Overview
Michael is a posthumous studio album attributed to Michael Jackson, released in December 2010. Issued after Jackson's death in 2009, the record collects material from various sessions, presenting both songs that Jackson had worked on extensively and tracks completed or produced after his passing.
Content and production
The album contains ten tracks; credits indicate that Jackson wrote or co-wrote most of them. Recordings on the release range from near-finished masters to demos and fragments that were finished by collaborators and producers under the supervision of the estate and the record label. The lead single, released from the album, was "Hold My Hand," a duet that generated notable attention.
Reception and controversy
Upon release, the album drew mixed reactions. Critics and listeners debated the artistic merit of polishing unfinished work and whether some vocal performances were definitively Jackson's. The decision to release the collection was opposed publicly by some musicians and commentators; for example, will.i.am expressed reservations about issuing material posthumously. At the same time, the estate and record company maintained that the project was a way to share previously unheard material with fans.
Notable aspects
- Posthumous release: one of several albums assembled after Jackson's death.
- Mix of finished tracks and posthumous completions.
- Discussions about authenticity and the ethics of releasing unfinished work.
Legacy
Michael remains part of the broader conversation about how the music industry handles artists' unfinished recordings. For fans it provided new material from a major pop figure; for some critics it raised questions about the boundaries between preserving an artist's intent and creating a commercially viable product after their death. The album illustrates both the demand for archival music and the complex decisions estates and labels face when presenting that work.