How Michael Jackson Can Get His Career Back
by Reg Seeton

After years of reading scandalous headlines about one of the greatest entertainers of the last century, it’s easy to rip on Michael Jackson. Hell, to some degree, Michael Jackson paved the tabloid way for Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and the rest of Hollywood’s extraneous. After gracing the covers of nearly every tabloid rag imaginable, who knew, after a groundbreaking career in music, that Jackson would be such a pioneer in a completely different industry? It’s not a stretch to say that some tabloids wouldn’t be in business if Michael Jackson didn’t give them something to write about. It’s just a shame the guy isn’t making music.

How does a musical icon go from being one of the most popular entertainers of all time to tabloid piñata, seemingly overnight? Well, aside from the fact that palling around with little kids when you’re grown man wasn’t the wisest career move, Michael Jackson left himself wide open. When you live in a place called Neverland, hang out with a monkey named Bubbles, let giraffes roam around your backyard, doctor your face to look more like that alien from Close Encounters than the old King of Pop, and dangle your kid out of a window, it’s hard to defend yourself against the heat-seeking celebrity missile called the paparazzi.

If Michael Jackson is going to make a serious comeback, he needs to make it happen soon. The guy’s 49 years old, but he still has legions of loyal fans around the world that want to see him reclaim his rightful title as The King of Pop. The fact is, despite all of the serious allegations and legal battles over the years, and whether some will admit it or not, a lot of people are dying to see Michael Jackson make a comeback. Judging by some of the most popular Michael Jackson topics on such social networks as Digg, the fact that Thriller still sells about 60,000 copies a year, and that fans in the crowd at this year’s World Music Awards were nearly in tears as they awaited Jackson’s bungled performance, there’s no doubt that Michael Jackson is a hot topic. For a comeback, the guy still has a solid foundation to spring from. Add to that the millions of TV viewers who were secretly hoping Michael Jackson would take to the stage at James Brown’s televised funeral, and there’s still demand out there for everyone’s favorite moonwalker.

Still, Jackson has been entangled in deep legal weeds for what seems like an eternity. Currently, as many news reports indicate, Jackson still owes millions in old debt, which continues to get re-financed while new suits are being filed against the singer for unpaid fees, loans, and failure to honor previous agreements (just Google Michael Jackson, Prince Abdulla to learn more). It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if all of the media reports are accurate, Michael Jackson needs to do something to stay afloat, and do it quick. The thing is, though; every time we hear a good idea that would enable Jackson to resurrect himself from the dead, it never comes to fruition.

So, how can Michael Jackson get his career back on track?

Thriller 25:

At least this is a start. Recent news reports indicate that Jackson is planning to release a 25th Anniversary edition of his top selling Thriller album , which sold over 100 million worldwide. Apparently, the new edition of Thriller may hit store shelves in 2008 and is said to feature newly re-mastered tracks of "Billie Jean", "Wanna Be Startin’ Something", "PYT," and "The Girl is Mine." As reports also suggest, the tracks were re-mastered with the help of such contemporary icons as Akon, will.i.am, and Kanye West, which should help in getting a new generation of fans to kick-start the Thriller machine all over again. Also, as reported by Rolling Stone, Jackson’s music attorney recently revealed that the new Thriller 25 will include four unreleased tracks, one of which is being hailed as a "killer" track by Jackson’s former producer. However, other recent news reports suggest that the new Thriller might not be released at all and that the work done by Akon, will.i.am, and Kanye West could serve as the launching platform for Jackson’s new album. We’ll have to wait and see, but Thriller 25 isn’t a bad opening act for an MJ comeback.

How Michael Jackson Can Get His Career Back Page 2