Big Michael Jackson news to pass along today … Sony Music has announced that a new Michael Jackson single titled This Is It will be released next month, which will be included on a new 2-disc album from MJ also titled This Is It … all of which will coincide nicely with the release of the This Is It Movie which was made from rehearsal footage of the This Is It Tour. Here are some of the deets of the release of this new MJ music:

Like numerous pop-music performers before him, Michael Jackson will not be hindered in his recording career by his death. A new song by Mr. Jackson, called “This Is It,” will be released next month, Sony Music Entertainment said Wednesday in a news release. The song, which shares its title with the comeback tour that Mr. Jackson was rehearsing when he died in June, will be released as a single on Oct. 12, Sony said. Two versions of that song, which includes backing vocals by Mr. Jackson’s brothers, will also appear on a new two-disc set, also called “This Is It,” which includes previously released and new material, including a spoken-word poem by Mr. Jackson called “Planet Earth”; that set will be released internationally on Oct. 26 and in North America on Oct. 27. That will be followed on Oct. 28 by Sony Pictures’ release of the documentary film “Michael Jackson: This Is It,” which is compiled from rehearsal footage from Mr. Jackson’s planned concerts.

I don’t think there is a soul alive that was not expecting the announcement of previously unheard Michael Jackson music … I guess I just wasn’t expecting its release so soon. It makes sense that Sony Music would want to capitalize on the hype surrounding the release of the This Is It Movie. This may be the first of the new MJ music to be released but it will most certainly not be the last. We’ve been hearing of the treasure trove of previously unreleased music that MJ left as his legacy … this is just the tip of the iceberg. Get ready for an onslaught of all new MJ material … I guess we should’ve know that not even death would be able to hinder Michael Jackson’s money making power.

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Over the weekend a new preview clip from the upcoming This Is It Movie, which hits theaters next month and features hours of rehearsal footage of the making of MJ’s ill-fated This Is It Tour, made its way to the Internets. Here are a few screencaps from the preview clip which features MJ himself rehearsing the performance for his song Human Nature:

Days after the unleashing of the first trailer for “This Is It”, another sneak peek at the movie built around Michael Jackson’s rehearsal footage has been released in the form of a clip. This brand new snippet comes out courtesy of Apple. It revolves around the King of Pop’s rehearsal for the “Human Nature” song with director Kenny Ortega watching on the side. In addition to the fresh clip, Apple has put out a two-minute plus trailer for the feature film. Containing mostly similar footage to the one debuted during 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, this trailer offers a number of fresh footage, which are scattered throughout, and further info about the movie release. “This Is It” offers a behind-the-scenes footage of Michael preparing for a series of the O2 London shows he was rehearsing before he passed away on June 25. It will compile more than 100 hours of video footage concert promoter AEG Live shot during April, May and June 2009. This movie will be released in theaters across the world for a limited two-week engagement, starting on October 28. This documentary movie got a thumb up for production in early August when AEG Live and co-executors of Jackson’s estate reached a deal with Sony to make and release the movie. The studio was reported to have acquired the footage for as much as $60 million, from a bidding that was started at $50 million.

I have to admit, seeing the expanded trailer for the This Is It Movie which debuted on the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards last weekend really got me excited to see the movie. Had things turned out differently and had MJ lived to perform the This Is It Tour in London, David and I would be in London right now for the event. It’s still so crazy to know that MJ has really died … his memory lives on so powerfully, even now. After the jump, check out video of Michael Jackson rehearsing Human Nature for the This Is It Movie …

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The first official movie trailer for the Michael Jackson concert film This Is It, which is due to hit theaters in late October, was premiered at the close of the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards … but just in case you missed it’s debut, you can check it out in full right here on the blog. Here are a few screencaps from the just released movie trailer:

This video clip gives us the longest look at what’s in store in this film. There seems to be equal emphasis on the creation process that went into making the This Is It show as well as the actual rehearsals for the show itself. I must admit, the more footage I see the more regretful I become that we were not able to see this show live on stage. As you may recall, David and I had tickets to see MJ in concert at the O2 Arena on September 18 … if things had turned out differently, we’d most likely be in London already gearing up to see the show this coming Friday night. After the jump, check out the full movie trailer for Michael Jackson’s This Is It Movie …

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Earlier this week it was announced that Janet Jackson will open the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, airing live from Radio City Music Hall in NYC, NY this Sunday night, by paying tribute to the memory of her late brother, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Today we get to see a new promo video that was created by MTV in honor of MJ’s legacy and promote the upcoming VMAs … check it out:

It’s a very subtle, quite fitting tribute. There is no way that MTV can throw a VMAs event this year and not pay homage to the man who essentially put MTV on the map in the 1980’s. I’m pretty sure this video is but the first of many tributes that will be paid to the late King of Pop at this weekend’s VMAs event.

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In theaters next month, for a limited 2-week only engagement, Michael Jackson’s This Is It Movie promises to give fans a look at the late King of Pop as “you’ve never seen him before”. As many of you are well aware, This Is It is a movie pieced together from the hours and hours of rehearsal footage that was filmed during rehearsals for MJ’s planned This Is It Tour that was scheduled to be performed over 50 nights at the O2 Arena in London, England beginning this past July. Here is our first look at the movie poster just released for the film:

Altho we weren’t able to see MJ’s vision for the This Is It Tour, the film version of his rehearsal footage will give us a taste of what he had planned for his big comeback. It is still very strange to think that MJ has passed away. Even after he was finally laid to rest last week (70 days after he died in June), it still seems a bit surreal that he is no longer with us. I think seeing this concert film will give fans closure as well as entertainment. You can register for updates on the movie’s official website HERE to be alerted to when tickets for this film go on sale (in most cities where the film will be shown, tickets go on sale on September 27). The movie opens on October 28.

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So, are you ready to hear something totally and entirely hilarious? It turns out that the Jackson family, Randy Jackson especially, are unhappy with the way that the media intruded on the “private” funeral/burial service that they held at Forest Lawn Cemetery this past Thursday night because they wanted to keep it a “private” matter. A “private” matter that was filmed for the upcoming A&E reality TV series titled The Jackson Family, mind you. Here is the text of Randy Jackson’s official and, IMHO, entirely ridiculous statement on the matter:

“As a family, we are all aware of how Michael’s life, and his death, touched so many around the world,” Randy said. “It is why we held a public memorial in my brother’s honor. And it is the reason we chose to release a small amount of footage leading up to yesterday’s ceremony at Forest Lawn. I was dismayed last night and again today at the coverage I saw on television of our ceremony for Michael. We had asked the media to respect the privacy and the sanctity of this event; to give us one moment of privacy to mourn as a family out of the public spotlight. Unfortunately, despite a no-fly zone around Forest Lawn, many media organizations decided to ignore our wishes. They employed helicopters that not only surreptitiously recorded our private family ceremony, but also severely disrupted it. I therefore ask today that media organizations airing helicopter footage of the ceremony we held for my brother immediately pull that footage from their air and refrain from airing it in the future.”

Pardon me but this is the biggest load of bullshit to come from the Jackson family, well, this week. These people will continue to exploit the death of MJ to their greatest advantage and it’s entirely disgusting to hear the high and mighty tone of this statement, especially coming from possibly the most least famous Jackson brother (who is most likely relishing the fact that his name is now appearing in the media). Let me remind you that the Jacksons felt it was appropriate to film the funeral service for inclusion in their upcoming grasp at reality TV fame:

Michael Jackson may have been laid to rest on Thursday, September 3 but his story is still an interest to networks. After the funeral, the Jacksons held a ‘celebration of life’ party at Pasadena’s Villa Sorriso Ristorante. Rumor has it, there was a camera capturing the event as well as the funeral itself. Both the footage may go to the A&E TV special that has been talked about earlier as well as to a DVD which will be released later. The cable network has not determined when to air the special in order to pay respect to the family who is still grieving Michael’s death. Dan Silberman, spokesman for the network said that the one-hour pilot will focus on the five brothers sans Michael who did not agree to participate in the first place. The Pasadena party itself was attended by around 150 guests including the Jackson siblings. Randy Jackson allegedly made the reservation and bought the facility for the night. However, Joe, Katherine, Michael’s three children and Elizabeth Taylor who attended the funeral reportedly did not participate at the party.

And so, to Randy Jackson, I would like to say STFU. The media may want to “exploit” MJ’s funeral in order to share at least some of the ceremony with fans around the world, but it is my contention that the Jackson’s want to exploit everything about MJ they can for their own fame and financial gain. So I ask you, which is worse?

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]

200 of the late Michael Jackson’s family and closest friends convened at the Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA last night to pay their last respects to MJ at a small funeral/burial service exactly 70 days after he passed away on June 25. For the most part, the service was fairly quiet (even tho some of it was broadcast live on TV and all of it was filmed for possible inclusion in the upcoming A&E reality TV series The Jackson Family) and provided family and friends the opportunity to say their final farewells to the King of Pop:

Michael Jackson’s family and about 200 of their closest friends gathered on a hill Thursday evening for their final farewell to the pop singer, who died 10 weeks ago. Jackson’s burial may lay to rest some of the mystery and controversy that erupted with his sudden death on June 25. His large family was divided over where the superstar’s final resting place should be, but matriarch Katherine Jackson settled on a crypt inside the well-guarded and ornate Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, California. Thursday’s service began 90 minutes past the announced start time, leaving dozens of celebrities — including Elizabeth Taylor — waiting in their seats for the 26 cars carrying the Jackson clan to arrive. It began with Jackson’s five brothers — each wearing a single sequined glove — carrying his flower-covered bronze casket onto the outdoor stage among six large bouquets of white lilies and white roses, along with green topiaries. His three children, led by daughter, Paris, 11, placed a crown atop their father’s coffin, which a family spokesman said it was “to signify the final resting place of the King of Pop.” Jackson’s children, parents and siblings took their seats in the front row, while his nieces and nephews filled several rows of white chairs behind them.

After an opening prayer by Pastor Lucius Smith, soul music legend Gladys Knight sang the gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” Clifton Davis sang “Never Can Say Goodbye,” a hit he wrote for The Jackson 5 — the group that featured a young Michael and his brothers. What was said by Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, and others who took the lectern is not publicly known, because the family barred news cameras from the ceremony. A family statement issued afterward said close friends and family, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, spoke “spontaneously to celebrate Michael’s life.” News helicopters hovering above captured video from a distance, but without sound. Lisa Marie Presley, one of Jackson’s former wives and the daughter of Elvis, attended the service, according to the family statement. It did not mention Debbie Rowe, Jackson’s second wife and the mother of his two oldest children. Macaulay Culkin, the “Home Alone” actor who spent time with Jackson during his Neverland Ranch days, was there with his girlfriend, actress Mila Kunis. Actors Corey Feldman and Chris Tucker were also seen arriving for the service. Motown founder Berry Gordy, who gave Jackson and his brothers their first big record deal, and Quincy Jones, who produced Jackson’s “Thriller” album, were there. Music producer Teddy Riley, who helped with Jackson’s 1991 “Dangerous” album, attended. The guest list included TV executive Suzanne de Passe, who produced a miniseries about Jackson’s family, and Kenny Ortega, who was producing Jackson’s comeback show. Thomas Mesereau, the lawyer who successfully defended Jackson in a child molestation trial, sat just behind the Jackson family. When the hour-long service ended, his brothers lifted Jackson’s casket for a final time to carry him inside the Great Mausoleum, where he was placed in his crypt at 9:43 p.m. PT (12:34 a.m. ET Friday). The family statement said it was “his final resting place.” The family and friends then drove to an Italian restaurant eight miles away, in Pasadena, California, for “a time of celebration.”

I watched most of the service as it aired live on CNN last night and found it a much more pared down service compared to the lavish service that took place at the Staples Center last July. I have to admit, I found the placing of the crown on the casket a bit odd but, that seems pretty de rigeur for any service honoring the memory of Michael Jackson. After all these weeks and months, tho, Michael Jackson is finally laid to rest … where he belongs.

[Photo credit: Getty; Source]