PAST:
Let’s go back to June 1995! When you’re a fan of a global artist such as Michael Jackson, every album release is a major event, the hype is huge! Remember the feeling when the news broke that Michael Jackson is about to release his 9th Album and for the first time since the run up to Bad, the stakes are high . The album; titled “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I” is made up of a two discs set. ‘HIStory Begins’ which includes his greatest hits from 1979 to 1992 and ‘HIStory Continues’ with a brand new 15 tracks album. What more could a fan ask for from their artist at that time?!
The anticipation is huge not only because the promotion for this album has been a monstrous marketing plan which to date hasn’t been beaten but also because fans and public are hoping to hear what the King of Pop has to say about the 1993 accusation. Well, the wait is over and Michael Jackson releases the most personal album ever with songs portraying mistreatment in the media, injustice, greed and environment awareness. We see Michael at his most vulnerable as he opens his heart with songs like “Childhood” where he explains who he is and how he feels but also a there’s the cut throat, insult laiden “D.S.”.
“Stranger in Moscow” is said to be written by Michael in Moscow in 1993 following the global falls out from the accusation. This is maybe the most heart-breaking song on the album.
With 8 singles, a World Tour and a huge amount of Merchandise, HIStory took Europe and Asia by storm and it is one of the fans’ favourite!
Not to mention that HIStory got a spin-off with the album ‘Blood On the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix’ which included remixes of the album and 5 brand new tracks releases in 1997.
A short film called “GHOSTS” was also released and premiered at the Cannes Festival.
PRESENT:
HIStory sold over 391,000 copies in its first week! To date, the album has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and is the best selling multiple-disc release making it one of the best-selling albums of all time! The album has been certified six time Platinum and nominated for five Grammy Awards, winning one for “Best Music Video” for ‘Scream’.
Today you can find the first disc which was re-issued alone in 2001 and called “Greatest Hits: HIStory, Volume I” and the second disc was only re- released in 2011 in selected countries like Spain and Italy.
Most of the songs on disc 2 are used in the Michael Jackson & Cirque du Soleil show “ONE” in Vegas which makes the show so intimate and personal despite the singer not being on stage which demonstrates how the messages on HIStory are just as relevant today as they were 20 years ago.
FUTURE:
It is said that a lot of songs have been recorded for the HIStory studio sessions and the out-takes are still in the Michael Jackson Estate vaults. With the 20th Anniversary this week, it is clear that nothing will be released despite the early dig with the Official 2015 Calendar themed after the album and the mention “20th Anniversary”.
The fans around the world would love to see a HIStory Project maybe call it ‘HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book II” with a first CD regrouping all hits from 1979 to 2014 including songs from the first HIStory album, Invincible, Michael and Xscape; a second CD with new material. A DVD/bluray Box set including all videos (and not omitting some of the videos like “HIStory” music video) and of course HIStory World Tour to be released on HQ. Speaking about HIStory World Tour, could it be nice to see a DVD/Bluray to be released in each countries as the Tour was filmed everywhere!?
Not to mention (and per Michael’s wish) to release “GHOSTS” in DVD for the first time?
And why not to push to the extreme with a remix album called “HIStory in the Mix Volume II”?
We can only hope that with MJ ONE showcasing those amazing songs from the Album and the new Merchandise contract, the Michael Jackson Estate will be able to provide not only the fans but also the world with a future edition of the album and as they love to celebrate the 25th of everything we guess that we will have to wait another 5 years to see and hear anything new from that era!
HIStory is a key moment in Michael Jackson Career; it is as important as the first moonwalk or the first music video breaking through MTV. Who else than Michael Jackson could have had 9 32ft statues around the world and has spent $30 million to promote an album including for the first and only time in the music industry a teaser for the album?
