067: Joseph Vogel Special

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After an extended break from the Michael Jackson fan community, author and Merrimack College professor Dr. Joseph Vogel is back. He appears on this week’s special edition of The MJCast to mark the release of his fully revised book, ‘Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion‘.  Interviewed by Jamon Bull and Charles Thomson, Vogel gives the most candid interview of his career.

After attracting criticism for his endorsement of fake tracks released on the MJ Estate’s first posthumous album, Vogel left social media several years ago. In this exclusive interview, Vogel tells The MJCast he no longer stands by his old comments and now believes the songs are fake. The Estate assured him it had evidence they were real but, over the years, he came to realise that simply wasn’t true.

Fans who boycott the Estate over the release of those songs are being perfectly reasonable, says Vogel. He hasn’t spoken to the Estate for around two years and hasn’t been approached to appear in Spike Lee’s rumoured Thriller documentary. He is now actively seeking a publisher to reprint his first MJ book – ‘Man in the Music‘ – in part so he can remove his words on the fake tracks and cease to acknowledge them as MJ songs.

Also in this bombshell interview, Vogel discusses how and why he revised his Earth Song book, why he left social media, whether the fans who turned on him were justified and what his next projects will be.

Joe’s revised edition of ‘Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion’ includes fresh insights based on new evidence and interviews with key MJ collaborators, like Earth Song short film director Nick Brandt.

In addition to writing several books on Michael Jackson, Joe has appeared in the Estate’s documentaries on the Bad and Off The Wall albums and wrote the liner notes for the Estate’s Bad 25 box set.

Links
• Joseph Vogel’s website, Twitter and Facebook pages
• Earth Song: Michael Jackson and the Art of Compassion
• Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson
• Michael Jackson and the Reinvention of Pop
• Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues 1989 documentary
• Michael Jackson’s Dangerous album
• Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker
• Michael Jackson’s Dangerous deposition
• Michael Jackson’s The Girl is Mine deposition
• Michael Jackson’s Bad 25 album and documentary
• Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall album and documentary
• Crack Kills lyrics
• Nick Brandt’s websiteEarth Song short film
• Stranger in Moscow short film
• Childhood short film
• Brad Sundberg’s website, Twitter and Facebook pages
• Earth Song live at Wetten Dass (1995)
• Earth Song live at the World Music Awards (1996)
• Earth Song live at the Royal Brunei concert in Brunei (1997)
• Earth Song live on the HIStory World Tour in Munich (1997)
• Earth Song live at Michael Jackson & Friends in Munich (1999)
• Earth Song live at the This Is It rehearsals (2009)
• Michael Jackson’s This Is It documentary film
• Jason Malachi – Breaking News
• Joseph Vogel’s Huffington Post article; Exclusive: The Inside Story Behind Michael Jackson’s Controversial New Song and Album
• Joseph Vogel’s Huffington Post article; Is Michael Really Michael? A Review of the King of Pop’s New Album
• Joseph Vogel’s Huffington Post article; Michael Jackson’s Forgotten Humanitarian Legacy
• Howard Weitzman’s official statement on the Cascio tracks
• The MJCast’s online repository for Cascio Case court documents
• Joseph Vogel’s article; Regarding the Cascio Tracks
• The Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Music’s Michael Jackson Halloween album; Scream.

Music Breaks & Ads
• Funkyphon – Stranger in Moscow (Orchestral Version)
• Michael Jackson – Earth Song (Demo)
• Michael Jackson – Rock With You (Live in Yokohama, 1987)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael on!

066: Long Hair Don’t Care

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This episode of The MJCast is dedicated to the victims of the September 19th Central Mexico Earthquake, which has killed more than 300 people to date and those who are suffering in hurricane ravaged Puerta Rico. You can pitch in here and here respectively. A massive recovery effort is underway in Mexico City and Puerta Rico. The MJCast wishes host of The MJCast en Español Ale Huerta and her friends and family all the best…

It’s nearly Halloween and, aptly, John Branca has coughed and spluttered back into action to gift us with a trio of new projects. The first is a compilation CD of songs that are Halloween-themed and also of songs which aren’t Halloween-themed. The tracklist includes Ghosts, Thriller, Torture… and Dirty Diana and Scream.

The second new project, given a preview at Comic Con in New York, is a cartoon about a jeri curl-sporting dog set to ‘reimagined’ Michael Jackson songs. The third is a 3D conversion of Thriller which featured the wrong music at its London premiere.

Two of these peak Michael Jackson Estate offerings – the CD and the new version of Thriller – were launched in recent weeks with a series of invite-only fan parties. After screening the music videos for several of the songs on the CD, John Branca and John Landis teamed up for some Q&As. So fans were treated to the sight of an unconvincing plastic dummy serving as a proxy Michael Jackson. They also saw the Torture video.

Co-host Charles Thomson and friend of the show Paul Black appear on this episode to discuss these latest Estate releases after Jamon and Q’s round-up of all the hottest news.

News
• Michael’s Aviator sunglasses have been reimagined after 35 years.
• 3T have performed at the We Love 90s Festival in the Netherlands.
• A series of projects have taken place to mark 30 years of the Bad album, including The MJCast en Espanol’s first roundtable episode, a new article by Albumism and a new MJ101 eBook by Andy Healy.
• Some new footage has leaked from the Dangerous Tour in Copenhagen.
• A new HIStory Tour concert, from Johannesburg, has leaked.
• A new audio documentary has been released about Janet Jackson’s work with Jam & Lewis.
• Janet Jackson has kicked off her State of the World Tour in Houston and visited homeless shelters for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
• Paris Jackson has been announced as an ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.
• ABC 20/20 has aired a documentary about the murder of Tito Jackson’s ex-wife Dee Dee, about which her sons – 3T – are unhappy.
• London’s National Portrait Gallery has announced an exhibition of artwork inspired by Michael Jackson, to be held in summer 2018.
• Behind the scenes footage of Nahko Bear’s new music video, featuring Paris Jackson, has been released.
• Taryll Jackson has released Start It All Over Again.
• Chart Masters has published an article detailing how many units the Thriller album has actually sold.
• A collector claims he has a rare copy of Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker Sega game, featuring Thriller.
• Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, CEO of the Alibaba Group, has performed some Michael Jackson dance moves.

Main Discussion Topic
• Sony and the Michael Jackson Estate have marked the release of a new Michael Jackson compilation CD with a series of fan parties, featuring screenings of Thriller 3D.

Finds of the Week
• Jamon – Annemaree Latour’s article; ‘Scream’ Shows that the Michael Jackson Estate Needs to Raise the Bar
• Q – Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker – Sega Genesis (Angry Video Game Nerd Episode 63)

Additional Links
• TDR Explorer Podcast
• Anthony King’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages
• Michael Jackson’s What More Can I Give video
• Michael Jackson’s Todo Para Ti video
• Michael Jackson thanking people for making Todo Para Ti
• Janet Fresno’s Janet Jackson concert review
• Janet tour footage one, two and three
• Janet Jackson’s Unbreakable album
• Janet Jackson’s upcoming tour dates
• Karen O’Halloran’s Facebook page and MJ Book Club Twitter page
• Michael Jackson’s Scream album
• Michael Jackson’s Ghosts short film
• Michael Jackson’s Thriller short film
• Michael Jackson’s Thriller album
• Michael Jackson’s Thriller 25 album
• Martin Nessi’s interview on creating the sound mix for Thriller 3D
• Michael Jackson’s ThrillerCast podcast
• JD’s Twitter and YouTube accounts

Music Breaks & Ads
• Michael Jackson – Todo Para Ti
• Janet Jackson – Night/Dammn Baby (JRay Remix)
• Michael Jackson – Thriller (SWG Extended Mix)
• Grover Washington Jr – I Can’t Help It
• Original TV ad for Michael Jackson’s Thriller album
• Michael Jackson announces Thriller 25
• Thriller 25 TV ad

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

065: Hector Barjot Special

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Hector Barjot has been a Michael Jackson fan for more than thirty years and started his MJ memorabilia collection in 1988. He now has one of the biggest collections in the world. From dolls to cuddly toys to rare vinyl pressings – you name it, he has it.

Based in France, Hector is the co-author of the Ultimate Collector book series and also runs a successful YouTube channel about his MJ rarities. His videos have amassed more than 150,000 views to date.

Today he joins Q and Jamon to tell them how he became a fan, what sparked his obsessive collecting and whether he regrets any of his purchases.

Links
• Hector Barjot’s YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.
• French television coverage of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour live in Paris
• Michael Jackson – They Don’t Care About Us (HIStory World Tour live in Paris)
• Michael Jackson France
• Richard Lacocq’s MJDataBank.com and Invincible Magazine
• Hector Barjot’s Destiny jacket episode (S2-EP22)
• Hector Barjot’s Steven Whitsitt interview (S2-EP20)
• Hector Barjot’s video with Diana Walczak (S1-EP4)
• Steven Whitsitt’s Michael Jackson photographs
• Hector Barjot’s video on Michael Jackson’s Signature Series CD’s and Cassettes (S2-EP1)
• Hector Barjot’s videos on fake signatures and bootlegs (S2-EP24 & S2-EP27)
• Michael Jackson – Liberian Girl
• Michael Jackson’s 1988 Grammy Awards performance
• Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
• Black and White Magazine
• Hector Barjot’s Smile vinyl video (S1-EP1)
• Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collector Books Facebook page
• Hector Barjot’s HIStory World Tour MJ-2040 spaceship video
• Noboyuki Momose’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram pages
• Hector Barjot’s video interview with Brice Najar (S2-EP4)

Music Breaks & Ads
• The Jacksons – Keep on Dancing (Live at Musikladen, 1977)
• Duo Alve – Black or White
• Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ (Louis La Roche Remix)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael on!

064: Vincent Paterson Special

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Choreographer Vincent Patterson was at Michael Jackson’s side for many of the key moments which helped cement his status as an entertainment legend, first working with Michael as an assistant choreographer and lead dancer on the pioneering Beat It and Thriller music video shoots. When it came time to devise the videos for Michael’s next album, Bad, Vincent was brought back into the fold, working on the short films for The Way You Make Me Feel, Speed Demon, Dirty Diana and Smooth Criminal.

But it wasn’t just short films he collaborated on with Michael. He also helped shape some of the most historic live performances of Michael’s career, from directing the Bad World Tour to helping to choreograph Michael’s 1988 Grammy Awards performance.

Vincent’s association with Michael continued throughout the 1990s. He choreographed for the Black or White music video and Michael’s MTV 10th anniversary performance, helped devise Michael’s groundbreaking Superbowl half-time show and directed the Blood on the Dance Floor music video.

Today he joins Jamon and Q to discuss Michael Jackson as both an artist and a man, explaining their collaborative working process and telling the stories behind some of pop culture’s most historic moments. He also discusses his involvement in the documentary, The Man Behind the Throne, which is the focus of his work with Michael Jackson, Madonna and other celebrities.

Links
• Vincent Patterson’s website, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
• Madonna’s Blonde Ambition World Tour
• Strike a Pose documentary trailer
• Mikail Baryshnikov in Giselle
• Alvin Ailey – Cry
• Evita film trailer
• Michael Jackson – Beat It
• Making of Michael Jackson’s Beat It
• Michael Jackson – Thriller
• Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller
• Michael Jackson – Black or White
• Making of Michael Jackson’s Black or White
• Michael Jackson – Smooth Criminal
• Making of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal
• Girl Hunt Ballet from Fred Astaire’s Bandwagon
• The Man Behind the Throne documentary website
• The MJCast – Episode 011: June 25th Special with Darren Hayes

Music Breaks & Ads
• Michael Jackson – For All Time (Eric Hudson Remix)
• Cyrano, Esq – Peace For Your Soul (Michael Jackson Tribute)
• LaToya Jackson – Home
• Michael Jackson Orchestral Medley – London Symphony Orchestra

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

Thanks to listener Cody Covington, we now have a full transcript available for this episode. Our deepest thanks and gratitude, Cody.

063: Q Q&A

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Just when you thought things were getting back to normal, Jamon has deserted ship again, leaving Q to man the deck single-handed. Luckily, Q is more than capable of entertaining himself while Jamon isn’t looking.

In this solo episode, Q answers questions submitted by you, our loyal listeners. Episode 062 was the fastest-downloaded regular news episode in the show’s history, so Q felt Episode 063 would be the perfect opportunity to engage in a little back and forth with our ever-growing audience.

Topics ranged from MJ in the movies to what Q would do if if was manning the fort over at the MJ Estate, instead of here at The MJCast.

From Lina Yakoub:
• Who are three actors you think would be able to channel Michael the best in a movie (could be singers as well)?
• What already existing movie roles do you think Michael possibly could have played?
• Do you have any exciting guests on upcoming episodes and, if so, could you give us a few hints on who they may be?

From live-tweeting queen Carley (@MJIsMyGoldenBoy):
• Which MJ songs have you not listened to ever since MJ’s passing?
• What were the highlights of seeing MJOne?

From Lyne Tyler (@FmrMTLr):
• A common complaint with fellow fans is the lack of available materials from the Jacksons’ touring years. As we gripe about not having the Destiny, Triumph or Victory tours on any media, we never ask who owns the rights to those tours. Is it the band (ie. The Jacksons) or another entity? The MJ Estate may not have full ownership and may therefore not be to blame for not releasing them. I personally have no clue and thought you may have insight.
• My second question relates to your outstanding work in putting this podcast together. Without revealing your secret sauce, as you all seem to make it so easy, how do you manage to produce such a high quality show with consistent topics and without speaking over each other? How much prep time is involved and how do your respective significant others feel about the time we steal away from them? I love them all for sharing you with us so generously.
• One last question. Can we get Mr Thomson to live tweet more? He is priceless.

From Kory Wise:
• If you could go back to witness one moment from Michael’s life or career, what would it be and why?

From Reny SanLuis:
• If you could own any piece of MJ memorabilia, what would it be and why
• If you were in charge of the MJ Estate, what would be the first MJ item/thing that you would put out or do for the public?
• If you could go back in time and watch Michael create a signature moment during his stellar career, what would it be and why?
• The famous Oprah Winfrey question: What do you know for sure?

From Ashley White (@1958TO4EVER):
• Do you know what happened to the tsunami relief song Michael was working on around 2005, that he was shown working on in the Geraldo Riviera interview?
• Do you think we will get a remastered Thriller on Blu-Ray as a result of Thriller 3D coming to cinemas?

Additional Links
• The Dark Knight Trilogy – Falcone + Dr Crane/Scarecrow – Own It Now
• Pacific Rim – Jaeger Pilot suit up scene
• Episode 026 – Diana Walczak Special
• Michael Jackson’s Oxford Union speech
• Michael Jackson and Geraldo Riviera in the studio in 2005
• Episode 029 – Season One’s Q&A show

Music Breaks & Ads
• Michael Jackson One OST – 2000 Watts/Jam SuperMix
• Michael Jackson vs Lady Gaga – The King of ArtPop Megamix (by Robin Skouteris)
• Michael Jackson – The Legendary Megamix (by Robin Skouteris)
• Janet Jackson – Dammn Baby (Noodles Remix) (by @DJNoodles)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

062: They Didn’t Need an Expert to Say That

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Jamon is back from his paternity leave, rejoining Q to co-host Episode 062 after a few months off. They are joined by recurring guest host and legal correspondent Charles Thomson, plus lifelong MJ fan Angela Kande. Charles and Angela discuss their recent visits to Santa Maria, Forest Lawn and the Jacksons’ 50th Anniversary Tour, before helping Jamon and Q dissect all of the latest MJ and Jackson family news.

After the news, Jamon and Q first delve into Angela’s fan story, where she shares some of her most vivid memories from the ‘frontline’ of MJ fandom in the 1990s and 2000s. In addition to attending the HIStory Tour in 1997 and the World Music Awards in 2006, Angela spent time at Michael’s hotels and other places he visited during his trips to the UK. She recalls the lows (like witnessing a photographer assault Michael outside a recording studio) and the highs (like bagging a seat right behind Michael at a London theatre) of her time spent in Michael’s orbit. She also discusses the origins of her spoken word poem ‘Legacy’, about the impact of Michael’s death on his fan community.

The hosts then turn their attention to Charles. Despite first appearing on the MJCast in Episode 002 and having been a frequent contributor ever since, Jamon and Q recently realised they had never asked Charles some of the key questions they usually ask guests during their first appearances on the show. What begins as a simple interview about Charles’ favourite songs, albums, videos and concerts turns into an emotional discussion about what Michael means to his fans – and the wider world – and how the fan community must fight for his legacy as his Estate allows it to crumble.

This episode marks Angela’s first ‘live’ appearance on the MJCast, although she did appear as one of Charles’ interviewees in his World Music Awards 10th Anniversary Special last year.

News
• Michael’s Estate announces a one-off cartoon, ‘Michael Jackson’s Halloween’, featuring ‘reimagined’ versions of his music.
• A 3D version of Thriller, plus the Making of Thriller documentary, are to be shown at the Venice Film Festival.
• Producer Teddy Riley, a major contributor to Michael’s Dangerous album, discusses his time in the studio with Michael in a new two-and-a-half interview.
• Remixed by Nick* has made a large number of his Michael Jackson remixes available for download.
• Jimmy Safechuck’s posthumous demands for money over alleged abuse by Michael have been thrown out of court by a judge, and Wade Robson’s case looks set to follow.
• Quincy Jones has been awarded more than $9million by a jury after he sued the Michael Jackson Estate for underpaying him.
• An attempt by Frank Cascio to auction a CD of fake Michael Jackson songs for upwards of $50,000 has been called off – but the disc remains available for private sale.
• Jermaine Jackson performs at the grand finale of BBC talent contest Pitch Battle.
• Michael Jackson’s Thriller has been used as the soundtrack to the new trailer for Stranger Things – Season Two, after producers were eventually able to secure the rights.
• Michael Jackson’s Estate has granted Sony, a company Michael despised, continued permission to control the licensing of his music.
• New transcripts from the class action lawsuit over the release of fake Michael Jackson songs reveal a judge has accused lawyers for Sony, MJJ Productions and the MJ Estate of throwing their co-defendants under a bus by conceding they may have been duped into selling bogus material.
• Michael’s son Prince has produced a music video for Swedish singer Nano.
• Filmmaker Spike Lee has announced his latest Brooklyn Loves MJ street party.
• The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles has added new Michael Jackson exhibits to its collection.

Main Discussion Topic
• Angela and Charles’ fan stories

Additional Links
• MJFFC Global Birthday Party
• Charles previously discussed elements of his fan story in Episode 039, with fellow guest Sam Habib.
• Michael’s circular moonwalk on the Victory Tour.
• Angela Kande’s spoken word poem ‘Legacy’.
• Angela’s previous MJCast appearance, in Episode 44 – The World Music Awards 2006 10th Anniversary Special.
• Angela’s Twitter page.

Music Breaks & Ads
• Michael Jackson’s Perfume/Cologne Commercial
• BJ Griffin & Jason Brown – The Way You Make Me Feel Cover
• Michael Jackson – Midnight Groove
• Miles Davis – Human Nature
• Michael Jackson – With a Child’s Heart (Stripped Mix)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

061: Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett Special

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Drummer Jonathan ‘Sugarfoot’ Moffett first worked with Michael Jackson when he joined the Jacksons on their Destiny Tour in 1979. He remained with the brothers for the Triumph Tour – where his work was immortalised on the Jacksons’ only live album – and then joined them on their legendary Victory Tour. He later played on the Jacksons’ album 2300 Jackson Street and on Michael’s 1988 Grammy Awards performance.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s he worked with other music legends including Madonna, Elton John and George Michael. In 1996 he re-teamed with Michael Jackson for the HIStory World Tour, which lasted into 1997, and then joined him again in 2001 for his two 30th Anniversary Celebration concerts at Madison Square Gardens in New York.

In 2009 he was selected for the This Is It band and worked with Michael in his final weeks, days and hours of rehearsals. He performed at Michael’s Staples Centre memorial and has since worked for his Estate on its Cirque Du Soleil Immortal World Tour.

In this special episode, Jonathan joins Jamon and Q to discuss his long career and relationship with Michael Jackson.

Links
• Jonathan Moffett’s website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
• The Jacksons – 2300 Jackson Street
• The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) live on the Victory Tour in Toronto
• The Jacksons – Destiny Tour
• The Jackson – Triumph Tour
• The Jacksons – Victory Tour (Live in Toronto)
• Michael Jackson’s 1988 Grammy Awards performance
• Michael Jackson’s HIStory World Tour (Live in Brunei)
• Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Celebration
• Michael Jackson’s This Is It

Music Breaks & Ads
• The Jacksons – Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) live on the Victory Tour in Toronto
• Michael Jackson – Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’ live on the HIStory World Tour in Copenhagen
• Michael Jackson – I Just Can’t Stop Loving You live in This Is It rehearsals, with Judith Hill

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael On!

Thanks to listener Cody Covington, we now have a full transcript available for this episode. Our deepest thanks and gratitude, Cody.

060: The Laura Comedy Hour

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Laura Nicholson returns to guest host with Jason and Q, and this time she has the chance to share her fan story! This is followed by a range of news stories, reactions to and our reviews of the Lifetime TV film starring Navi, Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, details around what you’ll need to send in for an upcoming Q&A episode, finds of the week and some sweet, sweet tunes.

News
• Association On The Line is hosting the MJ Music Day event in Paris, France.
• New Who Is It concept art has apparently leaked.
• Michael Jackson themed Egyptian movie Sheik Jackson is on the way.
• Prince Jackson attends the 2017 Billboard Music Awards and presents Drake with the Top Artist Award.
• Shana Mangatal has released never before seen footage from the original Ghosts shoot, with an interesting back story around it.
• Janet Jackson reportedly set to document divorce, motherhood and more on Netflix special.
• MJ’s nephew, Austin Brown, collaborates with fraudster Eddie Cascio.
• Iconic Michael Jackson film from photo sessions needs $500 000 to be developed.
• Michael Jackson fan loses home in London’s Grenfell Tower Fire tragedy.
• Thriller 3D to be released in the US this summer.
• Review of The Jacksons Glastonbury performance from their 50th Anniversary tour
• TJ and Frances Jackson launch The Family Rules, a platform with blogs, posts, Q&A videos on marriage, children and family.
• Paris Jackson appears in The xx’s new short film, I Dare You.

Main Discussion Topic
• Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Finds of the Week
• Jason – How to Make Michael Jackson’s Scream
• Q – Sean Kenneth O’Hara’s HelpHOPELive Kidney Transplant Fund campaign
• Laura – Touch of Brass Big Band – Thriller (Arranged by Neil Finn)
• Jamon – “Most Difficult Mix Ever” – Mixing Michael Jackson’s They Don’t Care About Us

Additional Links
• Laura Nicholson on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
• The Michael Jackson Estate issues a press release about Lifetime and Netflix MJ films
• Jankins of Moonwalk Talks podcast does a terrific in-depth review in his Episode 023
• YouTube review of Searching for Neverland from listener Aaron Clements

Music Breaks & Ads
• Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (Accents Bring the Sun Remix)
• Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. (The Reflex Revision)
• Michael Jackson – Liberian Girl (Master Chic Mix)
• Jackson 5 – Alpha Bits Commercial
• Michael Jackson – Human Nature (Cover)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

059: June 25th Special with Isabelle Petitjean and Brice Najar

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Eight years ago today on June 25th, 2009 the King of Pop, Michael Jackson tragically passed away amidst preparations for what was to be his final concert tour, This Is It. For fans the world over, the pain still lingers… Each year we come together on this day to remember, honour and reflect on the magical life that was Michael Jackson’s and the love and timeless art he gave to the world. This year, hosts Q and Jason Garcia are lucky enough to be joined by two special guests for The MJCast’s 2017 June 25th episode. Being renowned authors, passionate Michael Jackson scholars, event organisers and…how could we forget…French, our two guests have so much in common that this episode can’t help but be a positive and heart warming reflection on Michael’s life.

Isabelle Petitjean, a classically-trained musician and a teacher of music, is a university academic specializing in Afro-American popular music and particularly in the work of Michael Jackson. She holds a master’s degree and a research mastership in musicology, and is currently preparing a doctorate on Michael Jackson at the University of Paris IV – Paris Sorbonne. She has written multiple books on Michael Jackson including Dangerous: From Mark Ryden to Michael Jackson – Pop Culture in the Pantheon of Fine Arts and Michael Jackson: il état une voix.

Brice Najar is the author of three books about Michael Jackson’s music. The first tackles the subject of his solo discography, through his singles released between 1979 and 2008. The second discusses the albums he recorded with The Jacksons from 1976 to 1989. Both books can be read independently but also compliment one another. In his latest work, Let’s Make HIStory, Brice offers a collection of interviews with some of Michael’s key collaborators  for his 1995 epic double album of the same name.

In addition to being authors in their own right, Brice and Isabelle have joined forces to put together Association On The Line. A group that’s organising unique and unmissable Michael Jackson related events. For its very first occasion, MJ Music Day, Brice and Isabelle are presenting an opportunity to meet musical director Brad Buxer and sound engineer Michael Prince who were both close collaborative partners and friends with the King of Pop. This exceptional and first-of-its-kind visit in France will lead attendees through Michael Jackson’s music at its most intimate and will offer plenty of unique anecdotes about his songs, personality and life. Guests will also experience the HIStory World Tour from behind-the-scenes and discover the secrets of the Jackson sound with the exclusive preview of King of Sound, a documentary by Gareth Maynard about Bruce Swedien. More than a master-class or a conference, this will be a genuine opportunity to share a friendly moment and talk to those men who were very special to Michael Jackson. Brice Najar, Isabelle Petitjean and fellow prominent French MJ fan Hector Barjot will also be there along with other Jackson exhibitors.

Later in the episode, listener submissions are played around how Michael should be remembered. Thank-you to all contributors who submitted audio. For fans who are struggling during this time of year, we hope this episode acts as a way for you to connect with other MJ fans around the world. In this episode there are moments of joy and moments of sadness, but through it all, remember that we are all fans of Michael. We will carry on his message of love and positivity as a way of honouring his memory and everything that he gave to the world. Together we will Michael on!

Links
• Isabelle Petitjean’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
• Isabelle Petitjean’s Dangerous: From Mark Ryden to Michael Jackson – Pop Culture in the Pantheon of Fine Arts and Michael Jackson: il état une voix books
• Brice Najar’s website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
• Brice Najar’s Michael Jackson: itinéraire d’un passionné, The Jacksons: Musicographie 1976 – 1989 and Let’s Make HIStory books
• MJ Music Day
• The MJCast en Español – Episodio 014: Isabelle Petitjean Special (English Version)

Music Breaks & Ads
• Michael Jackson ONE – Human Nature/Never Can Say Goodbye
• RIZ – The Light Went Out Tonight
• Shah Rukh Khan – We Lived in His World (A Tribute to Michael Jackson)
• The Game (feat. Chris Brown) – Better on the Other Side (Michael Jackson Tribute)
• Michael Jackson – This Is It (Ben Liebrand Oldskool Remix)

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Keep Michaeling!

058: Vindication Day Special (Pirates in Neverland: The Michael Jackson Allegations)

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As far back as he can remember, Ryan was a Michael Jackson fan. He was just five years old when the Dangerous album came out but vividly remembers watching the Black or White music video upon its release in America. In his teenage years he became an active member of the Michael Jackson internet fan community where, in his 20s, he got to know Charles Thomson.

After Michael’s death, Ryan withdrew somewhat from the fan community. Today he lives in Tokyo, where he works for several companies and, in his spare time, hosts the podcast Reason Bound. The show is all about logic and critical thought; what people believe, why they believe it and the importance of being able to recognise good and bad arguments. Each week he and a guest discuss these points in relation to a particular hot topic.

Charles’ life also now revolves around logic and critical thought. Since Michael’s death he has become an award-winning newspaper journalist, investigating issues and weighing evidence on a daily basis, in addition to regularly reporting on criminal trials.

A few months back, Ryan invited his old friend Charles onto Reason Bound. He appeared in episode seven, where they discussed the justice system and the importance of preserving the presumption of innocence. Given their history, the two of them naturally referred to the Michael Jackson trial several times during the show.

After the recording was finished, Ryan felt there was a lot more to be said about the Michael Jackson case. He invited Charles back onto the show to do something neither of them had ever seen done before – to record a podcast where the two of them would discuss the child abuse allegations leveled at Michael Jackson during the latter half of his career – from their inception in 1993 through to his 2005 trial – within the context of Reason Bound’s usual parameters; looking at what people believe, why they believe it, and the importance of being able to recognise good and bad arguments. They would discuss the evidence in an unemotional way, testing the theories and arguments of bother Michael Jackson’s fans and his detractors.

Given Charles’ continuing work with The MJCast, Jamon and Q were given a sneak preview loved the show so much they decided they wanted to air it too. So for the second time in The MJCast’s history we are simulcasting with another show. We are proud to present, for our third annual Vindication Day Special, episode 10 of Reason Bound, titled ‘Pirates in Neverland: The Michael Jackson Allegations’.

The show goes live today on both The MJCast’s channel and Reason Bound’s. We thank Ryan for working with us on this episode and we encourage you to head over to iTunes and check out some more of his thought-provoking episodes.

Links
• Reason Bound on iTunes
• Reason Bound on YouTube and Twitter
• You can email Reason Bound to ReasonBoundPodcast@gmail.com
• Charles Thomson’s Facebook, Twitter and website
• Charles Thomson’s One of the Most Shameful Episodes in Journalistic History article
• The MJCast’s – Episode 010: Vindication Day 10th Anniversary Special with Tom Mesereau. Listen to this special interview with Michael’s lead defence attorney, Tom Mesereau.
• The MJCast’s – Episode 005: Kerry Anderson Special. Listen to this special interview with Michael’s Director of Security during the time of his mid 2000’s trial.
• The MJCast’s – Episode 033 – Vindication Day Special with Scott Ross. Listen to this special interview with Tom Mesereau’s go-to private investigator, who was crucial to the defence team’s success at Michael’s trial.

Connect with Us
• TheMJCast.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube

If you have any thoughts, opinions, or feedback on the show, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at themjcast@icloud.com or find the links to our many social networks on www.themjcast.com. Michael On!