In this CNN exclusive, the late Michael Jackson is seen rehearsing on June 23rd for his ‘This Is It’ London concerts. The rehearsal took place last week at LA’s Staples Stadium. The legendary King of Pop looked to be in fine form and totally energetic so the fact that he was pronounced dead 48 hours later came as a major shock. Check out the heart-rendering footage below:
Seeing this really saddens me and I feel bad. I feel bad because I actually doubted he had what it took to wow again. Now I see the spark and the passion. I finally see that his comeback had the potential to be something he could have pulled off successfully. Now we’ll never see him pull off the biggest comeback in pop music history. Reports suggest there is a tape of high quality footage recorded of the whole rehearsal. The footage reportedly contains over two hours of the singer putting his explosive dance routines into practice. I hope they release it as a DVD so that his fans really can watch for the last time why he was deemed the greatest performer on the planet.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Thats Right
Everyone Better Eat Their Humble Pie & Wash It Down With A Nice Cold Glass Of Compassion MILK
But On A Serious Note, He Looked VERY Healthy, & Very Energetic.
It’s Such A Shame With His Untimely Death That The World Will Never Witness His Talents Once More
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
It does feel very sad. This was just a rehearsal so imagine what he would have been like with a crowd cheering him on
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:57 pm
MJ did look healthy and well. Mike has always been on the skinny side, but maybe he could have stood to put on some extra muscle to carry him through those (what I still thought was insane) 50 concert dates. So Sad
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Uggh, I’d almost feel better if he HAD been lethargic and drug-addled, so his death would have been a merciful thing. But seeing this, obviously, that wasn’t the case. He hasn’t had so much energy and life in YEARS–this just depresses me so much. Especially since he DIED for the sake of this tour (the reason he took that anesthetic was because he needed sleep in order to have more energy for his concerts).
Since I’m part of the younger generation, I have never had the chance to see him live despite being a huge fan of his work. He wasn’t only a phenomenal performer–he was a great writer and producer as well, not something that you see very often nowadays. And the songs he wrote weren’t just sappy love songs, they actually had real MEANING. We didn’t just lose an entertainer–we lost an artistic FORCE. I really do hope they release the rehearsal footage for the fans’ sake. I’m just glad that he doing what he loved again, and knowing that his fans supported him.
“If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with.”
- Michael Jackson
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 pm
Awh man. This just made me realise how much I wanted to see him perform. It’s still mad that we wont ever see it, ever.
But it did look like he was owning that stage, and he did look pretty strong. Obviously not.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:19 pm
I don’t think I can watch this clip…it’s sill too soon, and I’m still in shock (I literally cannot listen to “Human Nature” without getting emotional). My dream of seeing him in concert will never come true.
What a tragedy.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 pm
That looked like it would have been a HOT concert!!! Would be great if they release the whole rehearsal on dvd - best seller.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
*cries*
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:31 am
Oh my that look awesome. So unfortunate.
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 am
It is so sad
I will never get the chance to see him live but I will buy some of his DVDs .
I love you Mike!
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:58 am
Michael looks a tad bit skinny in this clip, but Michael has always been a small man. I really wish we all could have had the chance to seen him rip the stage for the last time. Who would have known 48 hours later he would have been dead? SO SAD
06.25.09 = the day the music TRULY died.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 am
Say, WHAT!? I’m not seeing what everybody else is seeing. I’m all for respecting legends, living or dead. But I saw none of this passion and energy you lot speak of. All he did was walk, shimmy and stick a leg out on stage. He didn’t do anything on that nobody else couldn’t do. Shoot. He did a Britney with that shit.
Whatever Michael had in terms of live performance spark, it was fading due to his health coupled with his age. You could see it was taking a toll him back from when he appeared on stage with *NSync at the VMA’s back in 2002 or whenever it was.
Michael did not look healthy to me. I love Michael and his music. Dude was a legend from day one. But nothing in this video made me think “SHIT! I was wrong! Dude still has IT!” Nothing at all.
July 3rd, 2009 at 5:21 am
WOW… there are no other words…
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:57 am
uhm… Boring?
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I thought he looked good too…he did appear to be in great shape and ready to make a proper comeback.
I thought I read somewhere that they were preparing it for a release. I’d buy it
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I knew it! They bloody killed him. MJ doesn’t look as sparky as he did before but remember it’s been like 10 years since the last show. He was obviously holding back until the main event. I can’t watch it all I’m so sad
July 4th, 2009 at 1:33 am
mike looked fine. he was just marking through the choreography. im sure he would have came full force showtime. RIP mike!
July 4th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I thought it was great. I really hate that MSNBC Special that was just on–the first 30 minutes were just hate filled (bastards)
. Anywho. He still had it regardless. Those of you who call it boring—you’re probably used to seeing half naked girls shake their ass on stage–and not used to seeing an acutal performance. And besides–he was 50 years old. Even Madonna and Prince have taken it down a notch or two. I will always love MJ. I’m so happy I got to see him in 2003. I am one of the few people who actually met and talked with him. And he really was and awesome person.
July 5th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
To people who called the performance boring-I think that has more to do with the song he was performing than the actual performance level. That particular song wasn’t dance/choreography heavy-more emphesis on the words and anger of the song. Check the video-all he really did dance was that circle move. I think that Until we see a clip of Billie Jean or Smooth Criminal we can’t say he didn’t have it. Plus, homeboy was 50-did you expect him to dance AS WELL AS HE DID @ 25?
July 6th, 2009 at 8:11 am
This is so sad. My heart hurts. But he’s not totally gone. He lives on through the artists he inspired. Usher, Chris Brown, Justin, and Beyonce all have pieces of his spirit. He was the king and his princes and princess will cary the legacy.