By Odeisel

As 2010 draws to a close, the news of a coming Michael Jackson album is music to the ears of his legion of fans. Others raise a skeptical eye, wondering whether or not the coming songs are closer to the disastrous Akon collaborations than the classic Michael whose music moved the world. The initial leaks have been hit or miss, mostly sounding like dated throwaways from the 90s. The latest track, “Much Too Soon,” has a much more timeless feel, with a loving tone of bereavement perfectly aligned for the holiday season.

Acoustic guitar strums against a muted accordion and beautifully soft violin strings for an atmosphere of celebratory cheer. The background vocals merge with the strings for an angelic touch. Throughout the composition a harmonica is introduced and well as a piano and a Spanish guitar. All these soft, disparate sounds coalesce seamlessly for a flawless composition.

Jackson’s voice is crisp and as feathery soft as it has ever been on any ballad. It is agile expanding and contracting; raising and lowering with mood and pace. Every syllable is crisply enunciated and Jackson never once wars with his environment, sharing space with the instruments; bringing the track to a close with a closing whisper a capella before ceding ground to a closing harp.

The song is a tale of unexpected lost love. So many times one party of a dying love is unaware that the other party is slowly drifting away until the point of relationship rupture. Jackson deals with broken-hearted loneliness, praying for the pain of lost love to fade.  His vocals are not desperate, but with the somber realization that he needs to move on. While he holds out hope that she’ll return to him, he fears that perhaps his lesson learned is just out of time.

Songs like this are how Michael Jackson moved men to tears and spread the real love throughout the world. Everything ain’t unicorns and happy times. But for a few minutes every so often, Jackson at his best could make you feel that way. Even on a song about loss. “Much Too Soon.” Enjoy.
Michael Jackson – Much Too Soon by Hypetrak

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