Michael Jackson Comeback in the Works

The pop starlet needs to wise up and offer some introspection

(NEWSER) - Britney Spears, and of course her handlers, seem to think she’s ready for a full-on comeback—and judging by the success of new single "Hold It Against Me," she's giving it a good go. But is a Britney comeback possible in the new world of pop, where Ke$ha (who can certainly “offer a few dance hooks in a girl-gone-wild package”) and Lady Gaga (who “has almost single-handedly reinvented the blonde dance beast aesthetic”) have swept in and taken over the spot once held by Brit, wonders Mary Elizabeth Williams on Salon . More»

Response to 'This Is It' tepid from critics, all over the place from fans

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson’s posthumous single was released to much hype, but the critical response is lukewarm and fan reactions are mixed. A sampling:

• In a roundup of fan comments on Michael Jackson’s website, the Times reports that while some are pleased—“This single is great, even better than I thought it was gonna be”—many others are calling it “garbage.”

Set to break Eagles' Greatest Hits figure

(NEWSER) - Buoyed by the singer’s passing, Michael Jackson’s Thriller looks set to match the Eagles’ Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 as the bestselling album ever in the US, Billboard reports. The Eagles compilation was certified 29 times platinum in 2006, having sold at least 29 million copies—but Billboard says the sales boost from Jackson’s death and Sony’s marketing have probably pushed album shipments past that figure. More»

Album sales up 90% from first week

(NEWSER) - Michael Jackson is still dominating the Billboard charts, with his solo albums selling 800,000 copies in the first full week after his death and 2.2 million songs downloaded. His Number Ones collection is the top-selling album in the US as well as No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Comprehensive Albums chart, with Thriller coming in second. More»

Photog, friend reveals Jackson's excitement at performing again

(NEWSER) - The photographer who captured Michael Jackson’s image at his last rehearsal reveals the singer was upbeat and energetic on his final night. “He was totally there—100% there in fact,” Kevin Mazur tells the Mirror. “You would never suspect this would have ever happened—especially after his performance.” He says Michael told him, “I feel so alive—can you feel it? This is where I belong.” More»