Critics React to Michael’s Return
After 12 years away from the stage, Michael Jackson announced on Thursday, March 5, at the O2 Arena in London that he would hold concerts in London for 10 nights this July.
Critics and music industry experts have expressed their views about Michael Jackson’s return to the stage as follows:
LEMAR - musician
This is great that he announced he’s going on tour. Whether it’s the beginning or the end, something different will happen. I will definitely buy his concert tickets. These days he may look a bit physically weak, but at the same time it’s clearly an exciting wait. He won’t be like he was in the past, and people will wonder what it will be like. So if you want to know, you buy the concert ticket. He will probably do the moonwalk dance with slow motion. And you record it, take it home, and watch it again at high speed. I want to see everything. I want to see all the moves he can still do without injuring his body; I want to see all the old moves. When you reach his age and have all these achievements and have successfully done all this work, it’s no longer about releasing a new album. He’s already done his best work—now it’s time to celebrate.
AMANDA GHOST - CEO of Epic
I met Michael a few weeks ago. He helped us set up Epic. Why is he so important? Because he is an artist who has reached perfection. He is very talented in writing, dancing, singing, performing, and showmanship. He’s a star. We don’t make stars anymore. His legacy—amazing music, an legendary metaphor, and an important message. He was a star from childhood, and he paid a high price to be Michael Jackson. I don’t think there is anyone in the world who doesn’t love at least one of Michael’s songs. He’s universal. He’s a symbol. When I was a child, I dressed like him.
KANYA KING - founder of the MOBO Awards
I think showmanship is in Michael’s nature. If you look at his early performances, you’ll see that they were all huge shows, and it’s not just because of the power of his voice. If you look at the memorable tours he’s recently held, you’ll see that even though their magnitude wasn’t even half of the magnitude of Michael Jackson’s tours, all their tickets still sold out. The fact that he’s planning a series of big concerts means he has to prepare himself properly. Since he rehearses and gives people what they want, nobody leaves a concert disappointed. And I’ll be in the front row.
PETE WATERMAN - song producer
I actually think Michael is doing this for the money, and I can’t blame him. But at the same time, he also satisfies the fans. My son is a die-hard Michael Jackson fan, and on Thursday at 8 AM he left the house to go to the conference location. The rest doesn’t need explanation.
PAUL GAMBACCINI - broadcaster
There will be extremely high demand for tickets. In the past, stars from the 60s and 80s would go on tours and sing their old songs without doing any new work. In recent years, we’ve had Madonna, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, and the Police, who earned more than £150 million from their tours.
Michael turned 50 this year. Over these years, there have been rumors about his serious illness. Every former athlete will tell you that the speed of movement at age 50 won’t be like it was at 25. I saw Michael and the Jackson Five at Wembley Stadium, and I also saw Michael as an adult at the same stadium. He moved very well. But now there is a problem, and that problem is his health.
Source: eMJey / BBC News