Did Michael Jackson Know He'd Never Make It?
Sony Pictures
As we reported exclusively months ago, Michael Jackson, according some in his inner circle, had grave concerns and doubts about being able to follow through on his spectacularly demanding This Is It tour.
Yes, This Is It, the movie, is a stunning collection of rehearsal footage made mostly by Jackson's über-talented director-choreographer and collaborator Kenny Ortega, as many stars have Twittered and announced—and our own reviewer gave a top rating, too. But why is this movie so eerily foreshadowing?
A big reason might be that Jackson's constantly saying he's "saving" his voice, which is a pretty smart move for a 50-year-old man about to embark on sold-out tour of over 50 performances. And it only begs the question:
When the time came for curtain, would Michael have been able to muster the strength, times 50?
Obviously, we'll never know.
But the film gives us more gifts than answers, to be sure: Jackson may not have been giving it his all, vocally, but he sure did as a choreographer and master showman, as Jackson's dance moves are still brilliant, especially considering a man a half-century old was pulling them off. But the biggest gift of all, the one that most folks seem to be overlooking in all their rapturous praise of This Is It?
That the damn thing exists at all. It's a stunning piece of history in itself, this film collection (which was originally intended just for Michael's private library). You actually get a chance to see how well—and at times not—Michael's famously drug-addled body is responding, despite the psychological and medical pressures it was obviously overwhelmed by. That a man who was teetering so close to death was able to perform at such impressive levels is astonishing.
But how long could M.J. have kept this up? And keep in mind he wasn't singing to capacity during this filming, either.
Also, the colossal investment made for the films, which were to be utilized for the London concerts, would have helped Michael again become King of Showmen—if not of Pop. The whole thing leaves you gasping, What if...
It's my opinion, though, that Michael had too many demons—which proved themselves in myriad physical problems—to be able to pull it off. I'm sure many will disagree with me.
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Take a look back at some of Michael Jackson's most incredible moments.
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