To The Ground)
I Just Can't Stop Loving You
Thriller
Beat It
Black Or White
Earth Song
This Is It (Vocal)
This Is It
(Orchestral Version)
Disc Two:
She's Out Of My LIfe (Demo)
Wanna Be Startin'
Somethin'(Demo)
Beat It (Demo)
Planet Earth
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Michael Jackson was planning 50 concerts for his This Is It comeback shows in London at the O2 Arena from
July 13, 2009 to March 6, 2010. But, he would pass away on June 25, 2009, of cardiac arrest (it would later be determined
that the cause of death was "acute prpofol intoxication" with the additonal factor of "benzodiazepone effect."
After his death, This Is It would release a two-disc compilation "soundtrack" for Jackson's concert documentary
film - Michael Jackson's This It It, released on October 26, 2009, one day before the film's theatrical release.
The album debuted at #1, for one week. The album consisted of 16 tracks of which 14 were from his previous albums:
Thriller, Bad, Dangerous and HIStory, and one from the Jacksons' album Destiny. Four additional
tracks (Disc 2) were Demos.
Disc One: The first 14 of 16 tracks were from Michael Jackson's previous albums: "Wanna Be Startin'
Somethin'" (Thriller), "Jam" (Dangerous), "They Don't Care About Us" (HIStory),
"Human Nature" (Thriller), "Smooth Criminal" (Bad), "THe Way You Make Me Feel"
(Bad), "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" by The Jacksons from (Destiny), "I Just Can't
Stop Loving You" with Siedah Garrett (Bad), "Thriller" (Thriller), "Beat It"
(Thriller), "Black Or White" (Dangerous), "Earth Song" (HIStory), "Billie Jean"
(Thriller), "Man In The Mirror" (Bad). The last two tracks are two versions of "This Is It."
One with vocal, the other an orchestra version. (Both versions have vocals.) "This Is It" was co-written by
Michael Jackson and Paul Anka. The song had originally been planned as a duet, for Anka's Walk A Fine Line album.
After Jackson's death, his brothers found a demo of the song, described as a "bare bone" recording. They added their
voices and instruments into the background of the track. (This was similar to the Beatles updated songs written and
recorded by John Lennon before his death. Lennon's demos were updated by the surviving Beatles - Two of them appearing
on their Anthology compilations - "Free As A Bird" (Anthology 1, and "Real Love" (Anthology
2, and recently one other Lennon demo "Now And Then", that would later be included on The Beatles' Anthology
4.
Disc Two: Disc 2 contains 4 Michael Jackson demos: "She's Out Of My Life," where the original version
was released on "Off The Wall." "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Beat It" demos, where the original versions
would be from the Thriller album. Lastly, "Planet Earth," a spoken word poem (demo), featured in the booklet
from Dangerous.
"She's Out Of My Life" is very acoustic. "Unplugged Michael Jackson." A very beautiful rendition of a track
that would be part of "Off The Wall." "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Beat It" were from
Thriller. The musical accompainment is different on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" - and the ending.
"Beat It" is vocals with no music. Accapella? More like a warmup, preparing for the final product. The spoken word
"Planet Earth" discusses forest destruction, species extinction, wars and the suffering of the most fragile
populations, especitly linking ecological emergency to himanitarian crises for the first time. Different than expected.
It's Michael Jackson speaking the poem. Passionate. Vulenrable. He says "I love you" at the end.
This Is It received mixed reviews. Most likely the fact that MJ had passed away at the time of the release.
Although his life was "different," his accusations of of child abuse, and was married briefly to Lisa Marie Presley (Elvis'
daughter); 20 months. His appearance also changed. However, his peak years in music was with his brothers, and on his
own, with albums "Off The Wall," "Thriller," "Bad" and Dangerous Things were changing for him afterwards.
HIStory was a compilation, and included non-album tracks there were highly noticed, such as his cover of the
Beatles' "Come Together" and his duet with his sister Janet, on "Scream." Although his later albums
Invincible topped the albums chart at #1, but there wasn't any standout singles from the album, as it was with
his previous most popular studio albums.
Michael Jackson should be remembered for his music and his dancing. Nothing else that topped himself as a music
performer. And let us not forget his song with with Lionel Richie - they wrote "We Are The World." And Eddie Van
Halen's guitar on "Beat It."
His accusations and appearance took on their casualties. His was named as "The King of Pop," just as Elvis was named
"The King of Rock and Roll." Both of them achieved incredible music, but they both left way too soon. Michael Jackson
at 50, and Elvis at 42. No one can ever be recrowned for those titles. Never. We can always think of what they would
have of done as they grew older. Maybe an album produced by Rick Rubin, as he did with Johnny Cash? (He did several.)
That surely would have been interesting, for Michael and/or Elvis in their golden years.
This Is It is a good farewell compilation of Michael Jackson's music. Of course, there could have been
additional tracks from his Motown years. But his best music on his own are from his "Off The Wall" through
"Dangerous" albums. This Is It has that, and more. Long live Michael Jackson's music. That was "IT."
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