TomV87
27th January 2008, 05:28 PM
MICHAEL JACKSON'S SUPERBOWL COMBACK
By DIANE DIMOND:cussing:
January 27, 2008 -- ***** wants to kick off a "Thriller" comeback on the Super Bowl stage, The Post has learned.
As part of a marketing plan for the 25th anniversary of the hit Michael Jackson album, a TV spot for SoBe Life Water, a vitamin-enhanced beverage from PepsiCo, will air during the big game next Sunday with a "Thriller" theme, according to documents.
An internal memo from *****'s former label Sony, written by marketing director Andrew Feigenbaum, prominently mentions the TV spot as "confirmed."
PepsiCo has refused to acknowledge collaborating with The Gloved One on the super-secret project. There was no immediate comment from a Jackson spokeswoman.
The week of Feb. 8 will deliver what the internal memo describes as a "major TV, radio, online and outdoor advertising campaign."
It's likely the covers of the anniversary edition of the album - called "Thriller 25" - which feature photographs of a much younger Jackson with a much darker complexion and a different facial structure, will be seen on billboards around the country.
The official Jackson Web site has been completely redone to resemble a one-stop shop for all things *****. Links to the social-networking Web sites MySpace and Facebook are new. Lucrative ringtones have been created for all of the songs from the original album as well as for all the remixes and previously unreleased tracks.
There are also plans under way for Jackson to appear at the Grammy Awards on Feb.10 with young hip-hop artists Fergie, will.i.am and Akon, who also accompany him on remixed or new versions of "Thriller" album tracks.
Blockbuster "Beat It" will now feature Fergie, while Akon joins "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and will.i.am provides vocals for "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "The Girl is Mine."
Meanwhile, the classic "The Girl is Mine," which featured Paul McCartney, has been completely re-recorded, erasing all traces of the former Beatle.
Next month's Black Entertainment Television Honors program is set to include a tribute to Jackson.
Jackson is scheduled to appear at both events, but not perform.
***** has spent the last year bumming around Las Vegas after a year and a half of globetrotting - including stays in Europe and the Middle East, sleeping on the couches of rich pals in the wake of beating kiddie-sex charges in California.
While no specific figures were mentioned, it's clear that the "Thriller" campaign is a multimillion-dollar effort and that the Sony-designed p.r. blitz could be a major boost to Jackson's flagging career. Ironically, the record company dumped the star in 2006.
He hasn't released an original album since "HIStory" in 1995 and hasn't toured since October 1997.
MICHAEL JACKSON'S COMEBACK ATTEMPT
The Gloved One is trying to revive his flagging career with the release of a 25th anniversary ''Thriller'' edition and a flurry of high-profile appearances
* "Thriller"-themed Super Bowl soft-drink commercial
* Re-mixed songs on "Thriller 25" with vocals by hip-hop artists Fergie, Akon and will.i.am
* New track based on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin"
* Erased any trace of Paul McCartney vocals on "The Girl Is Mine"
* Album will include never-released 1982 tune, "For All Time"
* Grammy Awards appearance scheduled
* BET will host special honoring him
* Launching major TV, radio, online and outdoor ad campaign around Feb. 8
* Negotiating ringtone and other download deals with Sprint and other carriers
By DIANE DIMOND:cussing:
January 27, 2008 -- ***** wants to kick off a "Thriller" comeback on the Super Bowl stage, The Post has learned.
As part of a marketing plan for the 25th anniversary of the hit Michael Jackson album, a TV spot for SoBe Life Water, a vitamin-enhanced beverage from PepsiCo, will air during the big game next Sunday with a "Thriller" theme, according to documents.
An internal memo from *****'s former label Sony, written by marketing director Andrew Feigenbaum, prominently mentions the TV spot as "confirmed."
PepsiCo has refused to acknowledge collaborating with The Gloved One on the super-secret project. There was no immediate comment from a Jackson spokeswoman.
The week of Feb. 8 will deliver what the internal memo describes as a "major TV, radio, online and outdoor advertising campaign."
It's likely the covers of the anniversary edition of the album - called "Thriller 25" - which feature photographs of a much younger Jackson with a much darker complexion and a different facial structure, will be seen on billboards around the country.
The official Jackson Web site has been completely redone to resemble a one-stop shop for all things *****. Links to the social-networking Web sites MySpace and Facebook are new. Lucrative ringtones have been created for all of the songs from the original album as well as for all the remixes and previously unreleased tracks.
There are also plans under way for Jackson to appear at the Grammy Awards on Feb.10 with young hip-hop artists Fergie, will.i.am and Akon, who also accompany him on remixed or new versions of "Thriller" album tracks.
Blockbuster "Beat It" will now feature Fergie, while Akon joins "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and will.i.am provides vocals for "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" and "The Girl is Mine."
Meanwhile, the classic "The Girl is Mine," which featured Paul McCartney, has been completely re-recorded, erasing all traces of the former Beatle.
Next month's Black Entertainment Television Honors program is set to include a tribute to Jackson.
Jackson is scheduled to appear at both events, but not perform.
***** has spent the last year bumming around Las Vegas after a year and a half of globetrotting - including stays in Europe and the Middle East, sleeping on the couches of rich pals in the wake of beating kiddie-sex charges in California.
While no specific figures were mentioned, it's clear that the "Thriller" campaign is a multimillion-dollar effort and that the Sony-designed p.r. blitz could be a major boost to Jackson's flagging career. Ironically, the record company dumped the star in 2006.
He hasn't released an original album since "HIStory" in 1995 and hasn't toured since October 1997.
MICHAEL JACKSON'S COMEBACK ATTEMPT
The Gloved One is trying to revive his flagging career with the release of a 25th anniversary ''Thriller'' edition and a flurry of high-profile appearances
* "Thriller"-themed Super Bowl soft-drink commercial
* Re-mixed songs on "Thriller 25" with vocals by hip-hop artists Fergie, Akon and will.i.am
* New track based on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin"
* Erased any trace of Paul McCartney vocals on "The Girl Is Mine"
* Album will include never-released 1982 tune, "For All Time"
* Grammy Awards appearance scheduled
* BET will host special honoring him
* Launching major TV, radio, online and outdoor ad campaign around Feb. 8
* Negotiating ringtone and other download deals with Sprint and other carriers