Fans worldwide were waiting for one last word, one last melody, from the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. On October 12, a new single went online; available for fans and the curious public to stream and listen to. This Is It, the new track, is an accompanying piece to the documentary by the same name and which has been put together from the footage of MJ in his last months when he was preparing for his grand comeback concert. And as with all things associated with the singer, this one last offering to fans is also mired in controversy — songwriter Paul Anka has alleged that Jackson stole the original tape which the two had recorded together 18 years ago.  

Whether This Is It is a ripoff of the Anka tune I never heard is hardly the point when the track is up for review on its own merit. Even if the tune were entirely original, that would hardly change the fact that it is more reminiscent of the latter-day Jackson than the Jackson who set the charts on fire with pathbreaking songs like Billie Jean and Thriller. The predictable and rather showy opening strings lead to the usual Motown beats and chorus. The vocals sound whiny a la Earth song, as opposed to the thrilling shrieks of Beat it and the breathless pace of Don’t stop ’til you get enough. The overdubs provided by Jackson’s brothers don’t help. The brilliant arranger and performer is clearly missing. At the risk of sounding harsh, one has to admit that the song sounds exactly like what it is: the desperate attempt of a man trying to bring back his glory days.

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