Monster (Michael Jackson song)
Encyclopedia
"Monster" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson
featuring 50 Cent
, released on Jackson's first posthumous album Michael
. The song was written by Michael Jackson, Eddie Cascio, James Porte, and its rap part was written by Curtis Jackson. Along with "Breaking News
" and "Keep Your Head Up", the song was recorded in the Porte/Cascios' basement in 2007. These tracks have been controversial, with some of Jackson's fans and family members doubting their authenticity. "Monster" achieved minor success, peaking at the bottom of UK official chart due to digital download.
" and "Keep Your Head Up", which were also included on Michael. 50 Cent did not record together with Jackson physically, after the shocking news of Jackson's sudden death
, he received a call to come into the studio and perform his portion of the track. Once in the studio, the rapper worked with producer Teddy Riley on the song.
On December 10, 2010, the song was officially released on the posthumous album Michael.
said "'Monster' is weighed down by an unnecessary rap by the increasingly unnecessary 50 Cent".Alexis Petridis from The Guardian
said the song was "a lumpy attempt to recreate the atmosphere of Thriller
s title track
".
Geg Kot from Chicago Tribune
said the song picked up "an unfortunate theme in Jackson's latter-day work as the oppressed media victim."
and Jackson's two eldest children and many of his fans. His brother Randy Jackson posted a series of messages about the album on his Twitter account stating that family members were not allowed at his studio where the album was being completed. According to Randy, when engineer Teddy Riley played him some of the tracks, "I immediately said it wasn't his voice". In a statement, Sony Music Group countered that it had "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research, as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael, that the vocals on the new album are his own". Producer Teddy Riley, Frank Dileo
and Jackson's estate have since defended Sony's claims that the song is authentic. Teddy Riley who worked on the songs "Hollywood Tonight
", "Monster" and "Breaking News", claimed that he had to do "more processing to the voice, which is why people were asking about the authenticity of his voice". Riley also claimed that "With the Melodyne we actually move the stuff up which is the reason why some of the vibrato sounds a little off or processed, over-processed. We truly apologize for that happening, but you are still hearing the true Michael Jackson".
Some fans have suggested Jason Malachi as the possible vocalist on "Breaking News", "Keep Your Head Up" and "Monster", but a statement by the Jackson Estate said that he was not involved in the recording. On January 16, 2011, a statement appeared on Malachi's Facebook
page noting he was the vocalist of the songs in question, calling it his "confession". He later claimed on MySpace that his Facebook and official website were hacked. Malachi's manager Thad Nauden later that day told TMZ claiming that "someone created a phony Facebook page in Jason's name. Jason wants everyone to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, he did not sing a single note on the album".
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
featuring 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, released on Jackson's first posthumous album Michael
Michael (album)
Michael is a posthumous album of previously unreleased tracks by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released from December 10, 2010 - January 14, 2011 by Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment and features guest performances by Akon, 50 Cent, Lenny Kravitz and Dave Grohl...
. The song was written by Michael Jackson, Eddie Cascio, James Porte, and its rap part was written by Curtis Jackson. Along with "Breaking News
Breaking News (song)
"Breaking News" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The song was written by Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte, produced by Teddy Riley, Cascio and Jackson, and was included on his posthumous album, Michael. The R&B song talks about the media wanting a piece of the pop star,...
" and "Keep Your Head Up", the song was recorded in the Porte/Cascios' basement in 2007. These tracks have been controversial, with some of Jackson's fans and family members doubting their authenticity. "Monster" achieved minor success, peaking at the bottom of UK official chart due to digital download.
Background and release
"Monster" was written by Michael Jackson, Eddie Cascio, James Porte, and its rap part was written by Curtis Jackson. Jackson recorded the songs in 2007 while was living with the Cascio family in New Jersey. Other tracks recorded during that time include "Breaking NewsBreaking News (song)
"Breaking News" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. The song was written by Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte, produced by Teddy Riley, Cascio and Jackson, and was included on his posthumous album, Michael. The R&B song talks about the media wanting a piece of the pop star,...
" and "Keep Your Head Up", which were also included on Michael. 50 Cent did not record together with Jackson physically, after the shocking news of Jackson's sudden death
Death of Michael Jackson
On June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
, he received a call to come into the studio and perform his portion of the track. Once in the studio, the rapper worked with producer Teddy Riley on the song.
On December 10, 2010, the song was officially released on the posthumous album Michael.
Critical reception
"Monster" received mainly negative reviews from music critics. Huw Jones from Slant MagazineSlant Magazine
Slant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
said "'Monster' is weighed down by an unnecessary rap by the increasingly unnecessary 50 Cent".Alexis Petridis from The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said the song was "a lumpy attempt to recreate the atmosphere of Thriller
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
s title track
Thriller (song)
"Thriller" is a song recorded by American recording artist Michael Jackson, composed by Rod Temperton, and produced by Quincy Jones. It is the seventh and final single from his sixth studio album Thriller. It was released on January 23, 1984 by Epic Records...
".
Geg Kot from Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
said the song picked up "an unfortunate theme in Jackson's latter-day work as the oppressed media victim."
Controversy over authenticity
The authenticity of "Monster" has been questioned. Doubts over whether the vocals were actually by Jackson have been raised, reportedly by Katherine JacksonKatherine Jackson
Katherine Esther Jackson is the matriarch of the Jackson musical family.-Early life:...
and Jackson's two eldest children and many of his fans. His brother Randy Jackson posted a series of messages about the album on his Twitter account stating that family members were not allowed at his studio where the album was being completed. According to Randy, when engineer Teddy Riley played him some of the tracks, "I immediately said it wasn't his voice". In a statement, Sony Music Group countered that it had "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research, as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael, that the vocals on the new album are his own". Producer Teddy Riley, Frank Dileo
Frank DiLeo
Frank Michael DiLeo was an American music industry executive and actor, known for his portrayal of gangster Tuddy Cicero in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. For five years in the late 1980s, and again in 2009, he was Michael Jackson's manager.-Career:Frank DiLeo graduated from Central Catholic High...
and Jackson's estate have since defended Sony's claims that the song is authentic. Teddy Riley who worked on the songs "Hollywood Tonight
Hollywood Tonight
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Teddy Riley, the producer said, "I was looking at just doing the next level of "Billie Jean" meets "Dangerous" or "Leave Me Alone." It's like one of those driving bass lines that you will remember." Joe Vogel of The Huffington Post...
", "Monster" and "Breaking News", claimed that he had to do "more processing to the voice, which is why people were asking about the authenticity of his voice". Riley also claimed that "With the Melodyne we actually move the stuff up which is the reason why some of the vibrato sounds a little off or processed, over-processed. We truly apologize for that happening, but you are still hearing the true Michael Jackson".
Some fans have suggested Jason Malachi as the possible vocalist on "Breaking News", "Keep Your Head Up" and "Monster", but a statement by the Jackson Estate said that he was not involved in the recording. On January 16, 2011, a statement appeared on Malachi's Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
page noting he was the vocalist of the songs in question, calling it his "confession". He later claimed on MySpace that his Facebook and official website were hacked. Malachi's manager Thad Nauden later that day told TMZ claiming that "someone created a phony Facebook page in Jason's name. Jason wants everyone to know beyond a shadow of a doubt, he did not sing a single note on the album".
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (The Official Charts Company UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... ) |
197 |
Personnel
- Written by Michael Jackson, Eddie Cascio and James Porte
- Rap lyrics by Curtis Jackson
- Published by Mijac Music, Jab Me Music, Curtis Jackson 50 Cent Music Publishing (admin by Universal Music Publishing) (ASCAP) /
- Produced by Michael Jackson, Teddy Riley and Angelikson
- Mixed by Jean-Marie Horvat and Teddy Riley
- Programming and finisher by Teddy Riley
- Kids’ Scream: Nigel and Naiden Maynard
- Recording Engineer: Scott Elgin, Khaliq Glover AKA Khaliq-O-Vision, Stuart Brawley, Quenton Gilkey (Assistant Engineer), Luis Navarro, Zachariah Redding (Assistants Engineer on the Rap) (Recorded at Boom Boom Room), Glen Marchese, Joe Corcoran, Drew Harris
- Rap Performed by 50 Cent
- Drum Programming: James Porte, Joe Cocoran and Chalmer McDermott
- Percussion by Rudy Bird and Joe Cocoran
- Bass by Eddie Cascio and Stuart Brawley
- Keyboards by Eddie Cascio and Stuart Brawley
- Guitars by Joe Corcoran and OrianthiOrianthiOrianthi Panagaris , better known simply as Orianthi, is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist. She is perhaps best known for being Michael Jackson's lead guitarist for his ill-fated This Is It concert series. Her debut single "According to You" has peaked at No. 3 in Japan, No. 8...
- Special FX Guitars by Jake Landau
- String Arrangement by Eddie Cascio and Stuart Brawley
- Cello by Cameron Stone
- Violin by Sharon Jackson
- Background Vocals by Michael Jackson and James Porte
- Digital Editing by Joe Corcoran
- Assisted by Drew Harris and Fiona Brawley
- Recorded at The Backyard, LA
See also
- List of unreleased Michael Jackson material
- Death of Michael JacksonDeath of Michael JacksonOn June 25, 2009, American singer Michael Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication after he suffered a respiratory arrest at his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. His personal physician, Conrad Murray, said he found Jackson in his room, not breathing, but with a faint pulse,...
- List of works published posthumously