My buddy GG is the only person I know that can touch me when it comes to Michael Jackson fandom (oh, wait-there’s my homie Carlos Halston…my bad), so I shouldn’t be surprised that he posted the news about the new Michael Jackson DVD set on my Facebook page. I’d already read a handful of articles about it, including one on The Second Disc that wondered what would be on it, and came to the conclusion that I didn’t need another MJ video collection, as big a fan as I am. I already own both volumes of “HIStory” on DVD, as well as the “One” video and the “Visionary” box set.
Well, let’s just say that I’m rethinking my original plan. The 3-DVD “Vision” package will contain 40 MJ short films, including all the usual suspects in their full, unedited versions (i.e. “Thriller”, “Bad” and “Black or White”). The third disc also adds a couple of relative rarities that just might justify the purchase price. As a member of the Jacksons, Michael made very few video clips. “Blame it on the Boogie”, “Can You Feel It” and “Enjoy Yourself” will all be included, as will “Why”, the video Michael recorded with his nephews in 3T. You’ll also get the classic “Say Say Say” clip with Paul McCartney, and you’ll finally get to see the video for “One More Chance”, the clip Michael was working on when the warrant for his arrest was issued in 2003. It’s certainly intriguing, but in the age of YouTube, it’s kind of hard to say whether anyone needs to buy a collection of music videos on DVD anymore-even if they’re the videos made by the greatest music video artist of all time.
Not to say that I wouldn’t spend money on an MJ DVD going forward. My fingers are still crossed that the Triumph and Victory tours will make it to disc, and you never know: maybe the good folks at “Soul Train” or at Motown will compile a disc filled with the television performances the J5 made in the early Seventies. Oh, and there’s also the variety series the brothers starred in for two seasons. Anything other than buying something that contains the “Beat It” video for the fourth or fifth time. If you’re interested, the DVD comes out November 22nd.
Hey, how come no one thought to include this video?
7 comments
Mike D. says:
Oct 14, 2010
The one thing that perplexes me most about “Vision” isn’t what they missed, but what they actually included. Buying this set will net you roughly half of the “Moonwalker” film, which I’ve always hoped would get a standalone release on DVD. How much sense can the “Speed Demon” and “Come Together” clips without the interstitial clips that branch the whole film together?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m adding this to the collection, but I hope it’s not long before I can add other essential pieces like “Moonwalker” and “Making Michael Jackson’s Thriller” to the shelf.
GG says:
Oct 14, 2010
This is hilarious with the pogo stick and skate boards. I wonder if anyone still uses a pogo stick. I had mad pogo stick skills as a kid.
Gonzo says:
Oct 14, 2010
I’m definitely buying it. I have HIStory vol. 1 on VHS (yes…VHS!). I never bothered with any of the DVDs because of their incompleteness. Edited versions, overlap, between volumes, many omissions (similar problems with existing Prince and Madonna collections). Finally we have a definitive collection!
Curious that Spike Lee’s video for “This is It” is absent, but other than that, everything appears to be here.
blerd says:
Oct 14, 2010
Was the Spike Lee video for “This is It” an “official” video? That may be why it wasn’t included.
Mike, the first thing they should’ve done was put “Moonwalker” on DVD. I don’t know what the hold up is.
GG-no one used pogo sticks when you and I were kids!! I can’t say I’ve ever been on one of those things in my entire life.
Gonzo says:
Oct 15, 2010
Mike-
With the rate that MJ product is being released, I have little doubt that Moonwalker will get a standalone release in the not-too-distant future. And Captain EO, I reckon (perhaps not until it leaves Disney again). And I bet even much of the material blerd mentioned – the Jacksons Variety Show, the J5 cartoons, The Making of Thriller home video, probably even some live material (I’d put money on one of the Japanese shows of the BAD tour; not sure if pro shot, HQ footage of Victory exists – though I’d love to see it!).
And blerd-“This is It” may not have been officially official. I got the sense that it was at least sanctioned by the estate, but I could be wrong.
blerd says:
Oct 15, 2010
There is apparently HQ footage from the “Victory” tour. From what I hear, the brothers wanted to put out a home video. Michael vetoed in and then turned around and hired a video crew himself. Allegedly, the other brothers blocked it’s release. They probably need the money, so I don’t see that happening now.
GG says:
Oct 18, 2010
Dude, I had a pogo stick. Totally had one.